In a couple weeks, the first book of the new series Infinity Ring, Mutiny in Time, will hit stores. (On August 28, to be exact.) Earlier this week, series editor Nick Eliopulos revealed some Infinity Ring secrets, and now James Dashner, the author of Mutiny in Time pulls back the curtain a little more.

Back in June, Kid Reporter Dani Bergman Chudnow interviewed Dashner at Scholastic global headquarters in New York. She had a lot of questions about Mutiny in Time and the Infinity Ring series. Dashner spilled some beans, but he kept a tight lip about where the series was headed. But this being a published author, Dani wanted to know what the life of a professional writer is like, too. In the interview, Dashner shares who his favorite author is, what his favorite book is, and what he does when he gets stuck while writing. He also had some solid advice for kids (and adults) who want to be professional authors, too.

Dani’s interview with Dashner is a peak behind the Infinity Ring series, but it’s also a look into the process and experience of a popular YA novelist. Watch Dani’s interview below, and be sure to check out her review of Mutiny in Time on the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps website. (Spoiler alert: She really liked it!)