If if isn’t personal what the heck is it?

Author Interviews That Rock

Julie Cross

TEMPEST
& VORTEX

Click the pics for awesome Julie links!

Okay Julie, tell the readers a little bit about  your books.

Tempest is the first book in a young adult trilogy that follows my main character, 19 year old Jackson Meyer, as he jumps through time (literally), to learn about his past and to try and save the his girlfriend, Holly. Vortex is the sequel to Tempest and it releases in the US on January 15, 2013.

Just to get us started, how old are you?

I’m 32.5 years old

What inspired you to write TEMPEST & VORTEX?

The concept for Tempest came in layers as I worked with my now editor, Brendan Deneen. My idea started with a sort of time travel story that was also about aliens and gymnastics. His idea was to acquire a teen version of The Time Traveler’s Wife. Tempest is a story that emerged from both our creative brains.

Why time travel?

The type of time travel is Tempest appealed to me as writer because I love the idea of having a character revisit moments of his or her own past. The scenes where Jackson visits years that his twin sister, who died of cancer at 14, was still alive were so emotionally powerful to write. That’s probably what made me fall in love with writing time travel.

What made you want to write in the first place?

I started writing in May of 2009. I think I was mostly looking for an escape from everyday life. The kind of escape you get from an amazing book. I read a lot and there were moments when I wanted to change the course of a book. It dawned on me that I could write my own story.

What keeps you writing?

I wish I knew the answer to that question. Once I started, I just could stop. In fact, I waited to get bored with it, to quit, but so far that hasn’t happened. It’s challenging and stimulating in a way that I hadn’t experienced before and I feel like there’s always something more to learn. It’s amazing to discover your passion, even at 29 years old. Truly amazing.

What is the best piece of writing advice you were ever given?

My first instinct is to say, Read a lot. But that’s the piece of advice I often give to writers who ask me this question, but I already read a lot so I didn’t need to hear that particular advice myself. I’d have to say reading Stephen King’s book, On Writing and the part (don’t quote me or anything) where he says something along the lines of, most importantly, you have to write a good story. It just meant that I didn’t need to feel intimidated by the idea of finding big words and creating mind-blowing symbolism and metaphors. Or even understand contracts and the publishing industry before beginning a novel. I just needed to write a good story. 

How do you discipline yourself to keep at the writing?

I only have to discipline myself to up with other aspects of my life…laundry, exercise, grocery shopping, cleaning, my kids’ homework and activities. The writing part so far doesn’t require discipline. 

When did you decide, this is what I really want to do? I want to be a writer! Was there a particutlar ah-ha moment?

When I was offered a three book deal with St. Martin’s Press/Thomas Dunne Books, all I had were questions and confusion and many of them my editor couldn’t answer right away as I searched for an agent, but he sent me an email that said basically, “Just keep in mind, from this day on YOU. ARE. GOING. TO. BE. A. PUBLISHED. AUTHOR” and he wrote it just like that and it hit me that no matter what, whether I wrote forever or not, I’d be known as a published author. That was truly my aha moment.

What is the most important thing for a writer to remember?

There is almost never one clear answer, one clear path, one right way to do anything, to tell any story, and to interpret any story. Open your mind to the realm of possibilities and don’t dwell on the impossibilities and improbabilities and all things that begin with a negative.

Do you belong to any cool writerly groups on or off line?

I’ve recently been emailing with some YA authors that I’ve met at events and doing some beta reading and critique.

If you were to mentor other writers what wisdom would you find most helpful.

I like honest critique, even brutally honest. I’m one who can handle it just fine. But I realize others need to work in phases. I think the idea of being able to pitch a story in a sentence is so helpful to new writers. Even if you figure everything out in your story and it doesn’t quite fit into a one-line mold, chances are you’ve worked out some issues while trying to get it narrowed a bit. It took me such a long time to figure out what it meant to be able to summarize a story in a short statement. Whenever I couldn’t do this, there was always something wrong with my plot. If you can address this even before you begin writing, it could be a huge factor in getting a finished product that can actually be sold.

Just for kicks… What are some of your favorite TV shows, movies?

My current favorite shows are GLEE, Dance Moms, The Voice, Parks and Rec, 30 Rock, Falling Skies. My movie favorites are very all over the place, I almost never go to the theater (just for the big ones like Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Twilight, ect…). I love comedies and I’ll watch any cheesy romantic comedy, even the DCOM and ABC Family ones. I typically write/read edgy, emotionally heavy and sometimes intense thrillerish stuff so that must be why I choose the lighter movie/TV options.

If you could be a character from a book who would you be?

Katniss Everdeen. Hands down. I need her survival skills. I’m assuming while taking over her body, I’d also be allowed to acquire the knowledge stored up in her brain?

Last movie you saw at the theater?

Hunger Games

What is your favorite board game?

Monopoly.

How do you get into your characters heads?

Good question. I’m not sure, but I’m sure that I do get in their heads and become them. I leave myself and my views and opinions completely in the dust.  

What is most special about your protagonist?

For Jackson, it’s his potential to be great, however sometimes I’d have to say that comes in second to watching him fail in the process of reaching his potential. It took me a while to realize how much I wanted him to experience the struggle to be great just as much as I wanted to see him get there.

Do you listen to music while you write? If so what gets you motivated?

I usually don’t listen to music, but I could if I wanted to. I’m pretty relaxed about my writing place and time. I can shut out the world around me even if it’s quite hectic.

Other than writing, what do you like to do for fun? Hobbies?

Reading. I also love running. I’m really great at it but it brings a different challenge and a lot of clarity within the creative part of my brain.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A teacher. Always a teacher. But the type of teacher changed constantly.

If your protagonist could give one piece of advice to your readers what would it be?

Always prepare for the worst. Write everything important down in notebook that you always have on you.

What would your villain/villains have to say about that?

Well…I suppose they would support this advice fully. They are very intelligent and capable people. Unfortunately.

Any closing words of wisdom for other author-wannabees out there?

Enjoy the freedom of writing just for you even if publication is your end goal. If you enjoy reading books in your genre and you create a story that you enjoy reading there’s a good chance other people will like it, too.

And there you have it! Personal and Real with Julie Cross!

Check out Tempest & Vortex on Goodreads-http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13364300-vortex

You know, sometimes it’s just faster to scribble a random thought, rather than type it.

 

Or you might want to sketch the layout of a room, a street corner or a murder scene.

 

Yeah, you’d get the whole novel written before this guy was finished dying.

Anyway.

Take a look at some handy-dandy apps that are perfect for when you want to free-hand it:

Ink for iOS

 

Opens immediately to a blank screen so there’s little to no waiting time. White background, draws a find black line. Perfect for capturing your Next Great Idea or a quick-sketch of a character. Email, Tweet, save to camera roll, print or copy to clipboard.

 

 

Be a Note!

 

Ah, choices. Write with a faux pencil, or a paintbrush with choice of width and colors. Change the color of the paper–lined, unlined, grid. There’s an eraser and undo. When you’re finished, save to camera roll and take care of what you want to do with your ideas from there.

 

 

Write Now

 

Choose lined or unlined background of several choices of color, several choices of writing-implement color of various widths. Yeah, yeah. Eraser. But also three colors of highlighter. AND–this is what I like–Offset Touch. I have trouble seeing where I’m putting the detail when I sketch or write. With Offset Touch, the point of line placement is out from under my fat finger. Six different settings.

 

Download a handwritten-note-taking app today, and be ready the next time you’re caught in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.

Even bloggers go on vacation. Please enjoy a little interlude from our dear colleague, Tessa Elwood, that she sent by CELL PHONE. Because she never forgets anything, even a blog post:

 

Sunset, Yellowstone

 

Moonrise, Yellowstone

 

Yes, we all weep with envy.

 

(Photo from SCBWI LA 2011 “Sleepover” Theme Party)

Ink and Angsters Tessa, Elle, Pamela and Kelly love rocking SCBWI!

“The Society of Children’s book writers and illustrators”

Why? It’s all about the learning, the fun, the networking. It’s about like mindedness. The contagious writer’s spirit, the pure joy of sharing craft with fellow writers, illustrators, agents, editors, bloggers, & publishers.

Hear from more talented writerly folks- Why they love SCBWI conferences!

Why SCBWI?

Click the picks for awesome author links and websites! 

 

 

Hilary Weisman Graham

REUNITED

Connecting with a community of other writers.

Learning great stuff.

Connecting with a community of other writers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Linda Boyden

GIVEAWAYS

To escape writing.

For me, writing becomes an obsessive love. I love putting words on paper; molding characters; revising and in the process making my words stronger. A weekend conference takes me away from the routine I’ve established. Sometimes I leave kicking and screaming, but most times I realize the benefit: this mini amount of fallow time renews me. I come home either with new enthusiasm or with the solution to an irksome writing issue.

To surround myself with like-minded people.

We write in cubbies; offices; barns; corners of bedrooms, wherever, but we write alone. Most of us live with loved ones who don’t write. They don’t fully understand the isolation of writing. Conferences bring together bunches of people who spend at least a good part of each day in an imaginary world peopled by imaginary friends. In writing for teens and kids, we up the ante considerably. We must think like kids so to capture the right voice of our young characters. At SCBWI conferences, I spend time with adults who share my love of kidlit! Whether strangers or friends, they get what I’m doing and why.

I don’t have a degree in writing. I use SCBWI conferences instead. Don’t misunderstand: would that I could go back to university and kudos to those who have. It’s simply not an option for me, so I research and select conferences that will teach me what I need to know. I listen and take copious notes and hand-outs. The masters in children’s literature, both authors and illustrators, have been my instructors over the years I’ve belonged to SCBWI. Where else can that happen? Only through SCBWI.

 

 

 

 

 

Kristen Kittscher

THE WIG IN THE WINDOW

 

Camaraderie
It’s tremendously rejuvenating to be surrounded by my fellow writers for three solid days! Those who aren’t writing and trying to publish are blissfully unaware of the challenges involved, so it’s lovely to spend time with people who understand. The children’s writing community is especially warm, open, enthusiastic, and fun.

Inspiration
The line-up of authors, agents, and editors who come to share their words of encouragement and expertise is second to none. Last year I met Judy Blume, for crying out loud! It’s moving to hear professionals’ share their own writing woes and loves, and I always leave energized to write.

Honing Craft
I always come away from an SCBWI session on writing with some new insight. More often than not, I learn something that really revolutionizes my thinking. Last year’s intensive with Nova Ren Suma and Julie Strauss-Gabel about the editorial process was eye-opening and helped prepare me for working with my own editors.

Kimberley Griffiths Little

THE HEALING SPELL

Yes, it’s intimidating the first time you attend an SCBWI conference, but the energy and inspiration can’t be found anywhere else. Plus you’ll make new, life-long friends!! Or find a crit group! Or get solid feedback on a writing project!

You will laugh. You will cry. You will come away a better writer and a better person.

There is no other conference where you’ll find so many editors, agents, and your favorite writers in the same place at the same time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

K.M. Walton

CRACKED

Getting to meet fellow writers, many of whom are at the exact same stage of the publishing journey as you are. There’s nothing like commiserating and feeling like you’re not alone!

Hearing insider information from industry professionals. I always felt like I had an edge after an

SCBWI conference, like I was in the know.

They keynote speeches leave you reinvigorated, enthusiastic and ready to get back and WRITE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teri Sloat

THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WHO PAINTED THE SKY

My fist incentive to attend was Marilyn Sachs, who said if I didn’t go to New York and go to SCBWI National, I wasn’t doing my share of my job.

The second was wanting to hear speakers that I admired, and wanted to learn from. I wanted to know what other CB authors were like and how they worked (and how they put aside their fear of failure).

The third was that by that time I had met so many wonderful people on the speaking circuit, it was the one place in addition to when we were speaking to meet up and share.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elisa Ludwig

PRETTY CROOKED

Sense of community. The conference may be huge, but there’s a very warm feeling of camaraderie. It’s impossible to walk away without having met lots of people at all different stages of their careers, even if you’re a shy, introverted type.

Fun! Maybe it’s the CA sunshine or the summertime vibe, but before I went for the first time, a number of different people likened the summer conference to camp, and it definitely rang true. Yes, we’re talking about craft and the painful ins and outs of publishing, but the mood is always lighthearted and playful.

Value. With so many workshops and incredible speakers, you WILL come away with wisdom that will change/support/improve your practice, give you greater perspective and inspire you to keep going.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ronna L. Mandel

GOOD READS WITH RONNA

To get that gem of a bit of advice that will resonate with me for years to come. Sometimes it’s a sentence, sometimes a philosophy or approach and other times it’s something completely new like the elevator pitch. 

To reinforce what I already know, but hone it. 

To network. I want to surround myself with writers in the same stage of their craft as I am and meet other writers in the next stage, too!

 

 

So there you have it! Tons of wonderful reasons to start networking! If it isn’t an SCBWI conference, let it be something educational, social and fun. Join writer’s groups. Learn. Grow. Write! I highly recommend SCBWI. Try it for yourself, just do it. Let me know what you think! And no matter what, keep those words coming. Keep on rocking your writing!

We’d love to hear why YOU love SCBWI! Leave your reasons in the comment box, and happy writing!

So by now I’m certain you get it. You know the gate is open, welcoming everyone into the realm of children’s literature!

And this feature is Part 3 of  The Lucky 13′s Trilogy (kidlit authors with books coming 2013)  

  Come on in. Everyone can Crash The Gate!

Click the pics for awesome writerly links (like author blogs and websites)!

I know.  Really. I get it. Those days when the Mage of Doom sits on your shoulder and zaps his magical staff at your WIP… You feel your words going up in smoke, keyboard melting beneath your fingers and it just plain stinks. And somedays, that’s the writer’s world. You think, it sounds dreary, but really, it’s not! It’s exciting, welcoming, wonderful! Because other days, you pull the sword and poof, your a genius!

Sure, writers get frustrated. Crafting brilliance is tricky. Revisions get rough. Queries lurk like demons, rejections sting. But, the stories will come. Words will take shape. You’ll be brilliant! I’m not just telling you so. With the help of The LUCKY 13s (writerly friends with novels coming in 2013) I’m going to show you. Publishing is POSSIBLE. Some days it seems harder than pulling a sword from a stone, but really all it takes is heart, hard work and a little help from your friends! You can do it. Just like The Lucky 13s who’ve paved the way; you too can pull a sword from a stone! These talented writers will tell you all about it.

Don’t let the Mage of Doom get you down. Let the Lucky 13s share A Little Bit of thier Luck with you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Melissa Landers

ALIENATED

1. When did you realize the story in your head was meant to be a book?

It was October of 2009, and I was driving down the interstate, thinking, “Hmm. If I’m going to do this whole NaNoWriMo thing, I need a topic. What the heck am I going to write about?” A few miles later, it came to me: What if a high school senior had to host a smokin’ hot alien exchange student? And what if they hated each other at first, but wound up falling in love? But what if they couldn’t be together? What if he was hiding something? From there, the ideas came flying at me from all directions, and I outlined like a mofo for the rest of the month. In November, ALIENATED was born. Two years and five rewrites later, it sold to Disney-Hyperion.

2. Advice to aspiring writers.

Here’s my advice, folks: Get off the bleeping internet and write more books. Don’t stress about networking or building a brand right now, because it’s the manuscript that matters. You can’t tweet your way into a book deal. No matter how many blog followers you’ve snagged, it won’t help if you can’t manage to produce a salable manuscript. So disconnect for a while and give yourself the freedom to finish that novel. And then start the next one.

3. The hardest thing about your journey to publication?

The hardest part of this journey was pushing through five rewrites without any guarantee of a sale. That takes dedication, my friends. Or at the very least, obsession. When I received my first rejection, I sat at my computer and cried. But you know what? The next day I put on my big girl panties and got to work on a new project. If you want to stay sane during the submission process, you have to keep moving forward. To quote Dory from FINDING NEMO: “Just keep swimming.”

4. The most fun thing?

Nothing tops getting “The Call,” but aside from that, the most exciting part of this journey was writing the original draft. ALIENATED was my first book and drafting it at breakneck speed during NaNoWriMo was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my adult life. There was no pressure–no goal aside from hitting that 50k word mark. I wrote for my own amusement, and it was such a rush. To all of you just starting out: Enjoy the ride, and never forget why you chose to write in the first place. Don’t lose that rush. Best of luck!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mindy McGinnis

NOT A DROP TO DRINK

 1. When did you realize the story in your head was meant to be a book?

I dreamt my story after watching a documentary about a looming freshwater shortage. The second I woke up I told my b/f, “Hey, I wrote a book in my head just now.”

 2. Advice to aspiring writers.

Develop thick skin and patience. Use crit partners and don’t get defensive about constructive criticism.

 3. The hardest thing about your journey to publication?

Not knowing if I’d ever make it. I wrote and queried for ten years. (yeah).

 4. The most fun thing?

I’m excited to see my name on a real book, of course. But honestly the most fun thing has been meeting other writers, pubbed, unpubbed, self-pubbed, agented, unagented, and aspiring. Doesn’t matter to me. I feel like I’m finally surrounding myself with people who “get” me. And that’s a lovely feeling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nicole McInnes

BRIANNA ON THE BRINK

1. When did you realize the story in your head was meant to be a book?

I’d had the theme of combined loss, betrayal and second chances from unlikely sources rattling around in my head for a long time. I tried writing this story from a different character’s perspective first, but it wasn’t until I honed in on Brianna’s voice and specific dilemma as a pregnant cheerleader that things really started to fall into place

 2. Advice to aspiring writers.

Goodness, there is so much I could share, but I’ll go with a piece of advice that was given to me by Ron Hansen, author of Mariette in Ecstasy and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, who told me to go “live life” after I graduated from college in the 90′s. I’ve since done just that, and I don’t plan to stop now that I have a book deal. The pursuit of publication can be a rough road that often takes years (or decades for some of us). And while, on one hand, a certain amount of tunnel vision may be necessary to keep one’s eye on the prize and move through the rejection and self-doubt that are near-certainties along that road, there are some things you can’t get back once their time has passed. Family time is one of these, as is time spent doing other things that bring joy and positivity to life (horse training, riding and judging for me). It’s been crucial for me to try to strike the balance between being a crazy dreamer and a realist in that regard.

 3. The hardest thing about your journey to publication?

There is no one hardest thing. For me, as for many artists and entertainers, any time spent feeling that my passion and hard work were in vain was just soul-crushingly awful. It was also hard, frankly, to see friends and family achieving great success, accolades and money (especially if they were writers) while feeling shut out of the publication universe myself. Not only was there self-pity involved, but I felt like a chump for letting envy get the better of me. I’m pretty stubborn, though (for better or for worse), and at some point I had to decide that there was no “I” in quit. Oh, wait.

 4. The most fun thing?

The absolute best, most fun and awesome thing is when I’m working on a story, and something just clicks – whether it’s a turn of phrase that comes out just right or a major character revelation. That feeling of “nailing it” is one of the things that has kept me going through the tough times, and it’s why I became a writer in the first place. It’s why I keep challenging myself to create worlds with words no matter what may be happening (or not happening) on the publication side of things. There’s nothing like tapping into that creative vein that, I believe, runs to some degree through all people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peggy Eddleman

THROUGH THE BOMB’S BREATH

1. When did you realize the story in your head was meant to be a book?

My very first spark of a story idea for THROUGH THE BOMB’S BREATH was an idea unlike any I had read or heard of before. I knew from the start that the idea was sound; it was all a matter of how willing I was to put in all the work it takes to go from idea to publishable manuscript.

2. Advice to aspiring writers.

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses in writing. The trick is figuring out what yours are, then playing your strengths to their fullest and learning everything you can to lessen your weaknesses. Never, ever, ever stop learning!

3. The hardest thing about your journey to publication?

Writing my query letter! I spent five months perfecting the content, the sentence structure, the word choices, deciding what was important to tell, what was absolutely necessary, and making sure it had enough voice. I jumped on every critique opportunity I could find. I reworked it so many times, and asked a few close friends to read my changes so many times, it’s amazing they’re still talking to me! In the end, it was worth it just to send off a query I had complete confidence in.

4. The most fun thing?

Getting to know so many writers through going to conferences and blogging! This writing community is an unbelievably amazing one, and I’m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rachele Alpine

CANARY

1. When did you realize the story in your head was meant to be a book?

This was an idea that had been forming in my mind since college. We had to do a multi-genre paper focused on an issue in one of my classes, and I picked sexual harassment in high school. The paper was one of the best assignments I’ve ever done. We had to research the issue and then create a paper using a variety of different genres (poetry, essays, letters, and stories). The story of a girl named Kate started to unfold in this project and it was that idea that sparked my book CANARY. I worked on the story during the summers when I wasn’t teaching. I loved the summers because I could devote almost all my time to it, but it would slow down once the school year started. I finished about two years ago and then started to revise.

2. Advice to aspiring writers.

1) Never give up

2) Be passionate and love what you write

3) Coffee and gummy candy will get you through the rough patches!

3. The hardest thing about your journey to publication?

The waiting…oh, the waiting! Publishing moves so so slow. You wait to hear if an agent wants to read your full, you wait for them to read the full, you wait while you’re subbing to publishing houses, you wait for your cover, your release date, on and on and on until it can drive you made if you let yourself get consumed with it. You have to have a lot of patience in publishing, and that’s something I’m not good at. Luckily, I’ve learned to throw myself into other projects to distract myself and still stay busy.

4. The most fun thing?

Hands down all the people I’ve met so far along my journey. There are so many great and supportive YA authors (go, Lucky 13s!), teens, and other readers of YA. I especially love connecting with my blog readers. I have a lot of followers who have been with me from the start of the journey, and it’s great to talk and meet new readers too. The YA community is so supportive and amazing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephanie Kuehn

CHARM & STRANGE

1. When did you realize the story in your head was meant to be a book?

Hmm, that’s a good question. Charm & Strange isn’t the first novel I’ve written. I’ve written others and was in the process of looking for an agent when I got a spark of an idea that felt really odd and different, but also very raw. That idea stuck with me, so I decided I’d write it down, but never show it to anyone. I even typed up a brief summary in an email to a fellow writer friend that had the subject line “is this too out there?” but I never sent that email because it did feel too out there to even share. But I knew I wanted to write this story and I did.

 2. Advice to aspiring writers.

Be open to criticism, but at the same time, own what you want to write. I think there’s nothing more important than finding good beta readers who read in the genre you write and who can you hold you to standards of your favorite authors. They’ll tell you what isn’t working, and in my experience, they’re usually right. However, I also think there’s a danger in overworking manuscripts and relying on other readers to tell you how to fix it. At a certain point, you need to use feedback as a way to clarify what your intentions are as a writer (something only you can do) and then push to execute your vision in a way that is all yours.

 3. The hardest thing about your journey to publication?

Wanting to live up to other people’s hopes and expectations. It’s the kind of pressure that motivates me, but it’s also super anxiety-provoking.

 4. The most fun thing?

Sharing the news of the sale with my family and friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ryan Graudin

LUMINANCE HOUR

1. When did you realize the story in your head was meant to be a book?

LUMINANCE HOUR actually has its roots in a twelve page short story that I wrote to submit to an anthology which was asking for pieces about faeries that were “modern and sexy.” I asked my co-workers Helen and Ferrin (who were teaching English with me in South Korea at the time) to read the story, which was about a Faery guarding the Prince of England from a soul-eating Green Woman. When Helen finished it she turned in her swivel chair, looked me in the eye and said, “This isn’t a short story. This is a novel.” And that was that.

 2. Advice to aspiring writers.

 Usually when I’m asked this I say, never ever give up. But this time I have a new one. Write the story that you love. Because if you’re serious about getting published, you will be spending a lot of quality time with said story. You commit to it. I spent a good amount of my college years writing literary short stories, but my heart was really in YA paranormal/fantasy fiction. So many times in this publication journey it has been only my love for the story I’ve created that’s kept me going. I believed in my plot and my characters, and that made all the difference.

 3. The hardest thing about your journey to publication?

The waiting. Hands down. I’m not a particularly patient person (which you would very well know if I’ve driven you somewhere), and waiting is everything in this business. You have to wait for responses on queries. Responses on agent submissions. Responses on agent revision. Responses on editor submissions. Responses on editor revision. Responses on… you get the drift. There’s a lot of waiting. I’ve learned to busy myself with multiple projects so that if I’m waiting on something for one of them I can work hard on the other to distract myself!

 4. The most fun thing?

Most fun thing? The opportunity to meet and interact with some of my favorite authors! I was really privileged to attend and help out with YALLfest in my hometown Charleston last November, where I got to meet Beth Revis, Carrie Ryan, Andrea Cremer, Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (among so many others). The second most fun thing is being able to tell people that I’m an author at cocktail parties!

 

So ends The Lucky 13s Trilogy! They’ve Gate Crashed, had a blast. And we’ve all learned a little something. Like…Hum… Just do it! Tug the sword. Pull. Pull. Pull! Write your story, critique, rewrite, query, read, find people who share your passion. Gnash your teeth. Wait. Wait some more. Listen. Revise. CELEBRATE! REJOICE! And share your knowledge! Often.  Allow others to soak up your wisdom. Be the water that fills the sponge. Be a writer. Be a mentor. CRASH THE GATE. Have fun and good luck!

Leave a comment, ask a question or two. These authors and I are thrilled to hear your voice. We’ll mull, ponder, think on your questions and answer back as best we can!

Oh, and because I just can’t help myself…

Pull. Pull. Pull!

CRASH THE GATE