LIPSTICK LAWS Giveaways, Video Review and Interviews Galore
There is less than a week left in my countdown for the official release date of THE LIPSTICK LAWS (April 4). Therefore, I'm throwing books at people. That's right; I'm throwing books all over the place and am going a little crazy like this kid:
Now that that confession is out of the way, I'm hoping to throw some books YOUR way... via several LIPSTICK LAWS giveaways going on right now. First, the fantabulously funny Carrie Harris is featuring THE LIPSTICK LAWS for the Bookanistas on her blog today. Comment on her post HERE to be entered to win a signed copy of my book. That's not the only reason you'll want to visit her blog post... you'll also want to find out the reason behind this stuffery:
I also have several giveaways going on in conjunction with my Teen Book Scene Blog Tour (happening now through April 16). At the end of each week of the tour, I will be giving away a signed copy of my book (three copies total). The winner(s) will be randomly selected from the comments on the posts each week. That means all you have to do to enter to win is comment on at least one of the tour stops. To increase your odds of winning, comment on several (or all) posts. More details (and links) are HERE.
In other fun news, I was so excited to see the first video review of THE LIPSTICK LAWS! I want to send huge THANK YOUS to Cari Soto of Cariblogs for the video review below & Tami Snow for featuring the review on her fabulous website, Lyrical Lip Service! You both are awesome!
Finally, I have some recent interview links to share as well. Check them out if you want to learn more about me, my book and/or the book's it-girl villain (Britney):
That is, final copies come in boxes! Yay! Check out the pictures of the box of Lipstick Laws final copies that I received this week. I think this calls for a celebratory contest/giveaway. Check back this coming week for details.
Also, if you're interested, please visit my most recent interview over at Readergirl Reviews a Teen Book HERE. Leave a comment under it for an extra entry in my upcoming giveaway.
Eek! Okay, I realize that I haven't posted in two weeks... to make up for this, I plan on hosting a contest/giveaway on my blog next week. Check back on Monday (the 24th) for the details.
In the meantime, please link over to my recent interview at Tori Scott's blog HERE. While you're there, make sure to check out Tori's full website - she's fabulous!!
Speaking of fabulous, take a look at this AWESOME poster art that an early reader (Vickie over at Coma Calm's Book Reviews) made for The Lipstick Laws at Glogster.com:
Isn't it awesome?!?! I LOVVVVVE it! <3 Thanks again, Vickie, for making my day with this fantastic art!! You can also check out Vickie's review of my book HERE.
Hope to see you all for my giveaway starting on Monday! :)
I was asked to participate in three holiday blog events this year. Today I'm happy to be over at Fragments of Life blogspot for a Christmas Countdown Interview. Find out what I do to prepare for the holiday, why I write for teens & other fun stuff. There is also a Lipstick Laws giveaway (signed final copy & swag) with this post that is open internationally & ends on January 3...so be sure to check it out & enter!
If you haven't checked out my other holiday blog events/giveaways yet, you can link to them here:
(Today's Blog Event) Christmas Countdown: 13 Books to Gift & Giveaway! My Spotlight: Day 5 Giveaway Signed final copy of The Lipstick Laws & swag (winner will receive the prize in March or April) Open Internationally Ends January 3
Today I'm over at the blog: Just Your Average Everyday Teen Blogger for an interview. Andrea is awesome and she just started her blog last month, so I'd love it if you head on over to check it out and show us some comment love (and follow her)!
Before the Split Blog Tour and Charity Auction Interview with Swati Avasthi, Author of SPLIT! Plus a Signed Book Giveaway!
Today, I'm welcoming Swati Avasthi (the fantastic author of the must-read book SPLIT) to my blog for an interview and signed book giveaway. But this isn't your typical author interview and giveaway... because Swati is also sharing the details of her upcoming book blog tour and charity auction for Domestic Violence Awareness Month starting on October 1st. Please help support the cause by reading the important info discussed in this interview, and checking out the blog tour and auction event (button links to tour & auction follow this interview). If you decide to bid on any of the auction items, you'll be helping a very important cause.
*Signed book giveaway entry details to follow this interview*
Can you tell us a bit about your upcoming blog tour and charity auction? Of course. Thanks for asking!
To honor National Domestic Violence Awareness month, I'm combining a blog tour for my debut novel, Split, with a fundraiser for Family Violence Prevention Fund. I'll be on twenty-six blogs with guests posts, a contest, an animated scene, a photo essay, cut scenes, and a, 8G pink nano ipod prize. Kari Olson from Teen Book Scene, coordinated the tour and you can see where I'll be at: http://theteenbookscene.weebly.com/split-details.html. Or my blog at www.swatiavasthi.blogspot.com, for that matter. For every comment, I'll donate $1/comment with a goal and cap of $250. If I receive 250 comments, I’ll double my donation.
But that's just the start. Even better, more than 40 agents, editors and authors have generously donated cool stuff for an online auction. Nathan Bransford donated a query critique, Sara Zarr donated a 25 page manuscript critique, etc, etc. We have memberships to YALITCHAT.ORG and Children's Literature Network, a wide array of different types of critiques, personalized signed books from wonderful authors, and even some items donated by other artists, including photographer John Magruder and graphic designer/author Amy Holder (a name you might recognize). All donations should be ready to bid on on October 1st. Follow the tour, get stuff you want, and help out a great cause all at once.
Why is the cause against domestic violence close to your heart? I coordinated a domestic violence legal clinic for three years and, in that time, listened to thousands of victims. It was inspiring to watch people with so much courage leave their abuser and get an order of protection, facing down the devil they didn't know and reject the devil. It was also heart-breaking. The experience left me asking a lot of questions about the nature of love and violence and of what it would mean to grow up with abuse as a regular occurrence.
What inspired you to write SPLIT? Once a woman came in with her two kids. While she was telling me about the abuse, I interrupted her and asked her if she wanted an intern to look after her kids. She said, "No, they seen it anyway." That was one of the hardest moments in the clinic for me because I was angry at her, instead of being angry with the man who was beating her. I knew better than to victim blame, but I found it hard to reconcile how she did nothing to protect her kids with my sympathy for her. I understood, intellectually, that if she couldn't protect herself, then she couldn't protect her kids and that it was the abuser's fault, not hers. But it took the writing of Split for me to accept that emotionally.
Although SPLIT is a fiction novel, Jace's situation is all too familiar to many individuals dealing with domestic violence in real life. How can people get involved to help domestic violence victims and/or survivors? If you think you might be experiencing abuse, it's worth talking to someone. There are a number of organization that can help. For teens, call the National Teen Dating Abuse Help 866-331-9474. Or, the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-SAFE, or at www.ndvh.org who can direct you to local resources. But do remember that what you do on your computer can be tracked, so be sure to connect from a safe place.
What's something you hope readers will take with them upon finishing SPLIT? That there is a life after abuse and, even though recovery is long, it is possible because we are defined by what we do, not by what has been done to us.
Thank you so much for this amazing interview and the details about your upcoming blog tour and charity auction, Swati! Is there anything else you'd like to add before we go? Thanks so much for having me. Good luck with your book! I'm excited to read it. Also, thanks so much for your donation to the Before the Split Blog Tour and Charity Auction.
You're very welcome, Swati! And thanks for including me in your auction! If you'd like more info about Swati and her must-read book, please check out her WEBSITE and BLOG. If you'd like to order SPLIT today, here is the Amazon Link.
Watch the very cool trailer for SPLIT:
Also, be sure to check out Swati's blog tour and charity auction! The button links are below. There are some great items to bid on, and remember, you'll be helping an important cause:
Button link to go to the blog tour schedule:
Button link to go to the charity auction site for the event:
And don't forget to comment at the various blog tour stops! Your comment(s) will add to the amount Swati donates to the Family Violence Prevention Fund!!!
******************************************************* SPLIT Signed Book Giveaway Entry Details: 1) Comment below for a chance to win a signed copy of SPLIT. 2) You will receive an extra entry to win the signed copy of SPLIT with each online shout-out you give about this giveaway (tweet on twitter, facebook status, and/or blog about it). Be sure to leave links to your shout-out(s) in the comment section of this post. 3) Help spread the word and support the cause by adding Swati's Blog Tour Schedule and Charity Auction links to your blog for an additional two extra entries to win the signed copy of SPLIT. Remember to let me know where I can find the links in your comment.
*Sorry, this giveaway is open to USA and Canada residents only*
The winner of the signed copy of SPLIT will be randomly selected and announced on October 7th here on my blog. Good luck! *******************************************************
Losing Faith Launch Blog Tour Celebration: Interview & Signed Book Giveaway with Author Denise Jaden
Today, I'm happy to welcome Denise Jaden back to my blog (CLICK HERE for Denise's first appearance) as a part of her book launch blog tour celebration for LOSING FAITH. Just when I thought Denise couldn't get more awesome, she offered to donate a signed copy of her book to one lucky commenter. So now she isn't just sitting at the very top of the awesomesauce totem pole, she's hovering over it. Not only will you have a chance to win a signed copy of her amazing book by commenting below (details to follow the interview), you'll also be entered to win more celebratory prizes that she's giving away on her own blog. In fact, every time you comment at one of LOSING FAITH's blog tour stops (including this one), you'll be entered to win lots of fabulous prizes. To check out all the prize goodies in question, CLICK HERE.
But enough about prizes, because now it's time to learn more about Denise and LOSING FAITH:
What inspired you to write LOSING FAITH?
When I was sixteen, I lost a close friend in a car accident. After her death, I learned so much about her that I hadn’t known before from her parents and friends. I think that was the nugget that started the story of a girl losing her sister, and discovering her sister’s secrets after her death.
Which character do you relate to the most and why?
I think I relate most to my main character, Brie. She has a real determination and tenacity that I think comes from me. And, like her, I was a little bit rebellious as a teen. Okay, sometimes I still am J.
What was your reaction to your gorgeous cover art?
To be honest, the first look at my very white cover art on the white background of my computer screen was not love at first sight. But I printed it off, and once I could see it the way it was meant to be viewed, I immediately fell in love. It has so much going on in it, much of which many might not even notice. But I love that! And the butterflies are my favorite.
Do the butterflies on the cover have any relevance to the book's content?
Okay, another moment of full disclosure here. Like I said, I really love the butterflies, but really, I think they were only added as a hopeful image. And there is a hopefulness to LOSING FAITH that goes well with this, especially with the black butterflies, since the book has some darker themes. But after seeing my cover art, I did add one very small paragraph about butterflies to a scene in the graveyard and asked my editor if we could add it in. I doubt anyone will even notice it, but I really wanted just a very slight reference to the butterflies in the text.
What's one thing you hope readers will take with them upon finishing LOSING FAITH?
I hope readers will feel a renewed sense of inner strength and a confidence to look for answers life’s big questions for themselves.
What's your best advice for aspiring writers wanting to be published?
Read a lot, write a lot. Don’t compare your experience to others’ as it really is apples and oranges, even with the same agent or publishing house. Write for yourself first. Sorry, I guess that’s a mishmash of many pieces of advice.
Thanks so much for the awesome interview, Denise! And thanks for letting me participate in the LOSING FAITH online book launch party!! For more information about Denise, please check out her WEBSITE & BLOG.
******************************************************* LOSING FAITH Signed Book Giveaway & Grand Prize Entry Details: 1) Comment below for a chance to win a signed copy of LOSING FAITH. 2) Your comment will also enter you in the drawing to win one of Denise's grand prize packages (for full details on the grand prize giveaways and links to the other blog tour stops, go to Denise's blog). 3) You will receive an extra entry to win the signed copy of LOSING FAITH with each online shout-out you give about this giveaway and/or Denise's blog tour (tweet on twitter, facebook status, and/or blog about it). Be sure to leave links to your shout-out(s) in the comment section of this post.
*Sorry, this giveaway is open to US and Canada residents only*
The winner of the signed copy of LOSING FAITH will be randomly selected and announced on September 15th here on my blog. Good luck! *******************************************************
Interview & Signed Book Giveaway with Author of FAITHFUL, Janet Fox
I'm happy to welcome the very talented and super sweet Janet Fox to my blog for an interview and book giveaway. Janet's book, FAITHFUL, is a beautifully written historical YA novel that's sure to please. For a full description, check out FAITHFUL's goodreads page HERE. The entry guidelines for a chance to win a signed copy of this amazing book will follow Janet's interview below:
What's one thing you hope readers will take with them upon finishing FAITHFUL?
I hope you don’t mind if I mention more than one thing. I hope that readers who have suffered a loss – especially loss of a parent – will take some comfort in Maggie’s discovery. I hope that girls who read FAITHFUL will recognize how difficult it was for a girl in 1904 to have the freedom to choose her own path. I hope that readers are moved.
What about Maggie's character do you think is a product of the time period she lives in, and might change if she were alive today?
At the beginning of FAITHFUL, Maggie is trapped – and feeling sorry for herself, and helpless, and she isn’t sure what she wants. By the end of the novel, she has discovered her inner strength and the core of her that is like her mother. The “prison” in which Maggie is caught is a reflection of her time – men dictated all the terms to their wives and daughters. If Maggie were alive today, she would never have felt compelled to do exactly as her father wishes; she would have walked out on the situation in which he places her. But, then, she might never have discovered the magic of Yellowstone.
Why did you pick Yellowstone as the major setting for this book?
Yellowstone is a place that is close to my heart. And it is a place of natural magic – like another realm, fantastical. I thought that setting a story there could evoke that fantastic element and provide a rich backdrop for Maggie’s transformation.
If you were to travel back in time to 1904, the era of FAITHFUL, what's one modern day amenity you'd want to take with you and why?
Things weren’t so bad in 1904, as long as you were wealthy – wealthy people did have indoor plumbing and electricity and telephones, and even automobiles. But for the poor or even middle class, that was a different matter. If I were poor, what I’d miss the most is indoor plumbing. I can’t imagine using an outhouse at 20 below. I would hate to only be able to bathe once a week and have to haul my water and heat it on a stove before I could bathe, and then in a tub in which the water was first used by my older siblings so the water would already be dirty and cold.
You have already published a non-fiction book called GET ORGANIZED WITHOUT LOSING IT. What's the biggest difference that you've encountered between the publishing process for non-fiction and fiction?
When writing non-fiction it’s acceptable for submissions to be outlines – that is, you create the concept and market that. Only rarely would you write a non-fiction book in its entirety and try to sell it. But fiction requires a complete manuscript, at least for a beginning writer. Perhaps once you’re successful you can sell a fiction concept, but not initially. I sold my non-fiction book from a synopsis and chapter outline; I had to have a complete and well-revised manuscript of FAITHFUL before it sold.
What's your best advice for aspiring writers wanting to be published?
Read. Read constantly and broadly. Write. Write daily and reexamine your writing in craft terms. Learn the key components of craft: character, pacing, voice. Find a critique group and share and be willing to listen. Revise, then revise again. Find like-minded writers and learn from them. Writing is a career; it’s not easy. Most writers do not get rich. If you’re in it for the fame and fortune, good luck. If you’re writing for the long haul and because you love crafting beautiful stories, I promise you will succeed.
Thank you for stopping by my blog for an interview, Janet! To learn more about Janet and her book(s), visit her WEBSITE, BLOG and/or AMAZON PAGE.
For a sneak peek, check out Faithful's trailer, created by Janet's talented son:
******************************************************* FAITHFUL Signed Book Giveaway Entry Details: 1) You must be a follower of my blog for a chance to win. 2) You will be entered once by reading and commenting about Janet's interview and/or book in the comment section below. 3) You will also receive an extra entry for each online shout-out you give about this giveaway (tweet on twitter, facebook status, and/or blog about it). Be sure to leave links to your shout-out(s) in the comment section of this post.
***That means you have the chance to be entered up to four times in the random drawing, increasing your odds of winning. The lucky winner will be chosen at random from the entries I receive and will be announced on Monday, August 30th. Good luck!***
*Sorry, this giveaway is for US and Canada participants only*
An Interview & Signed Book Giveaway with Author Kristin Walker
I'm happy to welcome Kristin Walker, the awesome author of A MATCH MADE IN HIGH SCHOOL, to my blog for an interview and signed book giveaway. Yes, that's right, I'm holding another giveaway contest where I'll be providing one lucky commenter with a signed copy of this fun and funny debut! As usual, entry details will follow the interview. But first, here's a summary of Kristin's book:
When a mandatory course forces Fiona to “try the knot” with super-jock Todd Harding, she’s convinced life couldn't get any worse. Until her crush is paired with her arch enemy (otherwise known as Todd’s obscenely hot, slightly sadistic girlfriend). But that’s nothing compared to her best friend’s fate – a year with the very goofy, very big Johnny Mercer.
A series of hilarious pranks leave Fiona wondering: is there something her “best friend” hasn’t told her? Could there be more to Johnny Mercer than an awesome music collection? And most intriguing, could Todd Harding have a heart beneath his pretty-boy exterior?
Can you sum up A Match Made in High School in one sentence?
High school seniors get paired up for a mandatory course in marriage education with disastrous and hilarious results.
What inspired you to write A Match Made in High School?
It just seemed like it could be a really funny premise. I was looking for a topic with a lot of potential for humor, and since the book was going to be the longest thing I'd written, I figured I should pick something I knew a bit about. Pretty much my whole life was raising kids, doing laundry, loading dishwashers, and being married. So I went with marriage. I didn't think too many teens would want to read about stain removal or crusty spatulas.
If you could be one character from your book for a day, which one would you be and why?
Great question! Hmm... Okay, this is totally shallow, but I'm going to say it anyway... Amanda. I've always wanted to be stunningly beautiful for a day. All I'd do is walk around being gorgeous. Isn't that dorky? Other than Amanda, I'd pick Sam because she's so alive and energized and completely genuine. Plus she has stains on her shirts, and that's pretty much me every day with my coffee.
Who would you have wanted to be paired with to "try the knot" when you were in high school?
Oh, you don't seriously think I'm going to answer that, do you? Ha! I'm sure I would've picked whomever I was dating at the time.
What has surprised you the most about the publishing industry?
Everyone knows everyone in publishing. It's a very close-knit industry. So if you're interested in getting into the publishing game, tread kindly and try not to burn any bridges.
The great part is that everyone I've encountered is super cool. For the most part, they're people I'd hang out with in real life. It's humbling to have so many brilliant, fun people discussing and putting effort into my work.
What's your best advice for aspiring writers wanting to be published?
Just keep writing! Never quit. Every word you write makes you a better writer, so just keep going. It's a long, often heartbreaking haul, but you'll get there.
Thanks so much for having me, Amy! I had a great time with your questions.
Thank YOU, Kristin, for stopping by my blog! If you'd like to learn more about Kristin and her book, please be sure to check out her WEBSITE, BLOG and GOODREADS page.
A MATCH MADE IN HIGH SCHOOL Signed Book Giveaway Entry Details: 1) You must be a follower of my blog for a chance to win. 2) You will be entered once by reading and commenting on this post. 3) You will also receive an extra entry for each online shout-out you give about this giveaway (tweet on twitter and/or blog about it). Be sure to leave links to your shout-out(s) in the comment section of this post.
***That means you have the chance to be entered up to three times in the random drawing, increasing your odds of winning. The lucky winner will be chosen at random from the entries I receive and will be announced on Friday, July 30th. Good luck!***
Today, I'm excited to host an interview and signed book giveaway with Sydney Salter, the fabulous author of My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters, Jungle Crossing, and (most recently) Swoon At Your Own Risk.Sydney and I share the same publishing house, and she was the first fellow author I contacted upon signing my publishing contract. Not only is she nice, funny and incredibly talented, her books are an absolute delight to read! Do you want to know the best part? One lucky commenter will win a signed copy of Sydney's fabulously fun new book, Swoon At Your Own Risk! The entry details will follow this interview:
How would you sum up Swoon at Your Own Risk in one sentence?
After a junior year of dating disasters, Polly Martin has sworn off boys; now she’s just trying to survive her summer job at Wild Waves Water park (under the supervision of ex number three, Sawyer Holmes) and focus on herself for once.
If you could be any character from your book for a day, which one would you be and why?
I’d be Xander Cooper, mostly because I’ve always wanted to know how to skateboard, but my first attempt resulted in elbow scars, so I haven’t tried again. Plus, as a writer, I’d love to truly see things from a male perspective for a day.
What inspired you to give Polly, the main character of Swoon at Your Own Risk, a job at a water park?
Every summer I take my daughters to our local water park; I love watching the teen employees, all the crazy kids, and the distracted parents…and I suppose I’m one of those with all my people watching! I’ve always thought it would make a great setting/summer job for a story.
If you could ask Miss Swoon a question, what would it be and how do you think she'd answer?
Dear Miss Swoon, I used to think that becoming a published author would make me feel so confident and secure. But now I’m worried about so much more: will my book get good reviews? How many copies will it sell? Will people like my next story, too? It’s so much more complicated than I expected. How do I cope? –Obsessing Author
Dear Author, Just write! Ignore all the stuff you can’t control and focus on writing the next story. Isn’t that why you started doing this in the first place? –Miss Swoon
Polly has a bunch of ex-boyfriends in this novel. Do you have a funny or interesting breakup story of your own to share?
I married my first boyfriend! I haven’t experienced an official boyfriend breakup, but I’ve been hurt by crushes gone wrong, lost friendships, and the end of professional relationships. I tapped into those emotions while writing Swoon At Your Own Risk.
What's your best advice for writers wanting to get published?
Write the next novel, and the next one after that—you never know which one will sell first, and each new story will teach you something that you can apply to earlier manuscripts. (BTW, I sold my fourth manuscript first, my seventh manuscript second, and first manuscript third.)
Thanks so much for the enjoyable interview, Sydney! For more information about Sydney and her books, be sure to check out her AUTHOR WEBSITE and BLOG.
SWOON AT YOUR OWN RISK Signed Book Giveaway Entry Details: 1) You must be a follower of my blog for a chance to win. 2) You will be entered once by reading and commenting on this post. 3) You will receive an extra entry by adding what (or who) makes you SWOON in your comment. 4) You will also receive an extra entry for each online shout-out you give about this giveaway (tweet on twitter and/or blog about it). Be sure to leave links to your shout-out(s) in the comment section of this post.
***That means you have the chance to be entered up to four times in the random drawing, increasing your odds of winning. The lucky winner will be chosen at random from all the entries I receive and will be announced next Friday (June 11th). Good luck!***
An Interview and Signed Book Giveaway With Author Eileen Cook!
For those of you coming back from yesterday's Spread The Awesome post, thanks for returning! For those of you just joining me today, I'm interviewing Eileen Cook, author of Getting Revenge On Lauren Wood. This is a follow-up post to yesterday's book review, so if you haven't checked it out already, you can read it HERE. Yes, that's right, I'm devoting two blog days to Eileen and her book because (as mentioned yesterday) both are made of awesome. In return, Eileen has generously offered to donate a signed copy of this wickedly funny book to one lucky blog follower who leaves a comment on today's and/or yesterday's post(s). The giveaway is open to international participants. Full entry details will follow my interview.
Now for the fun....
Will you please sum up Getting Revenge On Lauren Wood in a tweet of 140 characters or less?
A novel of friendship, betrayal, revenge and classic movies.
What was your reaction when you got the first sneak peek of your fabulous cover?
I love this cover so much I nearly licked it when I saw it. I am very lucky that my publisher includes me in the cover design process. The designer, Cara, asked me if I had any ideas for what I wanted to see. There is a scene in the book where the main character chucks a Barbie doll dressed in a cheerleader outfit into a wood chipper. That appealed to me, so I suggested someone holding a Barbie doll by her hair and sticking pins in voodoo style. Cara told me that Mattel (the makers of Barbie) apparently frown on people using their trademarked doll for voodoo. Go figure.
Cara found a doll company in China that does custom ordered figures. She ordered a Lauren doll and then stabbed it. This gave me a lot of joy.
If you could be a character from your book for a day, which one would you be and why?
Brenda is my favorite character in the book, but I've already lived high school as a geek so I think I would take a pass at reliving it. If I could be anyone I would be Christopher. It would be nice to understand what boys think even for a day. I found them confusing in high school and I still find them confusing.
Helen has a passion for classic movies in this book. What movie would Helen say best compares to your life?
Oooh, good question. I think my real life might be too boring for a movie. Two hours of watching someone schlep around in yoga pants staring into space making stuff up would be pretty dull. If I could be in a classic movie I would love to be Katharine Hepburn. She was gorgeous, funny and spunky. Plus she got to kiss Cary Grant, I could live with that.
The revenge tactics in this book are brilliant. What inspired you to come up with all the fantastically wicked sabotage ideas?
I was somewhat surprised how easily the evil revenge ideas came to me. Apparently, I have a lot of unresolved issues from high school. I think most people think about the evil things they would do to someone who hurt them. We don't do them because we have no interest in doing prison time. Speaking for myself, I would look lousy in an orange inmate jumpsuit. Writing gave me a chance to get all those evil ideas out on the page while staying out of jail.
You managed to portray Helen as a likable character even though she is consumed with seeking revenge through most of the book. What tips would you give to writers to help increase likeability in flawed characters?
I absolutely love the screenwriting book, Save the Cat, by Blake Synder. He has some great advice on writing flawed characters. I think there are two things that are important, the character must have a motivation to do what they do and they must have some redeeming characteristics. Hopefully, while people may not agree with what Helen does, they understand why she does it. It was also important for me that people see that Helen was a good person who was doing a bad thing versus being a bad person.
Plus, who likes someone who is perfect? We like to see flaws in others, it makes us feel better about our own.
What is your best advice for aspiring writers hoping to be published?
My best advice is the easiest- read! Read a lot! I believe books are the best teacher. If there is a book you really like then break it down chapter by chapter. What did you like? When were you sucked into the story? Did you cry? If so- when? You can also do the same thing with a book you hated. Publishing is a hard business. It can take a long time and there will be a lot of rejection on the way. The good news is that as a writer you can keep getting better and that part of the puzzle is in your control.
Thank you so much, Eileen, for the interview and offering to give away a signed copy of your book to one lucky commenter! Find out more about Eileen and her books at her AUTHOR WEBSITE and BLOG.
Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood Signed Book Giveaway Entry Details: 1) You will be entered once by reading and commenting on this post (or yesterday's Spread The Awesome review post). Please leave your email address with your comment. 2) Your name will be entered twice in the random drawing if you comment on both today's and yesterday's posts. 3) You will also receive an extra entry for each online shout-out you give about this giveaway (tweet on twitter and/or blog about it). Be sure to leave links to your shout-out(s) in the comment section of today's or tomorrow's post to earn the extra entries.
***If you comment on both posts, plus blog and tweet about the giveaway, your name will be entered 4 times in the random drawing, increasing your odds of winning. The lucky winner will be chosen at random from all the entries I receive and will be announced next Monday (May 10th). Good luck!***
I hope the past five days of interviews inspired, entertained and/or encouraged you to chase your own dreams. If you haven't already, please remember to read some or all of the other inspirational interviews on these blogs:
Today, I'm closing this wonderful week of inspirational interviews with debut author Denise Jaden. Her young adult novel, Losing Faith, will be available this fall.
Tell us about your book. Losing Faith is due out September 7, 2010 from Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster. After Brie’s sister, Faith, dies in a mysterious accident, Brie uncovers her sister’s role in a dark and twisted religious cult…a cult that now wants Brie as a member.
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publication? The road to finding an agent was definitely an arduous one for me. I queried three different novels over several years and now have enough rejections (yes, I kept them!) to easily wallpaper a room. I always kept about five queries out with agents and replaced those (or reworked my query and book) as rejections rolled in. At the time, I was also submitting short stories to magazines, and though I don’t believe you can ever actually become immune to rejection, it certainly became easier for me because of the regularity of it. The first offer I received for representation is still the moment I consider the most rewarding of my career so far. It was the first time I felt truly validated as a writer, the first time an industry professional used the “L” word about my writing. I still have her message saved on my answering machine.
Was there ever a time you felt like giving up? Why didn't you? I think anyone who seriously pursues publication will feel like giving up from time to time. It’s a hard business! And to be honest, I did give up on the idea of getting published several times. What made me continue to write, and eventually submit again, was learning to fall back into love with words and sentences, characters and stories. I believe that this process of embracing the creative side and temporarily forgetting the business side is what helps breathe life into my stories. I’m in a better mood when I write and express my creativity every day, and what I always have to do is come back to the writing for the sake of writing. Publication is a secondary goal for me, and I won’t regret any of my writing, even the pieces that will never see the light of day.
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and telling us about Losing Faith and your publication journey, Denise!
Today, the inspiration continues from this interview with debut author Gae Polisner. Her young adult novel, The Pull of Gravity, will be available in 2011.
Tell us about your book. The Pull of Gravity is my first YA novel. It’s about two kids who go on a brief road trip to keep a promise to a dying friend and maybe fall in love and learn a little bit about Steinbeck in the process. It’s slated to be released spring 2011, by Farrar Straus & Giroux, Books for Young Readers. I love the kids in it – Nick & Jaycee – they’re really funny and real together. And a piece of trivia, the title comes from a Yoda quote that appears in the book, but you’ll have to read it to know where and why.
Can you tell us a little about your road to publication? It took me about six years of shopping my first manuscript, a piece of women’s fiction called The Jetty to get agented. You heard me, six years! The Jetty got some great editorial feedback (and was a Top Semifinalist in the first Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest), but never got published. In the meantime, I wrote The Pull of Gravity and another women’s fiction novel. Gravity got picked up first (a deal, finally, eight years after I set out to get one!), but I still have huge hopes for my women’s fiction. And, fyi, the editor who ultimately fell in love with and bought The Pull of Gravity came my way through a stroke of pure luck (not my agent). These days, I believe getting published almost always takes some luck, plus the talent to back it up when it comes your way.
Was there ever a time you felt like giving up? Why didn't you? Not really. I’m a lawyer, a mother, a wife. I’ve been around a long while. And I knew I wanted this more than anything. In my many years on this planet, I’ve learned I’ll pretty much accomplish anything I want to, as long as I keep trying. So, the only option was to keep trying. And, see, voila!
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and telling us about The Pull of Gravity and your publication journey, Gae!
Today, I'm continuing this week of inspirational interviews with author Bettina Restrepo. Her young adult debut, Illegal, will be available in 2011.
Tell us about your book. Illegal is the story of Nora, a Mexican immigrant who crosses the border illegally to find her missing father in Houston. We are all immigrants, so this story just isn’t about one nationality looking for family in a Texas town. It’s about how we love and survive.
I started Illegal in 2002, and it was accepted by Katherine Tegen Books, Harper Collins, in April 2009. Illegal will be in stores in January 2011. Nine years.
Can you tell us a little about your path to publication? Illegal was the book that taught me how to write, because I had to write it over and over again. My main character, Nora, began her “life” as a nine year old searching for a lost book. She grew into a 14 year old searching for her missing father across the border in Texas. This happened through revision. Lots of it.
Illegal was also rejected by twelve publishing houses (including Harper Collins in 2004) and over thirty literary agents during its pre-acceptance life – and I am grateful. The book wasn’t ready and had not found its proper home. I NEEDED the no (although each time it hurt). Now, I know have the best book I could write.
When I was first starting out, Cynthia Leitich Smith told me, “You don’t want to be published fast. You want to be published well.” It is my mantra today – because I am impatient.
While I was working on the book, I did lots of other things; magazine articles for children and adults, a monthly column for a glossy under different names, fired an agent, found another agent, published a picture book, quit my “paying” job to be a mommy, became a mom to a learning difference child, and read thousands of books. It helped that all of my eggs were not in one basket. When one egg broke, I didn’t feel like the entire henhouse was coming down. Today, I feel like a juggler of eggs.
How did I find my agent? The first time – a conference. We didn’t work out- which sometimes happens. The second time - a query letter.
After my first agent and I parted ways, I knew that I wanted someone with an editorial eye and a nurturing spirit.
I researched a long list and was received many full manuscript requests – but I wanted someone who was looking at me as a career writer, not just a quick sell. That person became my forever agent - Blair Hewes, of Dunham Literary.
Was there ever a time you felt like giving up? Why didn't you? Yep. I convince myself that I am an utter failure and tie myself into knots. After a considerable amount of self torture, I look back at what I have accomplished in one year, three years, nine years. I re-read the rejections letters. I re-read some of my terrible stories. I realize that I have matured. I savor the fact that skills I wished for years ago are now turning into my writer muscles. Feel the pain and then decide it won’t kill you. Take a nap, walk outside, pet the dog…. Then start again.
Then, occasionally, I pick up an application from Starbucks. Just. In. Case.
My advice to writers: Your story does not have to be on a bookshelf to have meaning. Write for the craft and the art of the story well told.
This is a picture of Bettina's "little man" saying, "Put down the manuscript and PLAY!"
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and telling us about Illegal and your publication journey, Bettina!
Today, I'm continuing this week of inspirational interviews with debut author Sara Bennett Wealer. Her young adult novel, Rival, will be available in 2011.
Tell us about your Book. RIVAL is a high-stakes duet between two seniors--once friends, now enemies--who are preparing to go up against each other in a major singing competition. To Brooke, winning means escaping the in-crowd for life as a professional musician. Kathryn, meanwhile, sees victory as the key to a much-needed college scholarship. As the big day nears, each girl must face her fears about the future, her scars from the past, and the fact that the person she hates most might just be the best friend she ever had.
RIVAL will be released in Jan/Feb 2011 by HarperTeen.
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publication? When I started querying agents (for a book I wrote before RIVAL), I actually landed the first one I ever contacted. But it turned out we weren't the right fit, which proves what everybody always says about taking your time and making sure you partner with the agent who's right for you. I know that folks who feel stuck in the query trenches right now are reading that going, "Easy for you to say! You're agented and have a book deal!" I know how it feels to be so desperate you think you'll take anybody who comes along with an offer, because my second agent search took a lot longer than the first one did. But I still ended up turning a couple of agents down because I'd learned my lesson the first time. When I finally hooked up with Holly (Root at Waxman Literary), I'd done my research and knew she'd be a great advocate for my work, and I was right!
Was there ever a time you felt like giving up? Why didn't you? I felt like giving up several times! Even after I'd landed an agent. Because getting a good agent doesn't automatically mean you'll get a book deal. Holly and I did a lot of work to get me to this point, and there were never any guarantees that all of the revisions and submissons were going to lead anywhere in the end. The urge to give up was even worse during those long, dark days when I was checking my email every half hour and either getting rejections or no responses, all the while struggling to keep myself motivated to write something new. When you're working toward publication, you have tons of opportunities to walk away. You're the one who sets your schedule (work on the book tonight or watch Dancing with the Stars?) and let's face it - if you let the dream fizzle out, nobody else really cares. You're only letting yourself down. So you have to talk yourself into continuing to move forward. In my case, I figured I'd come too far to give up. I believed in my books and in myself as a writer, and I'd read enough in my genre to know my work could stand up to most of what was out there. I tell people it's like banging your head against a brick wall. You get to a certain point where the next blow could be the one that knocks it down, so you tell yourself you're either going to end up with brain damage or you're going to make it to the other side. But either way, you are NOT going to stop.
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and telling us about Rival and your publication journey, Sara!
I'm beginning this week of inspirational interviews with debut author Kathy McCullough. Her young adult novel, Delaney Collins, F.G., will be available in 2011.
Tell us about your book. The book is called “Delaney Collins, F.G.” and it’s being published in November of 2011 by Random House/Delacorte. It’s the story of a teenage girl who discovers that her estranged father is a fairy godmother – and that she’s destined to become one as well.
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publication? I began as a screenwriter and went to film school at Columbia University in New York City. After many years in Hollywood, working a little as a screenwriter (mostly in TV) and a lot reading other people’s scripts and books for different film production companies, I decided to try writing a novel. I’ve always loved young adult and middle-grade fiction, and I was reading a lot of popular kids books for companies like Walden Media, which spurred me on further. I signed up for a children’s writing class with author Karen D’Arc, and the first thing she told us to do was to join the SCBWI, which I did. I attended their conferences, which were always inspiring, and after a lot of stops and starts on various stories, I finally forced myself to finish something – and then I rewrote it about 8,347 times. But, as they say, the 8,347th time is the charm, and I landed agents and they sent it out – and it sold!
Was there ever a time you felt like giving up? Why didn't you? I constantly despair while I’m working on something new that I’ve lost any talent I ever had, and that what I’m writing is a stupid idea, badly written. But I’ve never really seriously considered doing anything else, because I don’t want to. I’ve learned to live on very little money for the long stretches of time that “starving artists” often experience, because it’s more important to me to have time to write than to buy a new car, for example. (Proof: I drive a used 1990 Honda Civic – but mostly I take the bus...in Los Angeles!) As many writers have said before me: no one who does this is sane. You write because you have to. If you could possibly do anything else, you would. So that’s the short answer: I’m insane.
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and telling us about Delaney Collins, F.G. and your publication journey, Kathy!
This week, I'll be interviewing five fabulous writers and debut authors who have successfully traveled down the long and bumpy road toward publication. I'm spotlighting one of them every day this week to hopefully inspire, entertain and/or encourage you to chase your dreams.
Just when you thought this week couldn't get any better, it does! The best part of this interview bonanza is that I'm not alone in spreading this positive beam of writerly light. Check out these other blogs (links below) each day this week for more inspirational interviews from writers who have book deals or agents, or both.
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
I'm the author of THE LIPSTICK LAWS, a young adult novel published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt on April 4, 2011. I'm repped by Sarah Davies of Greenhouse Literary Agency.
