C.C. Hunter's Blog, page 44

Five reasons Why I Read

[image error]When I am done writing at the end of a long day, I love to climb into bed with a handsome young man from Regency England, or perhaps a serial killer. Hold on! Perhaps I’d better explain before you misunderstand and the police come knocking on my door. I am talking about climbing into bed with a good book, one that will catch me up and sweep me away. There is nothing more relaxing than to read a book that makes you forget all the troubles of the day and transports you to another place and time. Once I start reading, and I am smack dab in the middle of a scene, I forget everything else. So I no longer care that the dog chewed the corner up my shoe, or that I have a dentist appointment in the morning. I get lost in that world the author created.

That is just one of the fabulous reasons that I read. Why else do I read, you ask? Well, I learn a lot from reading, too. Not only am I studying another author’s craft of weaving a story together, but there’s educational value in reading. I have benefitted from an author’s research. Like did you know that by the sixteenth century there were five distinct and time consuming steps to become legally married? A far cry from running off to Las Vegas to get hitched. But how did I learn this? In a book, of course! Some author had to do her research to make her story work. When I’m writing, I do some researching, too. Sure I make a lot of stuff up, like the FRU. But that’s fantasy and open to my imagination. Other things, however, require research, and I have learned incredible things researching for a book.

Okay, so far we have enjoyment, education and research. Any other reasons to read? Yes! When I read, I get to do things and go places I never thought I could. I have sailed through a rough storm in a tall clipper ship and escaped dragon hunters. Reading is like jumping off tall buildings, experiencing all the adrenaline with none of the real risk. Yup, I do all this from the safety of my bed.

And then there are all the fascinating characters in books. Now you know I love my hubby, but when I read about some really hot, sweet guy, well, love them, too. I have fallen in love over and over again with handsome cowboys, dashing English Earls, tough cops, sweet werewolf guy next door, sexy vampires…the list goes on and on. Every time I pick up a romance, I expect to fall in love with the hero. It is what the author hopes will happen to the readers who pick up their books. That’s why so many of you have written to me telling me Kylie should definitely pick Lucas, or that she absolutely has to pick Derek. Because you have fallen for one (or both) of them, too. You can fall as hard as you like for someone in a book, even someone dangerous. Someone tall, dark, handsome, with a troubled past, eyes so blue you get lost in them, arms that hold you….

Sorry, where was I? Oh, yes, my list of the five reasons why I read. Let’s recap: escapism, education, research, adventure, and hot guys. But wait there is one more reason. And it’s an important one, too. I read for encouragement/inspiration. I read to watch a character in a book deal with, and overcome the problems, stresses, and sometimes dangerous situations that life can plop on our doorsteps. And even if these dangerous situations aren’t likely to happen in real life, like running into rogue vampires, there are some regular humans who can be just as scary. And the point is, I read to see the best in human nature, or in some cases, supernatural nature. Most books have heroes and heroines, and most of these characters learn to deal with, and live life in a manner in which can inspire us. So there you have it, not five but six reasons why I read.

So tell me, why do you read?

What’s Up, Kylie? Round Four

Happy Tuesday, everyone! I’ve got another set of Q&A with Kylie that came from the comments section of my What’s Up, Kylie? blog from April 17th. I love Kylie’s responses this week. Two of the questions are about her real dad, Daniel, and the third is about which animal she’d most like to shift into. I hope you enjoy!

1. If you had the chance to talk to your real father for 1 hour without interruption, what kind of things would you talk about other than the fact that you’re a chameleon? [Question from Faye B.]

C.C.: Oh, this is a great question, Faye B.! Kylie, what do you think?

Kylie: *She crosses her legs and wraps her hands around her right knee.* That’s really a hard question to answer. I mean, I have a lot of questions I’d like to ask him—questions about my heritage, about what it means to be a chameleon, sure. I know he probably doesn’t know everything, but I’ll bet he’s learned a little more now that his mom is with him. But there are other things I’d like to know, too. *She falls silent and I glance over at her to make sure she’s okay. She’s looking down at her hands, obviously lost in thought.*

C.C.: *I clear my throat.* So, what other things would you want to talk to Daniel about?

Kylie: *She shrugs.* Everything, I guess. Like what it was like when he was a kid. If he felt he was different, the way I did. What things were like when he met my mom. I mean, he’s my dad and I never got to know him. We’d have a lot to catch up on.

C.C.: And an hour wouldn’t be long enough. *I smile, knowing that’s how I would feel if I were her.*

Kylie: *She nods.* Exactly.

2. You now know about Daniel… And how much your mom loved and still loves Daniel. Do you want your mom to ever meet her “one and only” love once she crosses over again? To be with “the one that got away” from her? [Question from Aldrick Adorno]

C.C.: Another great question about Daniel. Thanks, Aldrick Adorno. *I turn to Kylie.* Do you think you’re up to answering another question about Daniel, or do you need to take a short break?

Kylie: *She shakes her head.* No, I’m okay. I’ve actually thought about that, you know. About my mom and Daniel reconnecting. I wish that could happen now, rather than forty or fifty years from now when Mom passes over, but . . . *She sighs and leans back in her seat.* My mom doesn’t see spirits.

C.C.: Do you wish your Mom shared your gift, Kylie?

Kylie: Sometimes. I mean, I really wish she could reconnect with Daniel, so she could know how much she meant to him. How much she still does. Hey . . . *She shoots me a dirty look.* Don’t get any crazy ideas, Writer Lady! My mom couldn’t handle seeing ghosts.

C.C.: I’d never dream of it.

Kylie: *Kylie gives me a skeptical look.* Look what you did with Burnett in Taken at Dusk.

C.C.: Okay, so maybe I’d dream about it but, trust me. I have no plans to make your mom suddenly start seeing ghosts. *Then I smile my evil author smile.* I actually have a better idea.

Kylie: What’s that supposed to mean?

C.C.: You’ll see.

Kylie: *She rolls her eyes.* I can hardly wait.

3. If you develop powers as a shapeshifter, which animal would you choose to change into and why? [Question from MistyK]

C.C.: Another great question! Thanks, MistyK! *I turn to Kylie.* What do you think?

Kylie: Well, I think it would depend on the circumstances, you know. I sometimes wish I could be invisible, so my first thought is that I might want to change into something really small, like a mouse. *She shrugs.* But that might not work out so well, thanks to Socks. *She furrows her brow in concentration.* So . . . I might choose to turn into a bird. Not a crazy pterodactyl, like Perry does. Something normal. Maybe a hawk. It would be cool to fly.

CC: You mean like a vampire?

Kylie: What are you planning? I can see it in your eyes.

CC: Now, Kylie, why do you act as if I’m always out to do something bad?

Kylie: *Rolls her eyes again.* As if you haven’t written in some bad spots. Look what happened to me in Whispers in Moonrise.

CC: But you survived and are a much stronger person for it, too.

Kylie: Who said I want to be strong?

C.C.: Everyone wants to be strong. And you are amazingly strong. Just ask the readers. They love you. And they’re going to love you even more when they read Whispers at Moonrise.

Thanks, guys! I’ll be bringing you more Q&As with Kylie in the weeks ahead.

C.C.

Street Team

Does anyone know what a Street Team is? No, it isn’t the guys playing basketball on the local playground. Or the kids playing tag at the bus stop. A Street Team is a very special group of people near and dear to an author’s heart. You see, they are the ones who like an author so much that they just have to tell someone about the book.  Have you ever recommended my books to someone searching the shelves of a bookstore for something to read? Have you asked your school librarian to carry my books? Maybe you’ve bought my books for friends just because you wanted to share my books with them. Have you promoted my releases on Facebook, Twitter,  or your blog?  Or posted a review on Amazon or Barnes & Noble?  If so, then you could possibly become a member of my Street Team!

The C.C. Hunter Street Team will consist of fifty fans of the Shadow Falls series.  (I seriously wish we didn’t have to stop at fifty, because all my readers are important to me, but rules are rules.) These are fans who not only read my books, but get so excited about them that they end up telling everyone else to read them, too.  And my publisher St. Martin’s Press/Griffin is going to help you do that.  How? Well, all street team members will receive an early release copy of Whispers at Moonrise, some cool promotional stuff,  and a Shadow Falls t-shirt.  (Sorry, unfortunately for any males out there, the t-shirts are lady’s Ts.  But you are welcome to give it to someone.)

So, how does this help you promote my books?  Well, once you’ve read Whispers at Moonrise, I hope that during the release week, you’ll want to tell everyone about it and encourage them to become Shadow Falls fans, too.  And if you wear your t-shirt, people will ask you about my Shadow Falls series.  But it doesn’t end there.  You’ll also get a handful of bookmarks to give away.

Half of my Street Team members will be selected on their promotional capabilities—those that have the best access to Facebook, Twitter and/or blogs. But to make sure I include all fans, the other half will be selected randomly with a slight focus on demographics. (I wouldn’t want all my Street Team members to be in one state.)  Once you are an official member of the C.C. Hunter Street Team, you will receive sneak previews of titles, covers and other special promotional stuff.  So, what are you waiting for? Do you have what it takes to be a member of the CC Hunter Street Team?

Email me at cc@cchunterbooks.com  with the title “Street Team” in the subject header, and answer these questions:

How many of the Shadow Falls books have you read?
Have you already promoted the Shadow Falls series?  If so, how?
Do you have a Facebook page?  What is the address?  How many friends/followers do you have?
Do you have a Twitter account? What is the address? How many followers do you have?
Do you have a blog? What is the address and name? How many followers do you have?

Oh, and because I want to reward all my fans, I’ll be doing a drawing for all the fans who didn’t get into the team and giving away ten prizes of t-shirts and other cool promotional stuff.

Sorry, but due to mailing costs, I have to limit this to US residents only.

Thanks!

C.C.

 

What’s Up, Kylie? Round Three

Well, it’s another Tuesday and I’ve got another batch of questions from the comments section of my What’s Up, Kylie? blog from April 17th for Kylie to answer.  I know I had a blast reading Kylie’s responses to the questions—I hope you do, too!

Kylie, which type of supernatural in your opinion would enjoy a hot dog the most?  [Question from Jenny H.]

C.C.:   Hmm.  Kylie, what do you think?  I know hot dogs probably aren’t the favorite food of all supernaturals but they are a definite favorite in my house, along with hamburgers, especially for grilling during the summer.  *My stomach starts to growl.* Sorry.  I didn’t have breakfast this morning and my stomach is about to start gnawing on my backbone if I don’t eat something.  And a grilled hot dog sounds pretty good right now . . . especially with some chopped onion and a little yellow mustard drizzled on top.  *I stand up and head across the office to the French doors that lead onto the patio.*  Kylie, why don’t you answer Jenny H.’s question while I fire up the grill?

Kylie:  Wait.  *Her eyes grow wide in disbelief* You’re leaving?  Like, now?  Right in the middle of the interview?  *Her voice rises an octave or two.*

C.C.:   *I glance back at her.*  Is there a problem?  I thought this would be an easy question for you to answer.

Kylie:  *She blushes.*  It is, but . . . *She mutters something under her breath and stares down at her lap.*

C.C.:  I’m sorry, but I didn’t catch that.

*She doesn’t look at me, but I get the message she’s sending loud and clear:  Kylie Galen may communicate with spirits, face down centuries-old rogue vampires and square off against pissed-off werewolves who threaten her pet without so much as batting an eyelash, but the thought of doing an interview alone terrifies her to her core.* 

*Ignoring the growl of my stomach, I sigh and walk back over to join her.*

C.C.:  Okay, so we’re talking hot dogs and supernaturals. *I settle back in my seat.*  Which group at Shadow Falls Academy do you think would enjoy a hot dog the most, Kylie?

Kylie:   Well . . .  *She sits up straighter.*  First, I should probably tell you who wouldn’t enjoy a hotdog, and that’s vampires.  What tastes good to them—and what tastes bad—changed after they were turned.  Food they used to love, like hot dogs, just aren’t appetizing any more.  Weres are the same, to a lesser degree.  Now, having said that, I think that witches probably would enjoy a hot dog the most.  *She grins.*  I know Miranda does, anyway.

If you really had a choice would you change your powers that you have to another power or would you keep everything the way it is? I know that in the books so far you have mentioned that you want to be normal, but being what you are is unique. Why would you want to be normal when you can be unique and different from everyone else? I know it’s hard to be different from everyone and it’s hard to understand your powers, but what you are is what will make you in the future.   [Question from Jennaya from Australia]

C.C.:  Great question, Jennaya!  Kylie, what are your thoughts?

Kylie:  Okay, about my saying that I want to be normal, I really meant that when I said it.  It’s about fitting in, you know?  We all want to fit in.  Because, trust me, nobody wants to be the person that everybody is staring at in the dining hall.   

As for whether I’d want to change my powers for another one, that is kind of hard to answer.  Sometimes, I wish I could do the things the other supernaturals can do, like changing form the way Perry does or being able to calm someone’s fears like Derek and Holiday.  But my own powers are constantly changing, and I have to admit that they’re pretty cool.  Or they would be if I could ever figure out how to control them.

 Kylie, what was going through your mind when you realized 2 hot guys Derek and Lucas liked you? You said you were an outcast at your old school so how did it make you feel?  [Question from Amara]

C.C.:  Oh, great question, Amara.  *I look over at Kylie.*  What do you think?

Kylie:   I know a lot of other girls think I’m lucky to have two guys as hot as Derek and Lucas interested in me.  But when I think about them, I don’t just think of them as being “hot,” ya know?  Well, not all the time, anyway.  I mean, Derek can be so sweet and you can forget all of your troubles when he’s holding you.

C.C.:  I thought you weren’t interested in Derek anymore?  *I flash my evil author smile at her.*

Kylie:  I’m not.  *She blushes a deep shade of crimson.*   Lucas is my boyfriend, and he’s great.  He always makes me feel cherished and protected.

C.C.:  So . . .

Kylie:  So, nothing.  They’re both great in their own ways, but I’m with Lucas now.  And as for feeling like an outcast when I was at my old school, it could be pretty horrible at times.  I never felt like I fitted in there, and I guess I really didn’t.  *She shakes her head and smiles.*  It’s kinda funny, though, because I still don’t fit in at Shadow Falls.  I mean, I still don’t even understand what I am.  I guess I’m just always going to be the outsider.  That said, I do feel as if Shadow Falls in my home.  It’s where I belong.

Okay, guys.  There you have it—a new round of Q&A with Kylie.  I’ll be bringing you the rest in the next few weeks.  Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

C.C.

 

Shadow Falls Camp

[image error]The Shadow Falls Camp is set in the Hill Country of Texas. I chose that as the setting because it is a very pretty part of Texas, and I live close enough that I go there as much as I can. I imagined the camp tucked into a hilly, heavily treed area with quaint cabins, [image error]and the Hill Country fit that image perfectly. It’s a place where Kylie and her friends can run through the trees, swim in the river and laze in the sun. And apparently, I’m not the only one who thought it was perfect for a summer camp. The Hill Country is peppered with summer camps for Texas children. But I grew up in Alabama, so I never got to go to camp in Texas, but I wish I had. So, as an author, I can revisit my youth and get another chance to go to that Texas camp. And if I need some inspiration for Kylie and her friends, all I have to do is zip up past Austin, and suddenly I’m there, in Shadow Falls.

[image error]But how important is the setting for a book? Are there certain settings that appeal to you more than others? Are you more likely to buy a book if you read it is set in a city? Small town? Maybe it is set someplace you have been, so you can identify with it a bit more, visualize it better. Or perhaps it is set someplace you know you’ll never go, like in an imaginary world. Does that make a difference? Tell me what your favorite setting for books are and why? Or if it doesn’t matter, I want to know that, too.

What’s Up, Kylie? Round Two

Happy Tuesday! Today, I’m pulling out three questions for Kylie from the comments section of my What’s Up, Kylie blog of April 17th. Hope you enjoy!

1. If Red would not have died, what would you have done? You were sort of sad when he died, and found out that he wasn’t all that evil. If he wouldn’t have died, would you have become his friend and welcomed him into your life, or would you have told him to leave you alone again, and stay away? [Winning question from Lilly G.]

C.C. Man, is this is good question. And it’s going to be a hard one for Kylie to answer, too. But let me see if I can channel Kylie and get the answer.

Kylie: You think this is a “good question?” Seriously?

C.C.: I do. Any question that makes you think, makes you dig deep for the answer is a good question.

Kylie: You sound just like Holiday. But, fine. I’ll try to answer the question. (She’s quiet for a long moment.) Okay, I think the answer would depend on Red/Roberto’s actions. For example, would he be willing to own up to his mistakes and accept the consequences of his actions? He saved my life, but he also killed two girls, and that’s not a small mistake, no matter how you look at it. But . . . (She falls silent for another long moment.) But my opinion of him changed a lot once I got to know him. Honestly? I feel sorry for him because I think his actions were caused by his grandfather and the upbringing Red was given. If he had lived, I don’t know that he and I could have ever become friends, per se, but I don’t think we would have been enemies, either.

2. Kylie, if you could go back in time to a mistake or a memory and change it, would you? And what would you make different? [Question from Missy]

C.C. Another good question! (I turn to Kylie.) Kylie, what do you think?

Kylie: (A glimmer of pain crosses Kylie’s face.) I wish I could have saved Ellie. (Her voice nearly cracks. Tears glisten at the corners of her eyes and she swipes her right hand at them and looks down at her lap.) I wish that more than anything, although . . . (She takes a deep breath.) I know that I couldn’t have changed things. I know that logically, I mean. (She raises her head.) There are some things that simply have to happen, and that was one of them. Still, in my heart, I wish I could have saved Ellie.

3. Since you’ve found out that you may be able to change your brain pattern, do you intend to attend all of the species groups to learn about each culture and their unique gifts? [Question from J.B.]

C.C. I know the answer to this one. (I smile at Kylie.)

Kylie: You know, I really hate it when you turn all writer-knows-all on me. It’s not fair. Plus, it’s kinda’ annoying.

C.C.: Sorry.

Kylie: Whatever. (She shrugs.) But back to J.B.’s question—which she directed to me, I might add . . .

C.C.: (My smile turns into a full-fledged grin. Doesn’t Kylie know that she’s a figment of my imagination? Probably not. Sometimes, I have hard time realizing it.)

Kylie: I plan to attend meetings for all of the species groups, to learn about their culture and their gifts . . . assuming they will all let me, that is. I would want to do that even if my brain pattern wasn’t changing all the time. It’s about respect and honoring their culture. But since I’m still trying to figure out where I fit, it’s even more important that I learn about the other species.

Okay, so there you go, three questions answered by a channeled Kylie, and some tense moments between an author and her character. LOL. Make sure you leave a comment. And if you have other questions, perhaps for me, C.C. or Kylie, just leave them in the comment section, and I’ll try to post them and the answers in a future blogs.

Winner

As promised, I randomly selected a winner from the correct answers from my May Day Contest. You had a lot of great guesses, but only a few of you came up with the correct answer, which was Monte Carlo, Monaco. That was the Monte Carlo Casino in the background, a casino featured in several James Bond movies.  So, the winner is Abigail. Abigail, please email me at cc(at)cchunterbooks(dot)com and let me know if you prefer and Amazon gift card or a copy of Taken at Dusk.

Instinct

Ellie James is my very special guest blogger today.  Ellie writes the Midnight Dragonfly books that follow the life of a 16-year-old psychic. Her latest book Broken Illusions is being released today, and it is fantastic.

[image error]Sometimes it’s a whisper, that quiet voice inside you when you see someone for the first time. Eyes meet—or they don’t—and something inside you shifts. You’re either immediately drawn, or immediately repelled. Maybe you’re not even consciously aware of the sensation. Maybe you write it off to something that happened earlier that day, to being tired or sad or a thousand other things.

Other times it’s more of a shout, a fierce, urgent voice from somewhere unseen, screaming for you to shove your way across the room before someone walks away—or insisting that whatever you do, you stay exactly where you are. That you don’t cross the room. You don’t walk through the door. You don’t step into the darkness.

And yet, whether the knowing comes through a whisper or a shout (or somewhere in between) the source is the same: instinct. It’s hard-wired in us. Our senses are constantly working in concert, like the most amazingly well-rehearsed symphony, often behind the scenes, to guide us in the right direction, to make the right decisions. It’s the mother who knows when her baby is sick or hungry, and the teen who knows which stranger is going to lead to big trouble. The key is listening. Hearing. Trusting. Often this means ignoring conventional wisdom or logic, advice or what appears to be fact. This is how our ancestors survived, how they knew when to seek shelter or stand their ground, when to go for the kill or run for their lives.

In many ways, instinct is the soundtrack of our lives. In movies or television, music provides the prompt. You can close your eyes and simply listen, and the music tells you when to be afraid, when to run, when to melt.

Unfortunately, in real life we don’t get the pounding percussions (at least not usually!) when we meet someone who is trouble, or the rich, swelling melodies when we meet someone of a whole different kind of trouble! But we know all the same. We know. Maybe the warning comes through a quick chill or a warm rush, a sharp twist of the stomach or a tightening of the throat. Those are all cues—instinct—every bit as much as music in movies. And yet, sometimes we ignore or suppress, pretend it’s not happening, because we don’t like what it’s telling us. We want to trust that incredibly charismatic stranger, or to be part of the “in” crowd. We want to walk into that room or take that chance.

We don’t want our instinct to be true.

The same is true with writing. You have the perfect plot. You’ve slaved over every action and reaction, sweated every twist and hammered out every detail. You know exactly what needs to happen, and why. And yet, once the words hit the page, something…happens. Maybe it’s the whisper. Maybe the shout. Regardless of the form, your inner knowledge it trying to communicate: something is wrong.

Over the years my muse has become increasingly vicious with me. Typically as I’m tired and racing toward a deadline, I try to ignore the whispers. However, rather on the tenacious side, she gets more aggressive, spewing cold through me with little messages that claw at my gut. Foolishly I lean on Tums, dark chocolate, and wine to silence what I don’t want to hear. But with time (and great pain) here is what I’ve come to realize. We know. All of us. Even when we don’t want to, even when we don’t understand why, we know when things are right, and when they’re wrong. We know when to rush forward or regroup, when to retreat or recreate.

With the book I just turned in, the third in my Midnight Dragonfly series, I had a new character painted one way, but he totally needed to be someone else. I tried to convince myself he was fine the way he was, but my muse did her cruel, evil, vicious thing, and ultimately it became in my better interest to change the character, versus ignore what instinct was trying to tell me. And now that he’s fixed, wow, not only do I love him, but he won’t stop whispering his story into my ear!

The key, I’ve learned, is remembering that whether instinct whispers or shouts, the message is the same: Listen up, or you’ll be sorry!

About Ellie James

Ellie James is the author of the Midnight Dragonfly books, a new series about a teenage psychic, dreams that terrify, and secrets with the power to heal, and destroy. Most people who know Ellie think she’s your nice, ordinary average wife and mom of two kids. They see someone who does all that normal stuff, like grocery shopping, walking the dogs, going to baseball games, and somehow always forgetting to get the house cleaned and laundry done.

What they don’t know is that more often than, Ellie is somewhere far, far away, in an extraordinary world, deeply embroiled in solving a riddle or puzzle or crime, testing the limits of possibility, exploring the unexplained, and holding her breath while two people fall in love.

Regardless of which world Ellie is in, her story worlds or the real world, she loves rain and wind and thunder and lightning, the first warm kiss of spring and the first cool whisper of fall, family, friends and animals, dreams, happy endings, and…chocolate chip cookies.

You can follow Ellie on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Midnight-Dragonfly-Books-by-Ellie-James/154988421236309.

Her next book, Broken Illusions, is available from Griffin Teen as of today.

May Day Contest!

Happy May 1st, a day known in many parts of the world as May Day. On this day in Great Britain there are festivals with dancing around a May pole. In Ireland May Day goes back to pagan times when it was known as Beltane. In Sweden it is celebrated as International Workers Day. In France it is customary to give your loved one a sprig of lily of the valley in [image error]return for a kiss. So, you see, it is celebrated internationally. Which brings me to my next point. I have a photo of Taken at Dusk snapped by one of my readers someplace in the world. You have to guess the CITY in which it was taken. But the world is a big place, so of course I am going to give you some clues to help. This city is located in a country that still has a real live prince, who recently married his princess. (How’s that for romantic?) It is also home of a famous car race and a casino featured in several James Bond movies.

Email your answers to me at cc(at)cchunterbooks(dot)com. I will randomly select a winner from the entries with the correct answer. The winner will receive either a $10 gift card to Amazon, or a copy of Taken at Dusk, and be announced on my blog in two weeks. In addition, I want to see your photos of Taken at Dusk snapped in different or creative locations. So come on, use your brain and figure out where my photo was taken and share your own photo of Taken at Dusk. I’ll post some of them on my blog.

And because we’re talking international, I’m opening this contest internationally.

Unanswered Questions

FYI: Since so many of you had some really great questions for Kylie, I have decided to let Kylie answer a few of them on upcoming blogs. So watch for them!

 

Winner

When I posted “What’s Up, Kylie?,” I asked you what question would you ask Kylie. Well, there were some wonderful questions. So, it was hard to pick a winner, but I said I would, so I did. The winner of the $10 Amazon gift card is Lilly G. So, Lilly, you have a week to email me at cc(at)cchunterbooks.com with your address to claim your gift card.

My Big News!

I received a shock this week. My Shadow Falls series made the New York Times Best Sellers List!!!! I hadn’t dared to even hope, but then it happened, and I got that call. After I stopped screaming and dancing around my kitchen, I thought about you because I know I never would have made that list without my readers. So, a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you who have supported me by buying my books. You rock!

Now on to today’s blog, and I have a special treat for you! Fellow Texan and YA author Victoria Scott is guest blogging. She writes dark, humorous books and shares my love of cotton candy.  Victoria has some good advice for those of you who have told me you want to be writers.

The Awesomeness That is Beta Readers

[image error]Beta readers. I love em’ and hate em’ equally. No. That’s not right. I love the ones who love my book, and hate the ones who don’t. True story.

Beta readers are people who read your manuscript before you submit it to agencies/editors and give their opinion on what should change. And for the record, I support the idea of using these peeps even after you’ve signed with an agent or pub house. One bit of advice, though. When utilizing beta readers, always have the following on stand-by:

A reason why you hate each person.

This is crucial to the process. It’ll help you dismiss any negative feedback. Also handy? A list of replacement friends. Any writer should have this. It’s as important as pen and paper.

On the reals, betas have taught me a lot. For example, if I haven’t answered every question man has ever thought to ask within the first 3 chapters, the book is crap. I kid. Kind of. Also, people who don’t read your genre are not good betas. They will hurt your feelings. Trust me. When this happens, reach for your friend-replacement list. I kid. Kind of. Lastly, don’t use as many betas as you have at your disposal. Choose 1-3 people who read your category, and can give honest feedback in a nice way. If you use more than a small group, you’ll get conflicting feedback and it’ll drive you bat shit. I kid. No, I don’t. This one’s true.

Overall, beta readers give me great feedback that I’m confident makes my stories stronger. They push me to answer questions. They ask for more description in some places, and less in others. They tell me what they love, and aren’t afraid to pinpoint what they hate. And they do it all with kindness.

So, once you’re done with your second draft (or first draft, if you’re an edit-as-you-write person), show the entire manuscript to your chosen readers, and incorporate the feedback YOU agree with. It’ll improve your book, and make you a better writer in the future.

Victoria Scott is a YA writer with a deep love for dark and humorous books. Her work is represented by Laurie McLean, and her debut book will be The Collector: A Dante Walker Novel (Entangled Teen, Mar. 2013). Visit her online at http://www.victoriascottya.com/.