Nicky Peacock's Blog, page 7

Interview with Wattpad author Rowena Black

Tell us about your writer’s journey…

I started writing three years ago but that’s not saying much since I’m only sixteen. I’m a huge book nerd so it only made sense for me to start writing. My cousin told me about Wattpad last year and I’ve writing on the website ever since. Since writing on wattpad I’ve realized that everybody has that one thing they’re good at and writing is my thing. I’ll be going to Interlochen Arts Academy over the summer where I will be working with a little publisher on my books.

What do you love about being a writer?

The thing I love most about writing is being able to create new worlds. I always joke around say that writers are like gods, we can create and destroy life. I’ve never enjoyed anything more than bringing a new character to life.

What’s been the best part of being on Wattpad?

The best part of wattpad is the experience. I originally went on wattpad for a confiden ce boost. I wanted to know if people would like my work. Never in a million years did I expect the response I received.

How do you deal with bad comments?

To be completely honest I haven’t had any bad comments. I’ve received constructive criticism but those comments only make my work better. Like I said before I’m always genuinely surprised that so many people enjoy my books.
If you could have dinner with any literary character, who would it be and what would you eat?

That’s hard but I’d probably say Jace Herondale. He’s been my literary crush ever since I read the Mortal Instruments two years ago. And of course we would either have mu shu pork or mangoes since those are Jace’s favorite food.

Vampires – do you prefer them as sexy leads or blood hungry monsters?

I prefer vampires as sexy blood thirsty monsters. Attractive villains always make a story more interesting.
 
If you had a time machine, which era would you go back to and why?

The time period I love the most is the Renaissance. So if I had to travel back in time it would probably be to the 1300s-1600s. There is a small chance that I might die of disease but there is also a chance I could meet Henry VIII or Leonardo Da Vinci. Even though it seems silly, I would risk my health to meet Da Vinci.

What life advice do you wish you’d been given sooner?

Don’t care about what other people think of you. Ever since I stopped caring about other people’s opinions I’ve been much happier.

If you were a supernatural creature, what would you be and why?

If I could be any supernatural creature I would be a witch. I’ve always loved witches. I would dress up like one on a Halloween as a kid. By the time we learned about the Salem Witch Trials in school I was completely in love with the idea of magical powers. I think every teenager can agree with me when I say witches are the coolest supernatural creature because they can turn their teachers into frogs.

Where do you write best?

This is going to sound weird but I write best in my family’s basement. When I was a chi ld I would go down there and play make believe. I’m too old to play now but my imagination always becomes overactive when I’m in the basement.

What was the last book you read, and what were your thoughts on it?

The last book I read was Omertà on Wattpad and I loved it. Ferro and Scarlett have the most messed up relationship ever. After reading about their troubles I feel very hopeful for future relationships. Because I know whoever I date next will never have me at gun point during our first date.

If you didn’t write in your genre, which other would you prefer and why?

If I didn’t write in paranormal I would probably be a fantasy writer. They’re pretty similar, so I wouldn’t have to change much about my writing.

Where can fans find you online?

My fans can follow me on Twitter @rowena_black

Check out Rowena’s books on Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/RowenaBlack
Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: Rowena Black, wattpad

Interview with Wattpad author Angela Merlo

Tell us about your writer’s journey…
It’s really hard to keep this answer concise. It’s been a long journey, a sad journey, one connected to my personal struggles with anxiety and depression. Fast forward through all of the, I can say that in the spring of 2014, I had an unfinished manuscript that I’d been playing with for years. An author I admired and a few other people were impressed by it and encouraged me to get serious about finishing and promoting the project.

Later that year, I joined Wattpad and began syndicating chapters of my novel, Devil’s Lake. I was a bit sheltered from other author’s ideas and ambitions about success on Wattpad.  I was easily impressed, and kept waiting for the chapter that would have zero reads, or the day the book would stop ranking. I suppose that’s my whole strategy for being happy. Anticipate the worst so that you’re expectations are always exceeded. Maybe that’s why I always get anxious when I’m tempted to raise my expectations and hopes.

My journey hasn’t been like some of the authors I’ve admired on Wattpad, but I still appreciate the successes I’ve had. Devil’s Lake reached #4 in its genre about a month after Wattpad began featuring it. It occasionally makes it back into the top ten or very near there. I’ve been aiming to self publish a paperback for awhile, all without the anticipation of making any real money off of it.  I’ve still tended to have that pessimistic approach of “Throw it out there without expecting a bite. Maybe something will surprise you.”

But with that said, I have been growing a little more confident and did recently write a story for the #OnceUponNow contest. Honestly, it’s the most light-hearted work I’ve written that I actually think is good. Amazingly I like my characters. They’re just a little eccentric in a fun way, rather than the dark and depressing way I’ve always defaulted to. Maybe that’s just a reflection on how much I’ve grown since I began writing Devil’s Lake. I don’t know. I am excited about the contest though and feel more enthusiastic. Even though I feel prepared for it not making it, it doesn’t feel as threatening to hope for it. So that’s got to be a good thing.

What do you love about being a writer?



I think it’s more about being in love with the story and characters you’ve developed than with anything else. I am always surprised when I hear so many authors complain that they hate editing. I enjoy editing far more than I do drafting. The story and characters are far more fleshed out in you mind by the time you complete a draft than when you have a mere outline.

I once had someone point out to me that this might mean I didn’t spend enough time planning the story and developing the characters before I began writing. That may be true. Devil’s Lake especially has involved lots of rewritten chapters and revisions. It’s been a learning process even with the planning I did ahead of it.

I do think I could write a story faster and more organized than this one was (if I’m passionate enough about the project to start it), but I don’t think any author magically gets there by attempting to restrict themselves from the path of mistakes. Those paths teach you more than merely “what not to do.”

What’s been the best part of being on Wattpad?

The community is amazingly supportive, and its a good place to build your initial band of followers and supporters. Recently I became a part of the Wattpad Community Toast Group on Facebook. It’s still pretty new. It started with RK Close organized an online toast for Juliet Lyons to celebrate sending off her manuscript to her publisher. Primarily it’s about toasting book launches.

Largely it seems that the most successful writers on Wattpad don’t just have talent but really network together to help each other. Even when it comes to the #OnceUponNow competition I’m competing in, there’s a supportive vibe and I think the platform is really designed to encourage that sort of interaction rather than to look at each other as mere competition.

But I suppose maybe what I love about Wattpad is the access to readers. I love getting comments from my readers. I get teary-eyed just thinking of the number of people who’ve read my work. I’ve never had this many people read my work willingly.  Friends and family always seem to afraid they’ll hate it. They’ll read three sentences and tell you it’s wonderful and then go on about having no time to read. At least that’s been my experience.

Wattpad has given me a great boost in self-confidence. I’m so happy people enjoy my work.


If you could have dinner with any authors, who would it be and what would you eat? Oh goodness! I haven’t a clue. I’ll say this. If I could get a phone booth time machine and do a Bill and Ted, I’d gather up GK Chesterton, CS Lewis, and JRR Tolkien, put them in a pub and just listen to them talk. Maybe I’d throw in Flannery O’Connor as well, but I’m not sure she would stay.



Vampires – do you prefer them as sexy leads or blood hungry monsters?



Do you mean do I prefer Dracula or Twilight? I’ve only read the first Twilight book. It’s not as terrible as some people make it out to be. Certainly the level of it’s success is a head-scratcher. It’s not that good. I’ve also never been that much of a Dracula fan. I like Carmilla better.I’d say, though, it was really the early 90’s re-revival series that really got me first into vampires. At 10 years old, I did find Barnabus frightening, and yet by the time the show got to his relationship with Victoria Winters, I really wanted them together. I loved his internal battle.

In high school, my favorite author was LJ Smith. The Vampire Diaries were originally published in the early 90’s, so by the time I started reading her work, she was publishing “The Night World series.” Everyone loved Ash Redferd, but I still loved Poppy and James’ story over any of the series. Poppy had pancreatic cancer and was dying. James, the vampire, was offering to save her life.

I’d say, I don’t think it’s either/or.  It’s both. Meyer’s vampires, especially as they come across in the film, aren’t scary for reasons beyond the romantic elements.

Where can fans find you online?


They can find me on Wattpad at www.wattpad.com/light-in-darkness (or just search @light-in-darkness).
They can friend or follow my personal author profile on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AMerlo.light .
My blog is angmerlo.wordpress.com . My twitter handle is @AuthorMerlo though most of my posts are fed from Facebook. Twitter frustrates me to no end.

Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: #onceuponnow, Angela Merlo, devil's lake, Dracula, light-in-darkness, the frog and the beast, Twilight, vampires, wattpad

Interview with Ruby Knight

What do you love about being an author?

How much time do you have? Is there a character limit? Kidding, well I actually started out submitting my work to agents traditionally- slush pile land. I read and re-read Stephen King’s book On Writing and I made a lot of writing/author friends. I really started to believe in myself after attending a writers conference in New York City a few years ago. Two months after that conference I wrote the first draft of The Sway. It got a lot of TLC, before one of my critique partners suggested I submit it to Penner Publishing and I did. Without an agent, I was going through a divorce in my personal life so I kind of forgot I submitted it. When I got the call for acquisition I was shocked and stoked and literally was jumping up and down outside my classroom. (I teach sophomore US History) That’s where we are now, and I’m here with you. :)

If you could have dinner with any literary character, who would it be and what would you eat?

Ummm… I’m going to have to say Rowan, from Sarah J Maas’ Throne of Glass series. If you haven’t read it yet, you’re welcome.

If your book was to be made into a movie, who would you cast as the leads?

Cole: Scott Eastwood

Julia: Chloe Moretz

Mikey: Dave Franco

Hank: Eric Dane

Vampires – do you prefer them as sexy leads or blood hungry monsters?

Sexy leads who are blood hungry monsters.

If you had a time machine, which era would you go back to and why?

I’m dying to live as an heiress in Downton Abbey. Yes please!

What life advice do you wish you’d been given sooner?

Be who you are, without apology. People will like you and hate you and it will usually have nothing to do with you– and everything to do with them. So don’t seek to impress others, be blissfully happy doing you.

If you were a supernatural creature, what would you be and why?

I can choose a superhero, right? Because I would totally be Black Widow. She’s bad ass and sexy. Hello girl crush.

Where do you write best?

Outside on my patio.

What was the last book you read, and what were your thoughts on it?

I finished the Pierce Brown…Red Rising series– Morning Star, yeah amazing brilliant writing. Also, Pierce Brown is single. Someone please get me a date with him!

If you didn’t write in your genre, which other would you prefer and why?

Actually I am writing a historical fiction piece right now, that I’m feeling totally out of my realm, because I have no supernatural elements in it at all. When I’m not writing the sequel to the Classified series that is.

Where can fans find you online?

You can interact with me most on my Twitter @rubewrites !

I’m also on Facebook, Goodreads, and you can check my website too, http://www.ruby-knight.com/ …but honestly I am the worst at updating that See-no-evil monkey

Thank you

Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: Downton Abbey, historical, Penner publishing, Ruby Knight, The Sway

Interview with Paula Kennedy

Tell us about your publishing journey.

My first full length novel, Angels of the Night: Discovery (Book 1), was published with Champagne Books in 2011. Before 2011, I’d written some articles for a local magazine and my university newspaper as well as penning stories of my own that never made it further than my computer hard drive. Champagne Books is an amazing publisher to work for and so I continued on with the Angels of the Night series and released Divinity (Book 2) in 2012. The third of four planned books in the Angels of the Night series, Deception (Book 3), will be out at the beginning of June 2016. I have another standalone novel, Keeper of the Gate, published with Evernight Teen in 2014.

I’ve recently signed with a literary agent, the amazing Sue Miller from Donaghy Literary, and I’m extremely excited to work with her. Stay tuned!

  What do you love about being an author?

Authors rule the world! We are your imagination, your fantasies, your dreams. Movie ideas that go on to entertain audiences all over the world originated in the mind of a single person. That thought is pretty powerful.

Oh and I love to write! If I’m not writing I’m thinking about writing.

If you could have dinner with any literary character, who would it be and what would you eat?

I would love to have dinner with Jamie Fraser from the Outlander series. I think I’d take him for some fast food!

If your book was to be made into a movie, who would you cast as the leads?

For this question I’m going to focus on Keeper of the Gate published with Evernight Teen in 2014. Devin and Annalisa are the two leads in this story and I always envisioned Zac Efron as Devin. I’ve always struggled to cast a female in the role of Annalisa. Any thoughts?

What life advice do you wish you’d been given sooner?

This is a great question. The advice I wish I’d been given sooner is to not be afraid to put your heart into what you write. This is risky for authors because they open themselves to criticism, but I’ve come to learn over the years that in order to grow you must first see your faults.

Where do you write best?

Strangely enough, I write best sitting on my couch with the television blaring. I can’t work in an office or any quiet area for that matter. This has been true since university and I often found myself studying or working on essays in the campus lounge amid the chaos and noise.

What was the last book you read, and what were your thoughts on it?

Although I’m still working my way through the series, the last complete book I read was Riot by Jamie Shaw. I’m on book three right now, Chaos. I. . .loved. . .Riot and found my first rock star book boyfriend in its pages! If you’re interested in reading my review you can find it here on my blog. https://paulakennedybooks.wordpress.com Jamie is an amazing author who knows how to hold your heart strings hostage right until the end. Damn it Joel!

  If you didn’t write in your genre, which other would you prefer and why?

I’ve always been a fan of science fiction and would love to dabble in that genre. As for the why, I love how conventional rules can be broken.

Where can fans find you online?

Come and visit me on Twitter, Facebook and of course my blog. Thanks for stopping by!

https://paulakennedybooks.wordpress.com/

https://twitter.com/PKennedyBooks

https://www.facebook.com/paula.kennedy.37

 

Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: angels of the night, Evernigh teen, keeper of the gate, outlander, Paula Kennedy

Blog tour for Lost in Wonderland

Tour Schedule

May 2

3 Partners in Shopping – Spotlight 

Trina’s Tantilising Tidbits – Spotlight

May 3

With Love for Books – Guest Post

Eskie Mama Reads – Spotlight

May 4

A Passion for Romance – Author Interview

May 5

Em & M Books – Spotlight

Queen of All She Reads – Spotlight 

YA Book Divas – Spotlight 

Natural Bri FB page – Spotlight

May 6

Willow Star Serenity Blog  – Review

Natural Bri FB Page – Spotlight

Reading in Sarah’s Corner – Spotlight

 

Filed under: Social Media Links

Lost in Wonderland by Nicky Peacock – out now!

My new series, The Twisted and the Brave has kicked off today with the first book, Lost in Wonderland.

The Twisted and the Brave, 1

Monsters, serial killers, and imaginary friends—being a Wonderlander can be murder… 

Once upon a time, Kayla was lost. Then she found Wonderland, but not the one you know. Run by ex-government agents and funded by an eccentric Silicon Valley billionaire, this Wonderland is the name of a collective of highly trained vigilantes who hunt serial killers. Now Kayla, aka Mouse, works tirelessly alongside her fellow Wonderlanders, Rabbit and Cheshire, baiting dangerous murderers. But even her extensive training hasn’t prepared her for the return of her older brother… 

Shilo has spent most of his life in an insane asylum, convinced his mother was abducted by a sinister Alaskan monster who lures the lost away to feast upon their flesh. And now he’s certain that his sister is in the same monster’s crosshairs. But if Shilo is going to save what’s left of his family, he’ll have to convince his sister that maybe, just maybe, we’re all a little mad.

14+ due to violence and adult situations

Excerpt:

Before I can scream, he stuffs me in his trunk. It is dark, smelly, and contains an empty plain black plastic bag and a dirty shovel; these are not good signs. I put my hands to the top of the trunk and push. It is locked. I wasn’t getting out till he wanted me to. I resign myself to curl into a ball, the acidic-smelling sweat of his palms still imprinted on my bare, narrow shoulders. I should be listening out for the car engine, hearing when it slows for corners or revs on open roads. I should be testing the resilience of all the sides of the black space around me. I should be doing all the things they tell you to do, but I don’t. I simply stay in my little ball, quiet and patient.

The car bounces up and down and I realize we’re not on the main road anymore. He’s taking me somewhere remote…

We come to a soft stop. The slam of a car door shivers through the metal of the vehicle. I know what is going to happen. It’s so inevitable that it’s almost laughable. Death comes to everyone at some point; what is that saying, “No one can avoid death and taxes.” Funny the things you remember when you’re in danger. I suppose your brain tries to distract you with all sorts of useless crap, anything to keep you from shutting down and freaking the hell out. I grab at my forearm, an almost robotic reaction, feeling down it to check that my tracking chip is still there. The hard edges beneath my skin make me smile. My small, metallic friend never lets me down, never abandons me.

The lid to my dark place is pulled up and I see him. His face is blank. There’s no hint of emotion or even intent other than what can be derived through his actions. His hands are sturdy as he pulls me from the trunk and stands me up before him. Being barely five feet tall, I only stand to his chest. I look down to the ground between us and see the cheapest sneakers in the world, ones probably made by enslaved third-world children. Man this guy is pure evil.

“Don’t worry, girl.” He puts a hand on my cheek and graces me with a twitchy smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. The hand lingers longer than usual polite social circles would allow. My eyes widen. I know that I am one of many girls he has brought here—one of the many that he planned to rape and strangle, then leave used and vacant by the side of the road, a hollow tangle of floppy limbs. How do I know this? Because I know him. I was looking for him. I’m not who, and what, he thinks I am. I’m not a fourteen-year-old girl, scared by the death sentence before her. No, I am something else entirely.

I smack his palm from my cheek and use the momentum to reach over with my other hand to grab his wrist. I position myself in front of him and use his own body weight to pull him down and over my now bent back. He hits the ground so hard he cries out. I keep hold of his arm and twist it around and under. He moves his body, angling it in the same direction in an attempt to ease the tension I’m creating.

“Stop!” he yells, those crappy sneakers frantically pumping to find enough purchase to get him to his feet.

I push harder till I hear the bone snap. He screams, but thanks to the remote location he has taken us to, no one hears him. I let go of his wrist and turn to retrieve the shovel from the trunk. I take a minute to loom over him. He is trying to get up, but the weight and pain of his broken arm is putting him off-balance. Funny how fragile the human body actually is, even one that belongs to a sick serial killer.

I raise the shovel and smack it over his knees. He howls and tries to shield himself with his good arm. An arm that is not intact for long, as I turn the shovel and this time use the edge to dig into his flesh. Blood pools on the ground and he begins to crawl. I’m not sure where he’s trying to go. I think his goal is just to get away from me. I walk the few steps to where he’s managed to drag himself to then bring my weapon down hard onto his skull. The splintering sound of bone meeting metal is my cue to get on with the operation. I pull my cell phone from my pink sparkle-covered jeans and dial the only number on it. An automated message greets me. “Off with their heads.” I take a breath and look over at the mangled mess of the serial killer they knew as the Doll Maker. “Here, here,” I say. The call rings off and I know that I have to make my exit now. They will come and clean up the mess. No one will ever know that the Doll Maker was an accountant with really bad shoes, and I mean really bad. It’s not till they’d stopped moving that I see peeling luminous go-faster stripes adorning their sides. Yeesh. The blood splatter does little to hide their ugliness.

I stoop and check for a pulse, finding none. His skin is already clammy and I could swear slightly rubbery, but in truth it is probably just my imagination.

I throw down the shovel and begin the trek back to civilization. The night air is bitter and cruel, so I pull up my lilac hood against it. An unmarked black car zooms past me. They were quick tonight. I rub my hand up my forearm and feel the comfort of my chip. My chip is a constant friend, albeit a chatty one; they will always be able to find me, know where I am, where I’ve been. Not that I’m complaining. I was lost once, when I was very little. And although that fear bubbles in my mind every day, I beat it back with my chip. I’ll never be lost again; or at least that is what my adoptive parents tell me. Wonderland doesn’t lose its operatives.

Buy links:  Evernight Teen  Amazon UK  Amazon US  Amazon Canada 

Filed under: Book Review, Nicky's Posts - My ramblings... Tagged: Evernight Teen, lost in wonderland, Nicky Peacock, Teen reads, the twisted and the brave, thrillers for YA

Interview with Angela Brown

Tell us about your publishing journey…

As a hybrid author – self-published and published through the query process – mines is a journey filled with its fair share of ups and downs. The excitement of getting to share my stories is a high that outweighs many of the down times. I started with self-publishing an erotica novel under my pen name, Rayven Godchild. Along with a great online and IRL bud, Gwen Gardner, I hopped over into self-publishing young adult novels. Beacon started as another project I considered self-publishing, but I decided to put it through the query process and was thrilled to have it picked up by Evernight Teen.

What do you love about being an author?

Story-telling. I get that being an author means writing well, but there’s a certain joy I feel in getting to let my imagination run wild in building a story that makes being an author so wonderful.

If you could have dinner with any literary character, who would it be and what would you eat?

That’s a difficult choice, but I would go with Hermione from Harry Potter and we’d eat whatever delectable tasties her wand conjured.

If your book was to be made into a movie, who would you cast as the leads?

Macie would be Zendaya (from Disney’s KC Undercover)
Thane would be Colton Haynes (from Arrow)

Vampires – do you prefer them as sexy leads or blood hungry monsters?

I like them like Eric from True Blood, blood hungry yet sexy about it at the same time lol!

If you had a time machine, which era would you go back to and why?

I’m fine with the era I’m in, though I wouldn’t mind going back to be an apprentice to Madame CJ Walker.

What life advice do you wish you’d been given sooner?

Don’t sweat the small stuff.

If you were a supernatural creature, what would you be and why?

Probably a vampire, one with a suffering heart wishing I didn’t have to hurt humans for my survival, but an understanding that the occasional dinner – minus the kill or turning – would be good for my soullessness.

Where do you write best? 

Seated in my bed :-)

If you didn’t write in your genre, which other would you prefer and why?

I actually would love to try an exciting mystery at some point.

Where can fans find you online?


They can check me out at my…
Blog – http://publishness.blogspot.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AngelaLBrownWrites/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ALBrownwrites
Instagram – tomewriter

Buy links my Evernight Teen novel, Beacon.
Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Beacon-Ripped-Ties-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00PXHHUX0
All Romance ebook – https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-beacon-1684659-168.html
Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: Angela Brown, arrow, Beacon, evernight, teen books, Ya Reads

Interview with C Lee McKenzie

Tell us about your journey…

It’s hard to recall a journey after a few years, but I do remember finding an article in a newspaper that upset me. I wanted to write about it, and I intended to write an article. That article somehow morphed into a story, and then into a book that I titled Bad Ass Attitude, but became Sliding on the Edge. So you see journeys are complicated because they don’t go along a well-lighted and well-paved freeway. However, I sold that story. I sold a second one, and it was published. All was well, and then the publisher shut down its YA division. A year later I put both books out on their own. My last two young adult novels, Double Negative and Sudden Secrets, came out through Evernight Teen.

I have two others with an agent, so I’m kind of waiting right now to see what happens. The journey hasn’t ended; it has only slowed a bit.

What do you love about being an author?

I love to make the stories the way I want them. That’s huge for me.

I also love meeting writers and readers and talking about writing as if I knew what I was doing. I think those two things are what I love about this endeavor—notice I don’t say work. That implies something I don’t feel. Writing isn’t work. It’s agony, but not work.

If you could have dinner with any author, who would it be and what would you eat?

Hemingway. Fish. Lots of fish with tequila. Not because he was a great writer, but because he created a fantastic mystic. Of course, he was not a very nice man. . .most of the time. And so the mystic!

If your book was to be made into a movie, who would you cast as the leads?

Well, I have seven books out, so I’d have to think about which one and why before answering this question. So I’ll come back to this, or wait. . .maybe the best thing to say is I’d like Brant Daugherty (Pretty Little Liars) to play Hutchinson McQueen in Double Negative.

Vampires – do you prefer them as sexy leads or blood hungry monsters?

I steer clear of vampires unless they’re classical or super sexy.

If you had a time machine, which era would you go back to and why?

The WWI era always fascinates me. That could be because it was such a huge shift in the way the world connected. And it could also be because I love the the clothes. Very glam.

What life advice do you wish you’d been given sooner?

Learn how to market. Pure an Simple.

If you were a supernatural creature, what would you be and why?

A Dragon, of course. Not a European one with nasty habits, but a Chinese one that has been man’s second best friend in the Eastern world for centuries. I’m a huge Chinese Dragon fan. My next middle grade book’s titled Sign of the Green Dragon. How could I not hug a dragon?

Where do you write best? 

I have no idea. I write where I am. Editing’s a whole different matter. That happens in my office at my desk with concentration.

What was the last book you read, and what were your thoughts on it?

Laurence Yep’s Dragon Gate. You see, I said I was a huge Dragon fan, so you should not be surprised. But Yep is a brilliant storyteller and I read all his books.

If you didn’t write in your genre, which other would you prefer and why?

I only write in two categories: YA and MG. I haven’t thought about other fiction categories. That’s a lie, BTW. I have thought about it, and actually, since I’m narcing on myself, I have written in other categories. I just haven’t put any of that out there. Not yet.

Where can fans find you online?

My website is http://cleemckenziebooks.com

I’m on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2809083.C_Lee_McKenzie

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cleemckenzie

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cleemckenzie

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleemckenzie/

 

Buy Links:

Amazon Buylinks: Double Negative–http://www.amazon.com/Double-Negative-C-Lee-McKenzie-ebook/dp/B00M3JSV02?ie=UTF8&keywords=double%20negative&qid=1459381405&ref_=sr_1_6&s=digital-text&sr=1-6

Sudden Secrets: http://www.amazon.com/Sudden-Secrets-C-Lee-McKenzie-ebook/dp/B00R75MVFS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1459381462&sr=1-1&keywords=Sudden+Secrets
Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: C Lee McKenzie, Evernight Teen, Sudden Secrets, Teen reads, Ya Reads

Interview with Teresa Richards

Tell us about your publishing journey…

I started writing with the intent to be published several years ago when my youngest son turned one. My older kids were in school and I found I had more time during the day to dedicate to writing. My first book was a hot mess, but it had a lot of heart and I loved every minute spent writing it. I joined a writing group, got some much-needed feedback that improved my writing, and started again on Emerald Bound. I queried for about a year-and-a-half before finding Evernight Teen.

What do you love about being an author?

I love the fact that I can Tell create something out of nothing other than my imagination. (And, okay, some blood, sweat, tears, and most of my spare time). The creative process is so much fun for me, and the excitement of seeing my stories come to life on the page is what keeps me going.

If you could have dinner with any literary character, who would it be and what would you eat?

Becky Bloomwood, star of the Shopaholic series. I think meeting this character would be absolutely hilarious. If Becky were in charge of dinner, we’d probably go someplace fancy and eat something like lobster, but she’d end up either in the kitchen washing dishes to pay for the crystal glasses she broke when her lobster tail flew out of her grip, or crawling underneath the table to hide from an ex-boyfriend who sat down nearby. 

If your book was to be made into a movie, who would you cast as the leads?

Zooey Deschanel would be Maggie.

Amanda Seyfried would be Lindy, but she’d have to dye her hair brown.

Adrian Grenier would be Garon. Mmm… 

Vampires – do you prefer them as sexy leads or blood hungry monsters?

Definitely sexy leads. I’m not a fan of anything scary.

If you had a time machine, which era would you go back to and why?

England, a la Pride and Prejudice. Assuming, of course, that I could pick to be born into a family where I could spend my days reading, playing the pianoforte, and going for long walks instead of feeding chickens and mucking out the stables.

What life advice do you wish you’d been given sooner?

Don’t be in such a hurry to grow up. Being an adult has its perks, but there’s something really special about being a teenager and I wish I would have enjoyed that time in my life more. I spent a lot of time worrying about what my future would be like rather than just enjoying the now.

If you were a supernatural creature, what would you be and why?

I’d be a fairy. Does that count as a supernatural creature? I’d be a fairy because they’re mischievous and they can fly.

Where do you write best? 

I like being at home, but sometimes it’s hard to focus amidst all the other things I need to do (dishes, laundry, cooking, etc—did I mention I have five kids?). So for me, the library works really well. I need complete silence when I write, so I can’t go somewhere where other people are chatting. Another place I get a lot of work done is actually in the car while waiting to pick my kids up from their many activities. Someday I might have the luxury of settling down in my quiet office with a cup of hot cocoa to write all day in my pajamas, but that day has not yet come.

What was the last book you read, and what were your thoughts on it?

I’m currently reading Scarlet, the sequel to Cinder by Marissa Meyer. I know I’m very late to this party, but I’m loving this series (The Lunar Cronicles). So creative and well written!

If you didn’t write in your genre, which other would you prefer and why?

I really enjoy reading historical fiction and I think it would be fun to write, but I’m really bad at history so I don’t think I could ever pull it off. Steampunk would be fun to write as well.

Where can fans find you online?

My website is authorteresarichards.com. I’m on twitter @byutm33 and facebook.com/authorteresarichards/

Buy the book:

http://www.amazon.com/Emerald-Bound-Teresa-Richards/dp/177233524X/

http://www.evernightteen.com/emerald-bound-by-teresa-richards/

Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: emerald bound, Evernight Teen, teen books, teresea richards, Ya Reads

Interview with Peggy Rothschild

Tell us about your publishing journey…

I kind of took the long way ‘round. When I completed my very first manuscript – this is over ten years ago – I sent it off to a number of agents. Imagine my shock when I received an offer of representation from an agent I’d actually queried her in error. (Her one-agent shop was listed as not currently being open to queries.)

The book went on submission, but didn’t sell – which didn’t surprise me. (Which begs the question: Why on earth did I query it when I didn’t think the manuscript was ready?) Then the agent passed away. I didn’t bother to query the next couple manuscripts I completed. For my mystery, CLEMENTINE’S SHADOW, I sent out some queries, but ended up deciding to self-publish – in part to push myself to create a website and to get involved on social media (I LOVE twitter!). I also self-published my second adult mystery, ERASING RAMONA. With my next manuscript, I changed things up a bit and wrote a contemporary YA suspense, PUNISHMENT SUMMER. Then I took part in Pit2Pub, an online Twitter pitch contest where you pitch directly to publishers. Evernight Teen accepted the book and PUNISHMENT SUMMER was printed in October of 2015. A month later, as the result of another contest, Query Kombat, I connected with my new agent, the wonderful Melissa Jeglinski of The Knight Agency.

What do you love about being an author?

I love creating flawed, but relatable characters, and layering in some sort of puzzle or mystery in their story that hopefully engages the reader. When the words are rolling, it’s a rush.

If you could have dinner with any literary character, who would it be and what would you eat?

That’s tough. There are characters I’ve “known” for years like Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone. While I love reading about her, she’s rather prickly, so dining with her – especially when you consider her penchant for peanut butter and pickle sandwiches – probably wouldn’t make my list. I think hanging out with Robert Crais’ Elvis Cole might be fun – the character has a sense of humor and seems pretty easy going – at least when lives aren’t on the line! His character works in Hollywood near Musso and Frank Grill, so I imagine we’d eat there. Since I’m vegan, I’d order veggies while Elvis had a club sandwich.

If your book was to be made into a movie, who would you cast as the leads?

Nicki – Abigail Breslin

Grandpa – Keith Carradine

Wild Bill – Jeremy Renner

Todd – Logan Lerman

Cecilia – Jane Alexander

Since I don’t know the names of any German shepherd actors, I’ll leave finding a suitable dog to play Queenie to the casting director.

Vampires – do you prefer them as sexy leads or blood hungry monsters?

In books, I’m more a sexy lead fan, but in movies, give me the blood-hungry monsters!

If you had a time machine, which era would you go back to and why?

I wouldn’t. I think each year and decade things get better for women. Going back in time would be enormously constricting!

What life advice do you wish you’d been given sooner?

Unclench and breathe!

If you were a supernatural creature, what would you be and why?

I’d  be Fae. They’re long-lived (which is nice) and seem a benign group. So many supernatural creatures seem to want/need to harm humans!

Where do you write best? 

For drafting, I do my best work at my desk. When I get to editing and rewrites, my favorite spot is the swing in our backyard.

What was the last book you read, and what were your thoughts on it?

A friend recommended Liane Moriarty’s books. I started with The Last Anniversary and, as soon as I finished it, downloaded Big Little Lies. Moriarty’s a wonderful story teller and there’s a mystery at the core of each tale.

If you didn’t write in your genre, which other would you prefer and why?

If I didn’t write mystery/suspense, perhaps historical fiction. I enjoy reading other genres – fantasy, magical realism, humor – but I also love doing research and historical fiction would certainly tap into that!

Where can fans find you online?

www.peggyrothschild.net

https://twitter.com/pegrothschild

https://www.facebook.com/peggyrothschildauthor

http://amzn.to/1VIgnLu

http://www.amazon.com/Peggy-Rothschild/e/B00CGCNGP6

http://www.evernightteen.com/punishment-summer-by-peggy-rothschild/

Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: peggy rothschild