Cherie Colyer's Blog, page 41
January 8, 2015
Cover Reveal: Something Wicked by Carol Oates
I'm a couple days late for the reveal, so you may have seen this already, but Carol is such a great writer and I'm excited about her new book, so I wanted to share the news of her upcoming release with my followers.
Isn't the cover for Something Wicked, well... wicked?
New AdultHistorical/Contemporary SupernaturalFrom Omnific Publishing
We don't have to wait much longer to snatch up Carol's new book. Just about two weeks, so mark your calendars!
Releasing January 20, 2015
About the book: Infected by the vampire virus on the streets of Dublin in 1886, the search for a cure brought Henry Clayton to London and to the brink of madness. Salvation and friendship arrived in the form of Dougal, an immortal Highlander with a devilish sense of humor and a love of life.
Amidst turmoil in vampire society, Henry returns to modern day Dublin. The Circle, a cult determined to awaken their Celtic blood god, the first vampire, is once again active.
When Henry meets a young American woman who sees past his human pretense, he fears exposure. However, his fear is overshadowed by curiosity. What is the source of the strange energy between them? Why are vampires stalking her? Determined to find answers, Henry takes Ari into his home and under his protection.
As their connection grows, Henry begins to suspect Ari isn't what she claims to be. Their shared history may hold the answers to his uncontrollable bouts of rage and thirst. Perhaps, even a cure for his wicked blood.
Add it to Goodreads
About the Author
Carol Oates came into the world on Christmas morning, in an elevator. Raised just across the street from the childhood home of Bram Stoker, author of Dracula, it was only a matter of time before Carol’s love of all things supernatural would emerge.
She began experimenting with fiction at school and keeps the notebook containing her first unpublished novel in her desk drawer. Over three decades later, all her stories still begin life scrawled on paper.
When not writing, Carol can be found exploring history, old buildings, castles, and tombs.
Website | Twitter | Facebook
Isn't the cover for Something Wicked, well... wicked?
New AdultHistorical/Contemporary SupernaturalFrom Omnific Publishing
We don't have to wait much longer to snatch up Carol's new book. Just about two weeks, so mark your calendars!
Releasing January 20, 2015
About the book: Infected by the vampire virus on the streets of Dublin in 1886, the search for a cure brought Henry Clayton to London and to the brink of madness. Salvation and friendship arrived in the form of Dougal, an immortal Highlander with a devilish sense of humor and a love of life.
Amidst turmoil in vampire society, Henry returns to modern day Dublin. The Circle, a cult determined to awaken their Celtic blood god, the first vampire, is once again active.
When Henry meets a young American woman who sees past his human pretense, he fears exposure. However, his fear is overshadowed by curiosity. What is the source of the strange energy between them? Why are vampires stalking her? Determined to find answers, Henry takes Ari into his home and under his protection.
As their connection grows, Henry begins to suspect Ari isn't what she claims to be. Their shared history may hold the answers to his uncontrollable bouts of rage and thirst. Perhaps, even a cure for his wicked blood.
Add it to Goodreads
About the Author
Carol Oates came into the world on Christmas morning, in an elevator. Raised just across the street from the childhood home of Bram Stoker, author of Dracula, it was only a matter of time before Carol’s love of all things supernatural would emerge.
She began experimenting with fiction at school and keeps the notebook containing her first unpublished novel in her desk drawer. Over three decades later, all her stories still begin life scrawled on paper.
When not writing, Carol can be found exploring history, old buildings, castles, and tombs.
Website | Twitter | Facebook
January 6, 2015
Let's Start 2015 Right
Happy New Year! It's not only the first Wednesday of the month, but it's the first Wednesday of a new year, and I predict 2015 is going to be great for all of us. Today, I'm combining my Insecure Writer's Support Group post with some simple goals. If you're not familiar with IWSG, it's pretty amazing. You can learn more about the group by clicking here. As always, I'd like to thank Alex Cavanaugh and this month's hosts.
I hope you enjoyed the holidays. Mine were very nice, and my husband and I even managed to get our four boys together for Christmas. (Something that doesn't happen often with them being older.) It was a lot of fun to have them all here at the same time. But, with the holidays past, it's time to get back into good routines.
I checked my goals for 2014. I met my networking goals, exceeded my reading goals, and sort of met my writing goals. I finished revising the MG novel I mentioned, although I haven't done much to shop it around. I completed the first draft of my contemporary YA, but it's far from ready to be seen by my agent. And I never get to the NA novel I want to write. I did, however, write and sell book three in my Embrace series. While that's not exactly what I had written in my 2014 goals, I'm happy with what I did accomplish.
My goals this year:Continue to visit as many blogs as I can.Read at least two books a month.Launch Entwined, the third book in my series.Polish my contemporary YA.Exercise regularly.Visit somewhere new.This list is a work in progress. :)
As far as insecurities. I'd like to say I'm all good. It's always nice to start the year off that way, but I just finished the first round of revisions on Entwined and I will admit there's a chapter I'm not so sure about. I'm hoping my doubts are because I reread the chapter several times while working on revisions. So, to keep myself from making changes that I may regret later, I sent my revisions back to my editor with a note about my concerns to get her thoughts. In a few weeks, when the scene isn't fresh in my head, I'll revisit it. Fingers crossed it flows good.
How are you doing this month? Any insecurities? Did you meet your goals for 2014? Do you set new year's resolutions?
P.S.: I must have missed the request for IWSG members to introduce ourselves. So I'm adding it here...
By day, I'm a senior technical support technician. That's a fancy way of saying I work in IT. By night, and really anytime I'm not working at my day job, I enjoy being with family, hanging with friends, and writing young adult fiction. I have three paranormal romance/thrillers out: Embrace, Hold Tight and Challenging Destiny. The first two are part of a series with the third book coming out this April. I've been writing for almost ten years. My husband is the one who coaxed me into writing my first novel, which is not one of my published works. At the time, I wasn't thinking of publication, but I enjoyed writing so much I kept going. I'm also an active member of SCBWI.
December 23, 2014
Wishing you a holiday filled with magic #HappyHolidays
With the holidays upon us, I’d like to take a moment to wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season. Best, CherieBackground for image from freedigitalphotos.net
December 16, 2014
Dishing news on the Embrace series
Hi everyone!
Edit on Entwined, book three in my series, are coming along. They're due at the end of the month, so I'm going to keep this post short. But before I go, I wanted to let you know I'm over at Uncommon YA, chatting about how Embrace turned into a series. Click here to learn more.
Have a wonderful week!
December 9, 2014
Jumping from one project to next
SourceWriting news:I finished the first draft of my young adult realistic fiction in time to take a couple days break from writing before receiving the editorial notes on book three in my series. I looked a lot like the pencil on the left. I'm way over my targeted word count on the WIP, but I'm not too worried about that. I can decide if I need to cut several thousand words in a month or so when I go back to it. For now, I'm focus on the first round of revisions for Entwined. The timing for this is perfect, because with my WIP done, I can place one hundred percent of my focus on Entwined.
I went through the editorial notes. There are no major plot changes needed (Yay!), I already accepted small tweaks to sentence structure and word choice. Those are the easy changes. I'm now working on things that need to be clarified. I enjoy this part of the process, even though sometimes it can be daunting. There's one scene early in the book I want to revisit later. I reread it so many times, I'm now not sure I like it. That's usually my queue to step away from my laptop or move on. I guess, since I"m typing this post, you can say I did both. :) But I am looking forward to getting back to Madison and her friends.
Before I do that, let's jump to other news.
Getting ready for the holidays?If you're looking for some cool gift ideas for the geek in your life, check out Alex Cavanaugh's blog. I totally want the dancing Groot.
For writers, don't miss The Insecure Writer’s Group Guide to Publishing and Beyond. You can download it for free (almost) everywhere - Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Kobo, and Smashwords
December 3, 2014
Okay! I admit it! an #IWSG post
Hi everyone!
Welcome to Insecure Writer's Support Group. We are a group writers who share our doubts and encouragements. I'd like to thank Alex Cavanaugh and this month's hosts. Learn more about the group here.
I'm deviating a little from insecurities for this post, but I have a feeling many of you will relate.
Being an author has reinforced a few things I sort of knew about myself that, well, I hadn't been willing to admit, until now.
Let’s start with the first and biggest. I hate waiting, and there is a lot of waiting that goes on in this business.
I also hate not being in control, because usually that means I'm waiting on others.
I like things done a certain way. See above for the problem with this.
When I’m excited about something, I want it done now. Tomorrow is just too late. But, since I'm not in control of when and how things get done, I’m waiting yet again.
It’s a vicious circle that often drives me crazy. And I know the reward for patience is often worth it, but it's still hard to let go of the reins and let others drive, so to speak. Burying myself in other projects only helps for so long.
How about you? Any dark secrets about yourself that being a write has made you admit? What do you do to keep your mind off projects that are with beta readers, your agent or editors? Did you participated in NaNo... how'd you do?
December 2, 2014
Book Blitz: CLAIMING EXCALIBUR (Legendary Saga #2) by L.H. Nicole
Congrats to L.H. Nicole on her upcoming release of Claiming Excalibur, book two in the Legendary Saga. Be sure to check out the teaser and enter the giveaway at the end of this post.
Claiming Excalibur
by L.H. Nicole
Publisher: Omnific Publishing
Release Date: December 16, 2014
Synopsis:
Aliana Fagan has done what many thought impossible: she’s awakened King Arthur from his fifteen-hundred-year sleep, reunited the Knights of the Round Table, and even beaten Mordrid and Morgana LeFay in battle.
But the Destined One’s quest has only begun.
Before the knights can "unearth and reclaim their lost relics" they must survive the trip to Charleston, South Carolina and meet the newest member of the Round Table. If King Arthur’s men thought Aliana and Lacy were tenacious, they'll be even more surprised by Dawn, the third member of the fem-trio.
Deadly secrets, unexpected allies, and a traitor lurking in the shadows await Aliana and the new Round Table as they continue their search for Excalibur. Their only clue is a beyond confusing poem from a mysterious book that speaks of a terrifying creature guarding the legendary sword. Trying to build a somewhat normal relationship with Sir Galahad adds a whole new level of complexity to Aliana’s task, especially when several among them suspect the White Knight may not be wholly himself. Her friendship with King Arthur grows closer, and when circumstances become intense, he may finally get the chance with Aliana that he’s been pining for.
Mysteries, legendary quests, and haunting memories will either unite the members of the New Round Table or fracture their bonds. Aliana and her crew only have seven months before the planets align and Mordrid can seize the power he needs to conquer the seven realms. Can the Destined One keep her new family together and lead Arthur to his destiny of saving the realms? Or will a centuries-old plot for revenge finally spell the king’s end?
ADD CLAIMING EXCALIBUR TO YOUR GOODREADS TBR LIST HEREPRE-ORDER CLAIMING EXCALIBUR AMAZON or B&N or iBOOKS
TEASER
“Being back is hard for you.” Aliana nearly smacked into the doorframe when Galahad placed his large hands on her tense shoulders.
“You scared me!” she said, placing her hand over her heart.
“I though you would have heard me coming.” His warm hands massaged her tight shoulders. “But you seem losLeaning into his touch, she shook her head. “I was just thinking.” Galahad sighed deeply, his hands squeezing her shoulders before turning her to face him. “I understand how you’re feeling right now. My parents were murdered when I was young.”
Aliana looked into his blue eyes, surprised. “You never told me that.”
“Sir Belvoir and his men found us just after it happened. He raised me as his own, trained me to be a knight.” His hand rubbed light circles on her back.
“I was just remembering how things used to be,” Aliana confessed, hoping that sharing some of her pain would help lessen it.
“Why were you looking through your father’s things before you came to London?”
Aliana turned in Galahad’s arms, leaning her back against his chest. She studied the office until she found her voice. “I was in New Orleans working on a photo commission several months ago. I was walking the French Quarter when I came to a fortuneteller’s stand. I took a few pictures, and she called me over. I thought she was going to be upset with me, but she sat me down at her table. ‘You feet mus’ be achin’ after running so hard, chère,’ she told me. ‘Folks thinkin’ the’ can run from de past and they ghosts never find peace’.”
Aliana laid her hands over Galahad’s, remembering the feel of the woman’s cracked, dry hand on top of hers and the smell of sweet tea on the woman’s breath. “I tried to ignore her, but she kept insisting that I needed to stop running and face what was haunting me. She said I’d never again know what a real life ‘filled with love, happiness, and adventure’ felt like until I faced my past. It took me another two weeks before I came home.”
Galahad hugged her tighter, his chin resting on her shoulder, silently supporting her. “When you returned home you discovered your adoption.”
Aliana nodded, turning her face toward his. “I guess she was right. I never would have been in London if she hadn’t pushed me to come home. I never would have been in Avalon’s forest, and I never would’ve found you or Dagg or Arthur."
"Do you regret it?" Galahad asked, a worried kind of seriousness in his eyes.
ENTER TO WIN
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Claiming Excalibur by L.H. Nicole
Publisher: Omnific Publishing
Release Date: December 16, 2014
Synopsis:
Aliana Fagan has done what many thought impossible: she’s awakened King Arthur from his fifteen-hundred-year sleep, reunited the Knights of the Round Table, and even beaten Mordrid and Morgana LeFay in battle.
But the Destined One’s quest has only begun.
Before the knights can "unearth and reclaim their lost relics" they must survive the trip to Charleston, South Carolina and meet the newest member of the Round Table. If King Arthur’s men thought Aliana and Lacy were tenacious, they'll be even more surprised by Dawn, the third member of the fem-trio.
Deadly secrets, unexpected allies, and a traitor lurking in the shadows await Aliana and the new Round Table as they continue their search for Excalibur. Their only clue is a beyond confusing poem from a mysterious book that speaks of a terrifying creature guarding the legendary sword. Trying to build a somewhat normal relationship with Sir Galahad adds a whole new level of complexity to Aliana’s task, especially when several among them suspect the White Knight may not be wholly himself. Her friendship with King Arthur grows closer, and when circumstances become intense, he may finally get the chance with Aliana that he’s been pining for.
Mysteries, legendary quests, and haunting memories will either unite the members of the New Round Table or fracture their bonds. Aliana and her crew only have seven months before the planets align and Mordrid can seize the power he needs to conquer the seven realms. Can the Destined One keep her new family together and lead Arthur to his destiny of saving the realms? Or will a centuries-old plot for revenge finally spell the king’s end?
ADD CLAIMING EXCALIBUR TO YOUR GOODREADS TBR LIST HEREPRE-ORDER CLAIMING EXCALIBUR AMAZON or B&N or iBOOKS
TEASER
“Being back is hard for you.” Aliana nearly smacked into the doorframe when Galahad placed his large hands on her tense shoulders.
“You scared me!” she said, placing her hand over her heart.
“I though you would have heard me coming.” His warm hands massaged her tight shoulders. “But you seem losLeaning into his touch, she shook her head. “I was just thinking.” Galahad sighed deeply, his hands squeezing her shoulders before turning her to face him. “I understand how you’re feeling right now. My parents were murdered when I was young.”
Aliana looked into his blue eyes, surprised. “You never told me that.”
“Sir Belvoir and his men found us just after it happened. He raised me as his own, trained me to be a knight.” His hand rubbed light circles on her back.
“I was just remembering how things used to be,” Aliana confessed, hoping that sharing some of her pain would help lessen it.
“Why were you looking through your father’s things before you came to London?”
Aliana turned in Galahad’s arms, leaning her back against his chest. She studied the office until she found her voice. “I was in New Orleans working on a photo commission several months ago. I was walking the French Quarter when I came to a fortuneteller’s stand. I took a few pictures, and she called me over. I thought she was going to be upset with me, but she sat me down at her table. ‘You feet mus’ be achin’ after running so hard, chère,’ she told me. ‘Folks thinkin’ the’ can run from de past and they ghosts never find peace’.”
Aliana laid her hands over Galahad’s, remembering the feel of the woman’s cracked, dry hand on top of hers and the smell of sweet tea on the woman’s breath. “I tried to ignore her, but she kept insisting that I needed to stop running and face what was haunting me. She said I’d never again know what a real life ‘filled with love, happiness, and adventure’ felt like until I faced my past. It took me another two weeks before I came home.”
Galahad hugged her tighter, his chin resting on her shoulder, silently supporting her. “When you returned home you discovered your adoption.”
Aliana nodded, turning her face toward his. “I guess she was right. I never would have been in London if she hadn’t pushed me to come home. I never would have been in Avalon’s forest, and I never would’ve found you or Dagg or Arthur."
"Do you regret it?" Galahad asked, a worried kind of seriousness in his eyes.
ENTER TO WIN
a Rafflecopter giveaway
November 25, 2014
Ramblings of a YA author
Hi everyone!While I'm always grateful to be surrounded by so many amazing people, I would like to take a moment to thank my wonderful readers for whom I value more than words can say, my friends (both cyber and close) for your continued support, my family for believing in me even when I don't believe in myself, and my publishers for helping me share my stories with the world. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
Where my travels took me:
I had the pleasure of being a part of the University of Whitewater Wisconsin Creative Writing Festival. Over 700 high school students attended this day long conference. Susan Gloss, author of the novel Vintage, kicked things of with a keynote speech to a standing room only crowd. Next were the workshops, of which I lead two. The day ended with an award ceremony. Congrats to the winners! The young talent at this festival was amazing, and I'm truly honored to have been a part of the event.Book news:
I've been chatting with my fun and amazing publicist about cover options for Entwine. We both loved the same images. Total plus! She passed our thoughts on to the design team at Omnific Publishing. Now for the waiting part, which many of you know is one of the hardest parts of publishing. I'm a big fan of Omnific's covers. They really do a great job. I can't wait to see what they come up with for this book. =)
I'm still oh so close to finishing the new first draft of my YA realistic contemporary romance. What's slowed me down. Unexpected visits from my stepsons, which was worth setting my laptop aside. See, with our boys being in their late teens and twenties, it's a rare occasion to have more than one under our roof at the same time. So when three of them are home, I'm happy to let time slow down and enjoy it. I figure I can knock out the last two chapters... yes, I'm that close... before the weekend.
That's it for me today. What do you consider welcome interruptions when you're in the writing zone? Are you doing NaNo? Have you met your word count?
November 17, 2014
Misc. Musings: Updates, Twists, Winners & More
SourceLast week, my writing time was divided between working on my YA realistic fiction and critiquing the submissions for the U-WI Writing Festival I'm participating in this week.I really enjoy these events, because I get to meet teens who not only love to read, but are aspiring authors. Each submission I received showed great imagination and I'm looking forward to meeting the teen writers.
As for my work-in-progress... I'm close, very close, to finishing the first draft. My goal is to have it done before I receive the first round of edits for ENTWINED, which I've been told are coming. (If my wonderful editor happens to read this, feel free to take an extra day or five. I won't tell.)
Find me:
I put a paranormal twist on research in the blog post I did for Uncommon YA. You can check it out here.
In other news:
Congratulations to Michelle W, Lisa V, and Betsy D, winners at my stop in the Books I'm Grateful I Read Giveaway! Didn't win? Watch my sidebar for announcement of future giveaways.
Next week I'll be figuring out Thanksgiving dinner. This is my favorite holiday. Of course, there will be turkey and stuffing and yams and a yummy dessert that will include way too many calories.
How's your month going? Are you participating in NaNo? Cooking Thanksgiving dinner?
November 14, 2014
Spotlight: REALITY NATALIE by Katie Sparks
I'm super excited to have Katie Sparks, author of middle grade novel, Reality Natalie, with me today. Katie's not only a talented author, but she's a good friend of mine, so I've had the pleasure of seeing this story take shape. Katie does a wonderful job of capturing the voice of an eleven-year-old in a fun and entertaining novel.
About the book:
REALITY NATALIEby Katie SparksPublisher: Firedrake Books, LLC
Synopsis:CAMERAS ROLLING…ACTION! The most popular kids' TV show, Kidz Konnection, decides to hold auditions for a guest host spot, and the show’s BIGGEST fan decides to audition.
[Cue Natalie Greyson]
Eleven-year-old Natalie is determined to overcome her habit of turning into a tongue-tied, air ball burping, runny-nose disaster whenever something embarrassing happens in front of an audience so she can audition for the coveted role. As the show’s biggest fan, no one could possibly deserve it more than her. Except a giant obstacle stands in her way: her parents, who deny her permission, think she is too young to be on TV. To make matters even worse, Natalie's naturally talented best friend, Kailyn, decides to audition too, and will stop at nothing to win – like lying during a practice session and tearing up their friendship pact.
With their friendship suddenly in question, Natalie turns to her blog, In A “Nat” Shell, to vent her frustrations about Kailyn's spiteful actions, but Natalie’s emotional outpouring and lies only creates more anxiety for herself. With the stakes high, Natalie goes against her parent’s wishes and decides to audition, but Kailyn has her own secret plan to be Number One, even if it means doing so at the expense of her best friend. Can Natalie find a way out of the drama and into the spotlight? Or will the competitive pressure cause her to lose her ultimate dream along with her best friend?
Read Reality Natalie today!Amazon| Barnes & Noble Add to your TBR list on Goodreads
Without further ado, please help me welcome Katie Sparks.
Cherie: Tell us about your book, Reality Natalie.
Katie: Reality Natalie follows the adventures of 11-year-old Natalie Greyson as she auditions for a guest host position on her favorite kid-hosted TV show, Kidz Konnection. When big obstacles stand in her way, such as her parents denying her permission to try out and her best friend, Kailyn, choosing to, Natalie decides she’ll do just about anything to get what she wants. But at what cost?
Cherie: I like Natalie already, and I love that she wants to be a talk show host. How did you come up with the idea for this book?
Katie: About 5 or 6 years ago, I was completely enthralled with all of the reality shows that were popping up on TV. They ranged from singing competitions and talent shows to cooking or bake offs and clothing designer contests. The list became endless. But one thing I noticed was that none of them were for little kids. At the time, I believe the youngest person who could audition for American Idol, had to be 16. However, I knew that despite these rules, some of those watching these shows were kids! From that realization, I thought about a girl who was obsessed with reality television. Thus, Natalie was born.
Cherie: What is your favorite (or least favorite) thing about writing for this age group?
Katie: I take what I write about seriously – sometimes too seriously. I really want to make an impact on young readers, whether it’s to make them laugh, gasp, sigh, get mad -- any type of emotion – I want to move them. But sometimes I over think it and it prevents me from simply writing down the story. I’m always asking myself, “Is this how a kid would say that?” “Is that how they would react?” It’s smart to keep these questions in the back of your mind, but not smart if it prevents you from capturing the story. I have to keep reminding myself that first drafts are tough and that I can always go back later and add in more detail.
Cherie: Your dedication to get Natalie right shows. Can you share with us something about Natalie that we don’t learn in the book?
Katie: In the very beginning of the book, she puts off doing her math homework. Natalie is not one for homework unless it’s writing on her blog. Math is her least favorite subject, and reading is her favorite. Her homeroom has SSR (sustained silent reading) and she loves it so much, she wishes it could be the whole day! She’d get some many books read! She also takes weekly visits to the local library, and loves the smell of the old pages. She mainly goes for her twin siblings but also because she needs to check out books from the reading list at school. This year, she hopes to join the Battle of the Books club with her two best friends.
Cherie: I’m with Natalie, only I wish I could read all day at work. What are you working on now?
Katie: I’m always working on a million things at once. (Okay, maybe not a million, but a lot!) Right now I’m participating in NaNoWriMo and working on a challenging story about two 12-year-old girls battling asthma and how it affects their lives. It’s such a new story that I don’t have all of the details figured out yet, but I’m having a wonderful time getting to know them as I go.
I’m also a picture book writer so at any given time, I’m jotting down ideas or working on a story. I work as an editor for a parenting consumer line so I’m constantly around parents who have the cutest, funniest stories about their kids and it sparks so many ideas! Hopefully one day one of these ideas will come to fruition.
Cherie: Sounds like you have a lot of fun projects in the works. I can’t wait to hear more about your NaNo book. The next questions are for fun to get to know you better.
Favorite animal?
Katie: A cat. More specifically, my cat, Moe. I have a feeling if I didn’t say her, she’d attack me in my sleep!
Cherie: M&M or Skittles?
Kaite: Skittles (but not the yellow ones!)
Cherie: Are you a morning person or an evening person?
Katie: I used to be a night person but lately I’ve become a morning person. There’s nothing better than getting up around 7am or 8am when the whole world is still quiet and you can make breakfast and relax. The best part about the morning is being able to brew some coffee and write or read. My weekdays are very busy at work, so it’s super nice to slow down on the weekends.
Cherie: Favorite movie or television show?
Katie: It’s a tie between the movies Independence Day and Breakfast Club.
Cherie: Breakfast Club is one of mine, too. JDo you have any guilty pleasures that get you through the writing/revising process?
Katie: Not sure this is a guilty pleasure but if I get stuck, I read! I know that sounds cliché but when I’m in love with a story or characters, not only do I get some quality reading done, but it pushes me back into the motivated mind-set to turn my characters and story into something that someday a reader will love. Reading gives me the kick in the pants that I need.
Cherie: Do you have a favorite place to write?
Katie: One of my favorite coffee shops is The Wormhole in Chicago. It has a great retro vibe to it with an 80s and 90s flair. Oh, and superb coffee!!
Cherie: Who is your mentor (or hero)?
Katie: My Mom. J She’s a children’s librarian, so we always have so much in common to talk about! I enjoy listening to stories about what kids are checking out these days and what things they are looking for. I also love catching up on reading as many of the Rebecca Caudill books as I can!
Thanks, Katie, for taking the time out of your busy schedule to be here with us!
About the author:
At a very young age, Katie Sparks discovered the magic of books. She counted on weekly library visits and treasured receiving her first library card at the age of five. At six, she wrote her first story called Baby Carrie (still in her collection today!)
Katie knew then that writing would be in her future. By day, she is an editor for the parent consumer line at a non-profit medical association and enjoys working closely with authors and industry professionals. Immersed in the publishing industry in both her professional and personal life is a dream come true. On weekends you will often find her writing and sipping coffee at one of the many unique coffee shops in Chicago, spending time with family and friends, or curled up with a new book.
Katie has been an active member of SCBWI for the past seven years. She lives in Chicago with her devoted and extremely vocal cat Moe. Her upcoming MG Novel, Reality Natalie, published by Firedrake Books, is her first novel.
Learn more about Katie Sparks and her books:
Website | Twitter | Facebook
About the book:
REALITY NATALIEby Katie SparksPublisher: Firedrake Books, LLCSynopsis:CAMERAS ROLLING…ACTION! The most popular kids' TV show, Kidz Konnection, decides to hold auditions for a guest host spot, and the show’s BIGGEST fan decides to audition.
[Cue Natalie Greyson]
Eleven-year-old Natalie is determined to overcome her habit of turning into a tongue-tied, air ball burping, runny-nose disaster whenever something embarrassing happens in front of an audience so she can audition for the coveted role. As the show’s biggest fan, no one could possibly deserve it more than her. Except a giant obstacle stands in her way: her parents, who deny her permission, think she is too young to be on TV. To make matters even worse, Natalie's naturally talented best friend, Kailyn, decides to audition too, and will stop at nothing to win – like lying during a practice session and tearing up their friendship pact.
With their friendship suddenly in question, Natalie turns to her blog, In A “Nat” Shell, to vent her frustrations about Kailyn's spiteful actions, but Natalie’s emotional outpouring and lies only creates more anxiety for herself. With the stakes high, Natalie goes against her parent’s wishes and decides to audition, but Kailyn has her own secret plan to be Number One, even if it means doing so at the expense of her best friend. Can Natalie find a way out of the drama and into the spotlight? Or will the competitive pressure cause her to lose her ultimate dream along with her best friend?
Read Reality Natalie today!Amazon| Barnes & Noble Add to your TBR list on Goodreads
Without further ado, please help me welcome Katie Sparks.
Cherie: Tell us about your book, Reality Natalie.
Katie: Reality Natalie follows the adventures of 11-year-old Natalie Greyson as she auditions for a guest host position on her favorite kid-hosted TV show, Kidz Konnection. When big obstacles stand in her way, such as her parents denying her permission to try out and her best friend, Kailyn, choosing to, Natalie decides she’ll do just about anything to get what she wants. But at what cost?
Cherie: I like Natalie already, and I love that she wants to be a talk show host. How did you come up with the idea for this book?
Katie: About 5 or 6 years ago, I was completely enthralled with all of the reality shows that were popping up on TV. They ranged from singing competitions and talent shows to cooking or bake offs and clothing designer contests. The list became endless. But one thing I noticed was that none of them were for little kids. At the time, I believe the youngest person who could audition for American Idol, had to be 16. However, I knew that despite these rules, some of those watching these shows were kids! From that realization, I thought about a girl who was obsessed with reality television. Thus, Natalie was born.
Cherie: What is your favorite (or least favorite) thing about writing for this age group?
Katie: I take what I write about seriously – sometimes too seriously. I really want to make an impact on young readers, whether it’s to make them laugh, gasp, sigh, get mad -- any type of emotion – I want to move them. But sometimes I over think it and it prevents me from simply writing down the story. I’m always asking myself, “Is this how a kid would say that?” “Is that how they would react?” It’s smart to keep these questions in the back of your mind, but not smart if it prevents you from capturing the story. I have to keep reminding myself that first drafts are tough and that I can always go back later and add in more detail.
Cherie: Your dedication to get Natalie right shows. Can you share with us something about Natalie that we don’t learn in the book?
Katie: In the very beginning of the book, she puts off doing her math homework. Natalie is not one for homework unless it’s writing on her blog. Math is her least favorite subject, and reading is her favorite. Her homeroom has SSR (sustained silent reading) and she loves it so much, she wishes it could be the whole day! She’d get some many books read! She also takes weekly visits to the local library, and loves the smell of the old pages. She mainly goes for her twin siblings but also because she needs to check out books from the reading list at school. This year, she hopes to join the Battle of the Books club with her two best friends.
Cherie: I’m with Natalie, only I wish I could read all day at work. What are you working on now?
Katie: I’m always working on a million things at once. (Okay, maybe not a million, but a lot!) Right now I’m participating in NaNoWriMo and working on a challenging story about two 12-year-old girls battling asthma and how it affects their lives. It’s such a new story that I don’t have all of the details figured out yet, but I’m having a wonderful time getting to know them as I go.
I’m also a picture book writer so at any given time, I’m jotting down ideas or working on a story. I work as an editor for a parenting consumer line so I’m constantly around parents who have the cutest, funniest stories about their kids and it sparks so many ideas! Hopefully one day one of these ideas will come to fruition.
Cherie: Sounds like you have a lot of fun projects in the works. I can’t wait to hear more about your NaNo book. The next questions are for fun to get to know you better.
Favorite animal?
Katie: A cat. More specifically, my cat, Moe. I have a feeling if I didn’t say her, she’d attack me in my sleep!
Cherie: M&M or Skittles?
Kaite: Skittles (but not the yellow ones!)
Cherie: Are you a morning person or an evening person?
Katie: I used to be a night person but lately I’ve become a morning person. There’s nothing better than getting up around 7am or 8am when the whole world is still quiet and you can make breakfast and relax. The best part about the morning is being able to brew some coffee and write or read. My weekdays are very busy at work, so it’s super nice to slow down on the weekends.
Cherie: Favorite movie or television show?
Katie: It’s a tie between the movies Independence Day and Breakfast Club.
Cherie: Breakfast Club is one of mine, too. JDo you have any guilty pleasures that get you through the writing/revising process?
Katie: Not sure this is a guilty pleasure but if I get stuck, I read! I know that sounds cliché but when I’m in love with a story or characters, not only do I get some quality reading done, but it pushes me back into the motivated mind-set to turn my characters and story into something that someday a reader will love. Reading gives me the kick in the pants that I need.
Cherie: Do you have a favorite place to write?
Katie: One of my favorite coffee shops is The Wormhole in Chicago. It has a great retro vibe to it with an 80s and 90s flair. Oh, and superb coffee!!
Cherie: Who is your mentor (or hero)?
Katie: My Mom. J She’s a children’s librarian, so we always have so much in common to talk about! I enjoy listening to stories about what kids are checking out these days and what things they are looking for. I also love catching up on reading as many of the Rebecca Caudill books as I can!
Thanks, Katie, for taking the time out of your busy schedule to be here with us!
About the author:
At a very young age, Katie Sparks discovered the magic of books. She counted on weekly library visits and treasured receiving her first library card at the age of five. At six, she wrote her first story called Baby Carrie (still in her collection today!) Katie knew then that writing would be in her future. By day, she is an editor for the parent consumer line at a non-profit medical association and enjoys working closely with authors and industry professionals. Immersed in the publishing industry in both her professional and personal life is a dream come true. On weekends you will often find her writing and sipping coffee at one of the many unique coffee shops in Chicago, spending time with family and friends, or curled up with a new book.
Katie has been an active member of SCBWI for the past seven years. She lives in Chicago with her devoted and extremely vocal cat Moe. Her upcoming MG Novel, Reality Natalie, published by Firedrake Books, is her first novel.
Learn more about Katie Sparks and her books:
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