Author Interview: Emily Shaffer
Thank you to Emily Shaffer for stopping by with a Q&A. Please visit her tour page on CLP Blog Tours for more information on That Time of the Month and a giveaway!
**Interview**
When did you know writing was for you? I have been writing stories for as long as I can remember, but the first time I thought "I want to be a writer" was in 6th grade. My teacher, Mrs. Thillberg, was a major proponent of creative writing and her feedback made me feel like I had some real skill as a writer. The idea of writing was always rolling around in my head, and I made several "starts" at various novel ideas but finally became serious about it in 2009.
How would you describe your books? Comedy, with a ribbon of romance running throughout.
Why was That Time of the Month a book you wanted to write? At the time, I was unemployed and unsure what was going to happen in my work/love/financial/personal life, and I felt like this story was one that lots of ladies out there could relate to. I had initially tried writing stories with a serious tone, but a friend of mine put the idea in my head that I should try my hand at something humorous. Once I put my mind on writing a funny story, it happened very quickly.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you? Finding time to sit down and get in the right mindset can be a challenge. I always say that I never get writer's block, I get "writing block", where I just can't make myself actually sit down and start the work.
What are your favorite genres to read? As much as I love writing funny stories, my favorite books to read are the classics (Dickens, Austen, Bronte, etc) and biographies...and I obsessively collect vintage etiquette books.
What do you want readers to take away from your story? My only goal was to write a book that makes people laugh. If I accomplish that, then I am a happy gal.
How important do you think social media is for authors these days? It has become more important than I thought it would. When I started out with the querying process on this book, I became more and more aware of how agents/publishers/authors were using social media to advertise. Admittedly, I fought it for a while, wanting to have a more "traditional" experience, but now I have embraced it. I have a blog, as well as Facebook and Twitter accounts. I've also been pleasantly surprised at the fun network of other authors I have discovered, who are always willing to lend an ear or a tip when I'm ready to throw my laptop out a window.
What would be your advice to aspiring writers? Everyone says it, but you have to just start writing and keep writing. I know so many people who say they want to write, but they never actually take the time to do it (I used to be one of those people). Even if you aren't sure where to start, just start, and eventually the right idea will come to you. I'm a perfect example, I kept trying (and failing) to write in a style and genre that just wasn't for me...but after all of those attempts, I found my voice and the writing started to flow.
**Everyone who leaves a comment on Emily's tour page will be entered to win a $10 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of That Time of the Month before October 29 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries.**
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Author Bio:
I am a Tennessean by birth, and have lived pretty much everywhere. My Dad always says that when I was born, and the doctor tried to slap me to make me cry, that I stood up on the table and slapped the doctor instead…and from then on, I never did anything that I didn't want to do.
Luckily, what I want to do is write…and not carjacking or vandalism.Like my main character, Ellie, I love making random lists…so here are some random facts about me:-I'm nearsighted in one eye and farsighted in the other. The world looks like a fun-house mirror if I don't wear my glasses or contacts.-I was almost kicked out of Graceland for using flash photography in the peacock-mirrored front room, and my tour group shunned me the entire rest of the tour. That made for a lonely trip through the Jungle Room.-I was once mistaken for a member of Hanson…granted, they all had long hair at the time, but still….not what you wanna hear as a girl.When I wrote That Time of the Month , I really saw it as though it was a movie. I can see every scene, every character and what they are wearing, every piece of pie, perfectly in my mind. I'm currently writing the sequel, That Time of the Year. I love the story and characters so much, that I am tempted to turn the series into a trilogy. Connect with Emily!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmilyAShafferFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmilyAShafferBlog: http://emilyanneshaffer.wordpress.com/
Buy the Book!
Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/That-Time-Month-ebook/dp/B008CUGYOG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348370772&sr=8-1&keywords=that+time+of+the+month
**Interview**
When did you know writing was for you? I have been writing stories for as long as I can remember, but the first time I thought "I want to be a writer" was in 6th grade. My teacher, Mrs. Thillberg, was a major proponent of creative writing and her feedback made me feel like I had some real skill as a writer. The idea of writing was always rolling around in my head, and I made several "starts" at various novel ideas but finally became serious about it in 2009.
How would you describe your books? Comedy, with a ribbon of romance running throughout.
Why was That Time of the Month a book you wanted to write? At the time, I was unemployed and unsure what was going to happen in my work/love/financial/personal life, and I felt like this story was one that lots of ladies out there could relate to. I had initially tried writing stories with a serious tone, but a friend of mine put the idea in my head that I should try my hand at something humorous. Once I put my mind on writing a funny story, it happened very quickly.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you? Finding time to sit down and get in the right mindset can be a challenge. I always say that I never get writer's block, I get "writing block", where I just can't make myself actually sit down and start the work.
What are your favorite genres to read? As much as I love writing funny stories, my favorite books to read are the classics (Dickens, Austen, Bronte, etc) and biographies...and I obsessively collect vintage etiquette books.
What do you want readers to take away from your story? My only goal was to write a book that makes people laugh. If I accomplish that, then I am a happy gal.
How important do you think social media is for authors these days? It has become more important than I thought it would. When I started out with the querying process on this book, I became more and more aware of how agents/publishers/authors were using social media to advertise. Admittedly, I fought it for a while, wanting to have a more "traditional" experience, but now I have embraced it. I have a blog, as well as Facebook and Twitter accounts. I've also been pleasantly surprised at the fun network of other authors I have discovered, who are always willing to lend an ear or a tip when I'm ready to throw my laptop out a window. What would be your advice to aspiring writers? Everyone says it, but you have to just start writing and keep writing. I know so many people who say they want to write, but they never actually take the time to do it (I used to be one of those people). Even if you aren't sure where to start, just start, and eventually the right idea will come to you. I'm a perfect example, I kept trying (and failing) to write in a style and genre that just wasn't for me...but after all of those attempts, I found my voice and the writing started to flow.
**Everyone who leaves a comment on Emily's tour page will be entered to win a $10 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of That Time of the Month before October 29 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries.**
**********************************************************************************
Author Bio:
I am a Tennessean by birth, and have lived pretty much everywhere. My Dad always says that when I was born, and the doctor tried to slap me to make me cry, that I stood up on the table and slapped the doctor instead…and from then on, I never did anything that I didn't want to do.
Luckily, what I want to do is write…and not carjacking or vandalism.Like my main character, Ellie, I love making random lists…so here are some random facts about me:-I'm nearsighted in one eye and farsighted in the other. The world looks like a fun-house mirror if I don't wear my glasses or contacts.-I was almost kicked out of Graceland for using flash photography in the peacock-mirrored front room, and my tour group shunned me the entire rest of the tour. That made for a lonely trip through the Jungle Room.-I was once mistaken for a member of Hanson…granted, they all had long hair at the time, but still….not what you wanna hear as a girl.When I wrote That Time of the Month , I really saw it as though it was a movie. I can see every scene, every character and what they are wearing, every piece of pie, perfectly in my mind. I'm currently writing the sequel, That Time of the Year. I love the story and characters so much, that I am tempted to turn the series into a trilogy. Connect with Emily!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmilyAShafferFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmilyAShafferBlog: http://emilyanneshaffer.wordpress.com/
Buy the Book!
Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/That-Time-Month-ebook/dp/B008CUGYOG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348370772&sr=8-1&keywords=that+time+of+the+month
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