You know why I wrote Complements?

I got interested in YA literature to help animals, believe it or not. I always knew the key to effecting big change in our world is to get to the kids before they're desensitized by the adults around them. Toward this, I began a series of YA novels designed to interest young people in social activism. I planned to write the first and let other authors write the others. That's how my first YA novel, Miranda's Right, came into being. (BTW, I've been a writer for decades—just not a YA writer.)

Miranda's Right was about a young girl (you guessed it: Miranda) who fights to save the Canada geese from annihilation in her hometown. However, the book was terrible. I revised it substantively numerous times. Then while on a trip to L.A. in 2008, I visited a friend at Barnes & Noble and there was a major brouhaha over a book release. It was one of the Twilight books—that I'd never heard of.

Now, I stopped reading vampire stories after Le Stat 'cause I figured no one could do them as well as Ms. Rice. I even ditched my own attempt to write a short story about one after reading Interview. But I was told to read other YA books that were popular to learn how to do it better so I read the first Twilight. And then the second, third, and fourth (besides other YA novels such as Perks of Being a Wallflower). Why did I read all four? Because I was waiting for them to freaking consummate their relationship. I mean throw us a bone (or boner) here, please.

By the end of the fourth book, all we got was "they fit so well together," or some such vague line. So I came up with an idea: using Twilight as a template, write a love story with paranormal elements. No sex at all because the girl is innocent... until the end when there's a satisfying carnal pay-off, a thank-you to readers for hanging in. (I know they're young adults but let's not deny their sexuality—it's there in spades.)

So I did. In 2010. Long before anyone (I think) heard of 50 Shades of Grey. But instead of posting my story on online fiction sites, I went trolling for an agent. That's how I knew things were done. Wrong. While EL James posted her story and got a huge following online, I was mailing out manila envelopes begging for an agent.

Now, thanks to James and others, I know that if you don't get an agent within the first ten or fifteen queries, don't keep trying. Better to strike when the timing may be perfect rather than wait two years like I did, chump that I am. I finally posted my novels online in 2012, but by then it was all about some guy named Mr. Grey. Oh, well.

Now what should I write about next? Any ideas? Bring it on.