Meet the Neighbors gets a sneak peek at Going Down in Flames by Chris Cannon

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Meet the Neighbors gets a sneak peek at Going Down in Flames by Chris Cannon

Meet the Neighbors is pleased to have debut author and MoRWA chapter mate, Chris Cannon here to talk about her upcoming Entangled Teen release, Going Down in Flames.

Bryn’s tattoo is a yin yang symbol representing her mixed dragon heritage.

I’m so looking forward to reading Going Down in Flames! And I love Bryn’s tattoo. Tell me your call story.

I pitched to Theresa Cole, from Entangled Publishing, through an online contest and was thrilled when she asked for the full. Then I waited, compulsively checking my email on an hourly basis. I was in IHOP when I learned that she planned to pitch my story to the editorial director of the Entangled Teen line for acquisitions. I may have made one of those girly high-pitched squealing noises, but it was ten on a Saturday night so most people didn’t pay much attention.

When a senior editor came on board, I was so excited. Then I waited while it went to the acquisitions committee who would decide if it was marketable. Five nail-biting months later, I received the email telling me they were purchasing my book for the new Entangled Teen line, Ember.

What’s your writing schedule? Are you a full time writer?

I work for a school district, so I joke that I’m a full time writer from the end of May to the beginning of August. During the school year, I come home from work, fix dinner, do the dishes and then shut myself in my office until I write the desired number of words. I try to write 1000 words a night, but that doesn’t always happen. When my husband feels neglected, he calls out, “I used to have a wife, but then she started writing.” That’s my cue to wrap up and join him and the furry beasts in the living room or on the deck outside if weather permits.

Juggling a full time job, beasts, a husband and a writing life is hard. I get it. Tell us about your latest book, including its genre. Does it cross over to other genres? If so, what are they?

Going Down In Flames is a paranormal young adult romance, which I hope will have crossover appeal. I’ve always believed that young adult means the age of the characters, not the reader.

If you could give the younger version of yourself advice what would it be?

Never give up. It took five years to find someone who believed in my dragons. Also, keep writing while you’re waiting for the call.

I agree – the determined win in this environment. I’m glad you stuck to it. Any thing else?

I think all aspiring authors should read Stephen King’s book, On Writing. I am a writing craft book junkie. On Writing is the best book about writing I’ve ever read.

My favorite writing book as well!

Going Down in Flames Blurb:

Bryn McKenna knows life isn’t a fairy tale, she doesn’t expect to be treated like a princess, but finding out she’s a shape shifting dragon is a shock. On the eve of her sixteenth birthday a tall, dark and tattooed Zavien Blackthorn follows Bryn home and scares her into breathing fire for the first time.

It turns out her parents ran away from a secret society of shape shifters to escape arranged marriages. They never told her of their true nature because they weren’t sure if cross breeding between dragon clans would produce a functional shape shifting dragon. Breathing flames whenever she’s pissed off is a problem, but that doesn’t mean she’s happy about being shipped off to a boarding school where she’ll learn to control her new powers or be forced to wear a muzzle. Bryn fights the archaic society head on, because if her life is going down in flames, she’s taking everyone with her.

Thanks Chris for stopping in!