CLP Blog Tours Interview and Excerpt: Thirty-Two Going on Spinster by Becky Monson
**Interview**
When did you know writing was for you?
I’ve always loved to write. I wrote a fictional story in the 6th grade about a girl who was born blind and when she was twelve they found a cure. I wrote about how it felt for her to see things for the first time – to see the sky and the people she loved. I have it somewhere in a box. I should try to find it… but I have probably romanticized it to be more than it truly is. For me, when people ask me when I started wanting to write, I always think about that story I wrote in the 6th grade.
How would you describe your books?
Well, so far it’s only a book – not books yet (I’m working on that now). I would say that my book is fun. It’s an escape. It’s what I like to read, so of course that is what I would end up writing. Is it high literature? Um, no. It won’t change your life, but it will give you a break from life for a bit.
Why was Thirty-Two Going on Spinster a book you wanted to write?
It’s a story that has been changing and evolving in my head for a long time. When I finally figured out my characters, this crazy thing happened where they sort of came to life in my head. It was almost as if they were living inside my head, bothering me every day until I finished their story. I sound like I should be institutionalized, don’t I? But it’s true. I would get butterflies (the good kind) in my stomach when I thought about writing these characters, and I was excited to get them out of my head and down on paper. I thought they would go away when I finished Thirty-Two Going on Spinster, but they are still there, which means there is more to write!
I love the cover! Can you tell us who designed it and where you got the concept from?
Thank you! I love it too. I am slightly biased, though. One of the things I love to do is graphic design. So I actually designed it myself! I do not draw (it would have been stick-figures, had it been left up to me), so the drawing was done by my talented friend Brad Condie. He does incredible work. I love bright colors, and so that’s what I started with. I wanted the picture on the front to represent what the book was about in the best way, and I really felt like Brad got what I was going for and did an incredible job with it.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
I really hate writing an outline. It’s the hardest part for me, by far. But it is a necessity for me. Some authors can write with just the concept of where they are going in their head. I can’t do that. I wish I could! I have to have the story completely outlined, or I will miss out on something. It saves me, really. But it’s so hard! I dread it sometimes (most times, honestly).
What are your favorite genres to read?
I adore Chick Lit. It’s my favorite genre by far. I would say next in line is Dystopian. Although, I have to be in the mood for that. I’m extremely picky about my reading. I don’t get much spare time to myself, so what I read needs to be worth my time. Give me a fun escape with a happy ending and I am a happy reader.
What do you want readers to take away from your story?
I know that we all know someone like Julia, or have a little bit of Julia in us. Being scared of change, scared of taking risks. I hope that, from my story, my readers can see that change is good and incredibly beneficial. It builds character.
How important do you think social media is for authors these days?
So very important! It is a must, actually. It is INCREDIBLY overwhelming, though. There is so much out there! I just Googled myself the other day and saw that my book was on a site called Shelfari… I had no idea this site even existed. So now I have yet another thing to work on! With Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Amazon, my own site, my blog, and now Shelfari – who has time to write? For me, it’s essential not to get too caught up in it. I’ve found that the set-up is the hardest part. After that, it’s just maintenance, and that isn’t too difficult.
What would be your advice to aspiring writers?
Write! That is the most crucial thing. Don’t get overwhelmed by all of the social media stuff out there until your book is done. Focus on the writing and only the writing. Also, have strong characters, and get to know them really well. When you are done with your book, get yourself some good beta readers, and a great editor (I made that mistake and had to do it later and now there are versions of my book out there that I would rather not be). Also make sure you have a fantastic cover. That is crucial. I see horrible covers out there and I cringe. People judge a book by its cover. It’s true. So make sure you have a good one.
**Excerpt**
Main Entry: spin•ster
Pronunciation: ‘spin(t)-st&r
Function: noun
1: an unmarried woman of gentle family
2: an unmarried woman and especially one past the common age for marrying
3: a woman who seems unlikely to marry
It certainly shouldn’t come as a shock. I’ve always thought of myself as a recluse, a loner of sorts. Now I have a new title: spinster. I think I need some ice cream or an entire chocolate cake… or both.
I am a spinster… I am a spinster. It’s true. I just looked it up in the dictionary, and there was a description of my life, in plain view:
1: an unmarried woman of gentle family.
I’m an unmarried woman of gentle family. Okay, so I’m not quite sure what is meant by “gentle family”. I wouldn’t actually call my family “gentle”. More like obnoxious. Still, I’m an unmarried woman who is part of a family, so that counts.
2: an unmarried woman and especially one past the common age for marrying.
I believe that I am past the common age for marrying. I just turned thirty-two. What’s the going age for marriage now? Twenty-five? Twenty-six? It doesn’t matter because at the age of thirty-two, my clock is ticking. My doctor informed me of that last week, in fact. He actually told me that I seriously should consider finding someone and settling down and that my eggs “weren’t getting any younger”. Pretty harsh when you consider that I haven’t been on a proper date in over a decade, right? I seriously should find myself a new doctor, one who sugar-coats everything. I could use more sugar-coating in my life right now.
3: a woman who seems unlikely to marry.
This one has to be the worst of them all… a woman who seems unlikely to marry. That is so me. I bet when people look at me, that’s what they’re thinking. I get that pity look all the time. The one where people tilt their head slightly to the side purse their lips and nod sadly at you.
Author Bio:
By day, Becky Monson is a mother to three young children, and a wife. By night, she escapes with reading books and writing. In her debut novel, Becky uses humor and true-life experiences to bring her characters to life. She loves all things chick-lit (movies, books, etc.), and wishes she had a British accent. She has recently given up Diet Coke for the fiftieth time and is hopeful this time will last… but it probably won’t.
Purchasing my book:
http://www.amazon.com/Thirty-Two-Going-Spinster-Series-ebook/dp/B00AMS2L0C/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1375244816&sr=1-1&keywords=becky+monson
Other Links:
www.32goingonspinster.com
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBeckyMonson
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7056358.Becky_Monson
https://www.facebook.com/ThisChickReads (this is a bookclub I run on facebook)
Twitter: @
bmonsonauthor
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