Never Too Old For Y.A. & N.A. Books discussion
Author Interview of the Month
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Author Interview With Kelly Hashway
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Thanks for having me. If anyone has any questions for me, I'll be popping back in to answer. :)
Marysue wrote: "I could never read and run."It was tough to do at first. I got a lot of headaches from bouncing words, but after a while it stopped bothering me. What can I say? I love to multi-task as much as possible. ;)
Great interview also your books look like a bunch of great reads! :) they will be on my tbr list. ~A
Ally wrote: "Great interview also your books look like a bunch of great reads! :) they will be on my tbr list. ~A"Thanks, Ally! :)
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The Cover Contessa wrote: "Kelly so great to have you here! And people you need to read her stories!"Thanks! :)
Great interview and your books sound interesting. I'll be checking them out.
Ciara1973 wrote: "Great interview and your books sound interesting. I'll be checking them out."Thank you, Ciara! :)
Never Too Old For Y.A. & N.A. Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Touch of Death (other topics)Stalked by Death (other topics)
Love All (other topics)
Advantage: Heartbreak (other topics)
The Monster Within (other topics)
More...
Kelly is also offering a giveaway of a copy of Touch of Death or Stalked by Death, so head on over to The Cover Contessa to enter and win: http://www.thecovercontessa.com/2013/...
Welcome Kelly!
Did you always know you wanted to be a writer or did you want to be something else?
I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but when I was young I didn’t realize people did this for a living. It seemed too good to be true.
How long does it take you to write a book from start to finish?
It really depends on the book, but I like to fast draft. On average, it takes me about two weeks to draft a book. After that I spend a lot of time on revisions.
How do you come up with themes for your stories?
At the risk of sounding crazy, I always feel like my characters come to me with these amazing stories they want me to tell. I often feel like I’m watching a movie in my head and I just try to type fast enough to keep up.
Do you have a schedule of when you write?
I write while my daughter is at school, which usually means five and a half hours of uninterrupted time. If I’m fast drafting, I’ll also write for another two hours when she goes to bed at night.
How are you able to balance other aspects of your life with your writing?
I write around my daughter’s schedule because Mom—I think that should always be capitalized. ;) — is my first job. I’m also an avid reader and a runner, so I read while running on my treadmill in the mornings. You get used to the bouncing words.
What elements do you think make a great story line?
Great characters, lots of conflict, some swoon-worthy moments, and killer dialogue.
What was the hardest thing about writing a book?
Knowing that not everyone will like it. Writing is a very personal thing, and knowing it will be judged is tough sometimes.
How many books have you written so far? Do you have a favorite?
I’ve sort of lost track. Over 10 definitely. It’s so hard to pick a favorite. The Touch of Death series got me my first book deal, so it will always hold a special place in my heart.
Do you have a favorite character?
Hmm, Jodi (from the Touch of Death series) is a lot like me, so I naturally connect with her. I also really love Sam, the MC in my upcoming YA paranormal The Monster Within (Spencer Hill Press, 2014). She has such a tough life, but she’s a fighter. I envy that about her.
Where do you write?
At my dining room table where I can spread out with my laptop, notebook, day planner, flash drives, books, and multiple purple pens.
When deciding on how to publish, what directed you to the route you took?
My dream was always to find an agent who would have my back and know what was best for my career.
Have you gotten feedback from family about your book(s)? What do they think?
My mom is my best and toughest critic. She lets me know when I can do better, and I love that about her. Really my entire family is very supportive and most read my books.
What kinds of things do you like to do outside of writing?
Playing with my daughter tops the list. We love dancing around to music, playing with Monster High dolls, and coloring. I also am an avid reader and runner.
What kinds of advice would you give to someone who wants to start writing?
Read everything you can get your hands on. It’s the best research. And write every day, even if it’s only a paragraph or two. The more you write, the better you get at it.
What is your favorite book? favorite author? Do you have an author that inspired/inspires you to write?
I love Rick Riordan. He pulls me in from the first sentence and doesn’t let go. I also love Becca Fitzpatrick. The dynamic between Patch and Nora in the Hush, Hush series is incredible.
Do you have any go to people when writing a book that help you with your story lines as well as editing, beta reading and such?
I have an amazing critique group and my number one beta reader is my mom because as I said, she’s tough! And I can always count on my agent to give me great feedback.
Are you working on anything now?
I’m working on books two and three in the Birth of the Phoenix series coming out through Month9Books as well as two new YA series that are untitled as of right now.