http://vimeo.com/13197120

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1. THE DEATHDAY LETTER is out today, which is very exciting! What are you thinking? 
Right now I’m pretty much hoping my head doesn’t explode. It’s all out of my hands at this point. The Deathday Letter was a pretty personal book for me. I love Ollie and Shane and Veronica, and I hope that everyone else loves them too.

2. What is your writing process? Did you always write this way or was it a trial and error thing?
Mostly I’m a pantser. I get bored with ideas really quickly, so once I get that initial idea, I need to get a first draft out as quickly as I can. I usually go from idea to finished first draft in about 4-8 weeks. After that, it’s all about the revisions.

3. Who is your favorite DDL character and why?
You know, Ollie’s my hero for so many reasons, but I just love Shane Grimsley to pieces. There’s never a dull moment around him. He’s totally brainy and he never backs down from a challenge. Plus, he’s pretty hilarious.

4. If you could host any game show, which would it be?
I’d want to host one of those crazy Japanese game shows where they make the contestants do all kinds of whacko stuff.

5. Have you thought about casting for DDL? Or even if it was a book on CD, who would you love to read the parts? Dream casting?
Okay. That’s pretty easy. I’d go with Aaron Johnson for Ollie (but he has to have the same hair he had in the movie Kick-Ass). I’d go with Malcolm David Kelley for Shane (Walt from Lost…so long as he tells us where the Polar bears came from). And I’d go with Ellen Paige for Ronnie. She’s got just the right mix of sexy and goofy.

6. What has been the most difficult and the most rewarding aspect of the publication process?
The most difficult part has been losing all my stress weight! Seriously, I think it’s the waiting. Publishing is slow, so sometimes it can seem like nothing is happening. That’s hard to cope with. The most rewarding has definitely been all the friends I’ve made. Meeting amazing people like you has made this whole thing that much more incredible.

7. Has finishing and revising DDL changed the way you approach your current WIPs?
I tried to change my approach. I tried to become someone who outlined and did synopses, but it didn’t work out for me. I’m a dive in kind of guy. I have a tendency to over-think things, which can be a total momentum killer for me.

8. How did you overcome the second book blues/anxiety?
With a baseball bat. That’s a tough question. I mean, I wrote a second book before Deathday even sold, but it wasn’t right for YA. I struggled for a long time after that. I’d say that NaNoWriMo was a big turning point for me. I wrote a middle grade book in 18 days. The book is still a wreck but it helped show me that if I just kept my head down and worked, that I could do it.

9. What would you do on your Death Day? 
I would eat. I would eat until I puked, then I’d eat some more. Then I’d gather up all my friends and go party in New York. I’d get up on a stage and sing badly, I’d kiss as many people as I could, I’d make sure to give everything I owned to people in need, and I’d drive a race car really fast. There aren’t too many things in my life that I haven’t done that I regretted. The things is that we’re all dying. Maybe we’ve got more time than Ollie did, but every second spent watching TV or sitting in traffic or slaving away at jobs we hate is one second we’ve wasted. Carpe Mortediem! Seize the Deathday!

10. What’s next for you?
I’m not sure if I’m supposed to say, but the project I’m most excited about right now is kind of a romance. Except, you know, bloodier and with a really cool mystery at the center.

A Tenner and good friend of mine, Shaun Hutchinson–author of THE DEATHDAY LETTER, is having a contest! Who doesn’t love contests? The prize? A signed copy of THE DEATHDAY LETTER. Trust me. You want it.

To find out the rules, see some great widgets, icons to post on Twitter, and more click here. And stay tuned for my own interview with Shaun!

Website: www.kristinamcbride.com

Blog: http://kristinamcbride.livejournal.com/

And for your very own copy, check out the online retailers here.

1. How did you come up with the idea for The Tension of Opposites? One day while my daughter was napping, I caught an episode of Oprah as she interviewed a young man named Shawn Hornbeck. Shawn was kidnapped at the age of eleven, and lived with his kidnapper for over four years before being found and returned to his family. The entire time he was gone, he was less than an hour from his home. I was in awe of his strength and fortitude to have survived such an ordeal. His story kick started the idea behind The Tension of Opposites. Soon after, the characters started talking to me and I just had to write.

2. I always ask about authors’ writing processes. Please share yours. I go back and forth between winging it and outlining. Since landing my agent, Alyssa Eisner Henkin, in 2008, I’ve begun to outline more. I actually plan out my story on note cards (one note card per chapter), which I keep in my purse so I can add details of dialogue or setting whenever inspiration strikes. It helps me to plan the story better, and will hopefully result in less time needed for revision on my next books. Dirty little secret: I spent eleven months revising The Tension of Opposites.

3. Were you one of those kids that always wanted to be a writer, or was this career something you discovered later? I lived across the street from a library growing up, and have always had an insatiable love for books and words. I honestly cannot remember a time when I didn’t dream of seeing my name on the cover of a book.

4. What are your ultimate writing/career goals? Oh, this is hard. I’d love to win some awards or hit a bestseller list, of course. As a former high school English teacher, it would be awesome to learn that my book has been added to some school’s curriculum. But really, most importantly, I’d like for my readers to connect with my book, to love the characters, and think about the story after they finish the read.

5. What has been the most/least surprising aspects of the writing journey? Landing my amazing agent was a dream come true – and a total shock. I couldn’t believe Alyssa actually wanted to work with me! Another shock came after spending nearly a year on revisions. Three weeks after Alyssa pitched the manuscript to editors, I had offers on the table from three publishing houses. I’ve always dreamed of a book of mine going to auction, so the mini-auction between the three houses was one of the happiest surprises of all.

I don’t think there is one least surprising moment. Every step of this journey has taken my breath away!

6. Your book is officially out. How do you feel? Tired! It’s been a crazy week and I’m hardly sleeping as I try to keep up with real life stuff, internet stuff, and writing my next book. But it’s a good, hazy kind of tired as I realize the truth of my longest lived dream actually coming true.

7. What advice do you have for aspiring authors and debut authors? Never give up. No matter what. Read tons of stuff in the genre you write. Research how to land an agent and query tirelessly. Try not to let the two dirty R’s get you down (rejection & revision). And keep writing!

8. Please fill this in: “I could never write without my Samsung N120 netbook.”

9. What do you love to do besides write? Guilty pleasures? Hang out with family and friends, hike in the woods, watch TV. My guiltiest pleasure of all, however, is chocolate. In any form, as long as nuts are not involved.

10. Who was your favorite character to write in The Tension of Opposites? I think my answer to this question would vary from day to day. Today, I’d have to say Coop, Noelle’s younger brother. He was a smart aleck, and I enjoyed writing the scenes with him.

11. Can you share what you’re working on now or what’s next for you? I am currently working on book two of my two-book deal with Egmont USA. It is totally unrelated to The Tension of Opposites. That’s about all I can say for now.

Another Tenner book just out is Kristina McBride’s THE TENSION OF OPPOSITES. Can’t wait to read this one! To find out more about the book and see a great review, go here. Congrats, Kristina!

1. I always enjoy reading your writing advice on your blog. What are your three best tips for writers—experienced or starting out?

Thank you! 1) Read a lot. 2) Write a lot. 3) Do lots of other stuff, so you have something to write about.

Yes, I realize that will make for a very busy life!

2. What are your experiences with publication so far? Any surprises?

From my own experience, and from knowing other writers, I’ve seen how often titles change between acquisition and publication. That surprised me. My own title changed from BLACK MOUNTAIN ROAD to THE SECRET YEAR.

3. Re writing, getting an agent, or publication, complete this sentence. “If I knew then, what I know now, I would have_____________________.”

That’s actually a hard sentence to finish, since I learned a lot from joining debut-author groups and seeing what my fellow authors went through in 2009. I got a sense of the general timeline from them, of what to prepare and when, what to expect and what not to expect. I can’t say enough good things about the Classes of 2k9 and 2k10, and Debut2009 and the Tenners.

4. Describe your writing process. Outlines or not? Plot first or characters? How does everything come together for you?

I can’t start writing until I have a character’s voice. Then I look for a plot, and I get a vague idea of that plot, but I mostly just let it flow. During revisions, I do an outline to help with the macro-level plot and pacing. I make countless passes through my manuscripts: ad nauseam, almost.

5. What’s your favorite part of writing (anything from brainstorming to revision)?

I love when everything’s clicking, when I feel like I’ve found the perfect word or phrase, when I solve a problem with a scene—those moments when writing feels easy for a few minutes, when I have the illusion that I know what I’m doing!

6. Have you thought about Colt since you finished THE SECRET YEAR? Where do you see his life going or what do you hope for him?

Colt has been in my head for years. I have a sense of what happens to him after the final page of THE SECRET YEAR. Someone on the Book Addict’s forum asked me if I thought he would move forward from the point of that last scene, or whether he would stay in an emotional limbo. I think he moves forward; I think he’s ready to.

But mostly, I like to hear what readers think will happen to him.

7. I find your writing style very poetic. Do you write poetry as well?

At this point, when I write poetry it’s for fun, or as an exercise. I wouldn’t call myself a poet. I have written literary short stories for years, however, including flash fiction. I think there are issues of rhythm and word choice that are common to poetry and flash fiction.

8. What’s next for you? Can you tell us about any upcoming projects?

I’m working on more contemporary YA fiction. I’m not at the point yet where I can talk specifics.

9. This question is all you. Anything you’ve always wished someone would ask?

“Jennifer, will you accept this generous writing grant?” That’s what I wish someone would ask!

Thanks for hosting me!

1. THE SNOWBALL EFFECT by Holly Nicole Hoxter

The first line of the book’s blurb totally drew me in: “Lainey Pike can tell you everything you need to know about the people in her family just by letting you know how they died.” Once I read that, I knew this was my type of book. I expected the MC’s voice to be unique and sassy, and I wasn’t disappointed. I was also pleased that Lainey didn’t always do what was expected of her or accept the life she had (e.g. perfect boyfriend), just because that’s what a girl is supposed to do. This book was both funny and a tear-jerker, chock full of characters with unique personalities and voices. THE SNOWBALL EFFECT comes out March 23. Buy it. Read it. Make your best friend read it too.

HARMONIC FEEDBACK by Tara Kelly

This book held me captive from the first page. Drea’s authentic voice and insecurities drew me in. Yes, Drea has Asperger’s, but her desire to fit in, the difficulty comprehending that people do not always mean what they say, and search for self are universal concerns all readers will be able to relate to. Tara also paints beautiful pictures with her words and phrases and I found myself rereading sentences just because the writing was so terrific. And, she gives really good boy. I was in love with Justin and you will be too. HARMONIC FEEDBACK comes out May 25. You have to own it!

THE SECRET YEAR by Jennifer Hubbard

THE SECRET YEAR was my Valentine’s Day present and I finished it in a day. I knew the story would hook me, but the writing lured me in as well. With such phrases as “…where the other person’s words burn right into you, where apologies don’t keep them from scarring” the story could easily have been told in verse because of its poetic quality. Colt’s pain of keeping a romantic relationship secret tugs at you and knowing he can never really have closure is heartbreaking. If you have ever suffered any kind of loss, this book is a must-read. Buy it now!

THE DEATHDAY LETTER by Shaun David Hutchinson

Need a break from the heavy and solemn? How about a book about death? Seriously. You may not expect comedy from a book where you know the MC, Ollie, will kick it by the last page, but this book had me laughing all the way through. The concept here is that everyone gets a Deathday letter on the day s/he is supposed to go to that happy place in the sky (or wherever). When Ollie gets his, he and his bff and ex-gf set out on a last day to end all days. One thing that really impressed me was Shaun’s ability to bring in the concept of last thoughts, what we’d do if we were suddenly faced with the end, and the need for closure and amends in both a sensitive and comedic way. Another thing I loved (and there were many) was Ollie’s voice. He’s not a 30 year old trapped in a 15 year old’s body who knows everything about the world already. He’s 15 and all that comes with that–insecurity, horniness, desire to eat all that is in sight, not really knowing what girls want at all–rings so true. The supporting characters are fleshed out as well and function as far more than sidekicks, with their own quirky personalities. Boys will love this book. Girls will love it too–for the writing and the chance to get a glimpse into a teen guy’s brain. THE DEATHDAY LETTER comes out June 15. If it was my Deathday, the first thing I’d do is buy this book!

I recently got to sit down with The Berk (ok, the sit-down part took place in my head, but he really answered the questions below, and I’m betting he answered them sitting down) and chat one tribe member to another. We kibbitzed, got a little verklempt, and had an all around great time. Now, for the pleasure of Josh’s fans (more on that later), I have some excerpts of that convo. And, if that’s not enough of a Berk fix, visit Josh’s site: www.joshberkbooks.com.

1. Your strong online presence has been discussed with envy. I mean you have your own groupies and everything. (I believe they’re called “Berkies”). Are you surprised by how natural social networking is for you? Did it make you nervous at all?

I don’t think I have groupies! And I’m sure no one has ever said “Berkies” before. But good one! Ha! I do agree that social networking has been surprisingly natural for me. I was really late to blogging and the whole online world. I didn’t really get started with any of it until I joined the Tenners about a year ago and Heidi Kling was like “You should blog! You should get on Facebook! You should try Twitter!” It’s all Heidi’s fault, essentially. But in another sense, it’s not that surprising. I’m just friendly and chatty and goofy online just like I am in real life. I don’t have anything resembling a plan to create an online presence. I just enjoy connecting with people — other authors, readers, bloggers, librarians, teachers. They’re all fun to talk to and to joke around with. Sometimes it still makes me nervous — mainly that I’ll make a joke and upset someone, but I view it just as a series of interactions with people, not an “online presence.” And nearly everyone I have met has been incredibly friendly and wonderful. No reason to feel nervous when you’re surrounded by such great folks!

2. Do you have advice for other writers on how to make the most of online tools to create book buzz? Say, if a writer wanted her own groupies, maybe called Gelbwasseries or Gelbwassies, (gosh, that just rolls off your tongue, doesn’t it?) how would she go about that?

Hm, yes, perhaps first step would be to get a catchy last name! Sorry. Besides that? It sounds really corny (like, ridiculously corny) but I read somewhere that your strategy should just be “To be yourself — everyone else is already taken.” Again: totally corny. But that’s the closest thing I have to a guiding principle when it comes to this stuff. I certainly don’t have a gameplan. I’m just goofing around, making friends one weird joke at a time. And if I’m doing something interesting or funny online, it’s mostly likely because I’m just trying to keep up with the awesomeness of the Tenners, or with friends like Sarah Ockler, who is infinitely more clever and funny than I will ever be. So surround yourself with great people and just be yourself! Oh, also: get a nemesis. A good nemesis is always good for buzz. Haaaawkins!

3. You blog about Jewish stuff often. Have you ever wanted to write a book focused on Jewish characters or subject? A humor one perhaps?

Good question! Because in fact my first book-length manuscript — I call it now “my practice novel” — was all about Jewish stuff. The main character was the only Jewish kid at a Catholic high school. This does happen in real life sometimes and it struck me as very bizarre. It also struck me as a fun setting for an outsider tale, which I’m always drawn to. The main character was a classic shlemiel, like Woody Allen, who I love. (Um, his movies, not him personally.) Lots of Jewish humor. But it wasn’t a very good novel because I didn’t know anything about plot and it was all just jokes and no action. But now I’m revisiting the topic in a way, with my second book. It’s also about a Jewish kid who is fond of wise-cracking, but (hopefully) I’ve put him in a more exciting plot. There is a dead body and forensics and a murder investigation and such. Also his father is a strong Jewish character — a macho Jew, a tough mensch who also has a way with words. He’s a character I’m very proud of. 

4. Other than Won Ton soup, what’s your favorite Jewish food?

Hm, probably whitefish! Also bagels. And I’d like to give a shout-out to “He-brew,” the chosen beer. That makes me laugh every time.

5. Can you describe your writing process? Do you like note cards, post-its, pad and paper or are you computer all the way?

I make notes on whatever is handy — note cards, envelopes, notebooks… A lot of times I type notes to myself in my cell phone organizer. This is because when I’m writing a book it takes over my head. There are times of course that I sit down to write, but I’m always thinking about the book. When I was doing HAMBURGER HALPIN I was always thinking, “What would Will think of this? What would he say about that guy? What would he order at this resturant?” And then I would jot it down. And then dump those notes into a big text file and start cutting and pasting to make these random ideas fit into the plot outline. I definitely outline, but mostly it’s a process which is chaotic and insane, befitting its author.

6. I really liked how you developed the idea for HAMBURGER HALPIN—how the character came to you, etc. Do you often get book ideas from dreams?

I often jot down my dreams. Rarely do they become novels! Sometimes I’ll get an idea for a character or a line of dialogue or something fun from a dream. This was the only time that a dream became the germ for the novel. But it really was just that — the germ. The real work comes after that. The idea for book #2 I was talking about before came straight from a newspaper article. But I just took one basic fact from the article and then spent well over a year creating the whole fictional world to surround the one event. These germs can come from anywhere so I always try to keep my eyes open.

7. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

The first thing I always say is to read. I didn’t become half-way decent at writing YA novels until I read tons of them (hundreds, literally) and I don’t think this step is optional unless you’re some sort of super-genius. Also I think it’s good advice to read at least one “how to write a novel” book, preferably by someone whose advice runs opposite to your natural style. For example, if you’re a nuts-and-bolts plotter you should read a flighty “embrace your inner creativity” book. And if you’re a flighty type you should read a book by a nuts-and-bolts plotter. Finally, I think you should not worry very much about publishing while writing your first book. Just write it for fun and for practice. If you don’t think writing is fun (at least sometimes) and you are against the idea of practicing, you won’t get very far anyway. So just write something, enjoy it, make it as great as you can make it, and then worry about the business-y steps of finding an agent, a publisher, a spot on the shelves for your awards, etc. later.

8. Your book will be out in a week. What are some things you’re feeling? Will you be having a launch? Deets please.

Nervous! When I first sold the manuscript I felt nervous, when I first saw the ARC I felt nervous, when the excerpt from the book went online I felt nervous, when reviewers starting getting it I felt nervous… Basically the thought of anyone reading it makes me nervous! So thinking about February 9 when possibly a bunch of people will be reading it at once … this makes me nervous! I am going to be celebrating the launch with a bunch of library appearances. One of them will have cake, so we shall call that one the official launch. So basically my plans are to get nervous and eat cake. This is actually not very different than a usual day.

9. Are you still connected to Will Halpin and the other characters in your book? Mine often continue speaking to me even after the book is done. What do you say to them? Do you have last words or well-wishes for them you’d like to share?

I think about him sometimes for sure! Especially when I get the courage to read through the book. I wonder what’s next for him. It’s more that I wonder what else he has to say to me than what I have to say to him. Haha. Writers are so weird.

Thanks for having me! L’chaim!