Tag: interviews

Tenner Tuesday with Kristina McBride

Tenner Tuesday is back! Today I have an interview with Kristina McBride, author of the psychological thriller, THE TENSION OF OPPOSITES (Egmont USA). And if you want more (which of course you do), read more about her on her site and blog.

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.



Writing Wednesday with Jennifer Laughran, Agent Extraordinaire

Today’s interview is the perfect one to get you over that Wednesday hump. Jennifer is funny, savvy, the founder of Not Your Mother’s Book Club, and agent at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Inc. And I’m lucky to have her as my agent too. 🙂

1. Describe your ideal client.

I like authors who are hard-working, who take their work seriously (but are fun about it!) and who are not precious about revising or reworking or throwing things that are not working away.  I don’t like divas.  I also don’t like surprises, and I really really don’t like wasting my time… but who does? So I very much appreciate authors who are good communicators.

2. The agent/client relationship should be a match for both. What are the right questions an author should ask to see if the compatibility is there?

I think that depends on what is important to YOU. But I’d probably start with: What did you like about my book? What do you think I need to change? How much revision would you ask me to do before we can submit? How do you envision the book, with what sort of publisher?  Do you want to know if I have ideas/suggestions for editors we might submit to?  How do you prefer to communicate, and how often? What happens if we don’t sell this book?  Can I see your agency agreement before I make a decision?  (And because for me it would be important that my agent be well-read in whatever my genre would be…) What do you consider comparative titles to mine? What are some of your favorite books in my genre?


3. What is the top mistake writers make?


Probably querying too soon, and/or having unrealistic expectations.


4. What made you want to be an agent?


I love books and authors, and am a real evangelist for my favorite books, but I don’t want to be a writer. And I am good at selling things, but I don’t want to be a door-to-door salesman. And I am good at arguing, but I don’t want to be a lawyer.  Soo…. it was a perfect fit!


5. And, if you weren’t an agent, you’d be…..?


A bookseller, I guess!  🙂  If I wasn’t in the book business at all, I would probably be a dramaturg or theatre producer, that is what I went to school for. If I couldn’t do that for whatever reason, I also would not mind working in a fabric or hobby shop, fine paper store, antique store or at a boutique florist. I like buttons and bows!  And I have pretty much zero skills that will translate to a post-apocolyptic world. Ah, well.


5. What’s your best advice for writers?


Read. A LOT. And don’t get too caught up in what other people are writing — you have to make your own path.


6. What kind of manuscript do you wish you had in your hands right now?

I would love some funny wonderful classic-feeling Middle Grade fiction, like THE PENDERWICKS or Andrew Clements. It is extremely hard to write. 

I would also like high-concept, unputdownable, truly stellar but highly commercial YA.  Wouldn’t everyone?

7. If you could create a donut flavor, what would it be?

Hm – I am not so into donuts. I like fleur de sel mini-cupcakes. MINI ONLY! I don’t like large cupcakes. I have an anti-messy-food policy.


minicupcakes, web size


8. Favorite book ever?


I could not possibly pick one. My favorite non-client books at the moment are THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE by Jandy Nelson and HOW TO SAY GOODBYE IN ROBOT by Natalie Standiford.


how-to-say-goodbye-in-robot skyeverywhere


9. Favorite/least favorite aspect of agenting?


I love selling things, and I love making that call to a client that their book is going to be published!  


But, I sympathize with many writers, because I too am frustrated by the length of time we have to wait for things. As we all know, the publishing world is very slow, and it can be excruciating.


10. This question is all you. Anything you have always wanted to be asked but never were or just something you’re dying to share?

Not really. If you want to find out inane things about me daily, feel free to follow my twitter feed: @literaticat





Tenner Tuesday with Jennifer R. Hubbard

Thanks for joining me in another Tenner Tuesday installment. Today we have Jennifer R. Hubbard, author of THE SECRET YEAR (Viking). To find out more about Jennifer and her projects, visit her at www.jenniferhubbard.com.


JennHbiopic SecretYear.Cvr7


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!

Flux Friday with Mandy Hubbard

Today’s Flux Friday is with writer AND agent Mandy Hubbard, author of PRADA & PREJUDICE (Razorbill/Penguin), DRIVEN (Harlequin, June 201), YOU WISH (Razorbill/Penguin, August 2010), and SHATTERED (Flux, 2011), and agent at D4EO Literary. To find out more about this busy gal, visit www.mandyhubbard.com.


mandy hubbard

 

1. On your blog, you discuss the numerous rejections you got for PRADA & PREJUDICE. I think your experience is very inspiring for writers. How did you keep believing that the book would sell and not get discouraged?

I didn’t get discouraged? Who told you that? *grin*. There were definitely days (weeks, months) I questioned my sanity. But I just felt too strongly about Prada & Prejudice to give up. So I revised and revised and eventually rewrote it. I don’t really have any tips, per se, but all I can say is that you have to go in knowing rejection is part of it and just refuse to take no for an answer. My tag line on my blog is “A published author is an amateur who didn’t quit. Don’t quit.” I saw that line every day, and it reminded me of my goal.

2. What is the number one thing you need when writing?

Honestly, there’s nothing that is a “must” for me, though I’d love hours of uninterupted time, gummy bears, soda, and music. Most of the time I have none of those things. I wrote the vast majority of Prada & Prejudice on a laptop on a noisy train at 7am. If you want something bad enough, you make it happen.

3. I remember PRADA & PREJUDICE being in TIME magazine, where Abigail Breslin was said to be reading it. Do you think that affected sales? Did you ever write her a note?

I never did send her a note or a thank you, though I would have liked to. I just figured it would be lost in fanmail. As for sales, we did see a nice little bump for a little while, but nothing major, as the mention was small. I did notice on Amazon that the “frequently bought together with” books were consistently books that were mentioned in that same article, at least for a month or so.

4. Your book for Flux is about an abusive relationship—a more serious topic than what PRADA & PREJUDICE—was based on. How did the idea come to you, and did you have a different way of organizing your thoughts, plot, etc. while writing serious material as opposed to lighter work?

SHATTERED is a book that’s pretty close to me. It was inspired by a relationship I had at 17 that was not physically abusive, but it wasn’t healthy either, and it gave me insight that I used in SHATTERED. It’s written in reverse chronological order, so it was a real challenge to get it to come together correctly. I did write it very differently than P&P in that I jumped around a bit when I wrote it. I had the skeleton of it done in a week, then went back in and wrote more scenes to fill in the holes. My writing style seems to change with every book I write.

5. I’m really impressed with your new career path of agenting. How do you balance that with your writing and what made you want to take that on?

You know, I’ve just been fascinated by the agenting side of things for a long time. I probably drove my own agent crazy because I was interested in the nuts and bolts of how she was doing things at all times. I became involved in the submission process (and selecting editors) early on, and over time, I knew I wanted to agent.

It can be a tough balance, but I’m not writing all the time– there are many periods of time where I’m waiting for revision letters or books to release and I can focus soley on agenting. Aside from that, it’s just not possible to write for more than a few hours at a time— I just can’t be creative for 8 hours straight. Therefore, I can write for a bit and then put my agent hat on and let my author-brain rest.

6. Do you prefer reading classic lit or contemporary and what are your favorite books in both genres?

Contemporary, hands down. I hate to use the term “sell out” but I am such a commercial, mainstream sort of girl– I always seem to love what’s most popular in music, movies, books. I definitely like a few more eclectic things, but I think my love of commercial works is going to be great for an agent– I’ll focus on things that fit the market best, and take on the occasional quiet book that speaks to me to balance things out. Favorite books– I could go on and on. Amaranth Enchantment, Match Made in High School, Hunger Games, Hate List, The Forest of Hands and Teeth, The Season….. I’ll stop now.

7. What is your favorite fairy tale?

Cinderella. There are an infinite number of ways to retell the story. I have a friend who wrote one in which Cinderella is an assassin, and she went to the ball not to dance with the prince, but to kill him.

8. Are you into fashion? If you had to pick a favorite outfit, what would it be?

No would be an understatement. I hate shopping and never seem to pull an outfit together. I like comfy tees and bootleg jeans.

9. Can you tell us anything about your upcoming novels? We’ll keep it secret. Promise!

Don’t keep it a secret! Tell the world!

My next book for teens, YOU WISH, is about a girl who gets every birthday wish she’s ever made, to disastrous effect. It starts with a life-sized my little pony. I’m hoping it’s funny. I’m not sure yet. 😉

Flux Friday with Ryan Potter


Exit Strategy_med Ryan Potter


Ryan Potter’s EXIT STRATEGY will be published by Flux on March 1, 2010. Only days away!! Lucky for me (and you), I was able to interview him before all the mayhem started. To find out more about Ryan and EXIT STRATEGY, visit www.exitstrategy17.com.


1. Your first novel, EXIT STRATEGY, is coming out next week. First word that comes to your mind. No thinking allowed.

Finally! (I say ‘finally’ because I wrote the first draft nearly five years ago!)

2. What are your book launch plans? Any cool online or live parties or shenanigans planned?

Nothing major planned as of now. We’re still waiting to hear from some big chain stores in the area about upcoming signings, but there is a 5-book giveaway in process over at Goodreads that is going very well. I can’t believe how many people have entered to win a copy of the book. I love the Goodreads community! By the way, the giveaway runs through March 1. If anybody is interested, here’s the link: http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/2826-exit-strategy

3. How did the idea for EXIT STRATEGY come to you?

As I’ve said, I wrote the first draft almost five years ago. It was my first attempt at a novel, and I had no clue if I could pull it off. I followed the old cliché of “write what you know.” For example, the main character is seventeen and works as a stock boy at the neighborhood party store, a job I held on and off during my own high school career. There are dozens of other examples I could give from the book. Anyway, I think that’s great advice for beginning authors. Take something you know and go from there. It worked for me.

In terms of the idea for the novel, all I knew in the beginning was that I wanted to write a story that would appeal to reluctant high school readers, especially average guys from blue-collar backgrounds. I also knew my main character would fall in love with his psycho best friend’s twin sister. That was my central plot conflict. How would Zach Ramsey (main character) deal with his love for Sarah Foster, and how would it impact his relationship with Tank Foster? I made everything else up as I went along.

4. What is your writing strategy (e.g are you a plotter, a winger, outliner, etc.)?

I’d say I’m a diehard winger with occasional spurts of plotting. I’ll start with a basic idea and go from there. Usually, I’ll have lots of ideas for scenes, but I won’t know until later exactly where to place them. That’s where my notebook comes in handy. I can jot the scene ideas down and come back to them when necessary.

As for outlines, I’ve decided they’re my worst enemy. I know many writers love them, but all they do is bog me down and smother my creative process. In fact, I just realized something. I’ve never used an outline on a published piece. In fact, the last work I tried to outline was a dismal failure that I ended up abandoning. So, yeah, I’m very anti-outline. Sorry, no offense, outline fans!

5. Which character in your book do you relate to the most and why?

That would have to be Zach Ramsey, the main character. Although he’s very unlike me in many ways, I do remember being disappointed as a teenager when I found out certain things about adults. I can also relate to Zach’s sense of wanting something more than what his hometown offers. Don’t get me wrong. I had a great time growing up where I did, but I knew I wanted something fresh and different as an adult. That’s why I knew I had to go to college.

On the other hand, in the novel Zach despises his football coach, but my own high school football coach is an amazing person and was a great role model for me back then.

6. What has been the most surprising thing about the publication process?

I’ve been most surprised at what a team effort the publication process is. I blogged about this last summer, but I highly suggest that new writers face the fact that the days of the recluse author are history. Yes, the actual first-draft process can be lonely, but once a professional agent offers you representation, and, later, a publisher offers you money for your work, it’s time to prepare for some brutally honest feedback and, usually, some major changes to your work.

I’ve lost count of how many drafts EXIT STRATEGY went through, but every suggestion from my agent and editors made it a better book. I’ve worked with so many wonderful people on this novel—two agents, two editors, a cover designer, publicist, copy editor, etc.—and I tried to do everything possible as a writer to make their jobs easier. They know what sells. I don’t. There’s a lot of collaboration on a novel. That part surprised me, but I like to think I embraced it from day one.

7. Sometimes when I’m stuck on a book, I work on something totally unrelated like house cleaning or take a walk. What works best for you?

When I’m stuck on a story, I’ll usually take a coffee or food break, but during that time I’m constantly feeling guilty for not staying in the writing chair and dealing with the problem. It’s a vicious cycle that way! As a result, I tend to take very short breaks.

8. If there’s one thing you want people to take away from your book, what would it be?

That I used my sense of humor to address some sensitive issues teen guys face but often have trouble talking about. Did I succeed in that? I’ll let readers decide. Having said that, if even one reluctant teen reader finishes EXIT STRATEGY and says something along the lines of, “Yeah, that was my kind of book,” then I’ll consider all of my hard work a smashing success!

9. Can you tell us a little about the next project you’re working on?

I’m working on a YA novel told from four different viewpoints. I like to challenge myself as a writer, and this is definitely something new for me. In terms of story, I have four suburban high school seniors (two males, two females) who embark on a very unique challenge as they near graduation. I’m afraid that’s all I can give you for now! However, I will say that this is the first time I’ve tried writing first-person female voices. Talk about a challenge!

10. This question is all yours: Anything you wish I had asked? Favorite song? The food you can’t live without? How you became a brilliant writer? All you!

How about a list of ten favorites?

  • Guilty pleasure: American Idol (but I do miss Paula)

  • Music genre: Heavy metal

  • Sport: Baseball

  • Exercise: yoga

  • City: New York

  • Food: pizza

  • Film: Out of Sight (1998) – Easily George Clooney’s greatest role.

  • Publisher: Flux

  • Literary agency: Andrea Brown Literary Agency

  • Other things I’d like to plug for free: Gibson Les Paul guitars, Elmore Leonard novels, and Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs.

 

 

 

Tenner Tuesday: Two Jew Interview with Josh Berk

Josh Berk is a man of many talents—husband, daddy, Twitterer extraordinaire. Oh, and he also wrote a book coming out February 9, 2010. It’s called THE DARK DAYS OF HAMBURGER HALPIN (Knopf), and if you haven’t heard of it, I don’t know where you’ve been living as it’s been racking up amazing reviews like they were on the endangered species list.

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.

 

joshberk_photo1 darkdays_cover

 

 

 

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!


Writing Wednesday: Chat with Jennifer Brown

Today’s Writing Wednesday segment is with Jennifer Brown, terrific Deb and author of Hate List (Little, Brown, September 2009). Despite deadlines and writing work galore, Jennifer had time to answer the questions below and then some. To find out more about Jennifer visit her at www.jenniferbrownya.com


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1. Prior to Hate List, you were known for your humorous writing style. Was shifting from humor to serious difficult for you?

Not really. I actually began by writing serious stuff. I didn’t start writing a humor column until 2005, and had already been writing for 5 years at that time. Humor comes naturally to me, and I haven’t left it, but I really like to write on serious subjects. Doing both is a win-win!

2. How did Hate List come to you?

I think a lot of things came together at just the right time for me. I’d been bullied in school, and that had certainly been on my mind for a lot of years (I’ve never really understood what makes some people be so mean for no real reason). Also, as a parent, school shootings really frighten me. It’s shocking and terrifying to find out that the one safe place in the world for you to send your kids may not be so safe anymore. So these things are percolating around in my brain for… years… and, you know, so much of writing is just very mysterious. Things just sort of come together all at once and you didn’t even know all the parts and pieces were there until you look back. So, in that light, looking back, the inciting event for bringing all those parts and pieces together for me — as strange as this sounds — was the Nickelback song, “If Everyone Cared.” The song got stuck in my head one night while I was sleeping, and I woke up with these two characters in my head. I could “see” them so clearly. And their story was just… there. But if I’m being honest, it had been there for a long time. I just finally recognized it.

3. I always find it interesting to know an author’s writing process. How do you work? Do you get your characters first, the story, something else?

I’m a very character-driven sort of writer so, yes, I make sure I have the characters understood first. I usually begin with a little research, and do a ton of thinking about plot. Once I feel I have the basic plot idea in my head, I begin writing (long-hand) everything I know about the main characters (and sometimes even minor ones). I start with police blotter stuff, like age, weight, height, etc., then move on to family dynamics, motivation, and so forth. It’s really important to me to know my characters through and through or they won’t start “speaking to me.” If they don’t start “speaking,” everything just falls apart. Orson Scott Card’s book Characters and Viewpoints changed my writing life! I highly recommend it.

After I get my character information down, I just begin writing. I’m not a big outliner and I despise writing synopses. I like to just have my basic plot in mind and go with it. And I really like for my characters to change the plot themselves.

4. I was not surprised that I felt sympathy for Valerie in Hate List. However, I was surprised that I felt sympathy for Nick and saw him as a boy, not just a murderer. Did you understand him from the beginning? Was the Nick that evolved—the many facets of him—how you envisioned him from the start?

I understood him from the beginning, yes, but I didn’t write the good Nick stuff down at first. It wasn’t until my editor told me that the reader couldn’t just “take Val’s word for it” that Nick was a good guy that it really clicked with me. I’d sort of been treating him like a corpse, while in Valerie’s head he was still very much alive. I realized that, for readers to understand not only him and his motivation, but also to understand Val and her motivation, we needed to see him just being… normal sometimes. After I wrote the good Nick scenes, those turned out to be some of my favorite scenes in the book.

5. I love that you like board games. What is your favorite one?

I’m lucky in that I have a brother who is a major gamer, and is always going to these gaming conventions and always knows/has these games nobody’s ever heard of. They can be really fun. My favorite game at the moment is a card game called Once Upon a Time, where you play cards to build fairy tales. It’s a lot of fun! But there’s a game called Betrayal at the House on the Hill that we’ve played tons of times, and it would rank up there for me. And I love love love the game Ticket to Ride.

6. I’m not into playlists, but seems everyone else is. Are you? Does music inspire your characters?

I don’t think music really inspires my characters, no. But I will hear songs while I’m writing, or will think of songs that will make me go, “Omigosh, my character totally could relate to this song!” And I did create a Hate List playlist for my virtual launch party (http://jenniferbrown09.livejournal.com/5043.html ). That said, I’m a huge music lover, and I do like to have music playing in the background while I’m writing. The trouble is, I like to sing along, so I have to play foreign music that I don’t understand so I won’t get distracted.

7. I saw you have a book, PATCHED, coming out Spring 2011. Can you tell us about it? And I know you’re working on an adult book as well. Different genres, different styles. Is it hard to shift voices? Where else do you see your writing going?

PATCHED is about a girl involved in an abusive relationship with her boyfriend. I’m pretty superstitious about giving up too many details while I’m still working on a project, so I’ll leave it at that for now. Yes, I did just finish writing a light romantic adult story. It’s actually a story I began forever ago, before I started Hate List. And I’ve been adding little chapters here and there whenever I felt a need to lighten up. I want to say no, it’s not difficult to shift voices like that, but… well, we’ll see if this adult book sells. It may not be difficult to shift voices,  but that doesn’t mean I do it well… Hahaha! I actually really like to switch up genres, even if I don’t do them all well. It keeps me from getting too one-note, I think.

8. I really enjoyed your blog entry about introverts. Do you have a specific place you like to be alone or that fuels and reenergizes you?

I love libraries. I could live in a library. In fact, I think if I accidentally got locked in a library overnight, that would be the awesomest thing ever! When I want to work — and really get after it! — I go to the library. I can get away with ignoring my cell phone and sitting in a corner with my back to the room and not speaking to anyone for hours on end and it’s totally socially acceptable in a library! What’s not to love about that?!

9. Your book has been out almost four months now. Can you tell us a little about your debut year?

Ahh, the dreaded debut year! Um, scary? How about exhausting? Confusing? Exhilarating? Exciting? Touching? Very, very humbling? All of the above! One thing I’ve learned — no matter how long you’ve been doing this writing gig, you learn very quickly your debut year what a newbie you are! And the first month after your book’s release just flies by — it’s more work than you ever imagined possible!

10. What has been the best part of these debut months?

I’ve had some very touching moments this year that really reminded me why I do what I do, but two really stand out in my mind.

I have these silicone bracelets that say “AGENT OF CHANGE” on them, and I give them out to teens here and there. I usually give them out in twos — one for the student I’m giving it to, and the other for that student to give to someone who isn’t already their friend. I sent a bunch of these to a middle school group who was reading my book, and I later got a note from their teacher, thanking me and telling me that his students were currently working with administration to create their own “Agent of Change Club.” I thought that was awesome!

Another time, during a school visit and library event trip to another city, I got an impromptu request to visit an alternative school in the area. My schedule was full, but something told me that I really needed to make every effort to get to that school. So I did. And it turned out that I was the first and only author to EVER visit that school. And the students were so excited about it, after I left, they decided to create a student-led book group.

Makes me so proud to be part of that!