The Crimson Banner by: Jennifer Sauer (and an author interview!)

First off, I thought I should say, the author of this book is an amazing girl and I am proud to call her my "adopted sister."

So. That's taken care of.

Now, this is her book. The Crimson Banner.

Lady Melinda Llewllyn thought she was just escaping her betrothed - Lord Pemberton - when she boarded the Cosette. She did not realize that she was fulfilling her destiny.

Captain Jack Breen knew there was something special about Melinda the moment he saw her. He did not realize just how much he would come to love her.

Selena wants to marry the man who will one day take over the throne, she never realized how hard she would have to work for true love.

Felicia "Toby" Pemberton is sister to a hated man. Will anyone ever come to trust her?

This group of unlikely friends come together along with several others to put the right man on the throne.

But at what costs?

My thoughts:

This is a very sweet book and was WAY too short. I wanted more!!

It is amazing how Jennifer has used this book to glorify our Creator. She incorporates scripture with expertise and I look forward to seeing what the Lord has planned for her in the future.

The Crimson Banner has got a mix or mystery, romance, and suspense. The characters are realistic, too. Each person has their own role to play, no matter how big or small.

Objectional Content...
Language:  None.
Romance/Sexual Content: Marriage, one or two kisses.
Violence: None that I remember.
Drugs/Alcohol: None.

An interview with the author, Jennifer Sauer!

When did you first start writing?
I’ve been telling tales ever since I could talk and before that I probably told them to myself. When I was about nine or ten, I realized that writers actually got paid to write and that I could make a career out of it. Then, I was probably thirteen when I started taking my writing seriously and trying to improve it.

That's very neat, Jennifer! Did you take any classes?
I took several classes for school but the one that most influenced my writing was the One Year Adventure Novel. Even though I didn’t agree with everything to curriculum said, it challenged me to strengthen my writing and to make it much more realistic. It emphasized on the importance of the story rather than structure so, there was a lot of things that I had never thought about and I hadn’t learned in other classes.

But, mostly, what strengthened my writing the most was me just simply writing. For, the only thing that can truly make a writer a writer is that they write.

The One Year Adventure Novel curriculum is excellent. I've been using it myself. So, who or what most inspired your writing?
First of all, what most inspires my writing is the burning passion within me to write words and create stories. It’s a God-given desire to tell tales and I love the feeling of joy and satisfaction that the simple putting together of words to form sentences gives me.

As for who inspires my writing, I would say it’s all the authors who wrote so beautifully and- in my opinion- used their talents to write junk. I’ve read too many books that had great storylines but were filled with inappropriate content. So, I was inspired to write the books I couldn’t find- ones with good storylines and nothing objectionable content-wise.



That's awesome! That desire certainly took you a long way. What was your first reaction when you found out you were going to be published?
I literally jumped up and down and screamed with excitement!!

Haha, I'm sure. :) Do you have any hobbies aside from writing?
Besides reading and writing, my hobbies (or, my passions, as I call them) are sewing and baking.

You've told me about your sewing projects before; They sound awesome! And are you working on any novels right now?
A few months ago, I finished writing my second novel, a western called The Sheriff of Colsen Creek. Now, I’m working on a science fiction called The Colony about a group of people who live in a Colony under Governmental control and the sequel to The Crimson Banner, called Walls of Refuge, furthering the adventures of Tom Rogers and Toby Pemberton.

Well, that's very exciting. I would love a sequel to The Crimson Banner!  Thanks for doing this Jennifer! And you all be sure to check out her book!!

Author Interview with Carlie Gernhart

Carlie Gernhart has agreed to do an interview with me! She is the author of the amazing book, Fable Weaver. You can read my review for it HERE.

1. When did you first start writing?

I first started writing a couple years ago, when I was about 14. I made a 400 page mess of horrible writing that had a repetitive plot that went nowhere. At 16 I started writing seriously when I was in the pilot class of OYAN, and I'm so glad I took it. My writing improved drastically and that 400 page mess got revised into a book called Kytt's Tale. Here I am at 19 and totally loving being a writer.

2. Where did you get the idea for your novel? I mean, seriously, it's AMAZING!

Thanks! I got the idea from hearing other people talk about their characters, and from experiences with my own. So, Tierra Fabula was born. Fable Weavers and Changelings evolved from that. I also like the "Fractured Fairy Tales" method of taking a old story, then turning it on its head in a funny or unexpected way.

3. Are you working on anything right now?

Yeah, I'm always working on something or other. Right now I've got a prequel going for a book I already wrote called "Elementia" (though I'd like to find another title for it someday...). Really enjoying working on that, because some of my favorite characters to write are in it. I've also got several books I'm juggling in the back of my mind, working on them when I have time.

4. What do you like to do when when you're not writing?

Video games, mostly. I've been gaming since I could hold a Super Nintendo Controller. Right now I'm really into playing Minecraft, though I'm also playing through Final Fantasy VII (got stuck at a particularly hard battle). Some of my favorite games are Shadow of the Colossus (amazing story), Portal 1 and 2 (amazing writing), Pokemon games, The Legend of Zelda series and way too many others to list here. I also like drawing, which is something I've been doing for about nine years. I like it because it lets me show people how my characters look to me.

5. So, your novel was written with the One Year Adventure Novel program? Would you recommend it? I personally found the program to be a big help in my own writing.

Yes, it was. I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who wants to write. The difference between the way I used to write and how I write now is amazing. I take the time to structure my stories, develop characters and make sure the plot works before I write it. I'm so, SO glad I found OYAN. Might sound a bit dramatic, but I really do think it's changed my life for the better.

6. What are some of your favorite books? Authors?

Oh boy, let's see... Recent books I've read and loved have been the Maze Runner series (James Dashner) and the Hunger Games trilogy (Suzanne Collins). I also really enjoy the Bartimaeus series, written by Jonathan Stroud. Some of my favorite authors are Terry Pratchett (who can write some amazingly funny books) and J.K. Rowling (who also wrote one of my all-time favorite series).

7. Off the topic of writing, what is your favorite fast food restaurant?

Can't beat a Triple Stacker combo from Burger King. Yay bacon!

8. Who or what most inspired your writing?

My parents really helped me stay motivated, and my sister is excellent at brainstorming and bouncing ideas around. J.K. Rowling was probably the one that most inspired me to start telling stories. I also wanted to get my stories into the world so my characters would stop bugging me about it. :)

9. Is your life any different now that you're an author?

Incredibly different. It's crazy how random some sources of inspiration can be (Elementia was spawned from a single gesture in a Pixar movie... still got no explanation for that one). Also, whenever I'm bored, I'll often start a mental conversation with my characters (it helps me develop them, and also helps pass time). It's amazing to me when someone asks me "Hey, how's *insert character name here* doing" or something along those lines.

10. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I'd love to see Ireland. :)

11. What did you want to be when you were little? Was writing always a part of it?

For a long time I wanted to be a zookeeper. Then I wanted to be a video game tester. Now I think I'll be a Character Designer/Animator/Story Writer for video games who is a masked vigilante by night. :)

*    *    *

Thanks for doing this, Carlie! :)

Author Interview with Mattie Richardson

Today I have the pleasure of introducing Mattie Richardson, author of Appaloosy and Dusty's Trail. I'm sure a couple of you bloggers out there will know Mattie Richardson from her blog, Appaloosy Dreams. And if you don't know her, be sure to click on the link and check out her blog! She's really cool!

1. When did you first start writing?

I'd have to say I first started writing when I was about 8 years old. I went to public school at that time, and while the other kids were finishing their assignments I would write tablets full of stories, most of them involved animals of some sort.

2. Is life any different now that you're an author?

Yes life is different. It is so cool to be able to say, "I'm an author" to people and watch their response. I do get tired of explaining the details over and over, though. One thing that is definetely different now too: I have no time! Who has time to be bored in this world? Every minute when I'm not doing something else I'm thinking that I should be writing.

3. How long did it take you to write, edit, and publish your first book? How long did the first draft take?

The first book definetely was a long process. It took me the entire summer of my 13th year to write Appaloosy. Editing took about three months, the saving up money for the first round of publishing is what took the longest. I worked about a year to earn enough to publish it, the publishing process itself took about a month and a half.

4. Do you have any hobbies/things that you really enjoy doing?

I love to ride horse! Wanting a horse is what inspired me to write Appaloosy. Now that I actually have a horse reality has hit me a bit. =) I also like to write, play the fiddle and the electric guitar, work on 4-H projects, and hang out with friends.

5. What/who most inspired your writing?

My want for a horse really inspired the writing of Appaloosy. When I was 13, I didn't have a horse yet and dreamed about owning a beautiful Appaloosa. Add a little history, a character modeled after myself, and a little bit of special aspects to a normal horse, and there you have Appaloosy.

6. Are you working on any books right now? How many books do you have out?

Currently I have two books out, Appaloosy and Dusty's Trail. Both are historical fiction told from a horse's point of view. I am working on my third horse book, Golden Sunrise, and a longer teen novel I have entitled "Blackberry Blossom".

7. Did you always want to be an author? What did you want to be when you were little?

I don't think that I always wanted to be an author. I kind of wanted to be a veternarian or horse trainer when I was little. I always have written stories, but I didn't think about it until I heard a few stories about teen authors and thought, "Hey, I could do that!"

8. Do you have a favourite writing quote?

I love all kinds of writing quotes! Everytime I read one, I can relate to it so much usually I hurry and put it on facebook as my status, only to find out that not everyone thinks like a writer. :) Here's one of my favorites:

What no wife of a writer can ever understand is that a writer is working when he's staring out the window. ~Burton Rascoe
Change "wife" to "parents", "friends" or "coworkers" and this quote is amazing to me!

9. What was your first reaction when you found out your first book was going to be published?

It was a long time coming for me, but you wouldn't belive how excited I was to hold the first copy of Appaloosy in my hands. I had put so much time, effort and inspiration into writing my first novel, and here it was, a real book!

10. Who is your greatest support in your writing?

I'd like to say my parents, but because they are so busy in their lives they don't have a lot of time to support my writing so they usually leave me on my own in writing, publishing, earning money to publish, marketing, etc. I think the greatest support would be my blogger friends! I do have to say that my uncles on my mother's side have been very helpful too, helping with editing, marketing and stuff like that.

11. Do you have a favourite book? Author?

I love the book Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock, and I like Louis L'amour books too. But I'm not sure on my favortie author yet. I guess I haven't read enough books out there to decide yet!

12. What's your best tip for beginning writers?

Keep plowing along, and don't have too high of expectations. Being a writer is hard work and there really isn't a lot of glory in it unless you hit the bestseller list (very unprobable). It takes a lot more time and work than you would think to write a  book so don't start it thinking that it will be easy. It never is.

13. What's the best part of being an author?

I think the best part of being an author is sharing your work with others. It is so scary having your writing out there for the whole world to read, but also it is very thrilling, especially when people like it. Of course though, I think my favorite part was always being locked in my room typing away, not having to listen to any voices except for the characters that are in my head.

Author Interview with Dandi Daley Mackall

Author Dandi Daley Mackall has agreed to do an interview with me! She is the author of around 450 books, which is way too many for me to mention here. :)

Her webite is HERE.

1. When did you first start writing?

I think I was “writing” even before I could hold a pen. I made up characters and stories in my head. I’ve always written—which is a good thing because I’d hate to have to keep all those characters stuffed inside my head. When I was in high school, I wrote letters to the editor and got them published in newspapers and magazines. In college, I wrote articles for national magazines. Then I turned to books, first to grown-up books, then to children’s books and teen novels. Now I get to write for all ages.



2. Is life any different now that you're an author?

Hmm…It’s been a long time since I wasn’t an author. But I’m pretty sure that, even if nobody ever published my books, I’d still write them. That’s my calling, and I love it…most of the time.



3. How long did it take you to write, edit, and publish your first book? How long did the first draft take?

I took a year to write my first book—probably half on the writing, and half on editing it and rewriting.



4. Do you have any hobbies/things that you really enjoy doing?

I do! I love to ride and hang out with our horses, play with our dogs. I walk around our lake (5 miles) about 5 times a week, play tennis when I can. In the past, I’ve painted and done all kinds of craft, though I don’t seem to have time lately.



5. What/who most inspired your writing?

Inspiration is everywhere, but I do believe God is behind it. I think if we see what’s in front of us and around us, it’s not that hard to be inspired.



6. Are you working on any books right now? How many books do you have out?

Right now I’m working on a new horse series, BACKYARD HORSES. I’m also finishing a young adult novel, THE SILENCE OF MURDER, a middle-grade novel, DREAMS OF A DANCING HORSE, two picture books, LISTEN TO THE SILENT NIGHT and THERE’S A BABY IN THERE! I’ve written some I Can Read chapter books. And I’m “playing around” with another mystery, a new novel set in the sixties, an adult novel set in WWII, and ….

I’ve had about 450 books published. I know—it’s crazy! I feel very blessed.



7. Did you always want to be an author? What did you want to be when you were little?

I have always wanted to be an author, although I didn’t think I could make a living at it. So I’ve been a college teacher, too. I did toy about being a horse trainer at one point.



8. Do you have a favourite writing quote?

Here are a couple: Proverbs 18:20 20 Wise words satisfy like a good meal;
the right words bring satisfaction.

I John 1.4 joy We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.





9. What was your first reaction when you found out your first book was going to be published?

I called everyone I knew and told them I was an author! The funny thing is that I didn’t know enough to get everything in writing, and they never sent me a contract. Months later when I asked when the book would be out, I was informed that my editor had died of a heart attack, and the publisher wouldn’t be following through on the promise. Can you imagine? But I thought I was an author, so I’d gone on to write another book, which I’d sold as a proposal. And I was well into my third book. Later, that first book did get published and was much better than it would have been. The title was: When the Answer Is No.



10. Who is your greatest support in your writing?

My husband is my greatest supporter and cheerleader, and he’s also my first reader and editor. He writes adult nonfiction, and we’ve both edited professionally. So we’re lucky to have our own in-house editors.



11. Do you have a favourite book? Author?

I still love TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee. If you haven’t read it, you must.



12. What's your best tip for beginning writers?

Write your heart out. Don’t worry about what happens after that.



13. What's the best part of being an author?

For me, it’s picturing a reader at the other end of the process, reading my book and seeing something in there that connects, that will make a difference. And then best of all, it’s getting a letter or email from that reader.

14. Do you usually start your stories on the computer or on paper?

Although I usually do start stories on the computer, I’ve written entire books by hand when I had to—three books in the hospital, in fact. And I always keep a notebook on me just in case.

Author Interview with Heather Burch

Heather Burch has agreed to do an interview with me! Book one of her HALFINGS series will be available February, 2012. Visit her website HERE.

And here's her bio:

Heather Burch grew up weaving stories and rewriting movies when she didn’t like the endings. She loves a good romance if it’s set in the midst of danger with the fate of the world on the line and where characters narrowly escape with their lives. She is an award winning author and conference speaker. Book one in her series, Halflings, will debut in February of 2012 from Zondervan publishing. You can find more information about her at Novelteen.wordpress.com

Here's a little taste of her book:

Seventeen-year-old Nikki must entrust her life to three half human, half angel young men; the Halflings are sworn to protect her at all costs, but when two fall for Nikki, it puts more than their lives in danger; their very eternal souls hang in the balance.

1. When did you first begin writing?

I’ve always written. My first story, I was six or seven. It was about a trip to the beach. My mom sent it to our local newspaper office in Branson, Missouri—my hometown. The paper published the story. I guess that could be considered my first writing credit. *smile*

2. Do you enjoy writing poetry at all?

I wrote a lot of poetry during junior high and high school. It was a great way to express myself. Lots of frustration and confusion during those times, so poetry became a terrific outlet. I was able to explore territory on the written page that is difficult to sort through.

  
3. What was your first reaction when you found out that your HALFLING series was going to be published?

Shock, excitement, relief all rolled into one. I really believed in the Halflings. I also knew it would be a tough sell because it breaks a ton of unwritten rules. But I believed in the characters. I had to write about Nikki, Mace, Raven, Vine, and all the other Halflings. Their story took me captive. Which is why selling the series was a relief. I’d like to do ten more Halfling books. And because of the uniqueness of the characters, that’s totally plausible. The storyline has endless possibilities. If people love them the way I hope they love them, I’ll get to write several more.

4. Do you have any hobbies/things that you really enjoy doing?

We live near the beach now, and I love anything having to do with the ocean. I’m a certified scuba diver, but I don’t go as often as I’d like. I love to travel! I’m constantly looking for a conference to speak at or somewhere to go. Cruises are a favorite too. In fact, any boat will do. I love being on the water.

5. Where did you get the idea for the HALFLING series?

Years ago, I read a scripture that really stuck in my head. It suggested there was a time when male angels roamed the earth and actually took human wives. I’d always wanted to explore that scenario in a contemporary setting. But that was just step one of the idea.

I think teenagers are awesome. I wanted to write a story where the fate of the world rests in the hands of teenagers. I wanted a supernatural element to the story as well. One part X-men, one part angel fiction. And I wanted it to be “edge of your seat” suspenseful. All those thoughts were rolling around in my head. So, I started playing the “What if” game. What if the offspring of that human/angel union still roamed the earth? What if once they “tap into” their angelic ability, they stay teenagers? What if the entire world rests in the hands of these super human beings?

Then I got a picture of the first scene where Nikki is being chased through the woods by hell-hounds.

Once I wrote that, the story just kept coming! Literally, it consumed my thoughts for months. And with each passing day, the Halflings became more and more real.

6. Are you working on any books right now (aside from the Halfling book)?

Zondervan purchased the first three books in the Halfling Series, so those will keep me busy for a while. If the books do well, the door is open for many more—which I LOVE! The Halflings are quirky and fun to write, so I’d be happy to camp right here for a good long time!

7. What's your absolute favourite book to read? How about your favourite author?

That’s such a tough question for me because different things hit me at different times. Right now, I’m loving the Hunger Games. It’s so well written and beautifully crafted. Another recent favorite is Maria Snyder’s Inside Out.
8. What was your greatest inspiration to write? Did you ever want to be something else?

My mom was a huge inspiration because she always wrote beautiful poetry and encouraged me to write. Then, I married into a family of published authors. Book authors! I was gloriously ruined. But, I've done lots of other things. I worked in the spa industry for ten years. And I've always worked with teens in some fashion.

9. What genre is your favourite to write in?

Young adult. No question.

10. Do you have a favourite writing quote?

Yes. It comes from my first writer’s conference after the sale of the Halflings. Roxanne St. Clair was the key note speaker. She was talking about inspiration and writing great books. Her quote? Write Your Butt Off Every Day!

I will always remember that conference because Roxanne St. Clair was making her way around the room chatting with people and introducing herself before the conference began and when she asked my name, I told her and she said, “I know who you are!” Wow. It stunned me. I didn’t even know what to say, and at that point playing it cool was out of the question what with the big cheesy grin on my face and all!

11. What's the best part of being an author?

There are so many things I love about it, I don’t know where to begin. I really enjoy connecting with people. And I love helping people discover their own potential as a writer. I love words. People who read lots of books share my passion for words. It connects us.

12. What stage are you on in the HALFLING series (still editing, ready for printing, etc.)?

Halflings, book one in the series will release in February, 2012. I’m doing some final edits on book one right now. I am working on book two and will send it to my editor in the next couple of months, then on to revisions for book three. I’ve already done quite a bit of work on books four and five, but they will need a lot of attention before they’re ready. Book two will release about six months after book one, book three, the same.

 
13. Is life any different now that you're an author?

In some ways. I don’t feel any different, but sometimes now I get treated differently. Suddenly, people listen. I try not to give advice on writing unless I feel pretty sure about what I’m talking about. It used to frustrate me when I would give someone a solid piece of advice—you know, the kind that could turn an okay book into an awesome book—and I could almost see the words floating into one ear, passing behind their glazed eyes, and right out the other side. Glazed eyes. Maybe I’m just that boring. Hee hee. Anyway, I love, love, love to see people succeed! Writing is a tough business and anything I can do to help someone makes me feel great. So, I guess that’s how life feels different. People tend to listen.

14. How has your faith influenced your writing?

That's a tough question to answer because I don't think there's any area of life that our faith doesn't influence. It is everything to me, so it probably comes through in the writing. But at the same time, I'm vastly aware that my story is fiction. I'm not writing to "convince" people of anything. I'm not trying to make them see the light because as an author of fiction, I don't believe that can be your main goal. My books are deeply rooted and grounded in Biblical themes like sacrifice, loyalty, and being willing to lay down ones life. But as an author of fiction, it's my job to tell an amazing story and if it sparks people's questions about who God is, then that's a huge bonus. When the weight of responsibility gets overwhelming, God quickly reminds me He called me to write fiction. Not nonfiction. If not for Him, I would never have launched into this series of books.

Halflings by Heather Burch will release in February, 2012 from Zondervan Publishing.

Author Interview with Melanie Dickerson

I'm happy to say that I have here an author interview with Melanie Dickerson. I reviewed her book HERE.

Here's her picture:

And now for the interview:

Tell us about yourself.

I am a wife and mother of two school-age daughters and I live near Huntsville, Alabama. My life is pretty boring, which I’m thankful for, since writing seems to provide all the drama I can safely handle! I am a graduate of The University of Alabama with a degree in special education, and I spent a year in Ukraine and a summer in Germany.


Tell us about your current release.

My debut novel, The Healer’s Apprentice, is published by Zondervan as a Young Adult romance and was released this month. It’s a historical, set in medieval 14th century Germany, with a wonderful castle and medieval town as the main setting. It’s full of intrigue and plot twists, deception and loyalty, but most of all, romance!


How did you come up with the idea for The Healer’s Apprentice? Was that your original title for this book? If not, what was you working title?

I came up with the idea for The Healer’s Apprentice while watching Disney and Barbie princess movies with my little girls. I had loved fairy tales all my life, and one day when we were watching Sleeping Beauty, I started thinking, what if this story was rewritten to be more realistic? What if the hero felt duty- and honor-bound to his betrothed? What if he fell in love with a peasant girl but was horrified at the idea of betraying his betrothed in that way? After all, men want respect more than anything else, and he would lose the respect of everyone if he shirked his duty to marry his betrothed. So that was the beginning of my idea for this story. And the original title was The Woodcutter’s Daughter. I had a really hard time getting used to the new title after calling it The Woodcutter’s Daughter for three and a half years!


What first gave you the idea for this book?

I’ve always loved fairy tales, and when I started getting the idea for The Healer’s Apprentice, my two girls were very young and they watched a lot of the Disney princess movies and Barbie movies which were based on fairy tales. One day they were watching Sleeping Beauty and I started thinking how unrealistic it was that a prince, who was betrothed from childhood to a princess, would meet a peasant girl in the woods and decide on the spot to marry her. I started thinking, what would this story be like if it was realistic? If it actually happened? And I thought, if this guy was betrothed and fell in love with someone else, he would feel a lot of inner conflict. He would want the respect of his family and his people, so he’d fight his attraction to this girl he’d fallen in love with. So that’s how the idea started.


Please share how you plot and what your daily writing goals are.

It varies greatly! I don’t have a set way to plot. I usually let the plot come to me gradually. Sometimes I use the Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook or another method, article, or checklist to help me with plotting. Mostly I just lie awake at night and think about all the possibilities. And my daily writing goals vary according to whether my editor needs me to do revisions. Normally, my goal is simply to get as much done as possible between the time my kids leave for school and the time they get home!


Do you have a link to a place to read the first chapter or an excerpt of this book?

Yes! Zondervan put the whole first chapter on their website: http://www.zondervan.com/media/samples/pdf/0310721431_samptxt.pdf


Can you give us a sneak peek at what you have cooking up next? Can you tell us something about it? Do you have a release date?

Well, I have a second medieval YA romance, a Beauty and the Beast story tentatively titled The Beholder. I don’t know yet if Zondervan is going to publish it. I’ve been revising it, and I think it’s a really strong story. Hopefully I will be able to announce a release date in a few months.
I also have an adult series, set in 1800’s Alabama, that my agent is working on finding a publisher for. Hopefully I can announce something about that soon, too.


Do you have advice for the beginning writer?

Keep writing and don't give up! It takes most people a long time to get published, so be persistent. Secondly, be teachable. Learn all you can about the craft of writing by reading books on writing, articles, and blogs. Thirdly, write as much as you can. Write short stories, poetry, novels, whatever you enjoy writing, and just keep writing. The more you write the better you'll become. Besides, it will give you opportunities to apply all you're learning from the books, articles, and blog on writing. Lastly, after you start submitting your work to publishers and agents, look at rejections as just another necessary step to getting published. Whatever you do, don't let a rejection devastate you. It's okay to be disappointed but you have to keep writing and submitting. A rejection is your "red badge of courage" so be proud of those rejections!


How can readers get in contact with you?

I’m on Facebook as Melanie Dickerson, on Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3408059.Melanie_Dickerson , and you can contact me through my website, www.melaniedickerson.com

Author Interview with Denise Jaden

I have a very special post. Denise Jaden, author of Losing Faith, has agreed to do an interview with me (I reviewed her book HERE)! I highly recommend that you check it out.
Denise Jaden's website: Click HERE.
Her picture....

.....and her book.

Now, on to the interview.

1. So, is it true that "Losing Faith" is a NaNoWriMo novel? Did it really
only take you one month to write?
Yes, it's true! I actually wrote the first draft of LOSING FAITH in 21 days
during NaNoWriMo 2007. Just to be clear, I worked on an outline during
Sept./Oct. of that year and then spent about a year revising the manuscript
after NaNo, so it takes me much longer to end up with a polished book.

2. Are you working on any novels/stories right now?
Yes, I'm always working on something! At the moment I'm involved in edits on
a book currently titled APPETITE FOR BEAUTY (but I believe the title will be
changing). It's about the fragile relationship between two sisters, one, a
gifted photographer, and one, a dancer who struggles with bulimia. It will
be out in the summer of 2012.

I'm also slowly working on a companion novel to LOSING FAITH. It will be in
Tessa's point of view and is titled FINDING HOPE.

3. When you were little, what did you want to be?
I've wanted to be a lot of things, but a couple I remember are: a dancer
(I'm still very involved with my Polynesian dance troupe) and a themed
wedding planner.

4. Where'd you first get the idea for "Losing Faith?"When I was sixteen, I lost my best friend. I think the main inspiration
behind LOSING FAITH was that loss, that wishing so hard that I would have
paid more attention while I had the chance.

5. Is life any different now that you're an author?
The only real difference now is that I am often under deadlines for
revisions. I used to make self-imposed deadlines, and I still do to some
degree, but the deadlines my editors give me have to come first over most
other projects now in order to meet them.


6. Who was your greatest support while you worked on "Losing Faith"?
My awesome critique partner, Shana Silver. I could send her anything at a
moment's notice and she'd send me thoughtful feedback right away. She was
such an enormous help, in fact, that I dedicated the book to her.

7. Do you have a favourite writing quote?
"A writer is somebody for whom writing is more difficult than it is for
other people."  ~Thomas Mann

And I love this one too:
"Write your first draft with your heart.  Re-write with your head."  ~From
the movie Finding Forrester

8. Do you have a favourite author/book?
I have many, many favourite books, but I'd have to say at the top of my list
of favourite authors would be Laurie Halse Anderson. Her writing voice is
always thought-provoking and easy to read, and I also think she's just a
wonderful advocate for reading and writing.

9. What was your first reaction when you found out your book was going to be
published?
Seriously, it was a little hard to believe, after many years of rejection. I
let out a small yelp and woke up some house guests we had visiting at the
time.

10. How long have you been writing?
Around eight or nine years.

11. What's the best part of being an author?
There are so many wonderful things about it: having a group of amazingly
creative people collaborate to make it better, seeing your book in printed
form for the first time, walking into a bookstore or finding a blog where
your book is marked as a "favourite," these are all incredibly rewarding
moments.

12. What was your biggest inspiration to be a writer?
I remember reading a book by Jane Hamilton (A MAP OF THE WORLD) and it was
the first time I stopped and reread sentences because I was awe-struck by
the perfection of them. I remember thinking back then that I would love to
be able to put words together that well.

13. Do you have any hobbies? What's your favourite thing to do?I'm a professional Polynesian dancer, and love performing with my dance
troupe. Besides that, I spend a lot of time reading and hanging out with my
family.

14. How long did it take you to edit "Losing Faith" after you had the first
draft done?
I spent about a year editing it myself with the help of critique partners
and then once it sold, about another year editing it with an editor. It took
about a year and a half from selling the book to seeing it on the shelves,
which is quite normal.

15. What's your best tip for wanna-be-writers?
Read a lot, write a lot. Don't compare yourself or your journey with others.
Everyone will take a different path with writing and especially on a path
toward publication, and it doesn't necessarily mean another writer is better
or worse than you. Enjoy the place you're in now--there are rewards to every
season as a writer, even the pre-publication season.

Author Interview with Stephanie Morrill

I am pleased to announce that Stephanie Morrill has agreed to do an interview with me on my blog (I posted this yesterday, but blogger deleted it. As you may have noticed, blogger wasn't working).

Check out her blog: Go Teen Writers,
or her website.

The three books she has out so far....

Here's her bio: Stephanie Morrill is a twenty-something living in Overland Park, Kansas with her husband and two kids. Her only talents are reading, writing, and drinking coffee, so career options were somewhat limited. Fortunately, she discovered a passion for young adult novels a few years ago and has been writing them ever since. Stephanie is the author of The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series and is currently working on other young adult projects. She enjoys encouraging and teaching teen writers and does so on her blog www.GoTeenWriters.com. To connect with Stephanie and read samples of her books, check out www.StephanieMorrillBooks.com.

And now, the interview:

1. When did you first start writing?

I fell in love with writing in first grade and became serious about pursuing publication when I was a junior in high school. That's when I wrote my first novel and started sending out query letters.

2. What's your favourite thing about being an author?

I have two favorites. 1. Getting paid to do what I love - write stories. 2. Interacting with readers. I love hearing about their unique lives and how the Skylar Hoyt books have affected them.

3. When did you first know that you wanted to be an author? Did you ever want to be anything else?

In first grade I started saying that I wanted to be an author when I grew up. We had time everyday in class to write stories. When we finished, the school bound them for us and we could read them to the class. That was my favorite part of school. Sometimes I was interested in other professions, but writing was always in the picture.

4. Do you have any hobbies or things that you really enjoy doing?

Reading, as you might guess. I also love cooking. Right now cooking is tricky because I have a 10 month old who loves to sneak upstairs or get into the TV cables when I'm not looking.

5. Do you start your stories on paper or the computer?

Computer. Though on a beautiful day, I still love grabbing a notebook and a pen and heading outdoors to write.

6. How many books have you written? Which of your own books are your favourite?

Oh dear. Lots. I've lost track. I have three published books, which are all a part of The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series (Me, Just Different, Out with the In Crowd, and So Over It.) I have about five other manuscripts that are quality, five or six that will never see the light of day, and about ten that are half-finished. I don't know that I have a favorite. I really like So Over It, which is the third book in The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series. When I started it, I had no idea what was going to happen, but everything came together great, and I'm really proud of the finished product.

7. Are you working on any books right now?

Yes. Right now I'm polishing up a book about a high school junior trying to get her manuscript published. It's been so much fun to work on! A lot of the teen writers at http://www.goteenwriters.com/ have had a hand in it, and it's been really fun to collaborate with them.

8. How long did it take you to write and edit your first book?

A long time, if we're talking about the first book I was able to publish, Me, Just Different. That book took about 4 years of on-and-off work. Mostly because I still had lots to learn about what worked in a story and what didn't. Out with the In Crowd and So Over It were way easier to write. They each took about 4 months.

9. What is your absolute favourite author and book?

I have three. I know she's all the rage now so I'm hardly unique in saying this, but I adore Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Also, last year I fell in love with The Passion of Mary-Margaret by Lisa Samson. A wonderful book. And my favorite young adult book is This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen.

10. Do you have a favourite writing quote?

I have lots. One that I'm particularly fond of is Stephen King. He's talking about why he likes hanging out with other writers, and he says, "We are writers, and we never ask one another where we get our ideas; we know we don't know." Which is kind of an interesting lead in to your next question...

11. Where did you first get your idea for your "The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt" series?

I don't know. :) In all seriousness, the idea germinated with Skylar herself. Up until I wrote Me, Just Different, all my main characters had been just like me. Quiet girls who hung around on the sidelines. I wanted to break away from that, and write about someone completely different than me. Oh, it was so much fun. Skylar is beautiful on the outside, but an utter mess on the inside, and it was so fun to write her transformation.

12. Is life any different now that you are an author?

In many ways, no, but that's because I treated writing like a job before I ever got paid. My husband encouraged me to stay home and write, to invest in the career I really wanted. Fortunately he made enough money that this was an option. So for about 3 years, I didn't have a day job and I didn't have kids. I sat in front of my computer from about 9 to 4 everyday. I wrote and I networked with writers and agents and editors. I worked more then than I do now, honestly, but that's because I have two kids.

One odd way that life is different now is that I write less. You would think being published would mean needing to write more, but it doesn't. I certainly have season where that's how I spend the bulk of my time, but there's also marketing and promotion stuff that needs to be done.

13. What's your best writing tip for wanna-be-writers?

It's so hard to choose. That's why I started Go Teen Writers (http://www.goteenwriters.com/) because I always had such a hard time narrowing my answer for questions like this.

Something I think is really important is pushing yourself to write the whole story from beginning to end.

I love writing beginnings so for a long time, that's all I did. I wrote until I ran out of steam. And then I'd get excited about some new idea, so I'd cast aside the 25 pages I'd written and work on my new idea until I burned out on it. Rinse and repeat. I didn't see much growth as a writer until I really pushed myself to write the whole thing, not just the fun beginning stuff.

Author interview with Jill Williamson

Today I have a very special post. My favourite author, Jill Williamson, has agreed to an interview with me on my blog. Go go her website at http://www.jillwilliamson.com/



And now, for the interview. Here goes...

1. How long have you been writing?
I started writing in 2004, so seven years now.

2. When did you first decide that you wanted to be an author? Did you ever want to be something else?
All my childhood I wanted to be a fashion designer. That’s what I went to college for. I chased that dream all the way to New York City. But after a few years working in that industry, I discovered it wasn’t the job I dreamed it would be. And I decided that it wasn’t for me.
After that, I searched for a while, trying to discover the purpose God wanted for my life. Since I had a pretty interesting childhood/life story, I thought God wanted me to be an inspirational/motivational speaker for teens. I discovered that sometimes, people hire speakers based on articles written by the speaker. So I looked into writing articles. I was working on all that when a new Harry Potter book came out, and a new barrage of debates within the church community flared up as to whether or not the books were bad for Christians to read. The debate inspired me to write my own teen novel that Christians would love. Yes, I was a bit naive. I have since learned that no one likes every book. But that’s how I got started writing fiction.


3. How long did it take to write your first book "By Darkness Hid?" How long did it take to edit it?
Well, By Darkness Hid wasn’t the first book I wrote. It was the sixth book I wrote. The first book, a spy kid story, took me about three years to finish. In December 2007, I wrote the first draft of By Darkness Hid in a month, and I spend the next seven months rewriting/editing it.


4. Who's your favourite character in your own "Blood Of Kings" novels?
Achan. I love how he’s a fighter, yet he humbles himself when necessary. I like how he rose above his abuse and neglect to make a better life for himself. I like that he questions things. I love his sarcasm and the things he says.


5. Do you like rereading your books after they are in print?
Not so much. I’ve read them aloud to my son. And it’s fun to see him giggle and get excited. But when I read them again, I catch typos that got through, or sentences I wish I could rewrite. So, usually, reading my novels only frustrates me.

6. What's your favourite thing about being an author?
Getting letters from people who love my books—especially teens. It makes all the work and stress and heartbreak (and mean reviews) worthwhile.


7. What do you like doing when you're not writing? Do you have any hobbies?
My husband is a youth pastor, and he and I do a lot with teenagers in our free time. We have teen events, teens over to hang out, Young Life. I enjoy reading, playing the guitar, playing games with my family, reading books to my kids, scrapbooking, kickboxing, and helping my son learn to play the piano.

8. Do you find life to be any different now that you're an author?
Yes and no. I mean, life is pretty much the same overall. But I spend a lot more time at the computer than I used to. And I have a lot less free time to give to hobbies. I also get to go to schools and inspire kids to read and write, and that is so much fun.


9. How many books have you published?
I have published three books with Marcher Lord Press. Those three books are the Blood of Kings trilogy. I sold a new teen novel to Zonderkidz that will come out in January 2012. It is tentatively called Replication, and is a science fiction suspense novel that I think readers will really like.


10. Are you working on any books right now?
At this very moment I am not, though different stories are always floating around in my head. I’m working on a short story for an anthology called Spirited, which will be published this fall. You can learn more about it at the Leap Books website (http://www.leapbks.com/). And I’m waiting to hear back on a few ideas to decide which story I will write next.


11. What kind of books do you read? What's your absolute favourite author and book?
I read almost anything published for teens. I prefer weird genres like fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal, but I also like contemporary and historical. I don’t have favorite authors. I like too many to pick one. But one of my favorite authors of teen fiction is Jenny B. Jones. Her series, A Charmed Life, makes me laugh so hard I cry. But those are girl books, so I’ll also say that I love Andrew Peterson’s Wingfeather Saga. Totally fun.


12. Do you have a favourite writing quote?
Sure. One of my favorite writing quotes is from Michael Crichton. He said, “Books aren't written - they're rewritten. Including your own. It is one of the hardest things to accept, especially after the seventh rewrite hasn't quite done it.”

13. Do you prefer writing on paper or the computer?
On the computer! I’m way too practical to have to do work twice. The computer is an amazing writing tool. Plus, I have terrible handwriting.


14. Where did you first get the idea for your "Blood of Kings" books?
Two things happened close together that inspired this story. First, I was walking with my son one day in Burbank, California, and we came upon a burned-down house. I stopped to look at it and noticed a tree in the front yard. The part of the tree that hung over the fence and above the street was leafy green, rocking and rustling in the wind. But the branches of the tree near the house were charred and stiff.
I stared at that tree for a long time, then took off for home, pushing that stroller at top speed. I went straight to the computer, opened Adobe Photoshop, and made the image of the tree that is the header on my author website (www.jillwilliamson.com). I couldn’t wait to write a story about this tree!
Around that same time, I had a weird dream where a guy had amnesia. Little did everyone know that he was someone very important. I liked the idea of putting a switcheroo plot with my half-dead/half-living tree. So I drew a map—because I love books that have maps—and started brainstorming which lords ruled each city, what kind of people lived there, the climate, and things like that. I made a 3-ring binder to keep everything organized. I drew (somewhat lame) sketches of castles and characters, created family trees, brainstormed lists of names, things like that. It was fun. I finally made myself stop playing and actually write the story.