YALLFest Author Interview: Lisa McMann

 

On November 9th, 2013, the 3rd annual Young Adult Book Festival - YALLFest will take place in Charleston, SC. The festival will host 50 of the country’s top YA authors, including 25 New York Times bestsellers. Today I, along with other enthusiastic bloggers, are hosting a series of interviews of authors who will be at YALLFest. For all of the details about YALLFest, check out their website at www.yallfest.org

 

Featured today is Lisa McMann, author of the Wake and Visions Series 

 

What one thing do you need to have when you write?

Silence.

Best writing tip you ever received?

“Think of the one thing your main character would never, ever do. Now make her do it.”

What are you working on now?

We’ll be ramping up the releases of books 5, 6, and 7 in the Unwanteds series, so I’m working on Unwanteds book 5 right now.

What is your favorite genre to write in? To Read?

I really enjoy writing in a variety of genres, from realistic to paranormal to dystopian fantasy. At the moment, fantasy is winning, but that could change at any moment. My favorite genre to read is memoir.

At what point in the development of an idea do you know that it will become a full-length novel?

As soon as I have a one line concept that gives me a little shiver.

 

 Visit Lisa McMann's Website

 

 

YALLFest Author Interview: Michelle Hodkin

On November 9th, 2013, the 3rd annual Young Adult Book Festival - YALLFest will take place in Charleston, SC. The festival will host 50 of the country’s top YA authors, including 25 New York Times bestsellers. Today I, along with other enthusiastic bloggers, are hosting a series of interviews of authors who will be at YALLFest. For all of the details about YALLFest, check out their website at www.yallfest.org

 

 

Featured today is Michelle Hodkin, author of the Mara Dyer Series 

 

Describe your book in 5 words
Romeo and Juliet meets Hitchcock

What is the hardest line to write- the first or the last?
I spend a lot of time thinking about my first lines. A lot of time. Too much time. Luckily the last lines usually come to me as I write. 

What is your favorite genre to write in? To Read?
What I love about YA is that I don't have to choose a genre. I can blend elements and mess with conventions from all of them—horror, mystery, sci-fi, fantasy, whatever. I'm not sure I could choose a favorite, if I were ever told that I had to. And my reading is all over the place, but right now I'm reading a lot of old school sci-fi and fantasy, with some literary fiction thrown in.

What one young adult novel do you wish you had when you were a teen? Why?
The Magicians by Lev Grossman. It's not YA, but it is about a teenager who reminds me of my teen self. And maybe also my adult self. Anyway. I basically push the book into the hands of everyone I meet. It's just that good.

What are you working on now?
A secret project that is secret. But I'm wildly excited about it, and I think my readers will be too.

 Visit Michelle Hodkin's Website

 

Audiobook Giveaway: Forever My Girl by Heidi McLaughlin

I was never supposed to be a rock star. I had my life all planned out for me. Play football in college. Go to the NFL. Marry my high school sweetheart and live happily ever after.

I broke both our hearts that day when I told her I was leaving. I was young. I made the right decision for me, but the wrong decision for us. I’ve poured my soul into my music, but I’ve never forgotten her. Her smell, her smile.

And now I’m going back.

After ten years.

I hope I can explain that after all this time.

I still want her to be my forever girl.

Forever My Girl is book one of the Beaumont Series by Heidi McLaughlin. I have completely fallen in love with these books and love sharing them with readers time and time again.  Thanks to Heidi, I have another copy the Forever My Girl audiobook to giveaway.

 

Must be 18 years or older to enter. 

Enter by Rafflecopter below.

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Waiting on Wednesday: Fast Fiction by Denise Jaden

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Fast Fiction: A Guide to Outlining and Writing a First Draft Novel in Thirty Days
by Denise Jaden
Published by New World Library
Expected Publication Date: February 11, 2014
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 Writers flock to National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) each November because it provides a procrastination-busting deadline. But only a fraction of the participants meet their goal. Denise Jaden was part of that fraction, writing first drafts of two subsequently published novels in that tight time frame. In Fast Fiction, she shows other writers how to do what she did, step-by-step, writer-to-writer. To insure success, her program begins a month before the month of drafting. This prep period is when plot, theme, characters, setting, etc. are thought through. Then Jaden provides day-by-day coaching for the 30-day drafting period. After reader / writers race to the finish, they are not left high and dry. Jaden’s "After the Draft" revision tips allow readers to determine if a draft is not just workable but compelling, so that they don’t waste months or years in development. Her camaraderie and skill allow Jaden to both instruct and inspire.

Why I'm Waiting 

 Not every reader is a writer, but I know that there are many of us who have a story in us that we want to tell. Some of us need a little help and this book offers step-by-step, day-to-day coaching to get that story out. It sounds exactly like what I need.

Dewey's Read-a-thon: Mid-Event Survey

Mid-Event Survey

1) How are you doing? Sleepy? Are your eyes tired?
I just came back from a dinner date with my husband. I can't give the books all of my attention. But now I'm in a food coma. I'm not sure how much longer I can make it.



2) What have you finished reading?
So Far I've read The Twits by Roald Dahl, Nix Minus One by JIll MacLean. I started reading The Realm of Possibility by David Levithan, but traded it for Love and Leftovers by Sarah Tregay. I listened to a few chapters of the Grave Mercy audiobook (while folding laundry).



3) What is your favorite read so far? 
Love and Leftovers

4) What about your favorite snacks?
I thought it would have been the peanut butter lollipop (peanut butter on a spoon), but the pineapple was the best. 



5) Have you found any new blogs through the readathon? If so, give them some love!
I've connected with other readers on Twitter instead of their blogs.

Currently Reading:

Then Again, Maybe I Won't by Judy Blume

Dewey's Read-a-thon: Book Spine Poetry Challenge

 Here is my entry for the Book Spine Poetry Challenge hosted by Capricious Reader:

Sloppy Firsts

Who I Kissed

The Boyfriend List

I Know It's Over

Things I Can't Forget

Dewey's Readathon: Intro Questionnaire

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?
Virginia 

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?
Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley - this is a reread for me

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?
Bananas and peanut butter lollipops

4) Tell us a little something about yourself!
 I work in academia. I have a wonderful husband who willingly supports my bookish habits. I like Iced Green Tea Lattes (and wish I had one now). I'm a book pusher and my favorite reading buddy is my little Yorkshire terrier.

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?
I've added some audiobooks into the mix to rest my eyes when they get tired.