The InterviewWhen did you fall in love with the written word? At a very young age. I picked up reading from my mother and grandmother, who were both always with a book. When I started reading The Baby-Sitters club series by Ann M. Martin, I understood how stories could literally transport me out of my own world and into the lives of the characters. I decided at age eleven that I would write my own book one day.
When did you know you wanted to be a writer? At the ripe at of eleven. I was going through some hard stuff - sexual abuse, like Jasmine in Destined to Fail - and after I came forward with my story a schoolmate came forward with her own heart-wreching tale of sexual abuse. She told me she wasn't sure if she would ever have turned in her uncle if I hadn't told my story. Already being a big book nerd, I thought to myself that maybe writing stories could help more people. And a dream was born. How long have you been writing? I started to write around eleven years old. A lot of my beginning stories seem very close to Ann M. Martin's characters, or those of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen - big faves of mine as a young girl. I still have stories saved to a floppy disk - a floppy disk! - and get very fond reading through them. Talk to us about your writing journey. If you've faced rejection how do you rise above it? If you haven't faced rejection what advice do you have for other aspiring authors? Once I decided that I was going to publish a book...well, that was all I really needed. In 2009 I graduated college and made myself plug away at writing. It took me about two years, because I was a very hesitant writer. I let a slew of beta readers read through the book, hired two editors, did a complete rewrite from the original story I wrote, and then finally realized I had to pull the trigger. About a year into writing, I realized how huge self-publishing was becoming, and knew that was the route I wanted to take. I have an entrepreneurial spirit, but I still made myself query a whopping three agents. I shrugged off their rejections without a second thought and published through my own company, Marching Ink. My advice - go for what you want. No one else is going to hand you an opportunity to shine. Make it happen on your own.Are you an outliner or "fly by your pants" kind of writer? A little bit of both. I like to have a solid outline on the characters, where I want the story to start and end, and what lessons I want readers to take away from the book. But the middle? That all just comes about as I write!How long does it take you to write a novel? Destined to Fail took me almost three years to write. I did a lot of rewrites, lots of edits, and then stalled for a long time trying to decide if I was confident enough to publish. The second time around has been much smoother. I started working on book number two while Destined to Fail was being edited around October of 2011, and should have it ready to go by April or May of 2012.What social media outlets are you using to promote yourself/your writing? I use Facebook, Twitter, GoodReads and my own blog ChickLitPlus.com. ChickLitPlus was how I first pushed my way into the writing world, and it was a fabulous decision. Social media is a must for authors these days, in my opinion.Where do you see your writing career in five years? I hope to be writing happy books with stories that mean something to me. Each book I plan to write (my list is enormous) has a lesson that I would love readers to take away after reading. I hope to have a series out as well - I would love to write one!What are you currently working on? My second book features the main character who gets offered her dream job - a manager of a salon and spa. But the job doesn't turn out to be all that when it starts hurting her social life, school work, and the boss turns out to be a shady businessman. She must decide between money and morals, and losing her best friend to the land of LA isn't helping her find solid ground...
You're sitting inside your favorite coffee shop...delicious smell of flavorful lattes and pastries permeate through the air. Sitting next to you is your favorite author. You have the opportunity to ask three questions... I would ask... Ann M. Martin 1. Did she have any idea how big her BSC series would become? (I owned BSC dolls, for crying out loud!) 2. How in the world was she able to crank out so many books in a year and 3. Will you have dinner with me so I can pick your brain some more? Three questions just aren't enough! ;)
Here's a Kiss of Destined to Fail
The blood was too much for me to handle. I couldn’t stomach the rusty smell. I couldn’t figure out what was happening to me. Why was this happening to me?
I tried to force my eyes open, to keep my thoughts coherent. Why wasn’t Nate here? He needed to be here; something was wrong. My thoughts were becoming hazy, mixing together with reality and nightmare. I heard Becky order me to lie down, and I did just that. She had spread a dark blue towel on the bathroom floor and I sank down, propping my head on the bathtub. I hoped Cari wouldn’t get too upset that I was destroying her bath towel. Becky was asking me questions about my doctor, and I tried to work past the fog in my thoughts to respond to her.I heard Becky yelling for Kiley, and I saw the pale face and trembling body of my friend make her way into the bathroom. Her eyes widened when she saw me laying there, blood in between my legs, sweat shining on my forehead. I couldn’t look her in the eyes. I had kept a terrible secret from her, from everyone.Becky was giving instructions to Kiley, who stood frozen in the door frame. Becky shouted once, making her daughter run into the bedroom. I heard Kiley on the phone, saying my name and our address on campus. Were they sending an ambulance? Everyone would know my secret if they sent an ambulance. I wanted to shout at Kiley, tell her not to tell, but my body couldn’t respond. I was too weak. Weak and pathetic.I know I should have felt something at being half naked, covered in blood in front of my friend’s mother, but I couldn’t feel self-conscious at the moment. Worry was overtaking me, pulling me under. I needed Nate. I needed my doctor. I needed help. Samantha is well on her way to becoming a force to be reckoned with in our wonderful world of Chick Lit. Be sure to keep your eye on her, and support her as much as you can!1.