WOTP: Erynn Newman, Adult Author

To wrap things up in the agented writers on submission portion of the WOTP series, I have a very unique interview to share with you. Erynn Newman is a talented author who signed with an agent...
...But decided to self publish. Wondering why? Check out her story below!

To start on a personal note, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Hey, everyone. *waves* I’m Erynn Newman. I’m a thirty-mumbles-year-old wife/mom/author/editor from the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. I have a couple of opinionated kitties who help me get my writing done and a rambunctious three-and-a-half-year-old (halfs are really important when you’re three) that helps me NOT get my writing done.

 What is your “how I got my agent” story?

When I first decided I wanted to be a "real" writer, I asked the only writers I knew, "where should I go for information on how to do this?" And they all recommended Rachelle Gardner's blog. I pored over it, devoured every post, even printed some out to study them. She was my dream agent, but one I put soundly in the “unattainable” category.

So, of course, I registered for a conference she was attending, but I couldn’t get an appointment with her. Instead I got one with another agent who told me that my novel was "unsellable" and that I should just chalk it up to experience gained, put it in a drawer, and write something else.

But directly after that awful agent meeting, I volunteered to help with place settings for our lunch, and I just happened to note where Rachelle's table was, and find my way to a seat at it. She allowed everyone at the table to pitch, and she ended up asking for my full manuscript.

I sent my first novel to her and heard nothing for almost a year, not realizing that she wasn’t taking on fiction clients at the time. While I waited, I sent queries to four other agents, three of whom also asked for my full manuscript. And then I made friends with the one of Rachelle's clients over Facebook, and she agreed to put in a good word for me. Shortly after that I attended another conference where a well known writer took an interest in me and actually called Rachelle right there in front of me to basically say, “represent this girl, or I’ll find her someone else today.” And then . . . (insert several months of sheer agony and two more rejections) she called.

I guess the moral of that story is that actually meeting people can make all the difference. And that a little bit of friendly stalking doesn’t hurt either.

What novel landed you your agent?

My novel is entitled, Out of Darkness. It’s Inspirational Romantic Suspense.

When her husband is killed by a car bomb on their wedding day, Elisabeth literally watches her dreams go up in smoke.  Three years later, she’s beginning to figure out life without Drew—with the help of his best friend and CIA partner Gabe. But Drew returns, and they must rebuild what was lost with international arms dealers on their trail and an ever shrinking list of people they can trust. Gabe should be at the top of that list, but his feelings for Elisabeth may stand in the way. All three of them end up in a fight for their lives that will test their loyalty to God, country, and each other.

Tell us about the much anticipated and nerve-wracking “Call” with your now agent.

Well, after my author/mentor friend called her during that conference, she promised that she was still interested, so I was just waiting…and waiting…and waiting. And wondering if there was really a guarantee. Finally, I got an email asking if she could call. Once I said yes, and gave her a window, then it was just…more waiting. The call came while I was at work, and fortunately, I had an employer who was really supportive and let me run out the door to take the call. We talked some details. I asked the couple of questions I had written down, and then I said . . . “can I call you back?” And then I freaked out in the bathroom.

By this point, I was waiting to hear back from that one last agent that hadn’t said no, and nervous to say yes, and wondering if I was making the right decision. But pretty much as soon as I got off the phone, and called my author/mentor friend, I realized I had the option in front of me to sign with my dream agent, and that seemed like a no brainer, so I called her back pretty much immediately and said, “I’m sorry. Yes, please.”

Have you written/queried other books before?

I actually got my start in Fanfiction, and no, I won’t divulge my fandoms, so I’d written a couple of novel-length stories. And I worked on Out of Darkness off and on at the same time as two other novels until I decided it was the one I wanted to devote all my energy into publishing first.
So, no. It’s actually the first original novel I completed and the first I queried.

But I do have those other two still in the works. Another romantic suspense and a new adult romance.

What is the hardest part about being on submission?

If you’re beginning to detect a theme here, you’re absolutely right. It’s waiting. Always with the waiting. I think that’s actually the theme of traditional publishing at every step of the process—which is a small part of the reason I *plot twist* decided to go Indie. You know, that and being able to take back total control and make a larger percentage of profit.

What is the best part about having an agent?

I love having someone who knows the industry so well in my corner. She’s taken a step back since I decided to Indie publish Out of Darkness, but she’s still my cheerleader and still someone I can go to any time I have questions about decisions I’m making for my career.

And I’d be lying if I didn’t say that there’s part of me that loves the validation that someone I respect so much thought I was good enough. I still like referring to “my agent,” and pretending to be a big deal. *winky face*

  

How do you cope with waiting to hear back from publishers?

Honestly, the best thing I could do was try to forget about it. Just work on the next thing, so that when deadlines loom, you’ll have a head start. When that doesn’t work…ice cream.

  

Do you have any tips for writers who are querying?

Research, research, research. Only query agents who are actively acquiring (and contracting) your genre and who have established relationships with the houses you’re interested in working with.

And, truly, it really helps to meet people in person. Not just people who you think can help you, but other authors who will support you, mentors, industry professionals, and even authors come up behind you in the process. Helping other people is a good distraction. And the friends I’ve made in this industry are some of the biggest blessings along the journey.

So, what made you decide to go Indie instead of continuing the traditional route?

I waited a year for Rachelle, and then she shopped Out of Darkness for another year (during which time, I started a family and began focusing on editing instead of pursuing my own writing), and we got a number of responses along the lines of, “we love this girl’s writing. Does she have anything else?” One even suggested that she might be able to market my novel if I turned the best friend character into a villain (to make the reader less conflicted), but that very conflict is the heart of my story, and that wasn’t a change I was willing to make.

What it came down to is that my story isn’t an exact fit for the genre, so the houses I’d be interested in working with consider it (and me, as a debut author) an unknown variable. And no one really wants to take risks right now in traditional publishing. Rachelle offered to shop around with some of the smaller houses, but with what they have to offer, I felt like I’d be better off doing it myself.

As an editor, I’m working with scores (okay tens) of Indie clients who are coloring outside the lines all the time and making it work. They have the freedom to write the stories they love and the bravery to tackle it all themselves. So I’m stepping out with that same bravery—even though it’s super scary to me and not how I envisioned my publishing journey. I’m learning that things don’t always look the way we expect or want them to, but that’s part of the journey too.

Did you end up breaking things off with your agent?

​Ha! Almost. When there was no movement on my manuscript for a year, and I first thought about going Indie, I asked her if I needed to acquire my rights back from her or if she would take a percentage if I did decide to self publish, but she assured me that she would just step back and let me do it on my own. She's my official cheerleader (and sometimes guide), and who knows, maybe she'll be able to help me with International rights should I make it big and need to negotiate translations.​

It's so awesome you're an editor too! What services do you offer in case any readers are interested?

​I edit all kinds of fiction (but paranormal, urban fantasy, and speculative are my favorites). ​And I offer everything from proofreading to in-depth developmental. Line edits--just tweaking the language to put a shine on my clients' words is my favorite. Their voice with just a bit of polish. I love helping make their stories everything they've envisioned. 

You can check out my editing website and see the books I've helped make publish ready here: ALittleRedInk.com.

What an interesting experience! It's proof that there is no one way to get published. We all take different journeys--and that's what makes being a author so exciting!

To stay in touch with Erynn and her Indie exploits make sure to check out her:

Twitter

Website

Facebook

WOTP: Emily Layne, Young Adult Author

Sooo... My original interview for this slot wasn't able to happen. But luckily I know an agented author on submission very well. A certain, Emily Layne.
Otherwise known as... ME!
You guys probably already know everything about my publishing journey thus far, but it's always fun to revisit. At least, it was for me.

To start on a personal note, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

It feels silly to tell myself a little about myself... But here it goes. I'm a Christian, the oldest of four girls, and I'm the cliche I've loved to write since I was a kid story. Courtesy of writing so many stories as a kid, my typing speed is 105 WPM and courtesy of my dad I'm a potato chip fanatic. Since I was eighteen I've been writing with the intent of getting published. Six years later (you can do the math to how old I am!), I'm still determined to see my novels on the shelves and to discover fanfiction about my characters. And, honestly, I don't think that dream will ever die.

What is your “how I got my agent” story?

My story is definitely a long one, but I’ll shorten it as much as I can! I wrote four books before I signed with my agent and didn’t sign with her until the fifth one! In total, I had over 250 rejections for all four books (one was a sequel).

For THESE WICKED WATERS, the novel which got me my agent, I sent out fifty-three query letters that all ended in rejection, one way or another—except one. In fact, I’d closed out the query because I hadn’t heard back from the agent in over three months. Time went by during which I was busy giving THESE WICKED WATERS a massive overhaul. A year later, almost to the day, I got an email from literary agent Becky LeJeune, asking to see the full of my book. And within a week, I had an agent! It’s still hard to believe how everything worked out. The timing was perfect!

What novel landed you your agent?

Well, I kind of gave this one away! THESE WICKED WATERS (currently a working title until a publisher decides otherwise!) is the novel that landed me my agent. TWW is a mix of different genres, but I suppose it could be classified as a Young Adult Paranormal Thriller. I won’t give too much away, but it involves an island resort, a centuries-old vendetta, and vicious sirens.

Tell us about the much anticipated and nerve-wracking “Call” with your now agent.

I did tons of research beforehand. I wanted to know exactly what to expect. But of course, you can only do so much research! I will share a few facts for the Call that I found helpful:

1. Make sure you write down all of your questions beforehand. Nerves will make you forget what you wanted to ask!
2. Just because an agent is interested in your book, doesn’t mean they’re the perfect fit for you. Don’t let the allure of “literary agent” tempt you to choose a relationship that isn’t right for you or your book!
3. Take lots of deep breaths. Pacing in circles also helps!

Have you written/queried other books before?

Yes! I’ve queried three other books. Books that I will never let see the light of day again! The books were:

ELEMENTALS: a story about a college student who finds an evil locket and also discovers she can control all four elements and also happened to be stolen away as a child into the human realm. (Yeah, way too much was going on in this book!)

BOUND: a time-travel romance where a sixteen-year-old and her bad-boy classmate are thrown back in time, their only way back home is for them to stop a murder.

AFTER ALICE & SHATTERED: a darker, steampunk reimagining of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

What is the hardest part about being on submission?

Realizing that there’s more waiting ahead. I thought that as soon as I got an agent, the hard part of getting my book published. When, in fact, getting an agent was just the beginning of a long (and sometimes discouraging process). But slugging through the querying slush was great preparation for being on submission!

What is the best part about having an agent?

Having someone who believes in your book as much as you do. That, and a buffer for when the rejections come in!

How do you cope with waiting to hear back from publishers?

I’m supposed to be plotting a new trilogy, but it’s hard to get geared up to write knowing another project is out in limbo. Other than trying to write, I’ve been building up my author platform—which is more work than you’d think!

Do you have any tips for writers who are querying?

Make sure your query letter is the absolute best it can be. And don’t get discouraged with rejections. Though it might not be what you want to hear, sometimes the first book you write isn’t The One. Keep learning and keep imagining!

Finally, how will you celebrate when you eventually get your book deal?

I have a certain cookie recipe that I’ve been waiting to make since I got the idea for my book. You can bet that I’ll be baking and singing and dancing and probably crying.

I'm seriously looking forward to these cookies! It was fun to interview myself, though a little confusing too. Below are some links if you want to stay connected with me:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Oh! And if you're a fellow writer slugging through chapter after chapter, I'm giving away a free eBook, 14 DAYS: FROM BLANK PAGE TO COMPLETED NOVEL. Just click here to get it!

WOTP: Michael Eigbadon, Adult Thriller Author

Lucky for us, January has five Tuesdays in it! So say hello to the final querying writer in my Wielders of the Pen series: Michael Eigbadon. I had the privilege of critiquing Michael's query letter and a few chapters of his novel. He possesses a wealth of imagination that makes the worlds he builds amazing!

To start on a personal note, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Hi! My name is Michael Eigbadon. I currently live in Miami, doing an MBA and running several businesses (data analytics and housing). I am also a writer. Writing is something that I got into in 2004 with my first book, THE LEGEND OF ARCON (or Avarcon in the Arconian language—I invented). I cancelled that book for personal reasons and completed the first draft of my latest novel, DARKNESS AND THE CITY, by the end of that year.

After years of working professionally as a Performance Analyst, Business Support Analyst and Data Quality Analyst, I returned to the book in 2016 to prepare it for querying.

What novel are you currently querying? What is it about in a few sentences? 

I am trying to query the novel, DARKNESS AND THE CITY, a dystopian political thriller. It is follows Intelligence Agent Gee van Gauss in his bid to stop several secret societies from destroying the new superpower, the FRON, in the year 2100.

 Who is your favorite character from this book?

Gee van Gauss, because he is the protagonist.

Have you written/queried other books before? 

No, I have not queried other books before. As I mentioned earlier, my first book was Avarcon, which was about the descendant (set in 2004) of a powerful sorcerer at the height of the Sumerian civilization. He finds himself on a mission to stop an evil secret society from resurrecting the wicked Sumerian High Priest and save his father.

What is the hardest part about querying?

Obviously the rejection and not knowing what the agents want, even when you think that you have a slam dunk.

How did you go about picking the agents you wanted to query?

I went about picking agents based on Genres and if they were in New York, California, London, or Florida.

How do you cope with waiting to hear back from agents?

  

Doing other things like focusing on businesses and school work.

Do you have any tips for writers yet to query or people who are writing query letters?

For a person who hasn’t gotten an offer to represent, I can’t say much. But a lady called Emily Layne is my secret weapon; I recommend her for writers that have no idea where the sun is during a hot summer’s afternoon. (Aw! Thank you! I'm glad I can help.)

Finally, how will you celebrate when you eventually get your agent?

  

Pray I get a massive advance fee for the book J. I’m a business man. What do you expect?

Michael's a busy man, but he always takes the time to respond to messages (and do interviews!) so make sure you check out his links to stay up-to-date with his querying journey:

Facebook

LinkedIn

WOTP Interview: Alexandra Moon, Young Adult Author

Our last (but not least!) in Writers Yet to Query or Be Published is a writer I've known for a long time, Alexandra Moon. She delves into her novel that's been years-in-the-making and shares background information about her life as a multi-talented college student!

To start things off on a personal note, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Well, I’m both a musician and writer. I’m currently in my third year of college, pursuing a BA in music therapy. Which, by the way, I LOVE.  (If you’re curious as to what a music therapist is/does, check it out here).  That being said, I live a pretty busy life.

I’m a vocalist. I have a heart for the stage, and spent most of my high school and now college career appearing in various plays, musicals, and operas.

I am a fantasy writer at heart. I’ve always loved stories that deal with the otherworldly. Whole societies and peoples and cultures that are different from our own. That’s not to say I don’t read non-fantasy (one of my favorite books ins Rainbow Rowel’s Fangirl), but dragons and mermaids and princes (oh my!) make me squeal like a child.

What novel are you currently working on? And what is it about in a few sentences? (Feel free to list as my novels as you like, if you’ve written more than one. I’ll tweak the question.)

My current painintheneckbutiloveitanyway  baby is an YA fantasy called THE BLOODSTONE.

Ms. Moon in perfect concert form.

As I said, I’m a sucker for high fantasy so naturally I decided to take a crack at one for myself. THE BLOODSTONE takes place in the realm of Vurga. A thirty year war is raging, pitting the four “Continental Kingdoms” against the Dragon Kingdom. And the Dragons are winning. The story follows Arielle, a trick rider employed by the Elf Queen, and Cayden, a musician hired by an Elf noble. When Cayden is kidnapped by an unpredictable Dragon, who claims to be doing so for Cayden’s own safety, Arielle is commissioned to rescue Cayden. What ensues is a dangerous quest into the very heart of the Dragon Kingdom itself. A quest that reveals the stakes of the war are higher than anyone realized.

If you can remember, where did the idea for THE BLOODSTONE come from?

So, I have this interesting habit of creating the characters, then their worlds, then the story that I feel like best shows off these worlds. So, I actually created my two MCs, Cayden and Arielle, in eight grade. Obviously, I’ve developed them a great deal since then, but I fell in love with those two and their relationship. I kept trying to find a perfect world for them but none of them felt right. Around the same time, I created Vurga, a world for which I had no characters. It didn’t take me long to realize I’d created the perfection solution to my problem. Cayden and Arielle were meant for Vurga. And so, the BLOODSTONE was born.

Who is your favorite character from your novel and why?

Vurga’s Dragons are born human and gain the ability to shift to their serpentine form over time. The aforementioned “unpredictable Dragon” is my unquestioned favorite character. Her name is Oki Dane and she is a ball of energy and snark. What I like most about her is how confident she is in herself. She knows who she is and she won’t let anyone else’s ideas about her define how she views herself. This is a characteristic I’ve always admired and always wanted to cultivate in myself. Plus, she looks so darn cool (I may be a bit biased here though!). 

When she isn’t a gaint fire-orange dragon, she is cinnamon-skinned and yellow eyes. Her hair—as all Dragons—matches her scales. Basically, Oki is five-feet, ten-inches of orange-haired, yellowed-eyed sass.

And the one-liners.

Oh the one-liners.

Do you have any tips for people who have “always wanted to write” but have never actually attempted it?

It’s hard to begin, but honestly, just start writing with reckless abandon. Don’t start out trying to create a serious project at first. Write for fun. If you’re in class and get an idea for a character, write it down. Do a brief sketch. Start getting a feel for how you find inspiration and your process. You’ll start to realize things will begin to come together. The more your write, the better the words will flow. The more your plots and characters will work with you. But you’ve got to be willing to experiment, to try and fail sometimes.

My early stuff is a mess—heck, some of the current stuff I turn out is a mess. But, the beauty is it

Alexandra performing in Carats and Crumpets

keeps getting better and better. Seeing improvement from one draft to the next is amazing.

Writing is a craft, that is carefully honed. Like a musical instrument, it takes practice. And practice takes a willingness to not sound so hot for awhile.

Be patient with yourself. You’re not going to turn out your magnum opus on your first try. Or your second. Trust me, I’ve written stuff I thought was a Shakespeare and then gone back and read it years later and…..oh my. But, I am grateful to those cringe-worthy little 1,000 word stories because they got me started. And as long as I’m writing, I’m learning.

How do you find the time to write? Do you give yourself a strict schedule or do you have a different plan of attack?

Finding time to write is a CHALLENGE as a full-time music major. I don’t know if any of you have heard the rumors about music majors having no life outside the practice room…

I can conform those rumors.

So, I mostly write on weekends during the school year. And, of course, things like Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, etc. All this means I can’t be a “fast drafter,” which is annoying for someone who used to be able to sit down with her laptop and binge-write 10,000 words in a single sitting without breaking a sweat. Still, I take it one day at a time, and I have to make sure not to put too much pressure on myself. I love my life as a musician just as much, so I don’t mind taking a little extra time if it means I get to do both.

Finally, what are your future aspirations as a writer?

Short term, I want THE BLOODSTONE ready for querying by March. Which, I think is pretty realistic given my current pace. If that falls flat on its face, I have a couple projects in the kettle cooking and I’ll tackle them as soon as query letters go out.

Long term, I want to hold a book in my hands. I want to know people are getting the same joy from my worlds and characters that I get from the worlds and characters of my favorite books.  That is what bring me joy. What makes me excited to do this. 

This was such a fun chat, Alexandra! I hope to see THE BLOODSTONE on shelves in the future (who doesn't love a snarky dragon?!). 

If you want to stay up-to-date with Alexandra's exploits follow her links below:

Blog

Facebook

Goodreads

WOTP Interview: Stephanie, Young Adult Author

Second in Writers Yet to Query or Be Published is the NaNoWriMo victor Stephanie! She talks about her 2016 NaNo novel and tips on getting ideas on the page.

To start things off on a personal note, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

My name is Stephanie and I am twenty eight year old from New Jersey. I have completed and won National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), in 2014, and I am competing again this year (2016). I also write different articles and posts for my blog. I write mostly about theatre and I write about books. Other than writing I really enjoy musical theatre as both a performer, tech crew, and an audience member. I’ve been doing musical theatre since around age nine, and it is a huge part of my life.

I read a lot of Young Adult Fiction and a lot of different classic novels. I’m the kind of person that is an avid TV junkie, and I watched a lot of different shows on TV and Netflix.  I am in school getting my BS in General Studies, but I have three AA’s in: Theatre, Journalism, and English. I want to be a writer and a journalist when I’m done with school.

What novel are you currently working on? And what is it about in a few sentences?

The novel I’m currently working on is called A NOT SO ORDINARY LIFE. It’s a young adult real life fiction aimed at teens and adults that enjoy reading young adult fiction. The novel itself is about two twins named Phoebe and Lizzie who are fostered after they’re born, and it talks about them and their foster family. I also talk about their mother, Scarlett, and where she is in her life at that time. I jump around between the present, the past, Scarlett, and doing a trans media post which is Phoebe’s journal or Lizzie’s blog entry.

If you can remember, where did the idea A NOT SO ORDINARY LIFE come from?

Steph's writing area

The odd thing is that the idea for A NOT SO ORDINARY LIFE came to me one day, and I just had this idea about twins that were fostered from a young age and didn’t know their mother. After I had found the two characters the plot wrote itself, and it just kind of flowed from there.

Who is your favorite character from your novel and why?

In my current novel it’s my character Phoebe. I designed her a bit like me but a little bit different from who I am and how I act. She is my favorite because she and I have the same interest. For example, she wants to be a journalist.

Do you have any tips for people who have “always wanted to write” but have never actually attempted it?

My biggest tip is to just get the novel down on paper if you have an idea. If you don’t have an idea yet, but you have the start of an idea just start with what you have and expand on that. Think about the stories that you read, and the characters that you already love, and write a story like that. Just write even if it’s anything that doesn’t make sense write the story that you want down, and edit it later.

How do you find the time to write? Do you give yourself a strict schedule or do you have a different plan of attack?

I find the time to write by using NaNoWriMo sprints on twitter. I do follow a strict schedule of three or four hours a day, this works most days because I’m a planner and it’s the way that I live my life every day. For days when I’m busy I use the time that I have, and I just will either write in the morning before I need to do other things.  

Finally, what are your future aspirations as a writer?

As I was saying before, I’d like to be a writer of fiction mostly in the Young Adult genre, but one day I would love to write a historical fiction novel because I have always loved History. I’d also like to write reviews and recaps for entertainment: Broadway shows, TV, Books, and Movies, I would love to just write to write, and hope that people enjoy the things that I’m writing. 

Thanks so much for stopping by Stephanie! I wish you the best with your NaNo novel!

If you want to keep in touch with Stephanie, check out her accounts below:

Tumblr

Twitter

Blog

WOTP Interview: Caitlin Bronaugh, Adult Romance Author

My Wielders of the Pen blog series kicks off with the first category of talented novelists: Writers Yet to Query or Be Published. 
Click here if you have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about.
Caitlin Bronaugh is here today, offering up some facts of the trade, some fun details about her current project, and some great tips for fellow writers!

To start on a personal note, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
My name is Caitlin Bronaugh and I live in Charleston, West Virginia. I work at a bakery as a cake decorator and baker. My boyfriend and I have a catahoula/pit mix named Quinn (or Ninnie) and she is our world. My favorite books are the Harry Potter series although anything by Anne Rice is a close second. Currently my life consists of work and writing and drinking tons of coffee.
What novel are you currently working on? And what is it about in a few sentences?

I'm currently working on THE IDEA OF CONTROL. It's about Adam Walker, a Dom haunted by an abusive childhood and the ghost of Henry, his late father who abused him. He believes he isn't worthy of love until he meets Annabelle James, a local woman who is the farthest thing from submissive. Regardless of their differences, the two start a relationship that enrages Henry and awakens all of Adam's insecurities as he starts to fall in love with Annabelle.

I've got a few others in the works but currently TIOC is my main obsession.

Caitlin and Quinn

If you can remember, where did the idea for THE IDEA OF CONTROL come from?

THE IDEA OF CONTROL has evolved one hundred times since I started writing it. However, the idea originally came from Fifty Shades of Grey. It began as a mash up of FSOG and Beauty and The Beast but has become something else entirely.

Who is your favorite character from your novel and why?

Adam is my favorite by far. I have always had a soft spot for the broken people in novels. They love the fiercest, whether it be their family or a lover and they are the ones who are most deserving.

Do you have any tips for people who have “always wanted to write” but have never actually attempted it?

A glimpse at Caitlin's awesome writing area!

Just do it. I started writing when I was twelve years old and I haven't stopped. What I wrote as a twelve year old was terrible. What I wrote as a twenty year old was slightly less terrible. What I've written as a twenty six year old is much better. The more you write, the more you read, the better your writing will get.

How do you find the time to write? Do you give yourself a strict schedule or do you have a different plan of attack?

I write when I can. I'm not good at keeping to schedules I make for myself. Some nights I only get an hour of writing in. Those are usually school nights. But on my days off or on the weekends I'm up till 2-3 o'clock in the morning, drinking multiple cups of coffee and pounding away at the keys. But regardless, I write every day.

Finally, what are your future aspirations as a writer?

I tend to dream big so naturally I would love to be a NY Best Seller and maybe even have a movie made from my book. But at the end of the day, I just want my novel and all future novels to be enjoyed. So if I never made the NY Best Seller list and never got a movie deal, I would still be completely happy. 

Caitlin, thank you so much for being here today. It was a special treat. And I'm totally coveting that epic typewriter on your desk! Feel free to follow Caitlin and her writing journey on Twitter.

See you next Tuesday for more Wielders of the Pen interviews!

Wielders of the Pen Blog Series Kick Off!

I've been excited about this blog series for months!

Which is why today is the best day ever because I get to officially announce it and the fantastic writers who will be joining me. Some categories aren't 100% filled so I'm working behind-the-scenes to add more novelists, and this page will be updated as more join in.

On that note, if you're in a category (or know someone who fits in an open category) feel free to participate/spread the word. Click here for more info.

A new interview will go live every following Tuesday at 3 PM EST. Make sure you're subscribed to my blog so you don't miss a single post!

Below are the categories and the writers who you'll meet over the next few months:

DECEMBER: Writers Yet to Query or Be Published (FULL)

Caitlin Bronaugh, Stephanie, Alexandra K. Moon

JANUARY: Querying Writers (FULL)

Lindsay Adams, Emily Smith, Fiona Claire, Delise Torres, Michael Eigbadon

FEBRUARY: Agented Writers on Submission (FULL)

Heather Christie, Georgina Cross, Tracy Auerbach, Bethany

MARCH: Independently Published Authors (1 Spot Left)

S. J. Henderson, Katherine Bogle, Laura Baugh

APRIL: Authors Published Through a Publisher Only (1 Spot Left)

Abigail Borders, C.K. Brooke, Chanta Gadoury

MAY: Authors Published Traditionally (4 Spots Left)

...

JUNE: Readers of Young Adult Fiction (2 Spots Left)

Angelee Beauvais, Tako Chikhradze

I'm ready to meet some great authors, how about you?

Vlog #16: Living With A Writer

Stargardt's Disease, An Interview

As part of researching for my next book, SECOND-HAND SCAVENGERS, I've been talking to an awesome friend from Australia. Her name is Chrissy and she has Stargardt's Disease (just like my main character, Jane, will). 

What is Stargardt's Disease? In simple terms, in the early part of an individual's life, (usually before the age of 20), their central vision steadily decreases until they are legally blind.

Chrissy was kind enough to answer a few (of my many-to-come) questions and let me stick them on my blog. I hope to help raise awareness about Stargardt's through this post and my book. Be awesome and give it a share, readers!

1.  In my book, the main character is going to be roughly 16 years old and has just been diagnosed with Stargardt’s. In your case, what age were you diagnosed?

I was diagnosed at 23 in my last year at uni. I think being 16 would be really difficult as it’s already a difficult time for a teenager. My main concern was having to change my life plan and I think this would be relevant for a teen too. There’s also the social aspect as it’s hard to tell people because they have never heard of it and just don’t understand at all!

2.  Before you were diagnosed, did you wear glasses or have any vision trouble?

No I had perfect vision. I never owned glasses. I had check-ups sporadically and nothing was ever found. 

3.  If you can remember, what was your vision like when you were first diagnosed with Stargardt’s?

It was around 6/15 in one eye and 6/12 in the other. I had my driver’s licence and was still driving though the legal limit here is 6/12.  I had noticed that I couldn’t read the board at uni and even sitting up closer I was still having trouble. I also noticed that at night my vision was worse and when I was driving all the lights from cars, traffic lights etc would blend together and make it hard for me to figure out what was going on. I noticed that was reading I wasn’t looking directly at the words, I’d look slightly above (because of the blind spot). I’d actually thought I’d lazily trained myself to read wrong! The other thing was sometimes people noticed  when I was looking at them talking I wasn’t actually looking at their eyes I was looking above at their forehead.

4.  What is your vision level now?

I’m now legally blind at 6/60. It took about three years to get to that level. I read with magnification and large print. I don’t read long documents anymore I use audio a lot. If I’m having conversations with people I can’t usually see their face but I look directly at them because I don’t want to look weird looking at them with my peripheral. When I walk down the street it’s like I’m walking into a tunnel of nothingness. I can see in my peripheral but don’t know what’s coming probably about 15 steps ahead.

5.  Are there any support groups for people with Stargardt’s? Or any therapists or online forums? I’d love to know of some that I can put in my book (and direct others to).

There’s your local vision organisations eg we have Vision Australia and Guide Dogs. Support groups are usually through Facebook. I think some areas in the US have local support groups, I know The Foundation Fighting Blindness has a New York based support group. But really there’s not many of us so in smaller citties/towns it would more likely be a general ‘vision impaired’ support group rather than Stargardt’s specifically. 

6.  What sorts of “helpers” do you use to read things online as well as books? 

I’m audiobook obsessed. I used Audible as I find they have the most content and they have an app you can have on your phone that saves where you are, can speed up/down the audio, buy the books straight on there. There’s also software called Jaws that is a screenreader for the computer. I don’t use this I only use Zoomtext for reading short webpages. I also used software called Kurzweil 3000 (the people that make pianos) for long documents and uni work. I load the file into the software and it will read it to me and highlighting where I’m at. I only got it this year so still learning all its functionality.

7.  Are there any terms I should avoid while writing out of respect? I don’t want to offend anyone.

I’ll look into this more. I have come across people being offended by ‘vision impaired’. I don’t have a problem with it at all. Legally blind is fine too. I tend to use either of the two on my blog and have never had anybody say anything.

8.  Anything else you’d like to add would be great. I’m looking for as much information as possible!

I could go on forever!! If you have particular situations you’d like me to explain how I perceive it I would be happy to! I also think anxiety and depression are a huge part of this diagnosis. Nobody talks about it and when I have brought it up everybody opens up and talks about their experiences. It’s not just a visual condition there are so many more aspects to it. Physically you get eye strain, migraines, headaches, neck pain and nausea. Also, because it is degenerative, it can be hard to accept as it continually declines and you can’t predict how fast or how bad it will get. It’s like a lottery. Anything else, at any time you want to know please ask away!

This is amazing, guys. There's so much more I want to learn. If you too are interested and want to spread the word, make sure you look at Chrissy's website. She has her own story as well as interviews with others and tons of information about the scientific community's research progress. 

A few more links of Chrissy's--make sure to like and follow:

Facebook

Twitter

Thank you, Chrissy, for taking the time to do this interview. I'm sure I'll have tons more questions for you!!

Interview With YA Author: Laura Lee Anderson

Laura, thank you so much for taking some time to chat with me (and be interviewed—my first one ever!). Before we start, can you tell us inquiring minds a little bit about yourself?

Hi Emily! Thank you so much for taking the time to interview me!

I'm a Young Adult author from Pittsburgh, PA. My first book is a YA Contemporary called Song of Summer, and it's being published on July 7th, 2015 by Bloomsbury Spark. When I'm not writing, I'm taking care of my almost-two-year-old son or helping my husband run a semi-professional Shakespeare company composed of urban teens. I'm also a professional stage actor (when I can get the work, haha), and love lattes and big dogs.

With your debut novel, SONG OF SUMMER, coming out July 7^th, you’ve accomplished something a lot of writers (myself included!) only dream of.  If you don’t mind, share a little about your querying process (i.e. rejections, requests, time frame).

Sure! I actually had a very strange querying process. I queried my very first finished novel (a YA Techno-Thriller called Bleeder) very widely and accumulated a LOT of rejections! Bleeder was the book that taught me all about the business. But after about a year and 30 or so rejections, I wrote another book- the one that became Song of Summer. After a couple of months of revisions, I took it to the Pennwriters Conference in Pittsburgh, PA and did an in-person pitch to Uwe Stender at TriadaUS. He loved the idea and I sent it to him that night. In a few weeks, he asked for a revise and resubmit. I loved his feedback, his professionalism, and his friendly openness so much that, after taking his advice, I submitted only to him. It took him about three or four weeks to read and get back to me, and it took me about four to six weeks to do the revisions, so the whole thing happened within a summer!

You ended up signing with Literary Agent Uwe Stender.  How did that work? What made you decide to work with him as your agent?

I'd loved our discussion during the revise-and-resubmit meeting, so I knew we communicated well. After he offered representation, I chatted with him on the phone to ask a few final questions. I then fixed a couple of typos and emailed him the final document. He started pitching it to editors the same day I signed the contract!

Honestly, there were a lot of factors that went into signing Uwe as my agent. First of all, his enthusiasm for my project was infectious. He loves the book as much as I do, and that's saying something! From the very first sentence I told him about Song of Summer, he grinned and said, "That's perfect. I want to read it now." He was open and honest and easy to talk to. I agreed that his revisions made SoS a better book. And he lives about 20 minutes away from me! I'd also read The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth Laban, which he represents, and it reminded me a lot of my book. All of those factors combined, and I think we're the perfect match!

In your opinion, which is harder: querying agents or going on submission with publishing houses? How does the publishing submission process work?

In my opinion, querying agents is much harder than going on submission. For one thing, you have to write the query! (And believe me- the query is SO IMPORTANT! You know all those blurbs about Song of Summer? The Goodreads profile, the Amazon profile... they are all taken from my query). You also have to personalize each query and keep track of who you're querying and when and their response. Some agents you never hear back from. Some you get an auto-reply. Some switch agencies three days after you query and you have no idea!

Being on submission is much easier! Uwe had his list of editors that he sent the book out to. He'd send them in batches, just like an author sending out queries, and every once in a while, he'd send me the new list of editors who had it. Something that I really appreciated was that he sent me every (nice) rejection, so I could see exactly why the editors said no, and hear their really generous compliments! Every agent works differently, though, so when you're signing with an agent, be sure to ask what it's like to be on submission.

Now that the publishing questions are out of the way—tell us about SONG OF SUMMER! How did you get your idea? Do you have a favorite character or scene?

I got the idea for Song of Summer when I was a barista- a deaf woman would come into my coffee shop and write down her coffee order (which I soon memorized- medium coffee with a shot of hazelnut). All I felt confident saying in American Sign Language was "Thank you." I thought, "What if a cute girl was waiting tables in the diner I waitressed at when I was 16 and a cute deaf boy who walked in? What if this was a love story?" And scenes started to pop into my head. 

The book is co-narrated in alternating perspectives, and I have to say I love being in both of their heads, so I certainly can't choose between main characters! But my favorite supporting characters are a cook/waitress duo- Fannie and Violet- who act as Robin's (somewhat inept!) fairy godmothers. I have a lot of favorite scenes: Robin and Carter's first date on the overlook comes to mind, as does their first kiss and Carter's experience inside the world's largest outdoor pipe organ.

Where do you get your inspiration to write? And are you the type to dedicate time each day or are you more a binge writer?

My inspiration comes from telling the stories of people who I think are under-represented. I've never read a YA novel about someone who is culturally Deaf, and I really want Deaf people to be able to see themselves in literature. I know that Carter is only one person, and he certainly doesn't represent an entire culture, but I hope that someone can see themself in him. In a similar vein, I love my home town of Westfield, NY, and I want the world see it in Robin! The town is its own unique culture. People like Robin and Trent (her ex-boyfriend), who can pick up an instrument or play a gig, are not uncommon in Westfield! It is a very close-knit, musical, down-home town.

I am totally a binge writer! Song of Summer's first draft was written during NaNoWriMo. The book I'm working on right now is taking way too long because I didn't write it during NaNo. I'm one of those "I hate writing. I love having written," writers who has to use external motivation (usually withholding something delicious!) to get myself to draft. I like revising and I like editing okay, but that initial draft can be hard.

Plotting and pantsing. Different methods work for different writers. Which do you prefer? If a plotter, how much time do you spend planning your book before you start writing?

I am SUCH a pantser! I've tried plotting. I really have. But my story seems to lose its heart.

I think that, because I was an actor before I was a writer, I love being inside a character's head and reacting along with them to what's going on around them. With a degree in Theatre Performance, I was also basically trained in storytelling for four years, so my sense of story is very well-trained.

Usually, a character comes to me first. Then their friend/love interest. I dream up the basic idea of the story, maybe make a few notes, and free-write in the character's voice a little. Sometimes I make a list of scenes that I'd like to be in the book. That's the extent of it! You can see how the short drafting time frame (NaNoWriMo) comes in handy when I write like this: It's easy to keep the story in my head!

As we wrap up, is there anything you’d like to add or say to aspiring writers?

Writing is a journey, not a destination. You will never have "arrived." Yes, it's good to have goals, but don't pin everything on them. Walk your path step by step, choice by choice, and don't stop. Don't look to see where other people are going unless it's to cheer them on. Don't hate on the people who are running when it's all you can do to put one foot in front of another. And if you pass someone up, encourage them as you go. Remember that your steps and choices will take you to different places than other writers, and that no place is "better" than another one. And once again, don't stop.

Thank you so much for hosting me, Emily! It has been a pleasure! 

If any of you aspiring writers pre-order Song of Summer, I'd love to critique the first 250 words of your current novel! Go here to learn more about this pre-order promotion.

And thank you, Laura! SONG OF SUMMER sounds like the perfect summer read (Ah, my sense of humor). I'm excited to get my hands on it--I've already fallen in love with the cover!

Readers, make sure you check out Laura's Twitter, Facebook, and her website to stay up-to-date on her literary exploits!

She's also got a great Pinterest Board for SONG OF SUMMER. Pinterest is a great place to get inspired!

To pre-order SONG OF SUMMER, click below one of the links below:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo Books