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 1) How did you get the idea for Wake? Are you similar to the character Janie in any way?
I got the idea for WAKE when I dreamed I was in my husband's dream, watching what he was dreaming about. When I woke up, I knew there was a story there, so I wrote down the idea and about a month later I started writing the novel.
There are tiny pieces of me in all my characters, but there is not one distinct character I've ever written where I'd say, "That's me. That's my life."
2) Tell us about the publishing process for Wake.
It's been very exciting. My editor accepted the manuscript when she bought it, which meant only minor changes were necessary. So I didn't have a lot of editing to do. That gave me ample time to finish writing the sequel, FADE. And like most authors, I knew that I would have to put a lot of effort into marketing my book, so I got to work on that right away. My publishing team liked my effort and there were enthusiastic early responses from book buyers WAKE seemed to be a book people were really excited about. The support for WAKE has grown steadily over the past year and I'm really grateful for that.
3) What is your writing process like? Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
I write at high speed. If I have a good idea, I will write non-stop for hours and days, ignoring everything else. I write pretty cleanly so I don't edit as I go I just want to push through to the end and get the bones of the story down. Once I have the first draft complete, I put it away for a few weeks and let it simmer in my brain. Then I start at the beginning again and fill in with more description and details, flesh out things that need it, etc.
My advice for aspiring writers is to admit to yourself early on that there's a good chance your first novel won't make it. So, once the first one's written and polished, start writing the second one. Be prepared to write a practice novel or two. It is sad to see aspiring writers so married to their first novel that they cannot see past it. Trying every possible way to get it published and wasting years in the process, when they could write another novel and save themselves all that heartache. That's my short answer -- I'll be blogging on this topic for you later in the week!
4) There's going to be a sequel to this book entitled Fade, coming out next year. How many books do you anticipate to be in this series? Are you planning or working on any non-Wake series books?
I have no plans for any more books in the WAKE series at this point (besides FADE), but I'm not ruling out the possibility that more will come I think it really depends on the readers. I recently finished writing another novel that I'd love to see published someday. It's a YA fantasy with a creepy society factor in it. I won't say any more about it at this point, though. If anything happens with that one, I'll be sure to let you know!
5) Who are some of your favorite YA authors? Also, what books have you been reading lately?
Chris Crutcher is a favorite of mine and has been a favorite for years. I recently read his new book, DEADLINE, and it was awesome. He has such a way of creating deep, sympathetic characters in tough situations I love them for their strength. They make me feel good about the world. I also love Lois Lowry and Jean Craighead George. And then there's Judy Blume, of course. Other books I've read recently and enjoyed are TEACH ME and BREATHE MY NAME by R.A. Nelson, STORY OF A GIRL by Sara Zarr (I have her new release, SWEETHEARTS, on my to-read pile), and Robin Brande's EVOLUTION, ME, AND OTHER FREAKS OF NATURE.
6) What brought you to write for the YA audience? Was it something you've always wanted to do, or just something that felt right for this particular book/series? Do you plan to venture out into other genres?
Adults scare me. I've always loved teenagers and I really relate to them. I think they are funny and angsty and lovely and I really enjoy talking with them, partly because they have fascinating lives and partly because they will tell you straight up what they think about something. I clearly remember how sucky it is to be a teen. So I guess writing for teens just feels right to me. I can see eventually venturing out into other genres within the YA realm, but I don't have plans for any adult or little kids' books at this point. YA feels like home to me. |
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A Woman's Triumphant Valor. Delicious Language. Award Winning Novel.
