We've Got a Halloween Contest in the Works!

Hello darlings!

Stay tuned. We have a lovely Halloween Contest in the works. We already have two confirmed agents! Some of you will be happy to know that this contest's agents accept both ADULT and YOUNG ADULT works.

One does handle middle grade while the other does not. And one also goes for memoirs and non-fiction projects!

We're still working out the kinks, but we're hoping to have this contest up and running in early to mid-October!

So make sure to check back each week. Maybe we'll even share some agent hints!

Cheers,

~Liz

This Reject Has Got Herself a Job!

Well it's official boys and girls.

I'm no longer a writer/student. Well, based on my graduation post a few months back, you guys knew that.

But I'm officially joining the ranks of writers with a day job! Or if my future bosses are reading this...Writers with a career path! (Day job just has a better ring to it amongst my literary peers). At the moment I'm going to consider this a total "YAY, I'm a big girl!" moment. Some writers will probably say that they can't wait to quit their day job and spend all day writing.

BUT (and who knows, this disillusioned idea could totally backfire in my face down the road--after a few years of the daily grind)

I'd be pretty bored sitting at home writing all day, especially since life is what truly gets the juices flowing to write. I like to think work and daily life in general are ripe with potential. Like for example, that girl you work with, you know, the one managing to bend over in front of the male boss at the most opportune (or inopportune moments), she'd make an interesting character. Or how 'bout the guy that seems to stand guard beside the snack machine. No matter who goes up there, he always makes friendly conversation. But it's like he's trying to make sure no one else gets the Cheez-its.

Sometimes the daily and the mundane can surprise you. Ideas can strike at any moment. (The shower is my personal favorite).

All I'm saying is I'm super excited to be starting my new job! YAY! And you never know, I could come up with a great story idea because of it. Being out and about, a part of the world outside school will bring me in contact with unique people, people I may not have encountered before...perfect character fodder.

And I'm feeling quite blessed and lucky today.

Have a Happy Thursday lovelies! <3

~Liz

Mid Draft: Keep Chugging!

Mid draft.

We all get there at some point. In my case it happened much sooner than intended. (Yay for middle grade/chapter book type hybrid graphic novels! Less words!) <--Yes, I realize that was long. That's because I'm not entirely sure what I'm writing but the awesome part? I LOVE it. So when I finish it and begin revising I'll figure out exactly what I'll be pitching.

So we all reach this point. Sometimes it's after 5k or 10k or 30k, whatever it may be. And we lose our steam. That shiny new idea may be nudging our subconscious and perhaps making an appearance in our conscious mind. The one that says, "Hey, I'm shiny and new and sure to be easier and better than this other manuscript!" We must fight the urge. And get cracking to finish the original manuscript.

Author Holly Lisle has some great advice on digging in and finishing your novel. Whenever I feel the itch to work on something else or lack motivation, I go to her site. She suggests candy bar scenes. Scenes you just can't wait to write. Write toward them and dangle them in front of you like a treat. Just one more scene before I get to write THAT one. For erotica lovers it could be that steamy scene or for a middle grade fantasy it could be when the hero is betrayed by the best friend. Also sometimes she says it's best to write the ending. I did this with my last novel, a YA myth retelling. Boy did I throw in a doozy by starting with my ending. BUT I think it genuinely made my novel better. Granted now that blasted thing needs some revisions but hey, I'll get to them.

So when you feel like you need a boost. Check out her site. She has some pretty helpful advice :) And remember avoid the temptation of that shiny and new project.

~Liz

Review of What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

Goodreads Synopsis:

Who is the real McLean? 

Since her parents' bitter divorce, McLean and her dad, a restaurant consultant, have been on the move-four towns in two years. Estranged from her mother and her mother's new family, McLean has followed her dad in leaving the unhappy past behind. And each new place gives her a chance to try out a new persona: from cheerleader to drama diva. But now, for the first time, McLean discovers a desire to stay in one place and just be herself, whoever that is. Perhaps Dave, the guy next door, can help her find out.

Combining Sarah Dessen's trademark graceful writing, great characters, and compelling storytelling, What Happened to Goodbye is irresistible reading.

My Take:

I'd never read a Sarah Dessen book, but a friend from a creative writing class recommended her highly. When I asked what book to read she said "any!"and so I downloaded the ebook sampler, which included the first three chapters of four different Dessen books and I was hooked. I really enjoyed What Happened to Goodbye because it was something familiar and yet different. This was a coming of age story where for once the romance didn't seem to be an integral part to the story, instead it was subtly weaved in. Granted, I love a good romance, but sometimes it's nice to read a contemporary story that has the main character going through a bit more than just the usual boy crisis. The dynamic between McLean and her dad is great. They have their methods. Only use one cupboard in the kitchen--why bother with more since their leaving? Always wait for the new name and persona to come to you. Considering they include Dave more in the synopsis I thought he'd be much more prominent in the story earlier on. It seems to take Dave forever to really become ingrained in McLean's life. Again, I liked that the romance was subtle but sometimes it may have been too subtle. Still we get great insight into McLean's thoughts and feelings and she comes to life on the page. It was a fun summer read.

Rating:

4/5 Stars

~Liz

When You've Been Around the Query Block

Some of us have been at this querying thing awhile now. We know the drill. Write what we deem is a great manuscript (though we will always look back and at least cringe a little), polish that sucker, and send it on out into the world. 

Since we know how the game works when a shiny new idea comes do you ever find yourself uncertain because now that you're more aware of the market you have many considerations? Here's an example: You shouldn't write that contemporary romance with an edgy air because contemporary romance is in right now and who is say that it will still be 8 months later when you're finally ready to query? Or how about that boy MG. You hear they're looking for that now, but you know never to write to trends, but you have an idea that you love and truly want to write. Should you just call it quits before you even begin?

I believe that after a certain point of querying and receiving rejections on one manuscript and doing the same for another you learn a thing or two. Which yes, can be helpful to avoid the pitfalls that most new query peeps endure, but we also begin to look at our work in a more sales oriented way, which isn't a bad thing per se.

Still, I think we need to keep the fun in our writing for as long as we can. Yes, it's great to consider why you should and shouldn't invest your time in an idea that may not amount to much. BUT the best work, is the story we have fun writing, the one infused with our happy thoughts and yes, the occasional curdling scream (only occasional). 

So next time that shiny idea comes to you--don't just knock it down. Give it a shot. Write down the first chapter or an outline, see if maybe there's more to it. See if it is exactly what you need to jump start those writing juices. Whether your goal is to publish it or not. Just go for it!

~Liz

Review of Daughter of Smoke & Bone

Goodreads Synopsis:

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.
When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?


My Take:

I started this book while on a plane to London and then sporadically completed it while riding the London tube/underground system any chance I got. I really had to be careful not to miss my stops! I loved this book. The setting is beautiful and the way the author describes Karou's life and hangouts is lyrical. The love story behind this is strong, but the world created was so different from the usual stereotypical tales that have come to be on the shelves as of late. I highly recommend this. Just immerse yourself in the story and allow the setting to come alive around you. I just wanted to soak up every moment of the setting. 

Thanks for the recommendation N~

Rating:

4.8/5 Stars

~Liz

Life + Being a Writer = Inspiration

Hello lovelies!

We are officially back in business. The writerly crew decided to take a bit of a summer break. **Stay tuned we just may have a contest in the works this fall** I don't know about you but I've had a blast this summer. Spent almost a month in the UK & Ireland. But did I get much writing done?

Here's the thing, I'm a strong proponent of the:

Butt + Chair = Words on the Page

BUT, I'm even more into:

Life + Being a Writer = Inspiration

Here's a post for all those writers out there who are feeling the "I'm just not being prolific/productive enough summer blues." Sometimes there will be moments when the Butt in Chair equation just isn't working.

Here's what you do. LIVE.

Think back to the first time you put pen to paper seriously. Those great moments in our characters' lives when they've lost someone or something. Those moments where they've surpassed the odds, or lost it all. Those are the moments of our lives that we draw from. That crappy break-up. Channel the ridiculous amounts of tears shed. Or that amazing bungee jumping experience--definitely workable for an adrenaline pumping scene.

My point is, even if you're not writing, you're experiencing, and if you're experiencing, you're creating writing fodder.

Use it. Own it. Do it.

Now, go get your butt in that chair.

~Liz

Review of Lola and the Boy Next Door

Goodreads Synopsis:

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion...she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit--more sparkly, more fun, more wild--the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket--a gifted inventor--steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.


My Take:

Overall, I enjoyed this sequel/companion to Anna and the French Kiss. Again, I liked the voice and writing style that's such a signature of Stephanie Perkins. Still, I think I love Anna and the French Kiss more. There's just something about St. Clair and Anna's love that just works. And of course I LOVED that they made several appearances in this book! Perkins does a wonderful job of continuing her portrayal of adorable teenage romances, but I didn't feel like these two characters were anything like her first two, which is nice to see. We had Lola, a girl in love with the elaborate and making a statement, and Cricket, a teenage inventor with an old school 1920s hipster style. The story also deals with relationships between a teenager and an older guy in his twenties--definitely an interesting thing to see in YA as well as the fact that Lola has two dads rather than the usual parental unit. Perkins brings to life the San Francisco setting and incorporates it so easily into the story that you can't help but feel like your there. The romance is a definite driving force in the story, but sometimes I wished the plot was a little stronger but in general it was a fun read.

My Rating:

4 out of 5 Stars

Plotting: A New Perspective & ATVs Oh-my!

Hello Lovelies!

I'm back in the writing trenches post graduation! Woo. Some of you may remember me asking followers about their writing methods a few weeks back. I've finally chosen one to try out! I have never had a CP read over my manuscript chapter by chapter as it's written, but it seems like a very interesting idea. Plus a great way to catch any issue before it gets out of control! :) The lovely Kelly Hashway also mentioned writing out a full blown synopsis for your book before writing anything down. (I've never been a HUGE plotter but figure I'm doing so many new things in my life post graduation (I learned how to shuck oysters and got to actually drive an ATV--rather than ride as a passenger) that I may as well tackle my writing from a new point-of-view. Which is exactly what I recommend. In life our writing, relationships, work-life etc. can become stagnant. Sometimes we just gotta shake things up a bit. Just taking a side step and looking at life or our books from a different POV can mean everything and can get our mojo's flowing. 

Here's some great insight into the The Three Act Structure that I received from Beth Fred. Thus far, it has been quite helpful! :) 

1 inciting incident—Pool/ring scene

2. Call to Action—She has to go on dates and gets dumped.

3 Midpoint--Can be a reversal of fortunes where it looks like things were going to work out and they blow up--or things can just get even worse

4. Even Worse

5. The last straw--whatever happens here has to catapult you into the climax

6. Climax--Yeah, u know this one

7. Resolution.

The End.

Cheers!

~Liz

Writerly Graduate. Oh YEAH!!

Well guys, it's official.

I'VE GRADUATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's been four (super fun/crazy/ridiculous/fast/inspiring/loving/sweet/embarrassing/lovable) years. I've reached a point in my life where I must wonder, "what now?" Seriously--what do I do with the rest of my life without college life to monopolize my time? I don't think I ever truly understood the meaning of bittersweet until now.

A few months back I talked about goals.

So far I've decided goals are awesome, but be prepared to throw them out the window when your dreams, wants, and desires decide to deviate. What I'm starting to realize is it's okay to change my mind and want something different.

We're all navigating life. And right now? I'm just happy I made it DOMINATED the last four years.

I truly believe the best is yet to come.

So for all those hanging out in the query trenches or the agent sub limbo or heck maybe even 5th-book-will-my-editor-love-it-or-hate-it purgatory--just remember--the best is yet to come.

"Things always have a way of working out. Never underestimate the power of prayer, faith, and love."

Cheers!

~Liz

What Is Your Writing Strategy?

Hey guys!

Today I wanted to open up the floor to our lovely readers and find out about YOUR writing strategies. Me (Liz!) and our resident dude, Auzy, are currently adapting into our writing lives again and would love to know what works for you. For some it's setting a daily word count, or a weekly count. While for others they find the write better when they Word War or time themselves, especially with Write or Die (love that site!) 

Do you tend to write and rewrite the previous chapter as you draft? Or do you get that sucker down and don't look back until it's all done? Do you write in order? Out of order? Are you a crazy outliner or a smooth-sailing-see-where-it-goes kinda writer?

Let us know! We'd love to learn about the different processes we all use, and who knows you may even find one you'd like to try out too!

Cheers,

~Liz

Review of Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Goodreads Synopsis:

A fresh, urban twist on the classic tale of star-crossed lovers.

When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created 'perfect' life is about to unravel before her eyes. She's forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for: her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. 

Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more.

In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.

My Take:

Overall, I enjoyed the story. It enthralled me enough to keep reading. Alex is oh-so-sexy and the sexual tension between the two is everything we could hope for. Occasionally Brittany's "I must be perfect" attitude came across a tad too strong for my taste, but the romance was so well done it didn't affect the story for me too much. Really, this is just a cute romance with some high stakes issues--a total star-crossed lovers story. Great and sexy read. 

Rating:

4 out of 5 stars

~Liz

Cover Reveal! Library Jumpers

Ahhh!! Who doesn't love cover reveals? *raises hand* I freely admit that I judge books by their covers. It's what first attracts me to a book...and even guys now that I think about it...But hey, then you read on and find out if that book or lovely boy toy is right for you!

And here we are, the cover reveal of Brenda Drake's Library Jumpers, which will be published by Month9Books February 2014. Keep an eye out for the blurb in the next coming months!

Not only is today Brenda's cover reveal but her birthday! A big Happy Birthday to Brenda!! :)

BEYOND THE HIDDEN GATEWAYS THAT CONNECT THE LIBRARIES OF OUR WORLD, LIES A DARK AND DANGEROUS WORLD JUST WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED

Definitely a pretty cover. Always cool when there is a kickass chick with a sword on the cover!

What do you all think?

~Liz

Book Review of Love All Book #1

Goodreads Summary:

Seventeen-year-old Meg Flannigan wasn’t very lucky at love. In sophomore year, her idiotic boyfriend dumped her by making out with another girl in front of her locker. Ouch! Now a senior, and with a little more self-confidence, Meg catches the eye of not one, but two guys at school. Lucky! Both attend her tennis matches, vie for her attention, and are each gorgeous in their own way. So what’s the problem? Meg has already chosen one of them, and the one waiting in the sidelines will do anything to change her mind. She’s enjoys the attention right up until it’s her heart that’s caught in the middle, and she risks losing both. Can Meg Love All, or will choosing be her undoing?

My Take:

I don't usually read novellas so this was a refreshing and quick read. I found it a tad hard to relate to Meg and her personal situation between boyfriend and old crush but that could have just been a personal thing. Overall, I think Hashway has a really great voice (loved it!) and I'm a sucker for sports movies and books. I think pacing is something one has to be very careful with in a novella. It's so short that we need a sort of climactic moment as well as a resolution. I think Hashway wrapped it up pretty neatly and really followed an interesting plot arc in this small amount of space. Oh and the boys definitely sound swoon worthy!

Rating:

3.3 out of 5

~Liz

A Little Bit of Appreciation

Sometimes it's quite nice when your hard work earns you the metaphorical pat on the back. Recently, I got the "you've been doing great work" chat from my intern boss and let me tell you, I feel awesome. Let's also add the fact that a client also found my work super helpful and wanted to make sure I was thanked for it! *squee*

Let's all take a moment and think about the people we appreciate in our lives. Is there anyone you know; a critique partner, husband, or coworker you feel is doing awesome? Let em' know!

You could seriously make someone's day ya'll.

~Liz

P.S. Auzy + ~N you guys rock this site and I totally appreciate you both! :)

Agency Lesson: It's okay to not follow the rules

Oh yes, I'm going to say it. You're reading this thinking, "Yay! Here's some wonderful advice from an agent's intern!" Are you the writer who scours the blogs to glean every possible ounce of knowledge when it comes to agents and publishing as a whole? Great! Me too. But here's the thing. This is one subjective business and blogs, well, they are all in essence the opinions of a few. Some quite knowledgeable few, but a few nonetheless.

Have you ever thought these things?
"Of course I would never send 10 and a half pages when they specifically requested 10." Or how about: "No way should I start a YA dystopian, the trend is already gone." Or how about, "My fantasy manuscript will never see the light of day now that the market is saturated." Or, "No way can a 35,000 word YA manuscript be published."

Take a deep breath.

Ready?

Okay.

Nothing is written in stone. Yes, it's good to follow all the rules. Yes, you shouldn't consider yourself the exception to any rule.

But here's the thing. Writers shouldn't drive themselves crazy over little details. "Oh no, I open with a waking up scene!" Or " It's raining in my opening!"

Yes, be careful, but if things work they work. Agents will not care about the rain falling and will focus instead on the heartbreaking break-up being played out on the page or your characters waking up to a fire.

It's okay to not follow the rules all the time.

I promise.

~Liz

Publishing Auction for Sandy Hook Victims

There is an official fundraiser going on in the publishing industry to benefit families and victims of the Connecticut Sandy Hook Shooting. 

The post is here: http://pubheartsconn.blogspot.com/2012/12/query-critiquefirst-25-page-critique.html

A friend of mine will be participating. Her details are below:

Author Christina Farley has offered a critique of the first 25 pages of a manuscript. The highest bidder will win the following package:

• Critique of first 25 pages
• Query critique
• Open internationally

Opening Bid: $20
Please bid in increments of $5 The auction will start
Wed (Dec 19th) at 9 AM EST (6 AM EST)

The auction will end
Friday, Dec 21st at Noon PM EST (9 AM
PT).

Again the auction is happening over at Pub Hearts: http://pubheartsconn.blogspot.com/2012/12/query-critiquefirst-25-page-critique.html

Cheers,

~Liz

Jumping on the Bandwagon

Okay, I'll admit it.

I've been a very bad girl.

I'm just now downloading and about to read Cassandra Clare's The City of Bones. My aunt and every writer around  has been saying--what's wrong with me? Why haven't I read this yet? I know, as a writer who tries to keep abreast of what's popular in children's publishing I've bypassed a book I should never of. In my defense, I did TRY to read this about three years ago, but alas the audiobook's voice completely turned me off. So much so that I got up to that FAMOUS club scene and shut the damn thing off. I tried SO hard, but the voice killed the story for me.

So Lesson 1) Choose your audiobook narrator carefully.

Lesson...well Lesson 1 was the only lesson I actually had.

Basically, now that the movie is coming out, I'm jumping on the bandwagon. Now, I know I'm not the only one doing so. Come on, ya'll. Raise your hands--I know I'm not the only one.

Is it really so wrong to jump on the bandwagon, especially if it helps us discover a great story? Would love your thoughts.

Cheers,

~Liz

What's Happening In Our Corner of the Internet

Property of Elizabeth Prats--Crystal Milk, a character from her picture book.

Whelp! I'm taking a page from Kelly Hashaway's book and doing a bit of a Monday Mishmash of what's happening in the Rejects corner of the Internet.

Just as a reminder two of the rejects me (I'm Liz!) and Nazarea are mentors in the super amazing contest Pitch Wars! On Wednesday the 12th the authors we've chosen will be announced here. Get ready. A big hug and thank you to all who have subbed to us.

Finals! Tomorrow is my last final of the semester. One more class and then I begin my LAST semester of college. Scary, huh? Of course, I'll be getting a lovely winter break in between. Thank God!

Now, we all know the holidays are coming up. I'm planning a read through of my YA and then I'll start querying again in the new year, but I do have new picture books ready to enter the world! My first, but to be honest I'm quite proud. And just because I'm SO excited, here's my illustrations portfolio if you want to see some cool drawings!

Agency Stuff: Yeah, I have lots of agency reading to do over the break! Middle grade!

So what are your plans for the month of December and its oh-so-wonderful-holiday festivities? Oh and don't forget to check out Nazarea's awesome writer gift ideas list!

Cheers,

~Liz

Interview with Nora Zelevansky

Hi all!

We're interviewing the lovely Nora Zelevansky today, debut author of Semi-Charmed Life. Be sure to check out her website and follow her on Twitter and Facebook!

Also, to all those BOOK CLUBS out there, Nora would be more than happy to Skype or iChat about her book. If you're interested feel free to email her at: semicharmedbook (at) gmail (dot) com

1) When did you start writing?

Hmm.  I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t writing.  In second grade or so, the teachers had us make our own books in school and my “About The Author” described wanting to be a writer.  (I love that they had us write descriptions about our lives that way, at that age.)  After that, I never really wrote fiction, mostly personal essays.  I developed a serious obsession with Joan Didion.  By the time I graduated from high school, I wasn’t thinking of a future in writing at all.  I was a writing tutor at college and always helped my friends with their papers, but I was still mostly focused on this idea of working with writers instead of being one.  Then, after a few years of working in the entertainment industry in LA and in politics for a hot second, I got the chance to write a personal essay for a yoga magazine.  The experience was fantastic and I was hooked!  I took a couple of UCLA classes and was basically a freelance journalist from that moment on.  Eventually, I decided to take a shot at fiction, not sure at all how it would turn out.  And here I am!

2) Tell us a little about your non-writing self.

Well, I grew up in NYC, moved to LA for college and post-college and now I’m back living in Brooklyn.  I grew up with art world parents (a curator mother and performance artist father) and a brilliant sister, who did in fact write the poem at the beginning of the book when she was eight-years-old and taking a standardized test.  That definitely impacted the setting of the book, although the characters really aren’t replicas of my family members.  I’m a journalist, who mostly writes about fashion, beauty, travel, food and design, but also—in my favorite moments—I get to write cultural satire and critique.  Those experiences made it into the book too.  What else?  I’m a salt addict and a bag whore; I hate cilantro, I love TV (without shame) and some of my idols are Dorothy Parker, Jane Austen, Gail Collins and Tina Fey.  My husband is a filmmaker and we have two cats.  Yup.  Cats.

3) Was Semi-Charmed Life your first novel?

It was.  Like many of us, I wanted to try to write a novel and so I signed up for NaNaWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and wrote about 1,677 (I think?) words a day for a month without much outlining or planning.  I wasn’t at all convinced that a plot would emerge as they promised, but it did!  I really recommend that process and this is the time of year to do it.  Anyway, at the end of that month, I had a very messy novel that, of course, required many many rewrites, but at least I had a draft and that made life easier.  The day the book was purchased was probably the proudest of my life.  I sat in my car in LA, after finding out that St. Martin’s was making a bid, and I was just overcome—I felt so fortunate.

4) How long did you query for before landing an agent?

I took a long time to choose an agent; longer than I recommend.  I just didn’t know how to make that decision.  A lot of people recommended picking the person who seemed most aggressive, but I was drawn towards the person who made me feel most comfortable and, in this case, that worked.  As a freelance writer, I’m used to hustling pretty hard, so I just went after whatever contacts I could find, people who had contacted me about my personal essays over the years, and even looked up the agents of newer writers who I liked and thought wrote in a similar genre.  I’m not sure exactly how long it took.  Maybe two or three months-ish?

5) What inspired you to write Semi-Charmed Life?

Since this was my first attempt at writing a novel, I didn’t want to pick an idea about which I felt too precious or attached.  I wanted to be able to just let my imagination run amok, which is what the NaNaWriMo people suggested.  So, I found this dream I’d written down from the year before, when I’d been on vacation in the British Virgin Islands, about this girl named Veruca Pfeffernoose, who had this apartment that was like a carnival for adults and Jerry Garcia was spinning records in a corner.  That was the starting off point.  But I also almost worked as a ghost blogger for a socialite (long story), so my off-the-wall experience with that also informed the plot.  And I guess living in NYC and then LA got me thinking a lot about the cult of celebrity and moved me to poke a little fun at the notion and value of “fame” these days.

6) Did anyone you know inspire Beatrice's character?

I can’t say that any one person inspired her.  But I do like a flawed main character.  Maybe that dates back to reading Pride & Prejudice with my mother as a child?  Who knows?  But I like sort of clumsy female characters, who are at core strong and capable and may even appear to have it all together to the outside world, but who privately feel vulnerable and inadequate when faced with a clean white shirt (too easily stained).  I think that’s a feeling most of us can relate to and that also lends itself to humor.  I like characters who don’t take themselves too seriously.

7) What's your favorite book and author?

My favorite book of all time (and this is hard because there are so many) is probably Raise High The Roof Beam, Carpenters by J.D. Salinger.  It’s brilliantly written and funny and sad and strange all at the same time; you don’t know whether to laugh or cry, so you do both.  I reread it about once a year.

8) Cookies or cake?

Ooh.  That’s tough.  But, ultimately, birthday cake.

9) What piece of advice do you wish you'd received when you'd started the publishing and querying process?

Oh, gosh.  Well, I guess that along the way there are always going to be rejections.  And, even if you get positive feedback from 99% of the people who read your manuscript, you’ll mostly remember the 1% who were negative.  Sadly, that’s human nature!  So, my advice would be: Remember that nothing is for everyone.  Even the most brilliant works of art don’t do it for some.  So, do the work that feels right to you and that you believe in and, take advice from people who you trust to have your best interests at heart, but otherwise follow your own instincts.  It’s an accomplishment just to have carved out the time to try to write a book!  Make sure to take a moment and just feel good about that.

Thank you, guys!