Interview with Debbie Ohi and Giveaway!

I am thrilled to have my critique partner from the MiGs, Debbie Ridpath Ohi, chatting with us here at Chocolate for Inspiration. I've known Debbie for a number of years and I've had the chance to read her middle grade and picture books. She is incredibly talented and I can't wait to see all of other projects come out to the light of day over the next few years.

Now for the interview!

Me: There is so much fun and humor in your illustrations. What springboards you to come up with these creative ideas?

 

 

Debbie: Thanks, Christy! I draw a lot, just for the fun of it, and I think that helps a great deal. If I only drew for work-related projects, I suspect my illustrations would tighten up and lose much of the energy that people seem to like. So I try to sketch and doodle digitally and on paper as much as I can.

I admit it was an adjustment at first. Once I started working on I'M BORED, my doodling went way down at first because I figured I needed to put the time into workstuff instead…but then I found this had a negative influence on my workstuff. Once I started drawing for fun again on the side, things got better again.

Now I'm thinking I should starting doing more of the same for my writing as well. I used to keep a private daily journal, just for random thoughts, and I think I'll start it up again.

Me: How do you look at a story from an illustrator's perspective?

Debbie: That's an interesting question, mainly because I've always looked at stories visually when I'm reading.

However, working on I'M BORED as well as my new picture book project for Simon & Schuster BFYR has certainly started me thinking a lot more about the picture book reader experience. There are so many aspiring picture book writers and illustrators out there who think that it's just a matter of writing the story and then adding pictures.

It's so much more, however. Writing picture books is HARD. Or rather, writing a good picture book that stands out in the marketplace and is appealing to young people (rather than grown-ups who are used to the classic type of picture books from the past) is hard.

Those who illustrate as well as write have a definite advantage when it comes to creating picture books because/we can't help but think of how the text and illustrations can function as one unit AS we write the story. I'm always asking myself, "How can I show this in the illustrations instead of in the text? What can I add in the illustrations that will enhance the story?"

It's a challenging but ultimately immensely satisfying process.

Me: And the most important question, what's your favorite chocolate?

Debbie: Good quality dark chocolate.

A fellow chocolate lover! Yay! Thank you so much Debbie for hanging out with us!

Stalk Debbie at:

Twitter: @inkyelbows
Blog: DebbieOhi.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/inkygirl

Debbie and Simon and Schuster have also offered to give away a copy of I'M BORED! Just comment in the section below. Get an extra entry for tweeting, blogging or mentioning this interview on Facebook. Just let me know in the comments section!

Contest open internationally until Sept. 19th.

Interview and Giveaway with Elaine Wolf

 Every secret has a price…

I’m very pleased to welcome Elaine Wolf today. She has offered to share her thoughts on her publishing journey and what inspired her to write her book, CAMP, published by Sky Pony Press (an imprint of SkyhorsePublishing). This YA novel tackles the issues of bullying, mothers and daughters, and the consequences of family secrets.

In case you were wondering what CAMP is about, here is the blurb from Amazon:

For most girls, sleepaway camp is great fun. But for Amy Becker, it's a nightmare. Amy, whose home life is in turmoil, is sent to Camp Takawanda for Girls for the first time as a teenager. Although Amy swears she hates her German-immigrant mother, who is unduly harsh with Amy's autistic younger brother, Amy is less than thrilled about going to camp. At Takawanda she is subjected to a humiliating "initiation" and relentless bullying by the ringleader of the senior campers. As she struggles to stop the mean girls from tormenting her, Amy becomes more confident. Then a cousin reveals dark secrets about Amy's mother's past, which sets in motion a tragic event that changes Amy and her family forever.
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1. What got you started into writing?

I always loved to write, even as a child. When I grew up, I became a “closet writer.” I never shared my work, and I still have a “bits and pieces” file of story ideas, first sentences, and poems. And when I worked as the English language arts director for a public school district, I found lots of excuses to send memos to the staff––just so I could write! My husband encouraged me to enroll in a writers’ workshop at our library. Then came a Saturday morning short story class at a local university, followed by a series of summer workshops and writing conferences in New York City. And that did it! All I wanted was more time to write. So my husband, again, told me to go for it––this time by encouraging me to take an early retirement from the school district and to enroll in a novel writing class at The New School in New York. As I focused on the novel that became DANNY’S MOM (Arcade Publishing, November 2012), I joined other writers’ workshop programs, as well as a critique group. I’m so blessed to have such a supportive husband, whose favorite activity now is telling everyone about CAMP. And I can’t stop smiling!

2. Tell us a little about your journey in pursuing publication of CAMP.

I’ll tell you the truth: the road to publication was long and hard. Six years ago when I signed with my agent, she said she loved CAMP and was eager to get it out on submission. But shortly after signing me on, my agent went out on her own, and CAMP submissions were delayed. However, I hung in there because I knew my agent loved the manuscript, and I believed that she would find the right home for CAMP.

Once submissions started, several editors said that they, too, loved the manuscript but didn’t feel that bullying was a big enough story. So I put CAMP on hold and moved on to other writing projects.

In 2011, five years after I signed with my agent (see, I told you the road was long!), I asked her to please try once more because bullying was now front and center in the news. My agent put CAMP out there again. And this time, CAMP sold quickly. And then DANNY’S MOM (also with a strong bullying theme) sold to Arcade Publishing, another Skyhorse imprint.

Now I’m known as “the anti-bullying novelist.” And I’m thrilled that I’ll have two novels published this year! I hope you’ll check out my website (authorelainewolf.com) for information about both books, as well as for anti-bullying resources.

3. As a teacher and mom myself, I’ve really seen how bullying is such an issue with kids, not just here in the States, but world-wide. I love how you tackled this issue in such a unique way through the setting and the characters. What inspired this?

Thanks! I’m glad you love how I “tackled this issue in such a unique way through the setting and characters.” But, truth be told, I didn’t set out to write a bullying novel; I just wanted to write a compelling story. So I started with a character, 14-year-old Amy Becker, who’s being shipped off to sleep-away camp for the first time. And, of course, I gave her lots of problems––because a happy, sing-around-the-campfire story isn’t very gripping.

I believed that sleep-away camp would be a good backdrop for a coming-of-age story, and it’s a setting I know well. I was a camper and camp counselor for many summers. And, like Amy Becker, my uncle owned a camp in Maine. But that’s where the similarity ends. My uncle ran a terrific camp, where the bullying that happens in CAMP would have been stopped before it got out of control.  

The bullying in CAMP grew organically after a mean-girl character, Rory, stormed through my mind while I was writing the scene about Amy on the bus heading to the fictional Camp Takawanda for Girls. Rory’s voice was really loud in my head, so I just tried to get out of my own way and let the characters dictate the story. Once I had a timid first-time camper, Amy, and an alpha girl “queen of mean,” Rory, it was impossible not to write about bullying.

Now CAMP is finding its way into schools for the fall, where the novel will be a springboard to conversations about bullying. And I sincerely hope that CAMP and DANNY’S MOM will lead to discussions that will make our camps and schools safer for all kids.

4.  What has been the most difficult part for you in writing in general and how have you met that challenge?

The most difficult challenge of this whole process was the “getting published part.” I was so happy while working on CAMP and DANNY’S MOM. But, I must admit, the “getting published part” left me frustrated and anxious. Yet I never gave up because the feedback from editors was overwhelmingly positive. I learned that getting published is not only about talent and perseverance; it’s also about timing. As they say, timing is everything.

And here are some quickies:

1. Favorite type of chocolate: dark, darker, and darkest! (Chocolate is absolutely my favorite food.)

2. #1 place you’d like to visit: Greece (And I’d love to go back to Florence, Italy, where I had the best gelato I’ve ever tasted. Ice cream is my second favorite food.)

3. Favorite mode of transportation: walking (I often park my car far from where I’m heading just to walk a bit­­––which is a good thing because I eat way too much chocolate and ice cream!)

4. Preferred mode of writing (i.e. pencil, pen, computer): computer (I start every chapter with pen and paper, though––and go to the computer only when I have a first paragraph that makes me tingle.)

Check out Elaine on Twitter or her website.

I will be giving away a copy of Elaine’s book, CAMP. Comment below to win a copy and tweet about this contest for an extra entry!

Interview with Larissa Hardesty

I'm thrilled to share with you the interview I did we my local critique partner, Larissa Hardesty. We met a while back through Verla Kay's Blueboards. When I moved back to the States, I hitched a ride with Jessica Souders and her down to the SCBWI conference in Miami. Ever since we've been swapping chapters with each other.

She attended the SCBWI conference here in Orlando, FL with me and I asked her about what she was hoping to get out of the conference as well as tips of what to bring to a conference.


Thanks Larissa!

I'm also giving away another book of Danette Haworth's from the conference, SUMMER OF MOONLIGHT SECRETS. All you have to do is write a comment below. If you tweet, blog, or Facebook about this post, let me know in your comment for an extra point. Deadline in July 13th!

Danette Haworth Shares Her Insights

At the SCBWI conference here in Orlando, FL, I was able to chat with the very talented Danette Haworth. She is the middle grade author of the VIOLET RAINES ALMOST GOT STRUCK BY LIGHTNING, THE SUMMER OF MOONLIGHT SECRETS, JACK AND ME, and her upcoming book that will be released in September, A WHOLE LOT OF LUCKY.

I'm a big fan of Danette's books. The characters are so real and I'm instantly sucked into the worlds that Danette creates. I first read VIOLET RAINES when I was still living in Korea and the story brought me right back to Florida with the lightning storms, alligators, thick hot air and swamps. I was homesick! And who wouldn't fall in love with the spunky Violet?

In the interview, Danette chats about her SCBWI success story, why pre-published and published authors should attend conferences, as well as a peek at her upcoming book, A WHOLE LOT OF LUCKY.



Thank you Danette for sharing with us!

You can find Danette on:
Her website: http://www.danettehaworth.com/
Her blog: http://summerfriend.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/danettehaworth

And as a special treat, I'm giving away an autographed ARC of A WHOLE LOT OF LUCKY that Danette shared with us! All you have to do is post a comment. (note, later in the week I'm giving away another of her books!) You get an extra point if you tweet, blog, Facebook or share this post with a friend.  Just let me know in your post! The deadline to enter is by July 11th.

Danette Shares Her Inspiration

Please welcome Danette Vigilante, author of The Trouble with Half a Moon, published by G.P. Putnam & Sons.

From Amazon:

Thirteen year old Dellie lives with the guilt that her little brother's death was her fault. Her mother cries all the time and because she wants Dellie to stay safe, she keeps her inside as much as she can. It doesn't matter that Dellie longs to go outside to be like other girls or that there's a boy she likes and he likes her too. All that matters to her mother is that she's safe at home. So, Dellie has no choice but to watch the world of her housing project through her second story window.

Things start to change soon after new neighbors move in on the first floor. Trouble like this has never happened in Dellie's building before. Now there are men fighting on the stoop, gunshots echoing through the night and Corey, a hungry and abused five year old boy knocking on her door looking for something to eat. Corey reminds Dellie of her brother and even though their friendship is dangerous, she wonders if this time, she'll be able to do what needs to be done. Will she be able to save Corey? Show Mo

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I love the premise of The Trouble with Half a Moon because it takes a look at the ripple effect of what we do with the good and bad in our lives. What inspired you to write this book?

I grew up in a housing project where a little boy would go from apartment to apartment asking for food. As you can imagine, it was heartbreaking. That little boy stayed with me and patiently waited until I was ready to give  him what every child should have: safety, love, food and friendship.

Who in your life inspires you and why?

I’m a greedy inspirational seeker so I find it everywhere from my two girls and my husband for not being afraid to step out of their comfort zones to everyday stories I read about people doing good for other’s.

Which book character do you find inspirational and if he/she were to talk to you, what might they say?

At the moment it would be, Deza, the main character in Christopher Paul Curtis’ newest book, The Mighty Miss Malone. If she were to talk to me she might actually giggle then ask, “You’re not going to let THAT get in your way, are you?” Then she’d adjust her family’s motto for me: “You’re on a journey to a place called Wonderful, so keep it moving!”

What is it that you are hoping to inspire into your reader’s lives?

That even the smallest good deed is powerful enough to change a life for the better. Maybe even your own.

And here are some quickies:

1. Favorite type of chocolate:

Believe it or not, I’m a relatively new chocolate lover and pretty much like it all with the exception of dark chocolate. Can I just say that I’m currently addicted to chocolate covered raisins from Costco. They blow Raisinets away!

2.  #1 country you’d like to visit:

Without hesitation, that would be Italy. For its beauty of course, but I’m a serious pizza lover so …

3. Favorite mode of transportation:

My feet! I love to walk.

4. Preferred writing method: (i.e.) computer, pen, pencil:

Definitely computer. I couldn’t survive without cut and paste.

Her website: http://danettevigilante.com/

Her blog: http://danettevigilante.blogspot.com/

On Twitter

On Goodreads

Thank you so much Danette! Fill in the Raffelcopter form to win a copy of The Trouble with Half a Moon.

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Elissa Janine Hoole- Interview and Giveaway

Today I’m thrilled to have Elissa Janine Hoole on my blog! Her upcoming YA, KISS THE MORNING STAR, is to be released this May by Marshall Cavendish.

Here’s the blurb from Amazon:

When Anna sets out on a post high school road trip toward an unknown destination with best friend Kat, she thinks she's prepared for everything. Clipboard in hand, she checks off her lists: Set up tent. Study maps. Avoid bears. Feelings are not on any list. For the past year - ever since her mother's sudden death - Anna has shut down her emotions and shut out the people who love her most.

1. Tell us a little about the process of starting the idea for KISS THE MORNING STAR to publication.

I started the story in September of 2008, and I took about a year to write and revise and get what I thought was a polished, query-ready draft of my book, which was then called The Dharma Bum Business.  I queried it during the summer of 2009 and had a few agent requests including a few very kind agents who gave me a lot of feedback, and two who told me that the voice might benefit if I tried changing the point of view of the story from third to first.  I admit, I thought it wouldn’t work—it would be little more than an exasperating exercise in pronoun replacement.  Instead, I found Anna’s voice emerging, the story becoming more immediate.  I sent it out again that fall, and this time I had multiple requests for the full manuscript, and eventually, some offers.  The greatest moment was when my awesome agent, Sarah Davies of Greenhouse Literary Agency, called me from London right before Christmas.  I had no idea she was going to call, and the shock of it, the excitement of her telling me that she had read my book and was really intrigued by it, was the best thing that had happened in all my years writing and trying to get published.  Her immediate enthusiasm was impressive, and that phone call remains one of the most exciting moments of my writing career.  I revised again for Sarah, and we sold to my editor, Melanie Kroupa, at Marshall Cavendish books, in June of 2010.  I’ve enjoyed working with Melanie tremendously; she has a brilliant knack for drawing out the story I have in my mind and helping me to translate that story onto the page.

2. I think it’s so neat how your traveling adventures inspired KISS THE MORNING STAR. Was there are particular event that had a big impact on the story?

I think, rather than a particular event, the biggest impact on the story was more the spirit of the travel—the idea of road-tripping without an itinerary, without even a destination.  I learned so much about myself and about my love, and about what I wanted out of life.

 

3. What is the most rewarding part of writing for you?

Sometimes I say that the most rewarding part is being finished—having a scene or a sentence or even an entire massive revision turn out just the right way, a way that makes me proud.  And that’s true, it’s probably the most rewarding part, but along the path to being finished, the parts that I love best are when something slides into place so that writing, for even the briefest of times, comes easy.  The flow, the surprises, the images that rise up to the surface without digging for them—these moments are the highs of the writing experience for me, the parts that get me through all the slogging parts or the parts where I have to keep slapping words one in front of the other just hoping for them to make something worth revising later.

4. Share with us the one piece of writing advice you wished you had when you first started writing.

I’m never good at following advice.  In fact, something about advice, no matter how sound, makes me sort of bristle and want to do the opposite.  But I think the best advice I can hope to try to follow is the advice to get out into the world and live life if you want to write about it. 

And here are some quickies:

1.    Favorite type of chocolate: The darker the better, but chocolate is not my weakness when it comes to candy.

2.    #1 country you’d like to visit:  I want to visit most of the Scandinavian countries, so I’ll start with Norway.

3.    Favorite mode of transportation: The passenger seat of a car with my feet on the dash and a book in my lap, with my husband driving all the back roads to anywhere.

4.    Preferred writing method: (i.e.) computer, pen, pencil:  The computer for everything except poetry I can write with a funky pen in a special journal (or sometimes on looseleaf paper while I’m teaching my class!)

Check her out on her website

Follow Elissa on Twitter

On Goodreads

I know you want to read this book! Fill in the Rafflecopter to win a copy when it’s released!

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World Building with Shelli Johannes-Wells

Please welcome Shelli Johannes-Wells today as she celebrates the launch of her tween novel ON THE BRIGHT SIDE!

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE is a humorous story about a tween angel who is forced to protect her nemesis and what can happen when you hate someone to death.

·     Add it to your Goodreads list

·     Buy it on Amazon or at Barnes and Noble

TO RECEIVE AUTHOR NEWS- If you'd like to get periodic author news on any new release dates of future books, please register your email address here.

 

I love Shelli’s tween voice in ON THE BRIGHT SIDE. She captures the essence of 14-year old Gabby with fun, witty humor and tells a compelling story that you won’t want to put down. And today, Shelli is here to chat about world building with us.

1.   What were the biggest issues you faced in buildings Gabby’s world in the Afterlife?

Building a new heaven from scratch was difficult. I wanted to build a new world that was NOT connected to religion. So I had to think of a way to get past all the notions of Heaven. This meant changing the name to Cirrus (city among the clouds), having a woman ruler (Nephele), and an Evil man (named Malum). That way, kids of all religions could read the story and separate it from their religious beliefs. Even though everyone doesn't believe in angels.

2.  I love how you think outside the box when it comes to the Afterlife. Concepts like SKYagents, Brights, and SKYfones are just brilliant! And I love the food there. Who wouldn’t want to eat angel food cake dripping with chocolate or angel hair pasta? So Shelli, how were you able to spark that creativity into ON THE BRIGHT SIDE?

I’m kinda corny I guess? I wanted to create a technologically advanced afterlife with cities that were eco-friendly. I wanted kids to think it was fun and whimsy yet hip and modern.

3.  World building sure doesn’t build itself. Where do you start when you are worldbuildling? (i.e. the setting, language, rules, dress, architecture)  

I am very visual when I write so I usually start with the setting first. What does it look like? How does it need to function? What is the ruling system (government etc)? What are the rules? That usually lends itself to making up rules for everything else. If I don’t know what a place looks like or how it functions, the other pieces don’t fall into place easily.

4.  Your world building is full of humor that sparks life into ON THE BRIGHT SIDE. Phrases such as BBF (Bright Friends Forever), Miracle Nails, Sacred Chow and SKYolations literally made me laugh out loud. Where do you think this stuff up?

Girl, I have no clue where all that stuff comes from. It just pops in my head. I was looking to do play on words and to touch on different aspects of heaven and Earth that kids could relate to. I started by listing all the things kids love: fashion, shopping, food, clothes, and technology. I started making lists and went from there. I must say, I even surprised myself sometimes. I mean Sacred Chow? How funny is that (if I do say so myself.) Something’s are part of my life. I get my nails done at Angel Nails – I’m not kidding so that is where I got Miracle Nails. I eat at a place called Chow Baby so Sacred Chow popped into my head. And of course, don’t forget Dolce and Nirvana (ha!)

5.   How do you keep all the details in Etern City and Cirrus in order without it becoming celestial chaos?

I keep a file of everything in the city of Etern. The positions. The government. The buildings. So I always reference that. Anything that comes up as I’m writing goes in that file for reference.

Thank you for joining us Shelli and sharing your SKYpertise!

Comment below to enter and win a copy of ON THE BRIGHT SIDE!

“Peace, love, and recycle!”

Angelina C. Hansen- She's Got Fiction Addiction

I'd love to introduce to you a fellow blogger friend, Angelina C. Hansen. She is a YA Novelist repped and the 2009 SCBWI WIP Grant Recipient. Impressive stats, if I might say.

And you can check out here blog here.
 
What got you started into writing?
A combination of things: a lifelong fiction addiction, extreme envy of my work-from-home husband, and an acute desire for a teenage daughter. So basically I started writing so I could stay home, read books for “work”, and create my very own virtual teenagers.

What book did you last read that had an impact on your writing?
Amy Efaw’s AFTER—a perfect example of deep POV with a fabulous voice and page-turning suspense. I aspire to someday reach this level of skill in my own writing.

What are some of the biggest issues you face as a writer and how do you deal with them?
Finding balance so that my writing life doesn’t consume the rest of my life. I’ve had to set limits on how much time I spend writing and all the other stuff that comes with trying to get a book published.

What has helped?
One day a week is designated “internet, computer, and electronic device” free. One morning each week is for hiking in the woods. And an alarm goes off at 8:30 every morning reminding me to close the laptop and move on to other things.

Tell us a little bit about your current project?
1942, Occupied Paris, brave young women, provocative young men. Loyalty. Betrayal. And one nasty Gestapo agent.

What has been the most difficult part of writing it?
Finding just the right words to suit both the voice and epoch.

What are some of your favorite books?
How about some of my favorite YA authors: Laurie Halse Anderson, Ally Carter, Sonya Sones, Jenny Han, Jo Knowles, Megan Whalen Turner, Sarah Dessen, and many others I can’t remember off the top of my head. If I tried to pick favorite books I’d implode.

And here are some quickies:

1. Favorite type of chocolate: All. But sadly, I’m sugar sensitive and can’t eat any

2. #1 country you’d like to visit: Italy, again. But I’m afraid I’d never come home…

3. Favorite mode of transportation: My feet

4. Preferred writing method: My laptop, Bertie.

(Can I just say I love that you named your laptop!)

Thank you Angelina! I loved hearing these snippets about your writing life.

Author Interview and Contest with Laura Manivong!

Laura Manivong brings historical fiction to life in her middle grade novel, Escaping the Tiger, just released by HarperCollins Children’s Books.

This multicultural story follows twelve-year old Vonlai in his desperate escape from the oppressive Communist Laos to a refugee camp in Thailand.

Full of adventure, threats and forbidden skills, this book is a must read.

And I’m thrilled to have Laura here on my blog for my first author interview! (Clapping please!)

1. You incorporated many of your husband’s memories into Escaping the Tiger. Tell us a little about that.

I’ve never been a refugee, never been to Laos, never been really hungry, never been without a shower unless it was by choice, and never feared for the safety of my entire family for years on end.

he book would not exist without his memories, as well as the experiences of others he knew who had to flee Laos. I relied on him for all of the sensory details too: how the refugee camp smelled, how a rifle shot sounds as it travels across a river, how it feels to play soccer on an empty stomach. And the way he described his mother’s face when she didn’t have enough to feed her kids? All of that came from him, and he claims I woke him up during dead sleeps asking for details. Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do, for the sake of the story, right?

(Absolutely!)

2. What was the toughest part about writing Escaping the Tiger?

Relying on my husband for all of the details! I asked him to relive a lot of not-so-pleasant memories. I did a book signing recently at an indie store, and the seller wanted her merchant neighbor, a survivor of war in southeast Asia, to come say hi. The woman declined and asked the bookseller to please make sure no one came asking her any questions. She wanted nothing to do with the memories.

3. The most rewarding part?

Sharing it with the Laotian community. This piece of history is so recent, with many people immigrating to America under political asylum in the years shortly after the Communists took control of Laos in 1975. But others, like my husband’s family, came much later. Because my father-in-law was held as a prisoner-of-war for 12 years in the re-education camps in northern Laos, it wasn’t until 1989 when he and my mother-in-law (and their five children) had to start their lives over at age 50—in a country on the other side of the planet. No 401K, no equity in a home, no savings, no job, and only a basic ability to speak English. Get ready. Set. Go.

(Wow. I’m awed and amazed at your husband’s family’s determination and the will to overcome.)

4. I love the picture of your writing space on your website. It’s fun and full of color. What are some things that you must have or love that keep you inspired?

The night sky. It makes me wonder. An open window. It clears my mind. And my lamp that has a blue bulb to simulate moonlight. It makes me feel a certain kind of longing that I need when I write.

(I’m inspired just thinking about your lamp.)

5. Once you finished writing Escaping the Tiger, what was your next step toward publication?

I had another novel that had been on submission through my agent, and wasn’t appearing likely to sell, so while I waited to hear back from the last editor who had it, I finished Escaping The Tiger, and thankfully, it sold in the first round. But prior to all that, I racked up over 100 rejections on my own with various projects picture books and poetry.

(Another story of determination and the will to overcome!)

6. Share with us the one piece of writing advice you wished you had when you first started writing.

Read a giant stack of books in the genre you’re writing before you ever take pen to paper.

(Now that sounds like fun.)

And here are some quickies:

7. Favorite type of chocolate:

Cheap. That fancy stuff makes me gag. And if it has a little of that crispy, puffed rice in it, well that right there is music in my mouth!

8. #1 country you’d like to visit:

Wow, this one stumps me. A real, live vacation seems so impossible right now, so I don’t even think about it. But let’s say Greece. I want to wear some long, white, flowing clothes and stand in front of the Parthenon.


9. Favorite mode of transportation:

Dreams. (okay, I know that was sappy.) But seriously, a car. I love the open road with the radio blasting and the sky stretching out in front of me. That is my kind of freedom.

10. Preferred writing method (i.e.) computer, pen, pencil:

It depends. If I’m doing structural stuff, the cut and paste feature is priceless, and I can’t understand how novels ever got written on plain old typewriters. If I’m doing revisions and finessing the prose, I gotta go with pencil and paper. When I’m holding the manuscript in my hands, it reads more like a book, and I can see it more as a reader would, as opposed to being the author.

Now for your chance to WIN Escaping the Tiger (fabulous title BTW). All you have to do is make a comment below.

Laura has also agreed to pop by and answer any questions that you may have. Isn't she rocking awesome?


Oh! And before you start commenting away, watch this quick 30 second book trailer.

Contest ends midnight EST, May 7th!!!!!!