Author Interview: Hafsah Laziaf

Today we have Hafsah Laziaf of Icey Books here to talk about her upcoming October release, UNBREATHABLE! Interested in an action-packed and gorgerously written YA scifi that takes place on another planet? Look no further. 

Tell us about UNBREATHABLE! Toxic atmosphere, secrets as big as the Earth, telescopes and aliens, oh my! :)

The synopsis pretty much says it all! But while UNBREATHABLE is science fiction, at its heart, it's about Lissa. Figuring out her parentage, her purpose on Jutaire, and more than anything, finding strength in herself. There's action, of course, but also love and redemption.

What inspired you to write UNBREATHABLE? Was there a particular scene that you kept coming back to or a character that drew you in?

UNBREATHABLE began with a quest to find the perfect first line for another scifi I was finishing up. And then I thought: in how many first lines are people searching for Earth? The rest sprang from there - I can never outline, so I had no idea what would happen in the story. On a side note, my main character was originally a boy named Finn. He lasted the first twenty pages before I realized it needed to be narrated by a girl.

UNBREATHABLE takes place on Jutaire, a red planet inhabited both by humans and Jute. If you could live anywhere on Jutaire and choose to be human or Jute (or something else!), where and what would you choose?

Oh, I'd rather not live on Jutaire at all, but if I had to, I'd choose to be a maid in White Plains. I wouldn't have to meddle with an evil queen but I'd still live in a pretty cool place. And I think I'd be a Jute, breathing that tasty air and looking drop-dead gorgeous ;)

Tell us about your editing process! Any secret techniques for those of us revising? :)

Hah. I have no secrets. But do what I didn't: BACK UP YOUR WORK. I suffered once.

But for an actual editing tip: read every sentence carefully, and remove any word(s) that isn't needed to either move the plot forward or add to your world/emotion/characters. Keep that in mind as you go, it's easy to tighten up your story.

You run a popular book review blog, design kickass websites, all in addition to writing books. (whoa!) How do you make time for all of these?

*blushes*

Just like I can't follow an outline for writing, I can't follow a schedule. I keep lists, which are a huge relief when something gets crossed off, but I don't find time. I do as much as I can in a day and continue the next. While a post goes up on IceyBooks every day, I can't take full credit for it anymore. My sister (who's a writer too!) has been co-blogging with me for about a year now and I'd be a failure without her.

As for dividing my time between designing and writing and promoting UNBREATHABLE? Somehow, it's all getting done. Don't ask :P

Did you always plan to write science fiction, or are there other genres you enjoy writing in? Can you give us a hint or teaser about what you’re working on next?

I've been writing science fiction ever since I started writing, though this is my first space novel, or space opera. But when I was completing a rewrite for UNBREATHABLE a few months ago, I had a fantasy idea that's on a standstill while I ready UNBREATHABLE for October 29th. Up next? If there's enough interest for a sequel - though UNBREATHABLE does read as a standalone - I'll either work on that, or the fantasy.

Since this is the Secret Life of Writers and all, can you share a secret about your writing with us? :)

I wrote UNBREATHABLE in the dark. On my tiny 3.5" screen smartphone (that I no longer own) every night. Yes, the whole manuscript, which was originally 105,000 words long. There was something to the darkness that made it easier to visualize the world and voice. And when I tried to continue the next day on my computer, I just couldn't.

Thanks so much for the interview, Hafsah! Interested in Hafsah and her writing? Follow her here:

Hafsah's author site

Icey Books

Hafsah on twitter

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One hundred and fifty years ago, Earth was destroyed, and the remaining humans fled to the dusty red planet of Jutaire, where the only oxygen is manufactured, food is scarce, and death strikes often.

When Lissa's father discovers Earth still exists, she accidentally inhales the toxic air of Jutaire, and in one breath, discovers she isn't quite human.

Her father hangs for his discovery, and Lissa knows the Chancellors will come for her, for she saw the Earth that night too. With nothing to lose, she sets out to expose the truth. It isn't long before she meets Julian, a beautiful boy who can breathe the toxic air like she can - and shows her that the Jute, the original inhabitants of the planet, are more tangled in their lives than she knows.

But the Chancellors are only pawns in a greater game - one where the Jute control everything. Worse, the Jute plan to leave Jutaire for Earth, but to get there, they need her. And they'll stop at nothing until Lissa is in their clutches, even if they kill every human in the process.

The race for Earth has begun.

Alright! And because Hafsah is amazing, she's generously agreed to do a giveaway of an e-ARC (open internationally) and bookmarks (US only)!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Editor Interview: Erica Chapman of Entangled Publishing

Hi, lovelies! 

I decided to do something different today for our Thursday interview. Instead of interviewing an author, I decided to talk to my friend and editor at Entangled, Erica Chapman. If you don't know Erica, you're mucho missing out. Not only is she adorable and funny, but she's full of all sorts of publishing smarts. 

Alright, take it away, Erica! 

Tell us a little about how you ended up being an editor for Entangled. What was that process like?I've always had mad respect for editors, but always thought I wasn't in a place where I could be an actual editor. I was an agent intern, but I learned SO much as an intern that I thought maybe I stood a chance. I talked with a friend who worked for Entangled and they suggested I apply. So I emailed my resume and cover letter to Liz's assistant and she sent a test to me. It was a short story. I was asked to edit it and send it back. I didn't hear anything for a few months and thought for sure I didn't get the job, but I was wrong, they were just a little behind and I got the job! I also talked to Liz on the phone so she could hear my voice, get to know me, find out my interests. I was still a bit shocked I got it ;o)

What about a story really catches your eye when you're editing? Is it different than what catches your eye as a reader? I love the voice. I know. I know. But honestly, that's what pulls me in. I also love when the character and the love interest (if there is one) hate each other. I love watching two unlikely people come together. I also love emotion. I love to FEEL what's happening. I can tell right away if I'm going to like something. It only takes a page or so. I still read past that, but my gut's usually right ;o) It's not really different from the way I am as a reader. My attention span is short. As a reader, I often read the first few pages of several books at a time and see what catches my attention. On my first read I try not to separate the reader/editor part.

How does being an editor impact your own writing? Your own reading?I'm definitely a better writer. I could also attribute this back to being an intern for agent, Louise Fury of L. Perkins Agency, in addition to being an associate editor at Entangled. The main thing I've learned is about structure. I now know what door the MC has to go in and when they need to reach the point of no return, when the climax should happen and who should be involved. It's kind of crazy once you figure it out. I'll tell you what has changed. I don't watch movies the same anymore. I see the structure in them and I never used to be able to do that. Reading has remained pretty much the same. I haven't lost the ability to lose myself in a good book, which I am extremely thankful for ;o)

For people wanting to submit to Entangled, what's your biggest piece of advice? Read in your genre. A lot of what I've seen has already been done. It's okay to do the same as what's out there, but you better have a unique twist. On that note, in the query, make sure to highlight that thing that makes your story unique. Remember you are selling us on your book, not summarizing it. Also, make sure to have good readers, CP's, Betas, people to tell you the tell vs. show, pacing issues, plot holes. The writing is what matters. Many might not know, but with Entangled's new submittable software, you can attach your entire MS, so make sure it's ready!

For people wanting to work for Entangled, either as an intern or an editor, how should they get started in that process? There's an employment tab on the Entangled website so I would consult that first. Make sure you have some experience. Being an intern is a great way to get experience before becoming an editor. Being a reader/critique partner to another writer is another great way to gain experience, but I would suggest something professional that you can add to your resume. I also edited in several of my day jobs too. If you work somewhere during the day, try and ask if anyone needs anything edited; newsletters, corporate emails. Whatever you can get. Use that experience too. I've also seen several agents/pubs that look for interns, so keep your eyes open for opportunities. Talk to people on twitter or facebook, find out who is looking for someone. I was recommended for both my internship and for the Entangled job, but my skill got me through the door.

Now tell us a little about your own writing! What are you working on right now? Well, now that TEACH ME TO FORGET my YA contemporary is out to the masses, I've had a ton of ideas pop into my head. Right now I'm working on another YA contemporary about a girl who lost her boyfriend the same night she cheated on him, and after that I'll be revising another YA contemporary, and then I'll be working on a YA thriller about a girl trapped in a house with her parent religious killers. I also have a revision somewhere in there for another MS. LOL. So it's safe to say I'll be busy for the next year or so and won't need any new ideas for a while!


Thanks, Erica! If you can't get enough of Erica (there's never enough, by the way) you can check out her over at Entangled, on Twitter, or her blog. 

Andrea Hannah is a YA writer represented by Victoria Marini of Gelfman Schneider. She writes stories about criminals, crazy people, and creatures that may or may not exist. When she's not writing, Andrea teaches special education, runs, spends time with her family, and tries to figure out a way to prevent her pug from opening the refrigerator (still unsuccessful). Oh, and she tweets a bajillion times a day, mostly about inappropriate things. 

You can find her on Twitter @: http://twitter.com/andeehannah

Drop her an email @: andeehannah@gmail.com
And visit her website @: http://www.andreahannah.com/

Author Interview: Elizabeth Otto

Yay! I just love author appreciation Thursdays! Today, we have the fabulous Elizabeth Otto with us. Elizabeth is awesome! We met in the WrAHM group a while back and it's been great watching such a deserving lady succeed! I've never met a harder working writer. She writes like a mad woman and does an amazing job! Let's get to it!

What inspired you to start writing?

To be honest, I’m not really sure. I’ve just always written. I was an early reader, and my parents didn’t restrict me from reading certain genres or titles, so I had a varied early reading experience. My mother said I was asking her to write stories, that I recited to her, before I knew how to write words, so I guess I was just born with the drive to be a storyteller.

Can you tell us a little about signing with your agent?

Sure! I have to say, that my story is one that makes other writers a little angsty, because my querying days were short and sweet. Trust me—I know stories like this are both frustrating and encouraging. I was lucky to land my agent ten days after I started querying my book. The contemporary romance market was hot just then, apparently, because my query garnered eight full requests within the first five days, and ten days later, I had offers. I choose my agent, Nalini Akolekar of Spencerhill Associates, firstly, because she truly loved the book, and mostly because of her past deals, current client list and eagerness to help plan my career as a writer. 

If it helps, I did query my adult paranormal romance BLOOD OF ISIS for several months without much interest, before deciding to give up on the agent search, and sign it to a small publisher. I think having a fresh book, in the right market at the right time, helped me snag my agent the second time around. 

What has the editing process been like for you?

Enlightening! I had no idea what went into taking a book from a draft to the polished edition you get on your Kindle or hold in your hand. When you finish your book and think you’re done—yeah, you’re not really done. The first two passes of content edits are rough because you may end up changing the meat and bones of your story. I’ve been blessed with great editors so far, who have offered great insight into making my books better. Copyedits have shown me just how badly my grammar sucks! LOL

What books do you have coming out? 

My debut paranormal romance, BLOOD OF ISIS, debuted on April 5^th.  I have a contemporary romance series, PAINT RIVER COWBOYS, coming from Entangled Publishing’s Indulgence line starting with book #1 in October, 2013 (titles are being changed, so I can’t announce them just yet).  The second and third book in that series will launch in January and April, 2014. People interested in my upcoming releases can find an up-to-date announcement schedule on my blog or Facebook page. 

I love #traumafiction! How did you come up with such a great idea?

Thank you! I actually can’t take credit for coming up with the idea for TraumaFiction (just the name). My critique partners encouraged me to do it, after we had several discussions in our group on the lack of adequate medical information for writers.

The idea behind TraumaFiction is to give writers a resource for finding realistic medical advice for their fiction. Need to know how or where to shoot/stab your character without killing him? Need to know how to set a broken arm in the middle of a forest? TraumaFiction helps with that and so much more. Every Tuesday at 10 am CST, I host a different medical topic—from diseases, to treatments, to trauma and more—and people are encouraged to follow along and jump in at ANY time with questions. Even if the questions aren’t related to the weekly topic. Viewers can use the #traumafiction hashtag to follow along. 

As a career emergency medical technician, I get really annoyed when I read a book in which the medical or injury scenes are anything but believable. I mean, we should at least try to lend some credibility to what we create, right? I hope to help with that. Very soon, I’ll have a backlist of medical topics on my blog that are readily accessible.

Do you have any secret writing habits?

I’m a panster. Not sure if that’s a secret anymore, but I very rarely outline a story before I dive into it. I do utilize the Save the Cat beat sheet to help organize major plot points and the ending, but that’s it—and rare. I also try to fast draft. This lets me get ideas out of my head very quickly, and then I go back in several sweeps to add layers and depth to the story. Generally, I can complete a fast draft in a couple of weeks and have a polished manuscript in about eight weeks.

What's next for you?

I’m currently working on a novella that my agent and I plan to put on submission soon. I’m also working on story lines for a three-book contemporary romance with paranormal elements, and hope to have the first one ready for submission this fall. I plan on being a career author, so I’m sure I’ll always have something in the works.

Elizabeth's links:

Facebook

Blog

Twitter

Pick up BLOOD OF ISIS today!

Passion isn’t the only thing that burns…

When a designer drug rocks the small town of New Brighton and makes junkies spontaneously combust, Paramedic Jayda Swenson suspects the worst. The super-methamphetamine her husband created before his death has resurfaced. She’s worked hard to create a safe, tidy life and put her meth-ravaged past—and her secrets—behind her. But when tourists start disappearing and charred body remains crop up, Jayda learns the hard way that this drug doesn’t just fry people’s minds—it also fuels demons.

Sexy new medic Ben Tierney is a demon-hunter in disguise, but his demon-busting powers don’t work so well anymore…until he realizes Jayda’s touch can refuel the energy he’s lost—a touch she’s not so willing to dish out. Now Jayda finds herself wedged between an ancient demon that knows her past and her secret, and Ben, who has plenty of secrets of his own. He’s willing to help—for a price—but Jayda’s not sure if it’s a price she’s willing to pay…

Author Interview: Francesca Zappia

Hey guys!

I had the opportunity to interview someone I've been interested in for a long time, not only because she's awesome and hilarious, but because I'm dying to read her debut novel, ASK AGAIN LATER, coming in 2014 from Greenwillow/HarperCollins. I adore Chessie, and I'm sure you guys will too when you read about her success story below.

Tell us a little bit about your book, ASK AGAIN LATER, which snagged you your agent and super kick ass book deal with Greenwillow/Harper Collins.

Here's the Publisher's Marketplace summary: ASK AGAIN LATER is about the ultimate unreliable narrator, a schizophrenic teenage girl unable to tell the difference between reality and delusion who discovers -- thanks to a Magic 8-Ball, her little sister, and the boy she thought was imaginary -- that sometimes there really is someone out to get you.

Basically it's about my MC, Alex, trying to get a hold on her schizophrenia before it gets the better of her. Complications arise, as they are wont to do.

Yeah, I hate when that happens. How did you come up with the idea for AAL? Was it something that
came at you all at once, or did it develop over time as you drafted/revised?

It definitely developed over time. The very original draft, which was written back when I was in fifth or sixth grade and looks NOTHING like the book now, had nothing to do with paranoid schizophrenia. I'm not sure when that was thrown in the mix, but over time it became the focal point. (I'm not sure you can write about paranoid schizophrenia without it being the focal point. But I heard someone say that this story sounded like a plotting nightmare, which made me laugh, mostly because it does seem like it would be one. But it took so long for it to come together, and it's such a mix of so many different drafts and ideas and pictures that I never really felt like I was plotting it at all. 

So it was very much a develop-over-time book, which I think it needed to be. Its selling point is the two central characters, Alex and Miles, and I've been with them for so long that I know them inside and out. It wouldn't be half the book it is if they weren't so clear in my head.

I love that! Can you talk a little bit about the submissions process now that you're through it (WHEW). How many drafts did you go through before your agent submitted it to publishers? And can you say how long you were on sub for, even just vaguely? AND how did you handle being on sub without wanting to hurt someone?

I'm pretty sure I can, haha! I don't remember the exact number of rounds of edits we did--it was at least three or four--because some details were so delicate and precise and we wanted to make sure everything about the story was perfect before we sent it out. If I remember right, we were on submission for a little less than a month. I've heard horror stories about writers being on submission and that whole experience of waiting being an absolute nightmare, but my agent Louise was so great about updating me on what was going on, who was looking at the manuscript, and who was/wasn't interested that the waiting never felt so bad.

That being said, I feel EXTREMELY lucky and grateful that my submission went the way it did. Others don't have that sort of experience, and I know there are plenty who want to rip their hair out by the end of it.

That is AH-MAZING! So you just announced your deal (YAY!). Tell us about the deal itself.
How did everything go down? What was it like having to keep that a secret for so long?

Yay! I can tell you this deal was amazing, and also one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make. HarperCollins made a house offer on the manuscript, and I had to pick between two of their imprints, both of which I loved. In the end, I decided to go with Greenwillow.

Keeping the secret was AWFUL. I know sometimes it takes months to get things moving, and it may take a while to be able to announce, but there were times when I got really frustrated about it, mostly because I was afraid me or someone else who knew about it would let something slip, and we'd all be in trouble for letting the news out too soon. So now that it's out, there's a lot of pressure off!

What's next for you? Are you drafting something new? Can you giveus a hint? ;)

I think it's safe to say I'm always working on something, haha. ASK AGAIN LATER is YA contemporary, but normally I'm a sci-fi/fantasy writer. I really love creating and exploring other worlds. Right now, I'm working on sort of a sci-fi/contemporary crossover that will hopefully appeal to both contemporary fans and sci-fi fans. That's all I can say for now, but I hope I get to share more info about it soon!

Thanks, Chessie! You can add ASK AGAIN LATER on Goodreads here, and follow Chessie on Twitter right over here! 

Writing Wednesdays: A Guest Post by Alessandra Thomas

This week, I've decided to do something different for Writing Wednesday. Usually The Secret Lifers post about their tips and tricks for overcoming everything from planning to revisions, but this week, I have to be honest. 

I'm sick of it.

I've talked a little bit about the revisions I've been trudging through over on my own blog, and I'd intended to do the same over here. But. I'm still in the middle of revising, it's still slowly sucking out my soul, and the last thing I want to do is talk about it. Some more. 

So today, I've invited Alessandra Thomas, the author of PICTURE PERFECT, to talk to us about how writing under a pen name saved her life. (By the way, you can add PP to your Goodreads right over here. You definitely want to do this, promise.) 

Take it away, Aless.

The business of writing can kill you.

At best, it kills you socially. You lose time with friends and family. You give up parts of your precious family and social life willingly, to be sure. You have to write. You have to do this, for you.

Staying up late and waking up early, drinking a little bit too much caffeine (okay, a lot too much) and not exercising nearly enough - yeah, it can kill you physically, too.

Those things are fine. We writers accept them like a badge of honor, even, because we know they’re part and parcel of this writing life. Dirty houses, takeout meals, unkempt hair and nails. Bring it on - we know we have to suffer for our art.

But that’s nothing compared to the way the business of writing can kill your spirit.

You think you’re prepared for rejection. You’ve armed yourself with the memory of that one time your critique partner tore your story limb from limb, and some mantra reminding yourself that all the best writers suffered rejection for months and years before they became successful.  You’re going to be okay, just like them.

The first few rejections are fine. “Subjective,” “Didn’t connect,” “Not confident I can sell it.” “Subjective,” “Keep trying,” “Subjective.”

After twenty of those, your eyelid begins to twitch and your stomach churns. How horrible *is* your book, anyway? What is it about it that people would rather lay down on the floor and die than pay money for?

“Subjective,” “Didn’t connect,” “Subjective,” “Can’t market,” “Don’t be discouraged.” But you know what? Sixty, eighty, one hundred rejections later, you’ve poured your heart and soul and every second of free time into this book, and sacrificed a whole hell of a lot, and here publishing is, telling you, “It’s fine, but ultimately, it’s worthless.”

Maybe, eventually, you get requests, maybe you get an agent, maybe you make it to acquisitions at a big publishing house, but if you don’t sell a book? Sorry. All that work means one thing and one thing only - Your book won’t be a book. All this was for nothing.

Now, that? That can kill your spirit.

I engaged in that mad race for years. I was proud of and loved what I was writing, I loved the friends I’d made along the way, and I’d definitely found some level of success in publishing... but  for all the hard work I’d done, as beaten down as it all had made me up till then, I wasn’t going to be published. I’d been in the writing community awhile, a good handful of people were familiar with me, and...I don’t know. I kind of felt like everyone was watching, waiting, to see when I would sell a book.

Or maybe I was just watching myself. Every writing plan I made or activity I did, was all about when I would sell, all about the serious seriousness of when I would finally, finally write something that could break through the gates and Be Published. What was selling today? What would be selling tomorrow? If I wrote an outline that seemed promising, how quickly could I have it written? Would anyone like it? Would it be a waste of time? Or would this finally be The One that made my career? Was my stuff any good at all, or was everyone just telling me that it was because they liked me?

Would I ever even have a career?

Would I ever see any return, readers-wise, money-wise, recognition-wise, for all my hard work?

I knew I wanted to keep working on my masterpieces, but I needed an excuse for creative abandon, a shot of confidence that I was a Good Writer, a chance to put something that I’d written free of worry about marketability, conformity to genre standards, perfection of prose, or relatability of characters, out into the world and see it succeed without being a danger to my growing writing career.

I needed to write a story that was one hundred percent what I wanted to write, and to ask readers I didn’t know whether it was any good without risking everything I’d built.

I needed a pen name.

So, I got one. I picked the name “Alessandra” because I like nicknames, and Aless sounds classy and flirty at the same time - just like the book I felt like writing. That book was in the New Adult genre - about a college girl who’d gained more weight than she felt comfortable with, and how she got her groove back.

I wrote it without stressing out about all things one usually stresses about when writing an “issue book.” I wasn’t going to try to sell this to a big publisher, or even a small one, so why would I worry worry if it fit into all the molds and blueprints they are always telling all us writers we have to stick to?

The words poured out on paper into a story that was a little funny and pretty sweet and very sexy, and guess what? It turned out pretty damn well. The plot’s not complicated or extra-hooky, but it’s the kind of thing that happens in real life, and most people will probably like hanging out with the characters.

My CPs said it was good. I got a cover and a copyeditor. I set a publication date. In the first few days after I put it up on Goodreads, PICTURE PERFECT got over 150 adds.

If something goes horribly wrong, I can pull the book down and walk away, no harm done to my other writer career, the one where I use my given name. But just that process, that whole thing about writing-and-not-caring, and the story being good anyway, and people saying, “Yes! Awesome! We want to read it!” without knowing a single thing about who I was, did wonders for me.

It let me write stress-free for just a little while, showed me people want to read my work, and who knows? I might even make a little money.  Imagine that.

That’s how my pen name saved my life. 

Readers: Have you ever considered writing under a pen name? Are you doing so now? I'd be lying if I told you I haven't been considering it myself. Tell me about your journey to publication, pen name or not, in the comments below. 

Author Interview: Ashley Elston

Today, we have the lovely Ashley Elston here for a quick interview. I gotta say, I'm sooo excited for her book, THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING!

Hi Ashley, could you tell us a little about yourself and your book so we can get to know you?

 

I’m married with three sons and live in North Louisiana. I was a wedding/portrait photographer for 10 years and now, when I’m not writing, I help my husband run our landscape business. My book is about a family stuck in the Witness Protection Program and they get relocated to Louisiana. That poor family has been through so much and I’m afraid it’s not getting any easier for them.

 

What made you want to write this book?

 

I had the idea for this book and it just wouldn’t go away. I kept thinking how hard it would be for a girl in high school to have to hide who she really was. 

 

What was your journey to becoming represented then published like?

 

When I set out to find an agent, I had no idea just how hard it would be. You need a pretty thick skin when you start querying. Luckily, my story caught the eye of a fantastic agent, Sarah Davies. I thought the hard work was done until I got her email detailing all the revisions she would like me to make. So I went to work. And it paid off. I was thrilled to get a two book deal with Disney Hyperion.

 

Can you tell us what's next for you? Are you working on anything new that you can reveal?

 

I just finished the first draft to the sequel for THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING and sent it to my editor. I’m really excited about where this story is going.

 

And finally, what do you love most about being an author?

 

Really, what’s been so incredible is when I hear from a reader and realize they love my characters as much as I do. It’s very humbling.

Thanks for stopping by, Ashley! Your book sounds amazing! Plus, there will be a sequel?! Score!

 She’s been six different people in six different places: Madeline in Ohio, Isabelle in Missouri, Olivia in Kentucky . . . But now that she’s been transplanted to rural Louisiana, she has decided that this fake identity will be her last.

Witness Protection has taken nearly everything from her. But for now, they’ve given her a new name, Megan Rose Jones, and a horrible hair color. For the past eight months, Meg has begged her father to answer one question: What on earth did he do – or see – that landed them in this god-awful mess? Meg has just about had it with all the Suits’ rules — and her dad’s silence. If he won’t help, it’s time she got some answers for herself.

But Meg isn’t counting on Ethan Landry, an adorable Louisiana farm boy who’s too smart for his own good. He knows Meg is hiding something big. And it just might get both of them killed. As they embark on a perilous journey to free her family once and for all, Meg discovers that there’s only one rule that really matters — survival.

THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING will be out on May 14, 2013, so go check it out on Goodreads and get ready for the awesomeness!

And follow Ashley to keep up with news and for more general awesomeness!
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An Interview with Author Lyla Payne

Hey, lovelies!

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with up-and-coming NA author, Lyla Payne. Not only is she fun and fantastic, but she's incredibly honest about her experiences as a writer. Take a look at Lyla's interview to read her secrets and witness her awesome for yourself!

***

Hi Lyla! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your upcoming book so we can get to know you?

Sure! I'm trying something different with this novel, and with New Adult, but it's something I've been interested in for a long time. BROKEN AT LOVE emerged from a strange combination of my love for tennis and my rabid obsession with Gossip Girl. I think it works, though. The story is fun, lighthearted, and--I hope--sexy.

I understand you're writing under a pen name. Why did you decide to write anonymously? 

I write YA that's pretty squeaky clean as far as language and sex, and I love writing that. BROKEN AT LOVE is the exact opposite in tone, expression, and graphic nature so I thought it would be best not to link the two types of stories under one name. Honestly, I love the idea that my YA attracts younger readers and that their parents don't have to worry about what they'll find between the covers. I would hate to think of them picking up BROKEN AT LOVE before they're ready to read this particular kind of story. 

How did you decide you wanted to write NA? What about it is most appealing to you? 

I *love* writing NA. It's been something that has interested me for a long time--for me, college was the time I grew and explored the most in my life, the years where freedom granted me the space to make all kinds of crazy and wonderful mistakes. I was a late bloomer, and I know I'm not the only one. Writing about the kinds of things that can really only take place in a college environment is SO MUCH FUN.  

Can you tell us a little bit about your publishing journey up until now? How did you decide you wanted to self-publish your NA novels? 

I had a literary agent for about a year, and when she and I parted ways I decided to self-publish the YA series we'd worked on together. It was a hard decision but I honestly don't regret it--I would have loved to have had a great agent experience but I didn't, and it's opened my eyes to a lot of things, including the idea that authors need to take responsibility for their own careers.

Self-publishing the NA seems like a no-brainer to me. The readers who adore these kinds of books are voriacious (I'm seeing more crossover from romance readers than YA), and they're hungry for more, always. The slow grind of traditional publishing doesn't work for them. In addition, the majority of major publishing house deals are for NA plucked from the self-published world--that's the way it's working right now. eBooks that prove themselves get print deals, not the other way around. It's an interesting time to study publishing, for sure. Things are changing. 

What are some of the perks of self-pubbing? 

Control is a big one. Of your content, cover, marketing, blurb...everything. It's overwhelming at times but also completely lovely not to make changes you don't believe in. Publishing on my timeline is also a huge plus, for authors and readers. I don't need a year to put out a quality book. Four to five months is great timing for me, and readers get more books.  

What are the biggest downfalls? 

On the flip side of what I said above, there's no one to blame if something goes wrong or people hate your story or cover. Yes, I hire editors and have critique partners and cover designers...but everything you see from cover to cover, I okayed it. It's a lot of pressure. And once you put out books every four to five months, there's a lot of pressure to continue doing so. 

Other than that, even though the stigma that goes along with self-publishing (that we're quitters who weren't good enough/ready enough to get an agent and be traditionally published) is slowly fading, it's still there. I encounter it every day even while my YA series has decent, steady sales and more five star reviews than any other rating. It can be a lot to overcome, although like I mentioned, the stigma is much smaller to begin with in New Adult. Another reason to love it.  

What do you have to do (marketing, finance, etc.) to make sure a book is a success if you self-publish? 

Everything. The biggest thing I tell people just starting out in self-publishing is never say no. Say yes to guest blog posts and interviews (!), to contests and giveaways and reveals. Interact with readers on Facebook and Twitter and Goodreads. Support other authors. Give away copies to people who take the time to ask to review it. Use your money wisely, but you do have to spend it to make it. 

If you had to tell people one thing they should know about self-publishing and authors who self-publish, what would it be? 

I answered some of this above, but I would add this: don't skimp on editing. Don't publish a first draft. At the very, very least, hire a professional copy editor AND implement suggestions from reliable critique partners. Having people dismiss your book because of unprofessional content is the fastest way to lose readers.  

Thanks, Lyla! She's pretty fantastic, right? So is her book. (Bonus: Hooottt cover.) 

When a knee injury ends twenty-year-old Quinn Rowland’s pro tennis career, he’s not only dumped by his hot Russian girlfriend but ordered to attend college by his disinterested billionaire father. A rich kid who’s not used to being disappointed by life, Quinn and his sociopathic half-brother Sebastian create a frat house game intended to treat girls how they see them—as simple game pieces to be manipulated for their pleasure.

College sophomore Emilie Swanson knows Quinn’s reputation—after all, he did send one of her sorority sisters into therapy earlier in the semester—but the game and his charm bring them closer together and soon she starts to believe there’s more to Quinn than people think.

But what if the more is something darker than a game of toying with emotions and breaking hearts?

Quinn and Emilie might be falling for each other, but there are secrets he’s not ready to tell—and lifestyle changes he’s reluctant to make. She willingly stepped on the court, but if Emilie finds out she started out as nothing as a pawn in Quinn and Sebastian’s twisted game, she might never forgive him.

To his surprise, Quinn finds that he might finally care about someone more than he cares about himself…even if that means letting Emilie walk away for good. 

BROKEN IN LOVE comes out in March, but you can add it on Goodreads right now! 

Broken at Love on Goodreads

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Andrea Hannah is a YA writer represented by Victoria Marini of Gelfman Schneider. She writes stories about criminals, crazy people, and creatures that may or may not exist. When she's not writing, Andrea teaches special education, runs, spends time with her family, and tries to figure out a way to prevent her pug from opening the refrigerator (still unsuccessful). Oh, and she tweets a bajillion times a day, mostly about inappropriate things.

You can find her on Twitter @: http://twitter.com/andeehannah
Drop her an email @: andeehannah@gmail.com
And visit her website @: http://www.andreahannah.com/