Today we have Krysten Lindsay Hager sharing her insight into the publishing world.
Check her out!
Which authors inspire you?
F. Scott Fitzgerald is my "literary boyfriend." I love his essays in particular. Susan Shapiro writes amazingly funny, honest, and raw memoirs, and I read a lot of YA like Judy Blume, Erika Tamar, Cathy Cassidy, Cathy Hopkins, and many more. I can get lost in a bookstore so easily.
What genre are your books?
Younger YA/older middle grade would be the best way to describe them. Astraea Press is a clean reads publisher so it can span a wide age range.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I was a huge fan of middle grade and young adult books growing up. They were my escape at the end of a bad day. I always thought what an amazing thing it would be to have someone feel the same way about something I wrote that I felt about the authors I loved liked like Judy Blume, Ann M. Martin (How great were those Baby-sitter Club Books?), Francine Pascal, and so many more. I always loved the genre and when I was in college, one of my history professors knew that I wrote and mentioned I should write a YA novel. I still love middle grade and YA books now as much as I did when I was growing up.
When did you decide to become a writer?
I liked making up stories when I was growing up, and my mom used to let me watch soap operas with her. One of my favorite things to do was finish off cliffhangers on those shows with my Barbie dolls. If I didn’t like the way the soap writers handled the storyline, I’d change it and play it out how I wanted it to end. That’s why two of my characters, Landry and Ashanti, are obsessed with soap operas, too. They decorate their bedroom doors with pics of soap actors, and I might have done that as well…ahem. From then on I started writing little stories for fun and really, by the time I was in the fourth grade, I knew I wanted to write a book.
Do you work to an outline or plot, or do you prefer to just see where an idea takes you?
I don't do outlines, but I always start out by editing to get back into the story. A lot of writers don't edit until they are done with the first draft, but I edit as I go.
What advice can you share with other Indie and aspiring Indie authors?
Helping other indie authors out only helps you, too. By sharing knowledge & hosting each other on blogs--you can go far.
I loved True Colors and so did my daughters. We can't wait until your next book.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! Glad you guys enjoyed it.
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