YALLFest author spotlight: Lisi Harrison

YALLFest is one of the only book festivals focused entirely on Young Adults. It's held in Charleston, South Carolina and this year it starts November 9th. The best part is, it's mostly free! The only thing that cost money are the ticketed events- the keynote conversation and the closing YA smackdown. All signings are free!

I really wanted to go this year! This year's lineup includes 50 young adult authors, including 25 New York Times Bestsellers. That's a pretty impressive lineup! Unfortunately, I don't have the money to go this year, but am definitely planning on going in the near future. If you love to read, live in the South Carolina area (I live in Florida and would DEFINITELY make the drive!)  I absolutely recommend going to this.

Lisi Harrison is a very successful YA author. She wrote The Clique series and the Monster High books for Mattel. 

Personally I read the first few clique series books when they first came out. I eventually outgrew them and didn't keep up with the ever-growing series but I did like them when I was in middle school. 

What one thing do you need to have when you write?

A scented candle. Each book has it’s own scent.

Describe your book in 5 words

Popular freshmen’s secret journals revealed.

What is the hardest line to write- the first or the last?

First. 100%

Best writing tip you ever received?

Stop writing in the middle of a chapter instead of the end. It will be easier to start up again the next day.

What one young adult novel do you wish you had when you were a teen? Why?

Stargirl.

Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.

I can’t run.

I have a tattoo with a type-o. It’s supposed to say, “creativity” but it says, “dry.”

In college I thought it would be cool to get a tattoo written in Chinese characters.

I was supposed to be on one of the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center. I changed my 

reservation at the last minute. Now every time I look at a clock it says 9:11.

I can’t stand being asked about my “favorites.” I don’t have favorites. If I did I’d forget what they are 

the minute you asked and would remember them the minute you leave. It’s maddening.

I prefer to give 6 random facts. 

Where's your favorite place to write?

My office.

What are you working on now?

Pretenders #2: License To Spill.

What is your favorite genre to write in? To Read?

What did I just tell you about “favorites?”

At what point in the development of an idea do you know that it will become a full-length novel?

When I can describe it in one sentence. And do it without cringing.

If I were you I'd definitely check her out at this years YALLFest!

To catch up on other authors in this series :

Cinda Williams Chima can be found here

Lauren Oliver can be found here

CJ Lyons can be found here

Sean Williams can be found here:

Rainbow Rowell can be found here

Ransom Riggs can be found here 

Veronica Rossi can be found here

Kami Garcia can be found here
Melissa de la Cruz can be found here
Shannon Hale can be found here


Now follow your bliss,
Ember Darling

YALLFest author spotlight: Shannon Hale

:YALLFest is one of the only book festivals focused entirely on Young Adults. It's held in Charleston, South Carolina and this year it starts November 9th. The best part is, it's mostly free! The only thing that cost money are the ticketed events- the keynote conversation and the closing YA smackdown. All signings are free!

I really wanted to go this year! This year's lineup includes 50 young adult authors, including 25 New York Times Bestsellers. That's a pretty impressive lineup! Unfortunately, I don't have the money to go this year, but am definitely planning on going in the near future. If you love to read, live in the South Carolina area (I live in Florida and would DEFINITELY make the drive!)  I absolutely recommend going to this.

Shannon Hale is the author of over a dozen YA books, adult books, and graphic novels. 

She'll be at this year's YALLFest so be sure to check her out!

Describe your book in 5 words

 Boarding school for children of famous fairytales

Best writing tip you ever received?

 People remember a story for its characters.

What one young adult novel do you wish you had when you were a teen? Why?

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart. It’s smart, engaging, and discusses so many things I was struggling with.

Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.

 I have 4 kids (including identical girl toddler twins). My husband likes to wear masks and hide around the house to scare me. I like to read while lying on my belly. I love the sky. I’m not a very good speller.

What are you working on now?

The third Princess Academy book.

Don't forget you can find the other authors in this series below!:

Cinda Williams Chima can be found here

Lauren Oliver can be found here

CJ Lyons can be found here

Sean Williams can be found here:

Rainbow Rowell can be found here

Ransom Riggs can be found here 

Veronica Rossi can be found here

Kami Garcia can be found here
Melissa de la Cruz can be found here 

Check back Friday for another great author interview!

Follow your bliss,

Ember Darling

YALLFest author spotlight: Melissa de la Cruz

:YALLFest is one of the only book festivals focused entirely on Young Adults. It's held in Charleston, South Carolina and this year it starts November 9th. The best part is, it's mostly free! The only thing that cost money are the ticketed events- the keynote conversation and the closing YA smackdown. All signings are free!

I really wanted to go this year! This year's lineup includes 50 young adult authors, including 25 New York Times Bestsellers. That's a pretty impressive lineup! Unfortunately, I don't have the money to go this year, but am definitely planning on going in the near future. If you love to read, live in the South Carolina area (I live in Florida and would DEFINITELY make the drive!)  I absolutely recommend going to this.

photo courtesy of melissa-delacruz.com

Melissa de la Cruz is a New York Times best seller who has a couple of different YA series. I first heard of her through her series, Au Pairs. 

I'm really excited for her because her book Witches of East End is being turned into a show on Lifetime! Before I knew I was hosting this interview, I was watching Hocus Pocus on Lifetime (can I get a hell yeah!) and saw a commercial for the series and instantly wanted to watch it! Upon learning that it was adapted from one of Melissa de la Cruz's books, I got even more interested!

Witches of East End premiers on Lifetime on Sunday 10/6 at 10/9c! I know I am going to record it and watch it as soon as I can! 

Now, on to the best part! the interview!

What one thing do you need to have when you write?
Fear. Sometimes rage. I find that to truly focus I need to feel panic, and then suddenly everything in my manuscript becomes clear. I work best under duress, which is something my editors have learned and they're quite good at instilling fear in me. I appreciate that! I also work well with many distractions, I think it's because I had a day job for nine years and had to write my books in the middle of doing my real work.

Describe your book in 5 words
Post-apocalyptic. Zombie. Dragon. Pirate. Fantasy.

What is the hardest line to write- the first or the last?
The first, definitely. 

Best writing tip you ever received?
To introduce the love interest in the first 30 pages, not that specifically but learning that there was CRAFTING involved in writing a novel, not just voice.

What one young adult novel you wish you had when you were a teen? Why?
Harry Potter. Because! I don't think I have to explain.

Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.
1. I was a child model.
2. My favorite One Direction guy was Harry, but now it is Louis.
3. I have a Maltese named Mimi. She is not named for Mimi Force, our kid named her.
4. I learned to drive at 34.
5. I like savory treats better than sweet.

Where's your favorite place to write?
In a cubicle, surrounded by softly ringing phones and people murmuring. Sadly this is no longer possible for me.

What are you working on now?
My new series THE RING AND THE CROWN coming next spring from Disney-Hyperion.

What is your favorite genre to write in? To Read?
YA Fantasy and Paranormal. My favorite genre to read is "literary" fiction, but I would have to say I really enjoy bestsellers just as much, I like popular fiction, no matter what genre, I like to read what a lot of people are reading and take the pulse of the culture. But for my own taste, I love smart angry women writers like Lionel Shriver and Kate Christensen. Also cookbook memoirs.

At what point in the development of an idea do you know that it will become a full-length novel?
When we've sold it!

Be sure to check out Melissa de la Cruz at this years YALLFest! 

to review who else I've hosted interviews for you can refresh:

Cinda Williams Chima can be found here

Lauren Oliver can be found here

CJ Lyons can be found here

Sean Williams can be found here:

Rainbow Rowell can be found here

Ransom Riggs can be found here 

Veronica Rossi can be found here

Kami Garcia can be found here

YALLFest author spotlight: Kami Garcia

YALLFest series intro!

:YALLFest is one of the only book festivals focused entirely on Young Adults. It's held in Charleston, South Carolina and this year it starts November 9th. The best part is, it's mostly free! The only thing that cost money are the ticketed events- the keynote conversation and the closing YA smackdown. All signings are free!

I really wanted to go this year! This year's lineup includes 50 young adult authors, including 25 New York Times Bestsellers. That's a pretty impressive lineup! Unfortunately, I don't have the money to go this year, but am definitely planning on going in the near future. If you love to read, live in the South Carolina area (I live in Florida and would DEFINITELY make the drive!)  I absolutely recommend going to this.

I'm very honored to host the interview with international best seller Kami Garcia today. You might know Kami because she is one of the co-authors of the beautiful creatures series which was, of course, turned into a movie. Her new book that is the start of a new series, the legion, comes out TODAY! Woo!

What one thing do you need to have when you write?

I need three things: my laptop, my headphones, and Diet Coke.

Describe your book in 5 words:

Paranormal. Ghost-hunting. Intense. Romance. Secret Societies.

Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.

1. I don’t know how to ride a bike.

 2. I used to be an artist (a painter). 

3. I won’t fly without my huge charm necklace that I believe will keep the plane from crashing. 

4. I believe in ghosts.

 5. Every time I write a book, I worry that everyone will hate it.

What are you working on now?

I am working on the second book in the Legion Series, the sequel to Unbreakable. Like Unbreakable, the 

sequel is very intense and has plenty of paranormal elements. But I think it’s even more romantic and surprising than the first book.

What is your favorite genre to write in? To Read?

My favorite genre to write is definitely urban fantasy/paranormal romance. I love to read paranormal, but I am also a huge fan of horror, crime fiction, high fantasy, and science fiction.

Be sure to check out Kami Garcia's new series, the first book came out today!

To catch up on the other authors in this series, check them out~

Cinda Williams Chima can be found here

Lauren Oliver can be found here
CJ Lyons can be found here
Sean Williams can be found here:
Rainbow Rowell can be found here
Ransom Riggs can be found here 
Veronica Rossi can be found here

Follow your bliss,
Ember Darling

YALLFest author spotlight: Veronica Rossi

Cue the intro~

YALLFest is one of the only book festivals focused entirely on Young Adults. It's held in Charleston, South Carolina and this year it starts November 9th. The best part is, it's mostly free! The only thing that cost money are the ticketed events- the keynote conversation and the closing YA smackdown. All signings are free!

I really wanted to go this year! This year's lineup includes 50 young adult authors, including 25 New York Times Bestsellers. That's a pretty impressive lineup! Unfortunately, I don't have the money to go this year, but am definitely planning on going in the near future. If you love to read, live in the South Carolina area (I live in Florida and would DEFINITELY make the drive!)  I absolutely recommend going to this. 

Since I am so sad about missing it this year, I am so excited that I am able to get involved in other ways! I was given the opportunity to host interviews with some of this year's YALLFest authors!

Don't forget for more YALLFest info you can head to their Facebook or website. You can also get updates with their twitter @Yallfest

Veronica Rossi is the author of the post-apocalyptic YA trilogy Under the Never Sky. 

She, like all the other authors I've hosted interviews for, will be at YALLFest this year!

What is the hardest line to write- the first or the last?

Yeah, those. And all the ones in between!

Best writing tip you ever received?
$5. Just kidding. Um… tip… I think it’s probably to allow yourself to suck when writing early drafts. It takes away a lot of the fear of generating good material. It’s not easy to be creative when you’re judging your work.  

Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.
1.  In the past year, I discovered a deep love of Brussel sprouts
2. I talk to myself. Heck. Sometimes I argue with myself.
3. I’m arguing with myself about including that last point at this very moment.

4. My favorite animals are elephants.

5. Dresses with pockets make me happy.

Where's your favorite place to write?
 I usually work in my home office, but I love working in hotel rooms. No distractions!

What are you working on now? 

Something I’m very excited about! Can’t divulge any details yet, but it’s an idea I’ve been mulling over for years.

Check out the other YALLFest author spotlights below!

 

Cinda Williams Chima can be found here

Lauren Oliver can be found here
CJ Lyons can be found here
Sean Williams can be found here:
Rainbow Rowell can be found here
Ransom Riggs can be found here 

Follow your bliss,

Ember Darling

YALLFest author spotlight: Ransom Riggs

 For those new to the series, I present the intro: 

YALLFest is one of the only book festivals focused entirely on Young Adults. It's held in Charleston, South Carolina and this year it starts November 9th. The best part is, it's mostly free! The only thing that cost money are the ticketed events- the keynote conversation and the closing YA smackdown. All signings are free!

I really wanted to go this year! This year's lineup includes 50 young adult authors, including 25 New York Times Bestsellers. That's a pretty impressive lineup! Unfortunately, I don't have the money to go this year, but am definitely planning on going in the near future. If you love to read, live in the South Carolina area (I live in Florida and would DEFINITELY make the drive!)  I absolutely recommend going to this. 

Since I am so sad about missing it this year, I am so excited that I am able to get involved in other ways! I was given the opportunity to host interviews with some of this year's YALLFest authors!

Don't forget for more YALLFest info you can head to their Facebook or website. You can also get updates with their twitter @Yallfest

Today's interview is with New York Times' Bestseller Ransom Riggs. He is best known for his book, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. This book is also on my must-read list, I've heard lots of good things about it! Just another reason my heart is breaking over missing YALLFest this year!!

What one thing do you need to have when you write?
Silence. My noise-cancelling headphones have become almost essential.

What is the hardest line to write- the first or the last?
The first. I rewrite and rewrite it a million times. The last comes easy.

Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.
I’m six foot four. I lived on a working farm until I was five. I used to know how to cook Indian food but now I’ve forgotten. I love documentaries. One day I will conquer the moon.

What are you working on now?
A novel for Little, Brown the plot of which is SECRET! (Sort of, for now. But I’m really excited about it.)

What is your favorite genre to write in? To Read?
Oh, definitely YA to write in. I read everything, lots of YA, lots of adult, nonfiction of all sorts. I even read poetry when I’m feeling ambitious. I think it’s crucial to have lots of different influences. If you only read in the genre you write in, your writing will sound like everything else that’s already out there.

Have you read anything by Ransom Riggs? Are you planning on going to Yallfest? Can I sneak in your suitcase if you are? :)

To get caught up on the other authors in this series, check them out~

Cinda Williams Chima can be found here

Lauren Oliver can be found here

CJ Lyons can be found here

Sean Williams can be found here:
Rainbow Rowell can be found here

Follow your bliss,
Ember Darling

YALLFest author spotlight: Rainbow Rowell

Drumroll for the intro, please!
YALLFest is one of the only book festivals focused entirely on Young Adults. It's held in Charleston, South Carolina and this year it starts November 9th. The best part is, it's mostly free! The only thing that cost money are the ticketed events- the keynote conversation and the closing YA smackdown. All signings are free!

I really wanted to go this year! This year's lineup includes 50 young adult authors, including 25 New York Times Bestsellers. That's a pretty impressive lineup! Unfortunately, I don't have the money to go this year, but am definitely planning on going in the near future. If you love to read, live in the South Carolina area (I live in Florida and would DEFINITELY make the drive!)  I absolutely recommend going to this. 

Since I am so sad about missing it this year, I am so excited that I am able to get involved in other ways! I was given the opportunity to host interviews with some of this year's YALLFest authors!

Don't forget for more YALLFest info you can head to their Facebook or website. You can also get updates with their twitter @Yallfest

Rainbow Rowell is known for her best selling books Eleanor & Park and Fangirl. Personally these books are in my to-be-read stack and I am pretty excited to read them because some of my favorite authors have sang praises for them, so they must be good!

Since Rainbow is one of the authors that I wish I was seeing most at YALLFest this year, I'm REALLY really excited to be able to post her interview!

What one thing do you need to have when you write?

Lip balm.

Describe your book in 5 words.

FANGIRL:

Earnest, snowy, swoony, minty, bookish.

What is the hardest line to write- the first or the last?

THE FIRST! The whole first page is a nightmare. I want people to just skip it. And I always end up rewriting it.

Best writing tip you ever received?

“Just finish your book.”

What one young adult novel do you wish you had when you were a teen? Why?

Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt. I think it would have made me feel less alone.

Where's your favorite place to write?

At coffeeshops. In giant overstuffed chairs.

What are you working on now?

I’m revising my adult novel, Landline, which comes out in spring 2014, and playing with a romantic/political/tragicomic fantasy.

What is your favorite genre to write in? To Read?

I write mostly contemporary. I read mostly fantasy.

At what point in the development of an idea do you know that it will become a full-length novel?

All of my ideas are full-length novels. I have a hard time narrowing my scope.

Hope you enjoyed today's edition of YALLFest author spotlight! Check back tomorrow for yet another interview!! 

And see below for all the past authors in this series:

Cinda Williams Chima can be found here

Lauren Oliver can be found here

CJ Lyons can be found here

Sean Williams can be found here:

Posts may come in fast and furious over the next few weeks. Got a lot of info to cover! Hope you can keep up ;)

Follow your bliss,

Ember Darling

YALLFest Author Spotlight: Sean Williams

the YALLFest series intro for those that have missed it~

YALLFest is one of the only book festivals focused entirely on Young Adults. It's held in Charleston, South Carolina and this year it starts November 9th. The best part is, it's mostly free! The only thing that cost money are the ticketed events- the keynote conversation and the closing YA smackdown. All signings are free!

I really wanted to go this year! This year's lineup includes 50 young adult authors, including 25 New York Times Bestsellers. That's a pretty impressive lineup! Unfortunately, I don't have the money to go this year, but am definitely planning on going in the near future. If you love to read, live in the South Carolina area (I live in Florida and would DEFINITELY make the drive!)  I absolutely recommend going to this. 

Since I am so sad about missing it this year, I am so excited that I am able to get involved in other ways! I was given the opportunity to host interviews with some of this year's YALLFest authors!

Don't forget for more YALLFest info you can head to their Facebook or website. You can also get updates with their twitter @Yallfest

 

 

 

This Inner Beauty Friday interview is with author Sean Williams.

Williams is a best selling Science fiction and Fantasy author!

 

While sci-fi and fantasy is more suited than my close friends than me, it's really great to find YA authors in that genre. And, very great that he's attending YALLFest this year!

 

 

 

 

photo courtesy of seanwilliams.com

 

Now the best part: the interview!

What one thing do you need to have when you write?
The right music. And chocolate as a reward when I finish.

Describe your book in 5 words
Jump meets Uglies. But different.

What is the hardest line to write- the first or the last? 

The first line is often the hardest to write, but I like a good challenge. The line I like writing the least is the last because it means I have a whole load of rewriting ahead of me.

Best writing tip you ever received?
Give up. If you can do that, you’ll be happier and probably better off as a result. If you can’t, then you know writing is exactly the right thing for you!

Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.
1) I live in Adelaide, South Australia, a place that’s home to about a million other people but somehow feels like a small town, which is why I love it.
2) I still think music from the 1980s is cool.
3) My stepson has situs invertus, which means his heart is on the wrong side of his body. That’s not really about me, but it is pretty random.
4) I’m a huge fan of Doctor Who.
5) I’m minding a pair of green tree frogs, Skipper and Jumpy, for a young friend while she’s overseas with her family. You can see pictures of them on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/seanwilliamsauthor/.

Where's your favorite place to write?
In my study, a lovely upstairs nook containing all my favorite book-related things, but I’ve trained myself to write anywhere as long as I have my headphones and some music. I quite like writing in hotels, probably because someone else does all the household chores.

What are you working on now?
Crashland, the sequel to Twinmaker.

Have you read anything by Sean Williams? 

To catch up on other posts in this series:

Cinda Williams Chima can be found here

Lauren Oliver can be found here

CJ Lyons can be found here

Thanks for reading, and get to reading all these awesome authors I'm talking about!

Follow your bliss,

Ember Darling

YALLFest author spotlight: CJ Lyons

Today's YALLFest Author interview is with CJ Lyons.

The intro in case you missed it:

YALLFest is one of the only book festivals focused entirely on Young Adults. It's held in Charleston, South Carolina and this year it starts November 9th. The best part is, it's mostly free! The only thing that cost money are the ticketed events- the keynote conversation and the closing YA smackdown. All signings are free!

I really wanted to go this year! This year's lineup includes 50 young adult authors, including 25 New York Times Bestsellers. That's a pretty impressive lineup! Unfortunately, I don't have the money to go this year, but am definitely planning on going in the near future. If you love to read, live in the South Carolina area (I live in Florida and would DEFINITELY make the drive!)  I absolutely recommend going to this. 

Since I am so sad about missing it this year, I am so excited that I am able to get involved in other ways! I was given the opportunity to host interviews with some of this year's YALLFest authors!

Don't forget for more YALLFest info you can head to their Facebook or website. You can also get updates with their twitter @Yallfest

CJ Lyons is a New York Times best selling author. She is a former doctor and now she writes medical thriller novels! I think that's pretty cool. You know you're getting realistic details when the author used to be a doctor herself!

What's more exciting is that November 5th she is debuting her first YA novel! It's called Broken, and is now available for preorder. Since it will be her first YA novel, she's attending YALLFest this year where you can see her and meet her for yourself!

Without further ado, here's the interview you've been waiting for!

Describe your book in 5 words:
Girl dying of broken heart (literally)

What is the hardest line to write- the first or the last?
The first. I’ll often return to it over and over again until I’ve sliced and diced and fine-honed it to that perfect combination of intrigue, visceral reaction, and emotional connection with the reader.

What one young adult novel do you wish you had when you were a teen? Why?
Code Name Verity because it is so emotionally honest and inspiring, empowering, not to mention gut-wrenching. Really brings the era to life as well as the sacrifices made in the name of freedom.

Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.
When I was a kid I worked summer stock theatre and was actually a theatre major undergrad before switching to pre-med. I’ve had two hard landings in helicopters while working as a flight doc. I survived rampaging Cape Horn Buffalo and a pack of wild baboons, not to mention a leopard (he’s already eaten) while hiking in Hells Gate Park in Kenya. I’m a Capricorn. I diagnosed my niece with the heart condition that’s at the center of my YA thriller, BROKEN.

What are you working on now?
DAMAGED, my next YA thriller, due out in 2014. It deals with the really tough topic of abuse and coercion and is the most difficult book I’ve ever tackled—there have been times while writing when I was literally in tears as I typed.

What is your favorite genre to write in? To Read?
 I created my own genre of Thrillers with Heart—I love writing fast paced stories with raising stakes but centered on the emotional heart of an evolving relationship. As for reading, I read almost every genre but especially love YA, magical realism, and thrillers. As long as a story grabs me by the throat and won’t let me go because I’m too worried about what the characters are going through, I’ll read it and love it.

In case you missed the first parts to this series you can find them below! 

Cinda Williams Chima can be found here

Lauren Oliver can be found here

Check back on Friday for another great interview with a YALLFest author! 

Are you enjoying these interviews? Have you ever read anything by CJ Lyons? Will you be making it out to YALLFest this year? Sound off in the comments below!

Follow your bliss,

Ember Darling

YALLFest author spotlight: Lauren Oliver

Today I am so excited to bring you another interview with another great YALLFest author!

If you missed the first post in this series, click here. In it I explain what YALLFest is and how you can get involved! If you're looking for more info on YALLFest head over to their website or their facebook! 

Today's interview is with Lauren Oliver, author of Before I Fall & the Delirium series

photo courtesy of deliriumnet.com

Personally I've read Before I Fall and I quite liked it! It had a good message. 

Read on for her interview!

What one thing do you need to have when you write?

Coffee!

What is the hardest line to write- the first or the last?

Honestly, neither. It’s just every single line in between that feels impossible.

Best writing tip you ever received?

Aim for truth and beauty will follow.

Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.

I have fourteen tattoos. I can fall asleep any time, any place. I have a phobia of worms. I hate fruit. I wrote my first novel largely on my Blackberry.

Where's your favorite place to write?

In my sunroom in upstate New York.

What are you working on now?

Two different middle grade books and an untitled young adult novel that my agent described as  “the most disturbing thing he’s ever read.” Oops!

What is your favorite genre to write in? To Read?

I love realistic books that include just a hint of fantasy.

Ooh I don't know about you but I'm pretty excited about the most disturbing thing her agent's ever read! 

Be sure to check out Lauren at this years YALLFest! Have you read any of her books? Are you looking forward to meeting her at Yallfest this year?