Interview with author Stephanie Morrill

We’re talking with Stephanie Morrill today, author of The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series. Watch for your chance to win a copy of her latest release Out With the In Crowd at the end of the interview.

Hi, Stephanie! Tell us about your book, Out With the In Crowd.
Out With the In Crowd is book two in The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series. In book one, Me, Just Different, 17-year-old Skylar Hoyt decide to give up her partying ways and popularity to pursue a more Godly life. Out With the In Crowd picks up where the first book left off. While Skylar may have vowed to change her lifestyle, she learns it’s not so easy to change her friends. She’s trying hard to live a new life, but her old one is constantly staring her in the face. Add to that two parents battling for her loyalty, a younger sister struggling with a crisis pregnancy, and a new boyfriend wishing for more of her time, and Skylar feels like she can’t win.

How did you come up with the idea for this series?
The idea started with Skylar. I wanted to explore what it would be like to have a life that many teenage girls would imagine perfect—Skylar’s exotically beautiful, wealthy, and confident—and yet to still thirst for something more. So I did a lot of thinking about what it would take to turn away from all that luxury and pursue God instead. The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt was born.

Are you going to write more books about Skylar?
The third and final book in the series, So Over It, releases in July. 

What inspired you to become a writer?
That I wasn’t good at anything else. Seriously. My talents are writing, reading, and drinking coffee. Only so much you can do with that. What inspired me to keep writing is how much I love it.

What’s your favorite thing about writing?
Used to be I would have said writing the first couple chapters. I love those initial stages—naming characters, working out their stories. But more and more I find I love the whole process. Some parts are certainly harder than others, like somewhere past the midway point of the first draft when I’m usually like, “Okay …. now what?” but I’ve come to love something about each stage.

What is the hardest part about writing?
Getting as much time to do it as I’d like. I have a 2-year-old daughter, and we’re expecting a little boy in July. That alone keeps me busy, but I blog daily at www.StephanieMorrillBooks.com and www.GoTeenWriters.com, and keep busy with promoting Me, Just Different and Out with the In Crowd. Plus, unfortunately, the laundry doesn’t do itself. My writing time tends to get squeezed.

Do you write any other genres or series?
The Skylar series is my only published series. One of these days, I may venture into writing adult novels, but my passion is definitely for young adults.

What’s the best book you’ve read recently? Why?
A Distant Melody by Sarah Sundin. It’s her debut novel and absolutely amazing. The characters are well drawn, the spiritual message naturally woven, and the balance of action and emotion is absolutely perfect.

What do you do in your free time when you aren’t writing?
Play with my daughter, watch The Office, read… That’s about it. I used to have these things called hobbies, but I lost them around the time my daughter was born and Revell bought The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series. But someday I’ll get back to cooking really complicated meals.

Where can fans find you online?
My web site is www.StephanieMorrillBooks.com. There you can read the first chapters of my books, download discussion questions, and follow my journey as a young author. For those who are teens aspiring to be authors, check out www.GoTeenWriters.com where I answer questions about the writing industry and give tips geared toward middle and high school students.

What are you working on next?
I’m just putting the finishing touches on So Over It, and then I’ll be moving onto an undetermined project. I’ve had a slew of new ideas for young adult books in the last couple months, so I’ll sit down and try to flesh a few of those out.

Thanks for stopping by, Stephanie!
Thank you so much for having me!
 

We’re giving away a free copy of Out With the In Crowd. To win, silmply leave a comment with your email address. This is for people who live in the USA only, please. Thanks and good luck!
 

Books by Stephanie:
The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series
      Me, Just Different
      Out With the In Crowd 

 

DON’T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF OUT WITH THE IN CROWD!

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