Writing for the YA Market

I’ve been asked why I’d choose teenagers to write about, so I’m going to attempt to answer.

I’ve spent several years working with teens and I find them to be an amazing group of people. Young enough to not be completely jaded yet old enough to know the world isn’t all ice cream and cake.

Your teen years will represent more firsts than possibly any other time. First car, first pimple, first crush. Learning how to act like an adult while still being a kid, learning what you like, dislike, aren’t sure you like, and loathe. Discovering your gifts, your talents, and hiding those weird things you can do but don’t talk about anymore … like being able to put your foot behind your head or touch your nose with your tongue. (You tried it, didn’t you?)

Junior High is an ocean of choices and troubles.

High School is the same kind of animal, but you’ve grown in your commitment to who you are and it’s slightly easier to navigate because the boat you’re in isn’t as awkward as it was a few years ago.

Wisdom is becoming your friend and you’re learning what it is to have integrity. What a great time to be alive. What a great time to write about.

Fiction can help you learn about who you are. Yesterday, A Walk to Remember (based on a novel) was on TV. I watched as Landon transformed from a self-centered party boy to the young man who would put his future on hold to spend what precious time was left with the love of his life.

He learned, he grew, he changed. And his decisions, both good and bad were awesome examples to draw from.

So why do I write for teens?  To put it simply, I love its possibilites.

Live life, love others, and read often!

Heather Burch

A Day in the Life of a Writer…

Sometimes I think people have an idea that the life of an author is easy, glamorous, and exciting. On the RARE occasion, it is all of these things. But most of the time it’s like today.

I’m sitting in a nightshirt and sweats. My back is starting to hurt a little and my booty is numb. My cereal bowl is perched on the edge of my desk and my cold coffee is on a column beside me. (Heaven forbid my coffee cup actually sit ON my desk, oh, no, no, no. I’m much too clumsy for that!)

I’ve yet to comb my hair (uh, you can imagine) and my feet are cold. Now that I’ve got you picturing the glam-it-up look I’ve got going on, let’s continue!

Most days start at 5:15 for me. (It’s not that I’m so dedicated, my hubby leaves for work at 5:15, so after seeing him off, I stumble into my office.) I’m an early morning writer. I don’t stop until an 8:00 a.m. alarm goes off. That’s the signal to wake-up my teenage son for school. Uh, yeah, I’m so lame I have to set an alarm … otherwise, I’ll drop into my story and forget he’s home until he comes out of his room around 10:00 a.m. TERRIFYING me because I’m thinking there’s an intruder when really it’s only him. It’s very difficult to send a tardy note that says,

Please excuse Isaac. He overslept because his mother was busy flittering around a fictional world with half angel teenagers.

At 9:00, I’m back to my computer and cranking out the pages. I usually work until noon or one or two. It all depends on how things are going in the story. Usually by one I’m ready to tackle emails and such. Sometimes when my brain needs a break, I handle those things throughout mornings, but I prefer to reserve 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. for writing words.

I had a photo shoot yesterday for new publicity shots. It was fun and I like doing that because photographers are like authors, telling a story with cameras not words. Here are two of the shots.

These will be sent to Zondervan and will go in my file for marketing and promotion and such. I’m enjoying the writing life, but since the Halflings sold, I must admit, it’s more fun than before because I know people are going to READ my STORIES. It’s also quite humbling. It’s a huge responsibility to know people will invest their time and money into the words I say. And that’s something I refuse to take lightly. So everyday I’m thankful. Thankful for the air I get to breathe, thankful for my supportive husband and two boys, thankful for my awesome team-Jenn, Jacque, John, Diane, Mel, and Lynn who take me to task when it’s not quite right. And really, really, really thankful for readers. You are the backbone of what we do. When someone says to an author, ”I like your book!” It means the world. Seriously, it means the whole world!!!

Okay, so you’ve gotten a glimpse into the writer’s life as told by Heather Burch. I left out a ton of details like workshops, editing, conferences, networking with other writers, and the like. But now you know how I spend most days. It’s not too glamorous or easy or exciting and I wouldn’t change it for anything!

Halflings will release in February, 2012 from Zondervan Publishing. It is the first book in the Halflings Novels.

Girly Spaces

I’ve never had a writing office. That’s not completely the truth. I’ve never had a writing office I really liked. So, we’ve moved into a new house and I get a lovely space to convert to my office. As I was checking off the list of must-have things for my new space, I began to realize a couple of different themes.

First, it’s girly. I want lots of pillows thrown on the daybed and pretty lamps with nice soft light and warm cozy spaces to curl up …

Second, (and you may have already guessed this one) I want several comfortable spots to sit and read. Or stretch out and read. Or lounge on the big area rug and … you guessed it! read. Yep, I think one of the defining attributes to a great writing space is a great reading space.

Writers are readers. And lots of readers are writers (don’t act all surprised, you know you have that AWESOME idea for a novel hidden in a notebook under your bed among the Christmas bows your mom insist you keep for next year!)

So we write. And we read. And we write some more and we read some more. And on goes the story. (No pun intended.)

By now you have to be wondering, “If this post is all about writers being readers why is it titled GIRLY SPACES?” Well, I’ll tell you.

It’s all boys in my house and it has been since we started raising our oldest son. “All boys” means footballs, basketballs, video games, fast car magazines, karate pads, scuba gear, and remote control cars. If it’s tough, leather, indestructible, or if it bounces or saves the world … it can be found in my home. If it fires airsoft bullets, rocks or even marshmallows, it’s somewhere in my house. If it has a blade and can’t be carried onto an airplane, well, you get the idea.

What I don’t have is girly things. Until now! I’m creating a beautiful retreat for writing and reading and BOYS won’t even want to come in!!! Can you tell I’m excited?

Don’t get me wrong, I adore my boys. They are the music of my life. And thanks to them, I can easily write scenes infused with realistic fighting, weapons, and I know more than my fair share about fast cars. But flowers and pillows and squishy rugs will be a nice addition to my interior design palette.

I’ll let you know how it turns out! Keep reading!

Hugs, Heather Burch

Author Interview & Book Giveaway: Jenny B. Jones

I am so excited to be talking with author Jenny B. Jones. She is one of my favorite young adult authors. Let me just say, if you haven’t read one of Jenny’s books, you are totally missing out on a good time. She makes me laugh so hard I weep. I’ve read all six of her teen books, and we’ve reviewed all six of those books on Novel Teen.

Here is a list if you want to check out our reviews:

A Katie Parker Production
       In Between
On the Loose
The Big Picture

A Charmed Life
       So Not Happening
       I’m So Sure
So Over My Head

I like these books so much that I bought a set of each for my mom. That’s right. My mom is a grandma who has a ball reading Jenny B. Jones’ teen books. I figure, why should teens have all the fun? And my mom totally agrees.

Jenny, I’m so glad to have you visit Novel Teen. When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a lot of things. Probably the main thing was that I wanted to be Barbara Walters. I’m kind of glad I grew out of that one. Though I’m sure Barbara is a lovely woman.

What was your favorite subject in high school? Your least favorite?
My favorite subjects were English and history. My least favorite would be science. I just didn’t get it. I still don’t. And I thought the pig dissection would push me over the edge. Ironically, my classroom is situated between two science classes. They just finished pig dissection. I say a prayer for the dearly departed animals every time I walk by. (As I’m spraying my air freshener.)

If you could bring any character from one of your books to life, who would it be and why?
I love Mad Maxine in the Katie Parker series. (Can I say I love one of my own characters? I also love inanimate objects like cheese, so take it for what it’s worth.)  Maxine is Katie Parker’s foster grandmother. She has the body of a senior citizen, but the mind of a sixteen year old. Due to her age, she can say and do whatever she wants and get away with it. She was so much fun to write. Maxine is also not without her boy problems and has resorted to fireworks and hanging off of water towers to get her man Sam’s attention. Everyone needs a crazy friend like that.

I would totally love Mad Maxine as my neighbor. Never a dull moment. Jenny, can you Twitter your newest or upcoming release in 140 characters or less?
So Over My Head: Bella goes undercover as clown to solve circus murder. Must also stop dad’s wedding and win back Luke from skanky ex.

LOL Nicely done.

What is the one book you wish you had written and why?
A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck. Because it is just simply the best.

What is the new release book that you’re most looking forward to reading?
I’m looking forward to reading So Over It by Stephanie Morrill, the third in the Reinvention of Skylar Holt series. Can’t wait to see how that series ends!

I loved that book. We reviewed it here on Novel Teen. (Click here to read our review.) Do you have any pets?
I have one cat, Miller. He is mentally challenged and needs a helmet. Exhibit A: http://www.jennybjones.com/2010/05/19/theres-a-cat-so-over-my-head/

Using the letters N T (for Novel Teen), create the title of your next bestseller. (For example, Nocturnal Cheerleaders.)  Nobakecookie Tasters?

You’re invited to a White House function, and you have the chance to give a 10-minute speech to the President and the country watching on TV. What do you talk about?
Wow. Good question. I would probably talk about the fact that America is not taking care of their own. We have an overflow of children in the foster care system and not enough good homes. I’d love to see our churches rise up and take care of this.  I’d also mention how it’s a crime in our country how we completely drop kids in the foster care system after 18. Many are left homeless.

I’d round it out with a few mentions of my idea about mandatory sweats and yoga pants as the dress code in the workplace. Who needs dress pants and skirts? So passé!  And my ideas about a four day work week. (Still eight hour day, of course.)  And maybe I’d round it out with a challenge to make Saturday morning cartoons better. Don’t act like you wouldn’t do the same…

Woot! I’m all for the sweats. High heels are evil. I tend to fall over. And I live in John Day, Oregon, a lovely town of 2400 that reminds me a great deal of Truman, Oklahoma, though we have no maxi pad factory… (Readers, this is a joke from the Charmed Life series. Bella’s stepdad works at such a factory.) We have a four day school week in John Day. So my kids seem to believe in Friday and Saturday morning cartoons. They have got it so good.

Remember those “classics” that you had to read in high school English class? Which book was your favorite? Which one should no one ever be forced to read?
I hated classics. I later grew up to teach English and refused to teach most of them. There’s too much good stuff out there that’s not 200 years old. We are constantly reinventing the wheel in education, yet Romeo and Juliet has been on the ninth grade curriculum for the last 50 years. What is that?

But all that to say, I’m not the biggest Shakespeare fan. But yet my favorite work of all time by any author is one of his comedies called Much Ado About Nothing. If you don’t want to read it, there is an old 90s movies version of it starring a lot of famous folks like Denzel Washington and a very young Kate Beckinsale. This play is awesome. It’s the basis for so many of our romantic comedies. It’s about these young couple that meets and falls in love. (boring) But that relationship gets detonated by an evil scheme, and in the meantime Benedict and Beatrice, two independent sassy adults who are sharp tongued and swear they’ll never fall in love do just that. With each other. There’s so much more to it, but it’s pretty much perfect.

Much Ado About Nothing is one of my favorites! I love when Emma Thompson is storming her way over to Kenneth Branagh (the same actor who plays Professor Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, for all you younger readers) and she says, “Against my will, I’m sent to bid you, come in to dinner.” And he thinks there is a double meaning in that. Sigh! I could go on and quote the whole scene, but…yeah. Fun film. It’s the only Shakespeare I understand. If you haven’t seen it or read it, you should go do that, right after you read Jenny’s books, of course.

Jenny, if you would meet any celebrity (actor, author, historical figure, etc), dead or alive (and not Jesus), who would you choose and what would you ask him or her?
Oh, my gosh. My hero is a woman named Carol Burnett, who 99 percent of teens will not know. (YouTube her.)  She is a pioneer of sketch comedy, and the reason we have SNL. I am currently reading her latest autobiography. She is just brilliant and funny and unique and creative and humble and hilarious and classy. And she reminds me of my late grandmother.  I would probably just ask Carol if I could have my picture taken with her and how she feels about a long-distance stalker.

Carol Burnett is hysterical. Watch the good version of the movie Annie to see her at work.

Thanks for your time, Jenny! It was fun to have you stop by.

Readers, Jenny is giving away a copy of her novel, So Not Happening. This is the first book in her Charmed Life series, and it is a wonderful read. If this interview made you laugh, it’s just a taste of what comes in reading a Jenny B. Jones novel. To enter, please leave a comment with your email address in an anti-SPAM form, something like this: laugh [at] yahoo [dot] com, and you will be in the drawing for a copy!

Find Jenny online:

Author website: http://www.jennybjones.com
Author blog: http://www.jennybjones.com/blog
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/jenny.b.jones
Twitter account: jenbjones
Email: jen@jennybjones.com

 

Eliza Maria’s Interview with Author Jill Williamson

Hello, readers. Today I have the honor of interviewing someone near and dear to us around novelteen. Jill Williamson, winner of a Christy award for her book, By Darkness Hid.

Jill, thank you so much for agreeing to be interviewed.

People often ask how writers come up with their story ideas. Where did the seed of inspiration for By Darkness Hid come from?

Two things happened about the same time. My son and I were walking along the streets of Burbank and we saw a burned-down house. There was a tree in the yard that had partially burned. It was half charred and half leafy green. I thought it was the coolest image. I ran home and Photoshopped it. It’s the same image that’s the header on my website. I knew I wanted to write a story about this tree.

I also had a weird dream that gave me an idea for the plot. I won’t go into it. You can read the whole story on my website. But ideas are everywhere! If you want to be a writer, train yourself to be on the lookout.

The next thing I did was draw my map—because I love fantasy books that have maps—then I started brainstorming which lords ruled each city, what kind of people lived there, the climate, and things like that. I made a 3-ring binder to keep all this stuff organized. I drew (somewhat lame) sketches of castles and characters, created family trees, brainstormed lists of names… It was fun. I finally made myself stop playing and actually write the story. But that’s how it all started.

Life experiences have an effect on the person we become. Would you share one experience that has strongly influenced who you are today?

Growing up in Alaska without electricity. We didn’t have a lot of extra money, either, so I

learned to make due with what I had. As a kid, I hated that. I wanted to be like everyone else. I really wanted a Nintendo and running water. Today, I’m so thankful for my unique childhood. I’m easygoing about money and not at all materialistic. I’m very thankful that money and things don’t have a pull over my life. I think that is directly due to my childhood.

If time and money were no object, where would you go and what would you do?

Our fa

mily would go to Europe. We’d start in England, because Brad has some cousins who live there. Then we’d go to Europe. I’ve always wanted to walk through some real castles.

What one food do you not want to try-ever?

Oysters. Eww.

Would you explain to our readers what a Christy award represents?

The Christy Award is given for novels of excellence in several categories. They were created in

1999 and named The Christy Award, in honor of Catherine Marshall’s novel and of her contribution to growth of the fiction Christians love to read. They are primarily a professional achievement award, designed to bring awareness of the breadth and depth of fiction choices available and to provide opportunity to recognize novelists whose work may not have reached bestseller status.

Aside from the Blood of Kings trilogy, you’ve written several other books. Would you share a bit about them?

I’ve written a middle grade novel about Christian spy kids. It’s called The New Recruit. I’ve also written the second book in that series. And I also have Jason Farms, a story about a girl who

discovers that her father is working at a cloning lab. And I’ve got a few new ideas in my head. I’m

trying to choose which one I’ll start for National Novel Writing Month this November.

Do you have a time set aside for writing, and if so how many days a week do you shoot for?

I try to write in the mornings for 2-4 hours. If I’m behind and a deadline is approaching, I’ll write even longer. Though there are days when I don’t write at all. I try not to work on Sundays. But there are also days that I get so busy with other things, I don’t manage to get any writing done. Summers have been especially difficult with so many summer camps (I attend as a camp counselor) and with my kids being home.

Let’s suppose that you’re about to board a plane when someone runs up to you and tells you they want to be a writer. What would you say to them in that thirty seconds?

To finish the whole story! Not to take too much time trying to make each chapter perfect until they finish the first draft. I’d also tell them to read their genre to know the market and support their industry. Then I’d give them my card and encourage them to email me if they have any questions. Any of you are welcome to do the same: info@jillwilliamson.com

Is there one question you wish someone would ask in an interview?

Yes! Question: What’s with that weird dedication in By Darkness Hid where you say you’re the master?

The dedication to my former pastor reads like this:

And to Pastor Joe Torosian, for encouraging a newbie writer.

The time for my power to eclipse yours has come.

I am the master.

This is an inside joke. My pastor and I were talking about critique groups. I’d been trying to find one, and all the local ones were full. So, as a joke, we decided to start our own critique group, but it would be like the Sith in Star Wars. There could only be two members, a master and an apprentice. Since Pastor Joe was making so-many-cents per word writing sports for his local paper, he became the master and I was his apprentice. So, when I got my first book published, I got to be the master. And there you have it. J

Jill, thank you so much for sharing with us. It was my pleasure to chat with you today.

Thanks, Maria! It was fun!

To read Novel Teen’s book review of By Darkness Hid, click here.

To read our review of book two, To Darkness Fled, click here.

Donita K. Paul Talks About Getting Kids To Read

Hey, teens! Share your love of books with your little brothers and sisters!

They scratch your favorite video games, they use your toothbrush to comb Barbie’s hair, they track mud through the house and you have to clean it up…

But secretly they worship you. You are the one person who’s got their back. You’re the one they turn to when the world is a big, confusing place.

That’s right. It’s your little brother or sister.

And though there are many habits you’ll teach them–some good, some bad–one question remains. Have you taught them to love books? To love reading? It doesn’t come naturally for everyone. Falling in love with stories is often a learned trait. Are you ready to be the teacher?

Today, author Donita K Paul is talking about her new picture book The Dragon and the Turtle. She’ll give us three awesome pointers about how to help your little brothers and sisters fall in love with books.

Donita: I love picture books. I have a collection that fills three seven-foot bookcases. Most people believe children start to read when they are able to recognize a symbol on a page and associate a sound with the symbol. But reading doesn’t start with the eyes. Reading starts with the ears. 

Here are three things that you do to pave the way for reading when you read aloud:

1. Visualization.  This is really very simple. If I say dog to you, some form of dog appears in your mind. You hear “dog,” you see some familiar animal that defines the concept of furry dog animal.  Every time you read to a child you are reinforcing visualization skills. This is a necessary skill for reading.  So when you read to a younger child you are blessing them with the ability to bring to mind the concept  and that will make a happy reader. Similar skills are lumped with visualization. These require recalling other sensory clues.  Hearing a siren. Smelling smoke. Tasting Watermelon. Feeling sand between the toes. All of these things have to be recalled in the brain. While you are reading a simple picture book, marvelous things are going on in the little head resting against your side. The pictures on the page give clues, but the brain takes that and runs with it.

2. Love of Language. Yep, children  who like to hear the rhythm of speech are motivated to dig in and decode the words on a page to satisfy that need to enjoy the beauty of sound. Much like the multiplication tables set to music helps a child memorize, the sound of words artfully strung together opens areas of the brain to learn. At the same time you are demonstrating the treatment of books, the diversity of reading, and a positive reaction to the function of reading.

3. Linking. This is a complex skill. The dragon mentions in the book that he has been to the library to get a book about elephants. This information has to be linked to the child’s experience. The child takes what he knows about books, libraries, and elephants and weaves it into the whole cloth of comprehension. The child may have learned about elephants on TV, but he has also perused a book from the library about rockets. He links the book and library concept and integrates elephant.  Believe me, this is a huge step, and if he doesn’t already have this skill before he starts reading to himself, well, . . . he’s just too busy to do two things at once. Sounding out the words and linking is beyond his ability if linking isn’t already one of the skills he’s conquered.

So you thought reading to a kid while you’re babysitting was just a way to pass the time. Now you know you are one of the first teachers to touch this child with the wonder of books. You are an integral part of training the brain to be receptive to reading. Go for it!

For more infomation on The Dragon and the Turtle, check out Donita’s website (http://www.donitakpaul.com/) or click on the cover below to read about The Dragon and the Turtle on Amazon.com.

Click on the cover to read about this book on Amazon.com.

 

INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR ROBERT LIPARULO-PART TWO

Hey there, NovelTeeners! Yesterday we got the chance to talk to Robert Liparulo about high school, characters, writing advice, pets, and all kinds of other stuff. Today we’re gonna tackle some of the heavier subjects. So let’s get started!  

Robert, can you tell us about how you came to know Jesus?
I was raised Catholic—even went to a parochial middle school—and during one short time when I was about eleven I considered being a priest. I had a falling out with Catholicism in my teens and wasn’t sure what to do about God. A few years into my marriage, my wife and I weren’t getting along, and I felt terrible about it. For the first time in years, I prayed, and I asked God why this woman who I loved so much seemed like a stranger to me. God answered in a way that I can only describe as an audible voice. To this day, I believed I hear Him with my ears as well as my heart. He said, “The reason this has happened is because I’m not part of your life.”

I immediately went to my wife, who was raised agnostic, and told her what had happened. I said I wanted to bring God into our lives, into our marriage. She responded like someone who’d been holding her breath forever and was just told that it was ok to breathe. We went to a Presbyterian church, had a meeting with the pastor, and have walked with Christ ever since. I wish I had been smarter and more faithful to Him in my late-teens and early-twenties, but I’m sure glad He shook up my life and got my attention again.

If you had the chance to change a scene from one of your previous releases, what book would you choose, what scene would you change, and how would you change it?
In Germ, there’s a scene in which a compound that makes biological weapons is bombed in an air strike. If I were to write that scene today, instead of an air strike, I think I’d have the compound attacked by an elite fighting force, a special ops team. It would be cool to have these guys stealthily infiltrate the compound, setting explosives all around, and slowly working their way to the heart of the operation. It was also allow me to have more human/character contact, between them and the good guys who are already in the compound and the bad guys. More now than ever, I’m always looking for ways to build character, to make the characters propel the story forward. By putting more characters on the page instead of anonymous airplanes, I could have done that better.

A few people I’ve told that to argue that the air strike worked because it put the good guys on the ground at risk and it was exciting to see if they’d be able to get out in time. But I think I could have created the same sort of stakes, the same suspense by giving the special ops team the order to kill everyone they encountered.

I’ve talked to the producer who’s making Germ into a movie and he likes the idea. And it doesn’t hurt that shooting a bunch of guys breaking into the compound is a lot cheaper to film than an air strike. So maybe I’ll be able to have it both ways—one for the book and one for the movie.

You get the chance to star in an upcoming film release. What genre of movie would you star in and who would you pick as your costar?
It’d have to be a thriller—a cops and robbers or bank heist story. I love those. My dream co-stars would be Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino, but I’d love to work with Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon as well. I’ve met DiCaprio and Damon, but not DeNiro or Pacino. For some reason, when I get totally burnt out after a long day of writing, I find myself watching the same films over and over: Heat, Ronin, and Bourne Identity. I think the crazy action of those films lets me sort of check out mentally. I also like horror films—smart horror films—but I’m afraid if I were to star in one, they’d want to cast me as the monster.

You’re invited to a White House function, and you have the chance to give a 10-minute speech to the President and the country watching on TV. What do you talk about?
I love what former Australian prime minister John Howard said: “Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.” (Unfortunately the country’s new PM, Julia Gillard, has proclaimed, “I don’t believe in God.”) I would appeal to our president to take a similar stance as Mr. Howard. We are a Christian country, founded on Christian principles, and anyone who doesn’t like that can leave. That doesn’t mean we don’t have tolerance for other religions, but taking God off our coins and out of our schools is just ridiculous. We can honor God and keep reminders of His presence in public places without violating the rights of people with differing beliefs. We need a president who believes that.

Do you have a favorite Christian band? If so, who is it and what’s your favorite song by them?
I’m partial to Third Day. Mac Powell’s voice floors me, it’s so emotive. I had a chance to hang out with him and the band backstage once, and it was great experience, seeing that they aren’t just talents, but Godly men and fun guys. I like a lot of Third Day songs, but I guess my favorite for now is “Call My Name.”

I also like David Crowder, Randy Stonehill, Casting Crowns, Skillet, Thousand Foot Krutch, Jars of Clay, tobyMac. Dreamhouse Kings was a co-sponsor of one of tobyMac’s concert tours last year, which as totally cool.

If you would meet any celebrity, dead or alive, who would you choose and what would you ask him or her?
Well, I’d love to have a conversation with C.S. Lewis, but I’ve read so many of his books and biographies that I feel I already know him. So for the sake of diversity, I’d choose someone else. There are so many people I admire: Winston Churchill, Teddy Roosevelt, Michelangelo. But in the end, I’d love to go through a Dreamhouse portal and meet Martin Luther, who started the Protestant Reformation. The foundation of his Ninety-Five Theses was that God’s grace could not be earned or purchase, but is a free gift. The theme of my next thriller, The 13^th Tribe, is exactly this, so maybe right now I’m especially sensitive to Luther’s teaching.

I can just imagine the two of us discussing theology for hours—days. I think he would do most of the talking, but I’d love to ask him about the nuances of free grace: Is it possible to accept the gift and live by God’s word solely out of gratitude, without ever once thinking, “Doing this makes me a good person; this will bring me closer to God”? Is accepting the gift really all we have to do? I’ve heard that Luther enjoyed a fermented beverage now and then, so maybe we could have this great conversation over a couple pints of ale.

What world issue are you passionate about? Why?
It drives me crazy that there are hungry people in the world. Food isn’t a privilege; it’s a necessity and a basic human right. That there are children, even here in America , who go to bed hungry—I mean with a pain in the gut most of us have never felt—is one of the saddest tragedies I can think of. My family helps out at food kitchens, and I donate to organizations like Feeding America, Freedom from Hunger, and Global Hunger Project. But it’s all just a drop in the bucket. As long as there’s a single starving person in the world, we’re not doing enough.  

God tells you that you’ll never publish another book. Do you still keep writing?
I wouldn’t know what else to do. I believe God wired me to write, but if for some reason He says I won’t ever be published again, of course I’d abide by that, but it wouldn’t keep me from doing what I was born to do. Maybe He has other plans for my words—through oration or some other medium, I don’t know.

I believe God wouldn’t give you a gift and desire to do something without also giving you the opportunities to fulfill that desire. That’s why I tell new writers that every one of them could be published and make a career out of writing. They have a strong, God-given desire, and God will be faithful to that desire. They just have to be faithful to it as well. My favorite verse is 2 Chronicles 31:21: “In everything that he undertook . . . he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.” To me, this verse unites human endeavor with God’s sovereignty and providence. Seek God and work hard. Often, we forget one side of that equation.  

You can visit Robert online at: www.DreamhouseKings.com.

INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR ROBERT LIPARULO-PART ONE

Have you ever toured a bookstore and saw a saw a cover that stopped you dead in your tracks? Something that screamed mystery, excitement, and suspense before you’ve even picked it up? That’s what it felt like when I first laid eyes on the Dreamhouse Kings books. And let me tell you, they didn’t disappoint.

 

Recently I had the pleasure of getting to interview the author of those books.

 

Best-selling novelist Robert Liparulo is a former journalist, with over a thousand articles and multiple writing awards to his name. His first two critically acclaimed thrillers—Comes a Horseman and Germ—were optioned by Hollywood producers. His Dreamhouse Kings series has been read by thousands of teens nationwide.

 

Welcome, Robert! What was your favorite subject in high school? Your least favorite?
English—no surprise there. I’d known since third grade that I would be a writer, and sold my first published article when I was in fifth grade, so it comes naturally. By that, of course, I mean it comes from God. For a time, I was editor of my high school newspaper. I used to enjoy writing the essays that most of my classmates hated doing. But I wasn’t a geek about it. I played several sports and had my share of detentions for pulling practical jokes like wedging a VW Bug in the front entrance alcove and setting off the fire alarms. Naturally, I’d write about those things later.

I couldn’t stand math—you know, calculus, trigonometry, those insanely impractical mathematics. Maybe it’s a left-brain/right-brain thing. Unfortunately, my math teacher was also my football and swimming coach. Every poor test score meant a tougher practice. I was dumb as a stone when it came to math, but I could have competed in any Iron Man competition that came along.

It’s interesting that I was ambivalent about history. When I dove back into history for the Dreamhouse Kings books, I realized that it wasn’t history that stopped me cold, it was the textbooks we used. I think one of the requirements of writing for history textbooks was the ability to make even fascinating events dull and lifeless. When I finally got around to finding my own books to learn about history, it all came alive to me. Now I love reading about the past. Too bad those school books couldn’t have been more dynamic; I might have written Dreamhouse a lot sooner.

If you could bring any character from one of your books to life, who would it be and why?
It may be cheating, but John Hutchinson—Hutch—from Deadfall and Deadlock already is alive for me. I modeled him after my best friend since high school, Mark Nelson. He’s the game warden for Cheyenne, and one of those guys who live to be outdoors. If you dropped Mark in any wilderness in the world with just the clothes on his back and maybe a paperclip, he’d find a way to survive and make it out. Along the way, he’d build a mansion out of tree bark and moss. He’s also a good Christian. He and I have a similar approach to the Scriptures. Like C.S. Lewis, we attack them logically and debate the finer points of theology. Ours is really an iron-sharpen-iron sort of relationship.

The story of Deadfall came about because I wondered what Mark would do in a hopeless situation, in which he was isolated from the outside world and facing a bad guy who was terrorizing a small town with vastly more powerful weaponry than Mark had. Yeah, that’s the way my mind works. He would have to tap into both his survival skills and his sense of right and wrong. When I was writing about Hutch, I was really writing about Mark.

Your question is a tough one, because I think all writers fall in love with their characters. It’s hard to choose a favorite. If I could pick one to hang around with for a while, I think it would be David from Dreamhouse, but you’d have to throw in his brother Xander too. Not only do these kids help me remember my own youth, I’d love to talk about their adventures through time, and how they managed to be so brave in the face of all those dangers. They have an internal strength and a love for people that startles me. I’d ask them about that.

You have the chance to spend the day with any character from one of your favorite books.  Who would you choose and why?
It’s have to be Robert Neville from I Am Legend by Richard Matheson. It’s been my favorite book since I was twelve. None of the movies based on it has done it justice, but they’ve been good movies in their own right. Neville is a guy who’s learning to live in a world that’s violently different from the one he grew up in. He has no friends, no human companionship at all. He has to know himself really well, and he ponders all the things about mankind that is both glorious and awful. He has to survive attacks from the creatures that now inhabit the world—and the concept of survival, of finding skills and traits within yourself that you wouldn’t have known existed without an extreme situation drawing them out fascinates me. In a very real way, all of my stories explores this. Neville probably wouldn’t have very strong social skills—most likely, he’d be a downright drag, but I’d still to hang with the guy for a while.

A group of teens ask you the best way to become a published writer.  How do you answer the question?
Read everything you can get your hands on and finish every writing project you start. Reading exposes you to people and things outside your own little world. It helps teach you about the way other people behave and think and talk. It gives you glimmers of other places and ideas—all things you can incorporate into your own stories. On top of that, you learn what works and what doesn’t in storytelling.

“Finish things” is simple to say, but not so simple to do. Discipline is essential to all writers, but as creative people, we’re easily distracted, often by other stories we want to tell. But if we get in the habit of finishing things, then we have products to show agents, editors, and publishers when the opportunity comes up. The ability to finish is a big question people in the publishing business has for wannabe writers. They’ve seen so many people with great ideas who either can’t finish a story or can’t execute it well. Prove you can right off the bat. It’s the first topic I wrote about on my website of tips for writers, getitonthepage.com.

What is the one book you wish you had written and why?
Is Lord of the Rings too obvious? Besides the adventure, characters, and Christian allegory, I love the way Tolkien structured the story. It takes a while to really get into it, and the level of detail is almost painful to trudge through, but it mirrors real life so that before long, the fantasy world he created feels as real as our own. By weaving real emotions and bits of things we can relate to, he makes us forget we’re not only reading fiction, but pure fantasy. The amount of made-up detail Tolkien put into this story—from the languages to the outfits each race wears—amazes me. I wish I could spend years crafting a story the way he did. Maybe someday.

If that one’s too obvious, then I’d go for Jaws. It’s a great thriller that struck a chord in almost every reader. It changed the way we think of sharks and being in the ocean. It’s permeated our culture for decades; how cool would that be? Peter Benchley said Jaws being his first novel was both a blessing and a curse. The curse was that he spent the rest of his life trying to top himself, and he never could. But I think that’s a problem I could live with.

Do you have any pets? If so, what kind. If not, why?
Logan—named after Wolverine—is a border collie/sheltie mix. He’s a great dog. I’ve taken to calling him B.S. I like the look people give me when I call him that, but it stands for “Bear Slayer,” because he chased a bear off my property. I wish I’d gotten a picture of him nipping at this huge bear’s legs while it was scrambling to get away and snapping at him. David and Goliath of the animal kingdom. I finally pulled Logan back and the bear lumbered away, pretty ticked off.

We also have two ball pythons and a turtle. The turtle doesn’t do much more than eat, poop, and swim. But the snakes are great for ridding ourselves of guests who stay too long. Neither of them has bitten anyone, but we don’t tell people that.

You can visit Robert online at: www.DreamhouseKings.com.

That’s not all! Check back tomorrow for Part 2 of my interview with bestselling novelist, Robert Liparulo.

 

INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR C.S. LAKIN

Author Interview by Stefanie Morris

Recently, I was pushing a shopping cart at Target’s and my eyes kept wandering to the book section. Now I’d just checked out three novels from my local library. I didn’t need another one.

I bought a book anyway.

That’s when I realized I’m a bookaholic. And I’m always on the lookout for a new author.

That’s why I asked author Susanne Lakin to tell us a little bit about herself. Her first novel, The Wolf of Tebron, will be coming out in August. It’s a Christian fantasy book for teens.

But you don’t have to wait until August. Be the first to email her at cslakin@gmail.com with the words Novel Teen in the subject line and you’ll win a copy right now!

Here’s what Susanne had to say about herself and her writing.

Is writing books your “day” job or do you work someplace else?
I mostly spend my time editing books, mentoring beginning writers with their novels, and writing as much as I can. I’m blessed to be able to work at home or anywhere I can lug my laptop.

You have the chance to spend the day with any character from one of your favorite books. Who would you choose and why?
I would choose Ruyah, my wolf, in The Wolf of Tebron. He represents how God loves and cares for us. I love dogs and feel the wolf is a perfect creature to use in symbolism this way. Of course, it would be neat to have a wolf that I could really hold conversations with!

Do you have any pets?
I used to have hundreds! But now I only have a very big black lab named Coaltrane and three persnickety cats named Thelma, Louise, and Mr. Skritz. They often inspire my writing, or at very least, alter what I write by stepping all over my keyboard while I’m typing (well, not the dog!). I think they want to be authors too!

You’ve invented a new national holiday.  What’s it called, and what does it celebrate?
We Love Fantasy day! To celebrate the genre of fantasy. An excuse for everyone to dress up in their favorite character costume and parade through the streets.

Click on the cover to learn more about the Gates of Heaven series.

God tells you that you’ll never publish another book. Do you still keep writing?
Well, not if he says to stop writing altogether. And getting published is one thing, but writing is another. There is a great sense of joy and fulfillment in writing novels, and even if you never get published, you can share them with those who might need to read them. I went 23 years writing novels without getting published. I’m glad many of my books are now coming into print, but I suppose I could go another 23 years without any more hitting the bookshelves. Don’t ever write JUST to get published. Write because you love it so much you can’t NOT write. 
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Do you have a favorite Christian band?
Wow, I guess saying Jeremy Camp is a band isn’t quite accurate. He does have a band play with him, but I’d list him first. I also love Third Day. Switchfoot. I like a lot of various types of music.

What world issue are you passionate about? Why?
The biggest world issue—the impending end of this human system. So that’s why I write fantasy books that show a God who cares and who offers a hope and a future. All the other issues of poverty, misery, corruption, and every bad thing is wrapped up in this big issue—God’s sovereignty. And it affects everyone on the planet.

If you’d like to know more about Susanne Lakin, or the The Wolf of Tebron, you can check out her website at www.gatesofheavenseries.com. You can also find her under Susanne Lakin on Facebook.

See ya’ll next time!

Stefanie

INTERVIEW AND GIVEAWAY WITH AUTHOR ROBIN JANSEN SHOPE

Hi, everybody. Elisa Maria here, and I’m as happy as a bear in a berry patch to be a part of Novel Teen. I’m the mom of three and the grandmother to nine awesome kids, who are seven through fifteen years old. I live in Alaska and can see Denali out my front windows. (Breathtaking!)

I love young people. You are the life blood of the future and my heart is to encourage and lift you up, so that you will be fulfilled walking out God’s amazing plan for your life.

And now for my first post, I’m pleased to interview Robin Jenson Shope, author of Ruby Red. (And other books, but I haven’t read them yet.)

Robin, welcome to Novel Teen and thank you for agreeing to give us an interview.
It is my pleasure, Maria, thank you for inviting me.

Click to view Ruby Red on Amazon.com.

Is writing books your “day” job or do you work someplace else?
Writing is my fun job and I work some place “else.” Actually, I enjoy being the Special Education Coordinator at the Juvenile Justice System in Denton, Texas. I work with teens who have been court ordered to be here, or expelled from school. I love it when lives turn around.

When you were a teen, what were your favorite books?
I loved reading the Nancy Drew series. However, the first book I fell in love with was in its first printing at the time, Island of the Blue Dolphins. I read, and reread, that book all summer long, crying at every read as though it was the first time.

In less than 20 words, please give us your life story pitch sentence.
I grew up in Chicago and attended a private school. We summered on Lake Delavan in Wisconsin and finally moved there when I was in 7^th grade. It was there that I found happiness and came into my own. I began writing my stories.

If you could bring any character from one of your books to life, who would it be and why?
I would bring Ruby Red to life. Ruby has an interesting perspective on life and though a bit of a realist, she still has an indomitable spirit that feeds her hope. Ruby is kind, loving, and sees through people’s actions to their intentions.

What actors would your choose to star in your book-turned movie if you could choose them?
Ruby would have to be an unknown. Many of the cast members around her would be well-known, but Ruby is clearly the star. The Grand Missus would be played by Jane Fonda. Miss Marie would be Sandra Bullock. Mister Frank would be George Clooney.

A group of teens ask you the best way to become a published writer.  How do you answer the question?
Read as much as you can. It teaches you the genre and also helps with vocabulary, spelling, and grammar. Not only read books but poetry. It teaches lyrical writing. Keep a notebook of all your ideas and write them down. Don’t ever be discouraged. Keep going. When I was in 5^th grade, my English teacher never read any of my essays aloud to the class. She said they were not good enough. I didn’t allow it to crush me. Instead it fueled me.

What are your three favorite books that you’ve read this past year?
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighorn George, Missing May by Cynthia Rylant, and Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

Click to visit Robin's blog.

If you would meet any celebrity (actor, author, historical figure, etc), dead or alive (and not Jesus), who would you choose and what would you ask him or her?
I would love to meet Albert Schweitzer. When I was in middle school, he was the person I looked up to and the reason is because he gave his life to the service of others. A well-known German doctor, he gave up his lucrative practice and started a clinic for lepers in the African nation of Gabon. He had a reverence for life that not only included humans but every living creature. He was kind and had a wonderful sense of humor. A newsman traveled to Africa to speak with Dr. Schweitzer and asked him how hot it was there. The good doctor answered, “I have no idea. I don’t want to know or I wouldn’t stay.” The doctor had his organ transported to the jungle of Gabon, and at night, anyone for miles and miles, could hear his music in the sultry air.

Thanks for the interview, Robin!

You can learn more about Robin on her blog: http://write2robinshope.blogspot.com/

Also, find her under Robin Jansen Shope on Facebook and be sure to join the Ruby Red Group.

If you have questions for Robin, email her here: write2robinshope (at) yahoo.com

Robin is giving away a free copy of her book, Ruby Red, and ten mystery prizes! Leave a comment with your email address in an anti-SPAM form, something like this: elisamaria [at] yahoo [dot] com, and you will be in the drawing for a copy of Ruby Red!