CLOSED HEARTS Release Day and Give Away...

Last November, I was lucky enough to score an ARC of OPEN MINDS.  You can read my review of Susan's first book in the Mindjack Trilogy here.  I've been patiently (taps foot) waiting for CLOSED HEARTS ever since I put book one down.  I'm so excited to be able share the good news with you of the second book in the Mindjack series is now available.  

I will be giving away a signed copy of CLOSED HEARTS to one random winner on my June 1st post.

Announcing the release of Closed Hearts, the sequel to Open Minds by Susan Kaye Quinn.

Book Two of the Mindjack Trilogy

When you control minds, only your heart can be used against you.

Eight months ago, Kira Moore revealed to the mindreading world that mindjackers like herself were hidden in their midst. Now she wonders if telling the truth was the right choice after all. As wild rumors spread, a powerful anti-jacker politician capitalizes on mindreaders’ fears and strips jackers of their rights. While some jackers flee to Jackertown—a slum rife with jackworkers who trade mind control favors for cash—Kira and her family hide from the readers who fear her and jackers who hate her. But when a jacker Clan member makes Kira’s boyfriend Raf collapse in her arms, Kira is forced to save the people she loves by facing the thing she fears most: FBI agent Kestrel and his experimental torture chamber for jackers.

Now available!

$2.99 Ebook at Amazon (and Amazon UK) and Barnes and Noble

Request a Kindlegraph

Paper copies available at Amazon or get signed copies from the author

Susan Kaye Quinn is the author of the bestselling YA novel Open Minds,  Book One of the Mindjack Trilogy, available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iTunes. Susan's business card says "Author and Rocket Scientist," but she mostly plays on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.

CLICK HERE to join the Virtual Party for Closed Hearts

(including bonus content for the Mindjack Trilogy and writerly guest posts) 

and/or 

ENTER TO WIN prizes below

a Rafflecopter giveaway

With A Name Like Love...(give-a-way)

This beautiful woman is Tess Hilmo.  Do you know Tess?  She writes the most thoughtful blog posts and is one of my critique partners.  We met at the Highlights Foundation Summer Workshop in Chautauqua, New York in 2008.  We immediately connected.

When I grow up I want to write like Tess... (I'm hoping that happens really soon.)  I've had the privilege of reading her beautiful words before she was signed by Steve Chudney and sold her first book.  It's been an honor to be one of her critique partners. (*waves to the rest of the WAD*)

This beautiful hardback book is now available.  

You can get it on Amazon or at B & N.  

(B& N has an outstanding price on it!)

While I was in England my copy of With A Name Like Love arrived.  I was so excited!  Any time one of your writing friends has success, it's like you have a little success and a lot more hope for your own success.

I mentioned to Tess that I would like to do a post about WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE and she said she'd like to donate a copy for a drawing (U.S. only).   She also sent me 6 beautiful bookmarks to give away (everyone is eligible).  To win,  follow Tess and leave a comment here.  I would love it if you would Tweet or post on Facebook about the give-a-way (I have those handy little buttons at the bottom on my posts.)...I want everyone to know about WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE!

Here's what Kirkus said about WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE  when it gave it a starred review...

Kirkus gives With A Name Like Love a starred review!

Hilmo creates a family, a town and a mystery that readers won’t soon forget.

In July of 1957, the Love family rolls into the tiny town of Binder, Ark. Reverend Everlasting Love, his wife Susanna and their daughters Olivene (called Ollie), Martha, Gwen, Camille and Ellen set up camp so Reverend Love can preach for three evenings before they load it all up again and head to the next small town down the road. Such is the life of an itinerant preacher’s family. But there is something different about Binder, Ark., something strange enough to cause the family to stay a while longer. Ollie meets a boy named Jimmy, whose mother is in jail for killing his brutish father. Jimmy insists she didn’t do it, but everyone else in town is convinced she did. Poor Jimmy could certainly use a friend. The Love family, particularly Ollie, cannot abide the injustice, but what can they possibly do to help? And just how long will they stay in Binder, anyway? There is, after all, a boarded-up church in the center of town needing a preacher, and Ollie, for one, would sure love to stay put for a good long while. Hilmo relishes her small-town setting and develops her characters with affection. Readers will become caught up in events as firmly as Ollie is.


A story about the meaning of home, justice and love, beautifully told. (Historical fiction. 9-12)

(Big smile!) 


 I hope you will hop over and check out Tess here and here...then wait until October 24th to see if you won a copy of WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE or a bookmark...then...if you didn't win click here or here to buy your own copy.  You won't regret it!

Steve Swinburne Drops In...A Signed Book Give-Away...and a Little Break

I’d like to introduce you to one of my special writing buddies; Steve Swinburne. I met Steve at the 2008 Highlight’s Foundation Summer Workshop at Chautauqua New York. Steve was a presenter. I believe we met the first night. Steve’s lovely wife, Heather, introduced herself and said that I could be her husband’s sister. It turned out that her husband, Steve, and I had a great deal of things in common. We both were born in London and immigrated to the United States when we were 8 and yes we do look a bit alike. We’ve gone back over old family names, but haven’t found any links…

Steve has a bachelor’s degree in biology and English from Castleton State College in Vermont. He worked as a park ranger in several national parks before he became a successful writer. He loves to travel and observe nature and wildlife. He’s been on safari in Africa, hiked in Scotland, monitored sea turtles on a Georgia island, trekked through Yellowstone in the winter and observed shorebirds in New York. Steve’s observations and adventures have resulted in a great deal of success as a writer. He currently has 27 children’s books on the market.

ME: First let me say thanks for stopping in today for a chat, Steve. Meeting you has truly been an inspiration. I know you’ve had a busy spring. How many new books do you have in 2010?

STEVE: I had three books published in this spring. It’s pretty wild; I’ve never had three books come out at the same time. Normally it’s about a book a year. The three books were: WHOSE SHOES? – A SHOE FOR EVERY JOB (a photo concept book for Pre K – 2nd grade); OCEAN SOUP – TIDE POOL POEMS (poetry book about tide pools); and my first novel, WIFF AND DIRTY GEORGE-THE Z.E.B.R.A. INCIDENT (grades 3 – 6).

ME: WIFF AND DIRTY GEORGE is your first published novel. What inspired you to write it?

STEVE: I grew up in London and my mum called me Wiff. My best friend down the road was called George. But because George was so untidy, my mum called him Dirty George. When we left England and boarded the Queen Elizabeth for New York City, I kept those two names tucked away in my head, in my heart. After writing nonfiction for over ten years, I retrieved those two childhood names and decided it was time to tell their story. In the beginning, I had no story, no plot, no characters. All I had were those two names- Wiff and Dirty George. In the process of writing the book, I discovered who they were and what story they wanted to tell.

ME: I’ve noticed that most of your books are published by Boyd Mills. Do you work with one particular editor or do you work with several?

STEVE: I have an editor at Boyds Mill Press, as well as one at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Charlesbridge.

ME: Which would you rather do? Book store signings or school visits?

STEVE: I’d rather visit schools any day. If you’re not a huge name, book store signings can be deadly. But when you visit a school, the kids have read your books, the librarian loves you and the whole atmosphere is fun and rewarding.

ME: How many school visits did you do in the last school year? What’s your favorite part of school visits?

STEVE: I average 50 to 80 schools a year all across the country from Connecticut to Texas, from Wisconsin to Georgia. The last two years I’ve been visiting schools in the Caribbean island of St. Croix. I can’t tell you how sweet it is to leave Vermont on a frigid day in February and go talk to

St. Croix students for two weeks in that tropical paradise.

My favorite part of a school visit is turning kids onto the fun and adventure of research and writing and photography. Kids love animals and I love showing them photos of bears, wolves, manatees and other animals I’ve researched. My talks are very curriculum based and teachers appreciate that I focus my presentations on my process as a writer.

ME: What book was the most fun to write?

STEVE: I really enjoyed researching and writing Ocean Soup-Tide Pool Poems because I love reciting these poems. See my website for the book at www.oceansoupbook.com And I’m having a blast writing the second Wiff and Dirty George (up to chapter 15!) It’s so fun to create this “wacky, trippy, phantasmagoric, Monty Python-esque farce!” as reviewers called it.

ME: I have a few more questions for our aspiring writers… Even though you are “living the dream” do you ever doubt yourself?

STEVE: Yes, I do doubt myself at times. I think every writer goes through some self-doubt. It’s easy to be stalled by the critic on your shoulder telling you what you just wrote isn’t good enough, isn’t strong enough. You have to push through that negative space and come out on the other side. I was rejected five and half years in a row, and I have friends who spent over ten years trying to sell something to a publisher. I learned what one publisher doesn’t like, another publisher loves. As Winston Churchill said, Never Give Up, Never Give Up, Never Give Up.

ME: You know I’m totally jealous of your research trips. Has one trip or adventure that you’ve taken in the name of research stood out over the others?

STEVE: Grey wolf research in Yellowstone National Park and swimming with manatees in Florida were highlights for me. But I am really looking forward to studying sea turtles with sea turtle scientists next spring in the Caribbean.

ME: Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring authors?

STEVE: Write something everyday or every week or every month. Don’t beat yourself up if you aren’t writing everyday. Read everyday. Keep a journal. I’ve kept a diary or journal my whole life. Fall in love with words. Write with strong verbs and interesting details. Write powerful leads. Tell a story with a beginning, middle and end. As Annie Lamott says in one of the best books on writing out there, BIRD BY BIRD, “Write a sh##ty first draft.” Take pictures. Editors like writers that can take photos. Don’t give up your day job. Marry someone with a good job and health care. Break the rules.

ME: Thank you for stopping in and visiting today, Steve. We all appreciate it when a seasoned writer takes the time out of their busy schedule to help some of us newbie’s.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

You can find Steve on his website, on his Wiff and Dirty George blog, on his Ocean Soup site, on facebook, and on Twitter. In honor of Steve’s visit I’ll be giving away a signed hardback copy of OCEAN SOUP, a signed hardback copy of WIFF AND DIRTY GEORGE, and a signed paperback copy of A BUTTERFLY GROWS. To earn an entry you must be a follower. To earn an extra entry go to Steve’s website, look at all of his books and tell me which one you wish you would have written and leave it in the comments section. (For me it is SAVING MANATEES.) For a third entry leave me a link of where you posted about Steve’s interview and my book give away on your blog. I’ll assign each entry a number and use Random.org to determine the three winners on November 30th .

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I’ll be taking a blog break. My Dad and Step-Mum are coming from England next week and then we are going to visit family for Thanksgiving (and hopefully hitting a Razorback game). I’ll miss you guys and hope that you don’t forget me…

This is a wonderful time of year to remember all the things we are thankful for. I am so thankful for the special friendships I’ve made through the blogging world. I wish you all lived in Iowa so we could get together for dinner once and a while…. Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!


Hugs to all! (and Good Luck on winning one of Steve's books...)

THE PERFECT LENGTH… (and a contest)

(Miami in February is a lot like Iowa in June...)

It’s WIP Wednesday and I’ve been pondering over something…

What is the perfect word count for a middle grade novel chapter?

Do you keep track of your word count by chapter? Are your chapters all about the same length?

When you read do you like long chapters or short ones?

One last thing (because my brain is shutting down after editing a rhyming picture book manuscript for what seems like the entire day) …Have you entered my contest?

What Is Beautiful To You? (and a contest)

Straight Lines

Wavy Lines

Thick Lines

Zig Zag Lines

 

Do you see beauty in the fruits of your labor?

 (This is our first EVER lettuce and spinach crop!)

Do you see it in your back yard? 

 These sweet babies are not in my backyard, but you can check out The Raccoon Chronicles to see loads of lovely pictures of raccoons in the Grape Ladies backyard.

Where do you see beauty? Don't forget to leave a comment HERE to enter my contest!

Not Afraid of the "F" Word...Judy Merrill Larsen Stops in for a Visit

Today I’d like to introduce you to my friend and women’s fiction writer Judy Merrill Larsen. I met Judy several years ago through Laura Bradford (Elizabeth Lynn Casey). Judy and I were on Laura’s MS walk team. (Late this month, I’ll introduce you to another one of Laura’s team members.) I hope you enjoy the interview and stick around for the drawing.


Me: Judy, ALL THE NUMBERS is one of my favorite adult books. I took it with me on to a conference. I remember crying on the plane. (Not big out loud crying, tears running down cheeks crying.) It was the best conference I’ve ever been to, but every night I was dying to get to bed so I could read your book. My roommate went straight to sleep and laid there reading and crying until 1 in the morning every night, until I finished your book. It was emotionally overwhelming. Did any particular event cause you to write it?

Judy: The idea for the book came to me when I was at my best friend's lake house and our kids were playing in the lake while we watched from the dock. A jet skier went by and I thought, "what if?" What if one of the kids had been out too far? What would that do to me as a mother? As a friend? How would I recover from something like that? The whole story just flowed from there.

Me: Judy, even though you have one published book, do you ever doubt yourself?

Judy: Of course. I think all writers struggle at times--is this manuscript good enough? Will I ever get published again? Will readers connect with my work? But you have to learn to push those doubts aside and control what you can control--and that's the writing.

Me: What advice can you give to aspiring authors?

Judy: Read everything you can--things in your genre, things in other genres--it doesn't matter, just read. And then write. Set goals and aim toward them. Don't ever give up.

Me: I’ve done several posts on writing routines and setting weekly goals. Do you have a writing routine?

Judy: Yes. I try to write nearly every day--even if it's just to tweak what I write the day before. When I'm in full writing mode, my goal is to write 1500 words a day. And I never let myself stop when I'm stuck. I always make myself write through the "dead zone" and I always try to stop when I'm excited about what comes next.

Me: I love researching, what is your favorite type of research?

Judy: I love talking to people who have "inside information"--they always give me such wonderful details and usually I'm surprised by some of the things I learn from them which not only add depth to my story but often also take me in a new direction with it.

Me: Do you have an agent? How does having an agent help you?

Judy: I love, love, love my agent. A good agent is your link to publishing. She knows which editors are looking for which manuscripts and she also knows the business side so I all I have to worry about is writing the best book I can write.

Me: Do you have a favorite book?

Judy: My favorite book of all time is TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. It's such a perfect, sweet, powerful story. And my 15 years as an English teacher really developed my love of classics--GRAPES OF WRATH, THE SOUND AND THE FURY, and THE THINGS THEY CARRIED.

Me: At this point in your career, do have a critiquing partner or beta reader?

Judy: Not officially. I have several good writing friends and we'll exchange work at times, but it's nothing formal or structured or organized.

Me: As an aspiring writer I hear that being socially available is so important. Do you do school visits? Book signings? Library visits?

Judy: Oh, my gosh, I love to visit school and libraries and book stores to meet readers and talk about books and writing. I've probably visited (in person or by phone) with close to 100 book clubs since my novel came out--it's one of my absolute favorite things to do!

I’d like to thank Judy for stopping by today. I’ll be using random.org to give away two signed hardback copies of Judy’s book ALL THE NUMBERS on Friday, June 11th at 3:00. (I know that’s an odd time, but I’m doing a cancer walk from 6 to midnight.) Here’s what you have to do: be a follower on my blog, leave a comment telling your favorite adult book (Yeah, I know most of you read young adult…), hop over and check out Judy’s blog (Not Afraid of the “F” word) and her website.

Author Interview with Eugene Gagliano and a signed book give-a-way...

I’d like to introduce you to another one of my successful writing buddies. I met Eugene Gagliano at the 2008 Highlights Foundation Summer Workshop at Chautauqua. Gene already had several published books, but came to the conference to see some old friends and get his creative juices going. Well it must have worked for him, because his book MY TEACHER DANCES ON THE DESK made the 2010-2011 Delaware Diamonds Book List (grades 3-5 category) children's choice award. You may recognize Gene’s name from your children’s AR (Accelerated Reader) list. He also was nominated for the Western Writer’s Spur Award in 2006-2007 for his book FOUR WHEELS WEST and nominated for the Indian Paintbrush Award in 2005-2006 for the SECRET OF THE BLACK WIDOW. Gene doesn’t have a blog (yet), but he has a wonderful website and I hope that you will hop over and check it out.

Me: So Gene, tell us about your most recent books.

Gene: My most recent books were released a month apart by Sleeping Bear Press, so I’d like to mention both of them. My Teacher Dances on the Desk is a collection of poems that I wrote while I was an elementary teacher. Most of the poems are humorous and address themes with universal appeal. V is for Venus Flytrap, a Plant Alphabet is written in a two tier format with a rhymed verse for each letter of the alphabet for younger children and sidebars with further or related information for older students to adults (really a book for all ages). A wide variety of topics is included such as carnivorous plants; fascinating and unusual plant facts; the importance of conservation and environmental stewardship; exotic species and their locations; and food crops and the world economy. The book is enhanced with beautiful watercolor illustrations by Elizabeth Traynor.

Me: What is your best advice to aspiring authors?

Gene: My advice to aspiring authors is to practice, be persistent, and patient. Read, read, and read the kinds of books you want to write. Join writing organizations like the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and read their bulletins, attend writing workshops, conferences and join a critique group. Networking is very important. Enter writing contests and apply for grants. Write what you feel most passionate about and believe that you can do it. Think of your rejection letters as building blocks to success.

Me: Gene, some writers have a strict writing routine, do you?

Gene: I usually like to write in the morning from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. If I’m under a contract or working on a middle grade fiction manuscript, I’ll work longer. In the afternoon I prefer to do my reading of bulletins, “how to books”, or library books. I also spend time on marketing and preparing for author presentations.

Me: Are you an outliner?

Gene: Yes, I am. When I begin a middle grade fiction book I try to state the premise of the book in a short paragraph. I make character descriptions, and then I make an outline of about a dozen possible chapters for the book. It gives me a place to start. I use the outline as a basis for the story, but I’m very flexible and once the characters take over things usually change.

Me: By the way, what is the name of your next book and when does it come out?

Gene: My editor at Sleeping Bear Press just let me know that my newest work, a board book for preschoolers titled Little Wyoming, should be released at the end of June. My other contracted book is still unnamed. Zachary Pullen, who illustrated Eve Bunting’s latest book titled Finn McCool is the illustrator. It should be released by late summer.

Me: Gene, I’ve heard that it’s important to be visible to your readers; do you go on school visits? Book signings? Library visits?

Gene: YES! As a retired elementary teacher I look forward to my school visits which are entertaining, instructional and inspiring. I’ve done over 74 school visits in my home state of Wyoming. I enjoy presenting at public libraries and do book signings. I have presented at state and regional IRA conferences, teacher conferences, book festivals, library conferences, and SCBWI workshops in Colorado, Missouri, Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

I hope you enjoyed my visit with Eugene Gagliano and that you will check out his books (and of course buy one or two)… I’ll be doing two drawings on Monday, May 24th at 5:00 for signed copies of MY TEACHER DANCES ON HIS DESK. To win a copy you must be a follower and leave a comment on this post. (It would be really sweet if you would pass on the word...)

FYI... Jackee at Winded Words is hosting a 1,000 words a day challenge for the rest of May. I’m in what about you?

LAUNCH WEEK CHALLENGE AND SIGNED BOOK GIVEAWAY...

Elizabeth Lynn Casey (Laura Bradford), author of DEATH THREADS stopped by yesterday to chat.  If you didn't get a chance to read it and enter my signed book give-away, please click over and enter.  Laura's having a cool  Launch Week Challenge (contest) of her own, so hop on over and read the rules, then run to your local bookstore with your camera and don't forget to buy her newest book, DEATH THREADS.  (There are only four copies left at the Waterloo B & N, thanks to me...)

Good luck to all!

MYSTERY AND ROMANCE WRITER ELIZABETH LYNN CASEY/LAURA BRADFORD STOPS BY FOR A CHAT… (And a signed book give-away)

Today I’d like to introduce you to a special friend; Laura Bradford or as some of you might know her as, Elizabeth Lynn Casey. I met Laura about five years ago. Our daughters went to the same dance studio in St. Charles, Missouri. The first time I chatted with Laura she was diligently typing away on an Alpha Smart and I interrupted her to find out what she was doing. I took a break from grading papers and we began to chat. It turned out she was writing her second novel FORECAST OF EVIL (one of my favorite books). I was so excited to meet a real live author…Over the years; she’s shared her journey with me and encouraged me to start writing again. We’ve celebrated her success and my successful rejections (yeah, you all know what I mean) almost always over lunch at Olive Garden. Laura and I both moved away from St. Louis at about the same time. She moved to New York and I moved to Iowa. I hope you enjoy the interview and will hop over to her websites and buy one or two of her books…

Laura has two websites: http://www.laurabradford.com/ (romance) and http://www.elizabethlynncasey.com/ (mystery)

Me: First, tell us about your most recent book? (DEADLY THREADS was released today!)

Laura: DEATH THREADS, the second book in my Southern Sewing Circle Mystery Series, is a fun book! And by fun, I mean, fun! The people of Sweet Briar, South Carolina have long prided themselves on a history that saw them rising from the ashes (at the hands of Yankees during the Civil War) in Cinderella-style. It's a history they've prided themselves on for over a century.

It's also a history that's been wrong...a fact uncovered by local author, Colby Calhoun.

The truth isn't quite so pretty.

And for Colby, it could prove deadly.

Me: Could you tell a little about how your path to publication?

Laura: I wrote my very first book, JURY OF ONE, while raising two small children. It took me five years to write that book. I sent it (first) to a small press who was relatively new at the time. They responded after a few months with a no, but a desire to look at it again if I made some changes. Six months later, I sent it back and got a deal. I wrote three books for them--all of which were picked up for Harlequin's Worldwide Mystery direct to consumer book club. In 2008, I was contracted by Berkley Prime Crime to write their new Southern Sewing Circle Mystery Series. Two months later, I secured my first of three contracts (so far) with Harlequin American Romance.

Me: Even though you are “living the dream” do you ever doubt yourself?
Laura: Sure. When SEW DEADLY first came out and I realized how visible it was in B & N's across the entire country, I got worried. Could I sell that much? Would I fail?

I'm happy to say I did fine...hitting B & N's mass market mystery national best seller list at # 5 for the first few weeks along with other national lists as well. That said, I'm sure I'll panic again. With each new book.

Me: Best advice to aspiring authors?
Laura: Write every day. Read, read, read. And listen to your gut (but make sure it's your gut your hearing and not your pride).

Me: How did you get your agent?
Laura: I was already published with a small press when I got my Agatha nomination in 2005 and a book club deal with Harlequin's Worldwide Mystery. Those things--coupled with a fun (and complete) manuscript for a chick lit novel--caught the interest of several agents. I chose the one I thought would be best for me and then we joined forces. Sadly, that chick lit manuscript didn't sell (though it did earn some great rejections). But, as you can see, I've keeping busy with other projects.

Me: Do you Twitter? Blog? Facebook? Make your own book trailers?

Laura: I blog Monday-Friday on my website: http://www.elizabethlynncasey.com/

I also have an Elizabeth Lynn Casey page on Facebook (which I enjoy).

And I do twitter, but mostly via my Facebook page.

Me: Do you have a writing routine?
Laura: I am a morning writer. It's rare I write in the late afternoon/evening unless I'm on a tight deadline. And I find that I like to write away from home (Panera is a favorite) during the early part of the book when distractions at home affect me too much.

Me: Are you an outliner?
Laura: No. Every time I try to write with an outline, the characters take over and do what they want anyway.

Me: Typically, how long does it take you to write your first draft?
Laura: 2 months.

Me: Do you have a favorite book?
Laura: Mary Higgins Clark's A CRY IN THE NIGHT is the book that made me want to write mysteries rather than the children's books I'd always envisioned.

Me: At this point in your career, do have a critiquing partner or beta reader?

Laura: No. I have a goal/motivational partner...but in terms of critiquing my work?No.

Me: What is the name of your next book and when does it come out?

Laura: My next book is a romance and it will come out in July. A Mom for Callie will be part of the Harlequin American Romance line. It will be in stores (Borders, Wal-mart, K-Mart, etc) for one month starting July 12th. After that, it's only via online venues like www.eharlequin.com until it sells out!

Me: Do you have manuscripts in a file that you haven’t queried or submitted to anyone yet?
Laura: I have a suspense novel that is done--start to finish--but still needs a good 20 K increase. It's a fabulous concept and could really be something fun. The stumbling block is finding time to complete it between contracts. But I will. Soon.

Me: Do you do school visits? Book signings? Library visits?
Laura: Absolutely! I love doing all of the above!!! Especially school visits! It's my way of paying it back!

Me: When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
Laura: I knew I wanted to be a writer when I was ten. I was playing at a friend’s house one day (it was raining) and we'd run out of things to do. So she got out a stack of paper and said we should write a children's story. I did... And from that moment on it's all I've ever wanted to do.

Me: How did you celebrate your first sale?
Laura: My very first sale, ever? That would be my first small press mystery and I remember a drawing my kids made for me and a balloon. It was special!

Me: Mystery and romance are quite different. How difficult was it to switch genres? Did you have to spend a lot of time reading romances?
Laura: It wasn't as difficult as I would have thought. I just trusted my muse when writing the first romance and it didn't steer me wrong. I did read fairly extensively in the line I wanted to sell to, but more for feel than to truly analyze.

Me: Where do you find inspiration for your novels?
Laura: The radio, primarily. Those little 5-10 second newsbytes they run through in the morning between music sets. LOVE those!

I hope you enjoyed getting to know Laura. She’s just wonderful!

Now for the fun stuff…Leave a comment and get one entry, post a link on your blog (leave me a link, please) and you get another entry, go to Elizabeth Lynn Casey’s blog post for today (5/4/10) and leave a comment about this interview and you get a third entry! (I’ll hop over there on Friday and add entries from there.) I’ll assign you a number for each entry and then use random.org to select four winners. Each winner will receive one signed book. I’ll announce the winners on Friday around 5 p.m. Good luck, everyone!

LAST CHANCE TO ENTER MARY CASANOVA'S DRAWING...

You are almost out of time...You have a few hours left...So click on the link and enter...You could win a signed American Girl Book!  CHRISSA & CHRSSA STANDS STRONG were written by my friend Mary Casanova.  She was gracious enough to be my first interviewee and sign two books for a give-a-way.

 I'll announce the winners tomorrow night.  You have until 5pm CST tomorrow to enter.

Good Luck!

AMERICAN GIRL DOLL AUTHOR MARY CASANOVA DROPS BY TO CHAT...(and two lucky commenters will win signed copies of CHRISSA and CHRISSA STAND STRONG)

Mary Casanova lives in Ranier, Minnesota and is an award-winning children's author of picture books and novels, including several American Girl Doll novels. Many of her books are based on her life on the Minnesota-Canadian border, but some of her books have taken her as far away as France, Norway, and Belize for research. I had the privilege of meeting and befriending Mary in July of 2008 at the Highlights Foundation Summer Workshop.

Mary Casanova was voted (unanimously) as an honorary WAD member when we met her at the Highlight's Foundation Summer Workshop at Chautauqua in July of 2008.

I'd like to thank Mary for taking the time to stop by Random Thoughts to visit with us...and I hope that she'll forgive my techno skills, as I was unable to copy the photos from her awesome website, so I had to get creative with my camera...

Me: First, tell us about your most recent book?

Mary: Last year was big for me with the release of CHRISSA and CHRISSA STANDS STRONG with American Girl. Not only did I celebrate the release of two books with the “Girl of the Year” Chrissa doll for 2009, but an HBO-American Girl movie came out based on my stories. It meant lots of touring around the country, lots of book signings with American Girl fans. And though it was at times exhausting, I always consider it an honor and great opportunity to be asked to write for that company.

Me: Can you tell us about your American Girl Doll experiences?

Mary: I was first asked to write for them after publishing an historical novel, called CURSE OF A WINTER MOON, set in France in the 1500s. Shortly after my book came out, American Girl launched a series called “Girls of Many Lands” with stories and characters from around the world. They were looking for an author who could write a convincing story about a girl at the palace of Versailles during the time of King Louis XIV. And of course, I said “oui, oui!” I spent a week at the palace, roaming inside and out, to do research and find my story, which ended up being called CECILE: GATES OF GOLD. (Now that the series is out of print, I have hundreds of copies on hand, so if anyone needs a signed copy for $6 plus $3.50 shipping, just e-mail me via my website: http://www.marycasanova.com/).

Me: What is your role in the development of the dolls?

Mary: Before I write a story, American Girl asks for a few parameters. For JESS, set in Belize, I knew I would be writing about a 10-year old girl going on an archeological dig with her parents. They wanted an adventurous story with the potential for my character to have her own passport and some outdoor experiences, such as camping or canoeing. Hair color and eye color—the least important to me—are determined by AG. But I get to discover my character and her story, and that’s what keeps me writing for them. I still have the freedom to write a story that I care about and that comes from within (informed by lots of research, of course.)

Me: What is the most interesting place you’ve traveled to for research?

Mary: Interesting? That’s hard to say. Each location has been immensely interesting. I loved Versailles, and trying to imagine palace life in l711. I loved tyorropean History when I was in college, but writing a novel about a specific time and place in history is nearly like time-travel. While writing and researching the novel, I “lived” that setting.

Equally interesting: the jungles of Belize, camping in caves, scaling the Mayan pyramid structures, roaming archeological sites... My discomfort with poisonous snakes and spiders helped me write about a character who thinks she’s very brave and adventurous, until she finds herself in the jungles with its dangers and discoveries. Everything Jess does in the story, I pretty much experienced first, including getting bitten by fire ants. Ouch.

But how can I forget going to Norway? I did a research trip to the western coast, exploring islands and fjords, so I could write THE KLIPFISH CODE, set in Norway in WWII.

With Norwegian ancestors, I felt completely at home in that country, yet stunned by the breath-taking beauty—and the courage of its citizens during a brutal five-year occupation.

Me: What is the name of your next book and when does it come out?

Mary: THE DAY DIRK YELLER CAME TO TOWN is a picture book, illustrated by Ard Hoyt, about a restless, probably ADHD, cowboy. It starts out, “The day Dirk Yeller came to town, the wind curled its lip, the cattle quit lowin’ and the tumbleweeds stopped tumblin’ along.”

Those are the very lines that I woke up with in my head a few years back. I was in NYC with my husband, ready to visit editors the next day. I don’t as a rule cultivate ideas during the middle of the night, but these words came so clearly into my head that I stepped into the bathroom and wrote them down. I was sure that the next morning it would amount to nothing. But before leaving for appointments the next morning, I sat down and had to framework of the whole story in my head. Dirk Yeller is misunderstood, restless, and looking for something to stop his “itchin’ and twitchin’”… A boy named Sam, who has been in some trouble of his own, identifies with Dirk and eventually risks stepping into the outlaw’s shadow. He leads him to the one place that has always helped him—the new Carnagie Library in town. At first Dirk isn’t a real good reader, but Sam helps him sound out words, and soon the outlaw is reading and sitting still. Well, you get the idea! This story came as a gift. I have no other explanation, other than I also have years of writing and working this craft to be receptive when a good idea strikes.

Me: Where do you find inspiration?

Mary: I love to get away from my desk and get outside. My favorite way to relax is to trail ride with Charlie, my husband. It’s a time when my mind is completely focused on our horses and the natural world.

I believe we need “moodling time” (Eudora Welty’s description of writers needing time to putter) so that our subconscious brains can work at their best. So whether it’s baking cookies, playing the piano, relaxing with a good book, getting outside for a hike—I trust that I will do better writing after getting time away from it. And all of the time away is potentially time when new ideas can strike, when new experiences may lead to a new topic of interest.

If you have a specific question for Mary, you can email me (skmayh at q dot com) and I'll pass it along to Mary. I'll send you a response when Mary's able to get back to me. Right now she's on a speaking tour.

I'll be drawing a for a signed copy of CHRISSA and a signed copy of CHRISSA STANDS STRONG. To enter be a follower, leave a comment and go check out Mary's blog. I'll choose two winners using random.org on Tuesday, April 27th.

In case you haven't been over to Susan's blog lately, she's having an awesome contest.  She's giving away bookstore gift cards...what could be better than that (well other than winning signed books)!