Author Interview and Giveaway: Rachelle Rea

     Hey writers. Today I would like to present author and freelance editor Rachelle Rea! Rachelle's a member of both our group and the Go Teen Writers group. In addition, she's offering a special giveaway of a 10-page edit. Don't miss the opportunity to sign up for it.

     And now, on with the interview.

   Tell us a little about yourself first.

   I am a homeschool graduate who sloshed through Algebra and soared through History. I am a college girl attending a Christian university in pursuit of a Communications degree—senior year is almost upon me! I am a freelance editor who loves to perfect punctuation and is fearlessly loyal to semi-colons. 

   I blog about books, writing, and my favorite word at my personal blog, Inspiring Daring, and I can also be found on Meditations of His Love, Kindred Grace, and Adornabelle. 

     How much research do you usually put into your books?

     I write historicals, so plenty. J My writers’ group (Word Weavers) has asked me a number of times how I know all this stuff. And it’s funny because I feel like such a cheater. Some authors say they spend months researching medieval Italy or the anatomy of a WWII bomber plane. Yet I find nonfiction tomes about the Dutch Revolution dry, but I’ll consume a biography about William of Orange and come away from it with all sorts of ideas. I just search the Internet for all the itty-gritty details not included in biographies.
     In other words, there’s no way I would have survived as a novelist pre-Google. J

     What are a few interesting things you’ve studied/researched for your latest novel?

     What nuns wore in the 16^th century (habits were indeed black by then). How far a horse can travel in a day (30-60 miles, depending on the horse’s health). How deep the English Channel is (at it’s deepest, app. 400 feet). The family tree of Philip II of Spain (convoluted). How to say “I love you” in Dutch (Ik hou van jou). 

     How does your real life interact/play a role in/interfere with your writing life?

    

     Oh, I like that you categorize “real life” and “writing life” as different. At this stage of my life (for the entirety of my college/university experience), my real life and writing life have operated in cycles. During semesters, I read, research, outline my next novel, edit my last one. During Christmas Break and summers, I write like mad.

     So, to answer the question, my real life and writing life glare at each other across the room because we all know only one of them can have my attention at a time. Talk to me in a year, though; that may have changed after I’m a college-educated woman no longer bound by the rigidity of the school year. J

     What do you do when you're not writing?

     I go to the beach or blast worship songs in my truck or watch TV dramas or princess movies. At my local YMCA, I coach gymnastics to preschoolers through pre-teens. Children are my joy; stories are my passion. I read. I blog. I blog about the books I’m reading.

     When you read, what is your favorite genre?

     Historical fiction, hands-down. My tastes have stretched recently; I’ll read dystopians (Roth rocks), YA (Stephanie Morrill and Laura Anderson Kurk), and even some contemporary (Jenny B. Jones and Kristen Heitzmann).

     But I start to get cranky after a fast from historical fiction—and a plunge into a different century is the only cure.

     What keeps you motivated?

     A pink sticky note greets me whenever I open the box that holds my earliest “manuscripts” (short stories riddled with perfect protagonists and speaker tags). It says, Write like you’re ten. When I was in middle and high school, I could sit for hours with a pen and paper (I detested the computer then) and just write. Not because I thought I should, but because I loved it. I lost that for a time, but I’ve got it back again: that thirst to put a story down in all its dazzling brilliance—and then edit it until it starts to actually resemble dazzling brilliance.

     If you couldn’t be an author, what would your ideal career be?

     Can I pick something that’s still related to the publishing industry? I think I’d like to be a publicist. Becoming a book blogger/reviewer has allowed me to use my passion for great stories to get those same great stories into readers’ newsfeeds, hands, and hearts. When I fall in love with a book, I can’t shut up about it (on my blog, social media, or in real life). Doing that for a living would be amazing.

     If you could have time travel abilities and could meet anyone from any time, who would you like to meet?

     Queen Elizabeth I. She has always been my favorite historical figure, because she was daring and utterly unpredictable. I love reading her biographies. Plus, the Elizabethan era is my favorite time period in which to write, so research trip!

     If the Doctor and his Tardis showed up on my front lawn, that would be where I’d ask to go.

     And finally, where can we find you online?

     I love connecting with new friends and kindred spirits! Find me on…

     Facebook // Twitter // Goodreads // Pinterest // Google+ // LinkedIn // Inspiring Daring // My Newsletter

     From all of us at YAWA, thank you so much for being our guest today!

     My pleasure! Thank you for having me!

     And now, it is my pleasure to announce that Rachelle will be offering a 10-page edit to one lucky winner. Don't miss this awesome giveaway.

Rachelle Rea's Giveaway

Author Interview: Rachel Coker

Today our special guest is Rachel Coker, a Christian writer who I am a huge fan of.  She's a teenage writer and a graduate of homeschooling.  She writes, owns a photography business, runs a fashion blog with her sister (who sells handmade skirts), and is a pretty good artist, too.  I've read both of her books and let me tell you, they are amazing.  I'm not sure there's anything this girl can't do!

Why did you start writing? Did you always want to be a writer?

I actually wrote my first ever fiction story for a school assignment when I was in sixth grade! I was homeschooled, and my mom realized that year that she’d never had me do any fiction writing before. So she told me to write a short story and it just clicked for me. I’d always been a huge reader, and I guess that transferred over to my fiction writing skills! It was obvious I had a gift, and my mom immediately realized that she couldn’t help me develop my talent, so she hired a fiction writing coach to help me learn the craft of writing! After that, I just wrote all the time. I never seriously thought about being published, especially at such a young age, but God just sort of worked it all out that way!

What is your writing process? Do you write regularly or just when inspiration hits?

I am seriously the most sporadic writer you will ever meet. I will go days—weeks!—without writing at all, and then write five days in a row, five hours a day. I’m definitely just a laidback, busy teenage girl, and I write whenever I feel like writing! Some weeks, I’ll be incredibly inspired and I’ll just want to write all the time. Other weeks, I’ll have a lot going on and it’s just too hard to find the time. I find that if I don’t push myself, and just let my stories grow organically, I’m more creative and inspired.

What was your favorite book or author when you were younger? What’s your favorite now?

My favorite book growing up was Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. I loved that book so much as a child and it completely inspired me and made me want to write stories that would mean something to people. When I was in high school, I read Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell and that book was world-changing for me. I also was completely inspired by East of Eden by John Steinbeck. I’d say those are my three favorites.

What is your goal in writing and publishing these books?

I think that my primary goal in every book that I write is to bring glory to God. I want to show people what He’s taught me in my own life, and hopefully answer some questions people might have about faith and what it means to truly trust God. I also want to provide a clean story that young people can relate to. I’m only seventeen myself! It makes me really happy to think that other young people can read my stories and relate to them on a personal level, because they also know what it’s like to be a teenager. It’s a really cool connection I’m able to make with my readers.

Can you tell us about the publishing process? Was there anything in particular that surprised you or that was easier or harder than you expected?

It was surprising to me how many amazing opportunities I was given after I published my books. I always thought that I would write a book and then it would all sort of be over and I would just go back to writing. It’s crazy that I get to travel and do book signings and conduct interviews and meet people through my blog. It makes being an author ten times more fun and exciting.

Is there any part of writing you don’t like?

I hate how hard it is to get through a first draft. Everything feels so awkward and stilted and I constantly feel like I’m just pushing all the time to get it over with! I’m always wondering, “How many more pages do I have to write?” and “Is the story still progressing?” It’s actually easier for me to go through and do edits because I’m just cleaning things up. There’s less stress, and I can really focus on making the book better.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever Googled?

When I first got published, I would google myself periodically to see what results would come up! It was really funny because all the websites seemed to differ on what my age was (some said fourteen, others fifteen, some even younger) and there were all these awkward old photos of me from before I got professional pics done. I had to stop googling myself because it was just too embarrassing! ;)

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Write about what you know. If you’re a teenager, write about other teenagers. Write about what you personally struggle with—whether it’s self-confidence, confusion, anxiety about the future. If you’re writing about  something that you are personally passionate about, it will resonate with others, and you will create works that will transcend the test of time!

Readers can find me at my blog: www.rachelcoker.com. I’m also on Facebook and Twitter!

Author Interview: Oliver Dahl

Today, we have as our special guest the fellow Go Teen Writer Oliver Dahl!  He had so much fun with this interview, he decided to answer almost all the question options we sent!  I'll let him introduce himself.

Well, first off: hi! My name is Oliver. I have as many Tour de France wins as Lance Armstrong, and the same number of Oscars as Leonardo DiCaprio. Oh, and I have two books out. You could say I'm a pretty well-rounded person. :) Anyway, I published my first book when I was thirteen, and now, almost two years later, I have a sequel out, and a whole back list of books waiting to be written. To learn a little more about me check out my About Me page on my blog, or my amazon page.

How long have you been writing?

I've been writing since my kindergarten days of stapling printer pages together, coloring pictures, and writing stories to go along with them. I'm a fan of my "In The Dungeon You Die" book from those days... good times. :)

How much research do you usually put into your books?

It depends. For books like The Dreamers, I don't have to do very much. I did, at times, have to look up different types of guns, grenades, cars, dams, and get some information as to how certain things work in real life. In something like my upcoming book, Lies, I do a LOT. I spent an entire weekend watching videos, and surfing Wikipedia and college pages for information about the Salem Witch Trials, trial processes, characters, timelines, customs, down to the handcuffs on the hands to make it as historically accurate as possible.

Do you base events or people in your books off of your life, or your friends' and family's lives?
No, I don't do this. I oftentimes like to experience what I put my characters through, but I try to keep everything in the realm of fiction.

What was the biggest obstacle to getting published for the first time, and how did you overcome it?
I had a hard time finding a publisher. At times, I had my eyes set on a publisher for a year or so, then I would find a new one and obsess myself with them. It was only after months of looking into different publishers, and publishing types that I found what was right for me. In doing so, I learned SO much about the publishing process(es).

What is your writing process? Do you write regularly at certain times or just when inspiration hits?
I have a hard time writing when I'm not motivated to do so. I try to write regularly, but when I'm not feeling the mood, it just doesn't work. I wish there was some switch that I could push that would put me into the writing mood.

What keeps you motivated?
I tell this a lot. I stay motivated by imagining an awesome, (even unrealistic sometimes) future for whatever I'm writing. I will imagine signing the book and giving it to the hands of a reader first in a line of thousands of people waiting. I imagine success and fame, and tell myself that if I can get through this tough spot, that dream can become a reality. Of course, we shouldn't write for fame, money, or success, but because we love to. I find, however, that it's the times that I don't love to that I need to use this "technique."

Are there any books you wish you'd written?
Definitely Airborn by Kenneth Oppel. The idea is so marvelous and unique, and romantic. I love it. 

What inspired your book?  How did it all start?
All right, story time! My favorite! One night, I had a dream that I was hiding from some assassins, secret agent people under the roots of a large tree in a forest. They found me hiding and managed to get a shot at me--hitting me in the right shin with a bullet. I don't remember the rest of the dream, but I do know that when I woke up, I had a severe bruise.... On my right shin. Right where I had been "shot" in the dream! This lead me to the idea that "What if there are people who, if they get hurt in a dream, get hurt in real life?" This idea kind of spiraled into something bigger and awesome and that I call The Dreamers Series. :)

When did you first realize you wanted to write books? 

I always loved reading, and so the idea of "Write the kind of book you would want to read" really struck me. And so I just started writing the kind of story that I always wanted to have read, but it wasn't there to read... yet. I continue to do this, as I think all authors do. If they get an idea that doesn't appeal to what they would read, they won't be as excited about it. I like writing what I get excited about.


What is your book about? Target age range?
My book follows Sam Kullen, who discovers that he is a Dreamer. This means that he can live inside of his dreams. In them, he and his new friends must team together and fight against the evil Malfix, who is trying to take over not just the Dream Realm, but earth as well. Sam's adventures bring him through races, mazes, explosions, battles, and yes, the occasional cheesy knock-knock joke. :) It's aimed at kids fourth-tenth grade, but I've had second grade girls, seniors, and teachers alike all express their love for the book. I have been surprised and flattered by the much wider age range than I had intended. 


What is your goal in writing and publishing this book?
At first, it was just for fun, and to say that I had published a book. Now, it's really to help kick start my future career as an author. Getting started while not already having to pay bills is an incredible advantage, and I want to use it to my best interest. 

Is there anything that you learned during the process of writing and publishing?
I learned so much about the different publishing processes. I think I could talk about the different ways to publish for weeks on end. (In fact, I have, but for one week...) I also learned how easy and fast the self-publishing process can be.

Can you tell us about the publishing process? Was there anything in particular that surprised you or that was easier (or harder) than you expected?
Like I said before, I was really surprised how fast and easy self-publishing can be. I was also surprised by the prejudice against self-publishing. But what is really sad is that that prejudice is all too often misplaced. I strive to make it my duty to write and produce traditionally-published-quality books. I still have some work to do, but this is my goal.

Which are you - pantser or plotter?
I'm kind of both. Lame answer, I know. I definitely have a general plot. Point A to point B, down until you get to point C, and so on. But how I get from one plot point to another, I almost totally improvise. I pants it up through out my plotting. 

How many books have you written?
Well, I have two out, one in the editing process, one in the rewriting process for the second time, so... What is that? Four books. Wow, that's crazy to think about. Here's to growing that number tenfold!

What are a few interesting things you’ve studied/researched for your latest novel?
I learned that in the Salem Witch Trials, two dogs were killed after they were accused of witchcraft. (What the heck, right?) In addition, a four year old girl was also imprisoned on accounts of witchcraft. A blacksmith had to fashion her her own handcuffs because her hands were so small that they slid out of the normal-sized ones. I shuddered when I learned that, and still do when I tell people about it. 

Who is your favorite character in your book? Why?
I really like the main character, Sam, because he is the lighter side of me. However, I also really like Flitch, Sam's so-called "left-hand man". If Sam is my lighter side, Flitch is far worse. I actually interviewed both characters, and it turned out hilarious. Flitch is the sole source of all cheesy knock-knock jokes and bad puns.

Is there any part of writing that you don’t like?
The editing process. It just seems to take far too long. At the same time, it is such a pivotal, necessary part of the writing process as a whole, that it is really almost as important as writing the book to begin with. I always have to admit that with a slight grudge still being held against editing.

What’s your outlook on fan fiction?
This is a great, unique question--thanks for asking! I'm not personally a fan, as in I don't really read it. If there's one thing that Tumblr has taught me, it's that the best way to get rid of a body is to... Oops, wrong bit of Tumblr knowledge. I meant that a lot of fan fiction often goes south. However, there is some unquestionably good fan fiction out there. (50 Shades of Grey on Twilight not being one of them). On the other hand, it can be really hard to impersonate another writers' style, making it difficult for me to read. I like fan fiction that reads like it could've came from the same pen as the original author. This is just hard to do, and hard to come across. But if someone were to write a fan fiction piece for my books, I would totally read it in a heart beat. I would be ultimately flattered and would most likely love it. (Hint, hint, you other writers. Start writing fan fiction for The Dreamers! ;P)

When you read, what is your favorite genre?
The genres I write. I love modern fantasy. Bringing elements of fantasy into real life is really my passion when it comes to both reading and writing. Rick Riordan, Michael Scott, Richard Paul Evans with Michael Vey, and Suzanne Collins with the Underland Chronicles do a phenomenal job with this.

If you couldn’t be an author, what would your ideal career be?
Is it cheating to say book editor, cover creator, agent, or publisher? I really love the book publishing industry, and I want to be in it, preferably on the author side of it all, though. However, I really love creating stuff in general, so being an artist, pianist, engineer, etc., would be awesome.

If you gave one or two of your characters an opportunity to speak for themselves, what would they say?
They would probably question the fact that they are fictional characters and figments of readers' imaginations and begin to question my authority over them. Then they would take over my mind, act as me, and slowly begin to take over the world. Don't ask me how, they just would. How do you know this isn't Sam you're talking to?

If you could have time travel abilities and could meet anyone from any time, who would you like to meet?
So, like... TARDIS abilities? Assuming I can still communicate with them, (again, TARDIS abilities) I think Shakespeare would be awesome. For a long time, I would've said Houdini, because I was on a magician kick for a while in elementary school. Thomas Jefferson is my kind of guy--a total Renaissance man. He was an explorer, architect, artist, writer, president of the United States... Just an awesome guy all around. But a lot of the people I would want to talk to are still alive. (Suzanne Collins, JK Rowling, etc.) And, just because I like to play smart on questions like these, I would also like to meet myself in the future, assuming that doesn't create a time paradox and destroy everything. So...Thomas Jefferson it is.

What's the weirdest thing you've Googled?
Oh man, let me check my search history. Ok. Assuming you're not looking for strawberry marshmellow jello salad recipes, (hey, shut up!) then I would say "Weird Gifs". The results were almost up to par with the weirdness of late night Tumblr blogs.

And because I know you all want to stalk me now, I'm all over the Internet, so there's really no excuse not to be following me SOMEWHERE.
Twitter: @OliverWDahl.
YouTube: Click here to view my Channel.
GoodReads Author Page: Click here to view.
Google+: Click here to add The Dreamers to your circles.
Tumblr: check out what I think is funny at www.oliverwdahl.tumblr.com!
DeviantArt: See what I'm drawing over at www.oliverwdahl.deviantart.com
I'm on Riffle! Check out my profile.

What do you do when you're not writing?

Surf the Internet, watch movies/Netflix TV shows, (Breaking Bad, Doctor Who, Walking Dead shoutout!) play piano, blog, and vlog. 

If you could only share one piece of advice with aspiring authors, what would it be?

Keep going. I'm not going to expand too much on this. Let it fit where it needs to in your life. Just keep going. (I'm hearing Dory from Finding Nemo, now. Maybe she was onto something...)

Was there anything in particular that was special or unique about the process of writing this book that you'd like to share?

Well, I wrote it for NaNoWriMo, (National Novel Writers' Month), so the entire book of The Dreamers was written in the month of November. I even started NaNo late--almost halfway into the month! I was so pumped and eager to get a proof copy that I drove through it like nothing. Editing and publishing, etc., took much longer--almost a year.

Are you planning any other books?

Heck yeah! :) I've got a historical fiction book, Lies, that I'm hoping will be out soon. It was also written for NaNoWriMo, and needs to go through the entire editing process now. And then I also have a catalog of 40-50 different book/short story ideas waiting to be written.

What genres have you written?

Sometimes I joke about the long genre that I put my books in. I call it "Modern YA fantasy/scifi adventure." Now, if only I could fit "action" and "contains cheesy knock-knock jokes" in there. Hmm.... I also just wrote in the Historical Fiction genre, and I loved it. There is a lot less plotting that goes on, since most of that was already written for me by the sands of time. Thanks, sands of time!

Indie publishing or traditional publishing?

I have independently/self-published both of my books so far. I'm hoping to query out to Shadow Mountain Publishing (Fablehaven, Leven Thumps) later this year.

My blog: www.TheDreamersAdventures.blogspot.com

Amazon Page: Click here to check out my books!

Facebook Page: Click here to view my page.

Author Interview: Brian McBride {Giveaway!}

Today I have with me our very own YAWA admin Brian McBride!  I'd tell you more about him, but then that'd defeat the purpose of an interview ;)

Tell us a little about yourself first.

Well, I am a writer (obviously, or I wouldn’t be here ;) ) and I love to read too! I am a musician and have had years of practice on the drums, bass guitar and piano. I love to take pictures and share them with people. I like draw and will often draw creatures and characters from my stories. I recently moved to Santa Rosa, California too! The Land of Sun!

Oh, and I LOVE iced tea! Lipton, please.

If you couldn’t be an author, what would your ideal career be?

I would want to be a photographer, definitely!

Who or what has had the most influence on you as a writer?

I think Ted Dekker has been a major influence in my writing. His stories showed me how to add the sinister element to my own… especially in my thrillers. Donita K. Paul is also a major influence. In fact, I believe her DragonKeeper Chronicles are the stories that introduced me to fantasy worlds.

God has been the most prominent influence in my writing, however. When I write, my stories are always from a Christian perspective, even if the stories may not be blatantly Christian. They will always carry a Biblical message.

When you read, what is your favorite genre?

Well, my favorite genres kind of hop all around. First, it was fantasy, then horror, then fantasy again, but now I think that I’m beginning to drift toward dystopian. But that doesn’t mean I don’t adore fantasy and horror!

What was the biggest obstacle to getting published for the first time, and how did you overcome it?

The biggest obstacle for me, I think, was the money. I was self-publishing with Outskirts Press, but their packages were expensive. I am very thankful, however, for an extremely supportive extended family. All of my family chipped in with a little cash here and there to help pay for the package, and voila! Here I am!

When did you first realize you wanted to write books?

I don’t think I ever “realized” that I wanted to be a writer. I think that it just happened. I just started doing it and eventually I had finished three novels (one that I permanently shelved)!

Which are you - panster or plotter?

I’m definitely a pantser, though I’ve always wanted to be a plotter. I think that plotters are probably a lot more organized. Usually, I just let the words flow and let them lead where they may.

Are you planning any other books?

Haha, definitely! I have two more planned books in The Starcrafters’ Saga, a dystopian trilogy that I am working on, and a stand-alone horror novel. :D

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Take breaks if you feel that you are pumping out words that are not quality. When I wrote 5,000 words in one day, I was writing until 3 in the morning, but I began to feel like every word I wrote was not worth the time I put into it. So, yeah, take breaks; go for a walk, go out with your girl/boy friend, get some coffee at Starbucks, READ A BOOK.

Where can we find you online?

I am an active Facebooker, Tweeter and blogger. You can find me on www.facebook.com/authorbrianmcbride and www.twitter.com/brianmcbride96 and www.jointhestarcrafters.blogspot.com!

I'd say thanks for joining us, but that just feels weird.  You're part of 'us'!  Thanks for supporting YAWA, I guess?  Haha...

Now, the part you've all been waiting for: the giveaway!  Open to all ages, US addresses only, please.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Little Names, Big Stories: The Ordinary Princess

Little Name: M. M. Kaye

Big Story: The Ordinary Princess

Chosen by: Emily Rachelle

GoodReads Description: Along with Wit, Charm, Health, and Courage, Princess Amy of Phantasmorania receives a special fairy christening gift: Ordinariness. Unlike her six beautiful sisters, she has brown hair and freckles, and would rather have adventures than play the harp, embroider tapestries . . . or become a Queen. When her royal parents try to marry her off, Amy runs away and, because she's so ordinary, easily becomes the fourteenth assistant kitchen maid at a neighboring palace. And there . . . much to everyone's surprise . . . she meets a prince just as ordinary (and special) as she is! 

Why this story is so big to me:

(sung to the tune of "Lavender's Blue," a song from the book)

Amy is sweet, dilly dilly,

Peregrine's a dream,

The castle's a bore, dilly dilly,

Unlike forests green.

When Amy leaves, dilly dilly,

Plot twists ensue,

Love's not the plan, dilly dilly,

But 'twill find you!

Author Interview: Jill Williamson

Hello, lovely readers!  Today we at YAWA have, as our very first interview guest, the one and only Jill Williamson!  Many of you know that this blog is part of a group of graduates from the writing group Go Teen Writers.*  Jill Williamson, with the founder Stephanie Morril, runs that group and blog!

Hi Jill!  I'm so glad to have you as our first guest!  To get started, tell us a little bit about yourself. When did you start writing? Did you always want to be a writer?
I grew up in Alaska with no electricity. That gave me a lot of time to daydream. But I didn’t want to be a writer when I was little because I wanted to be a fashion designer! I went to school for fashion design and worked in the industry for a few years before I decided that it was not for me. In 2004, I took some time off, stayed home with my kids, and started writing books. My first book was The New Recruit. It took me about three years to get that first book finished. In 2009, my first published novel released: By Darkness Hid. It was the sixth novel I’d completed. Today I have written ten fiction books for publication, co-written a nonfiction writing book for teens, and co-written a series of homeschool guides for my Blood of Kings books. I primarily write young adult fantasy and science fiction. I also blog for teen writers at www.GoTeenWriters.com.

What is your writing process? 
I’m a combination panster and plotter. When I’m starting a new idea, I begin with a month or three of
storyworld building. I draw a map and simply brainstorm. Once I’m feeling confident about the world my characters live in, I think about who those characters are. Then I think plot. I’m not a hardcore outliner, but I like to have a strong story structure before I start writing. If I don’t have that, I get lost. So, once I have the outline, lately I’ve been storyboarding out the novel’s important scenes on 3X5 cards. And when I’m done, I set the stack by my keyboard and try to write one card a day. Since I sell most my books from proposals nowadays, I have to write daily to make my deadlines. I’ll usually complete the first draft, take a few days off to think, then come back and do any major revisions. Once I’m happy with the novel’s structure, I read through it and edit at least two more times before turning in my official first draft to the publisher.

What is your book about? 
Captives (The Safe Lands, book one) is the first book in a dystopian trilogy inspired by Daniel chapter one in the Bible when Jerusalem in conquered by Babylon and the young people are taken captive into the city. I recommend it for readers 14 and up. Here is a little video where I share how I got the idea for this series.



Are you planning any other books?
There will be three books in The Safe Lands trilogy. I’m also working my way through The Mission League series, which are the stories about Spencer, a reluctant spy kid, who’s investigating a Hollywood producer and his own mysterious past. And I’m in the brainstorming stages of a new epic fantasy series, which I can’t wait to start writing!

Indie publishing or traditional publishing?
Traditional. And this from a girl who started with an indie publisher. I love my experience with Marcher Lord Press, and I’m so thankful to have started there. But in my experience, traditional publishing has the potential to offer so much more to authors. Whenever I can, I’ll go the traditional route.

What do you do when you're not writing?
I hang out with my family, read, watch movies, play board games like Settlers of Catan, play my guitar, and do fun stuff with the youth group my husband runs at our church. There’s never a dull moment in my life.

Do you have any advice or resources you'd like to share for other writers?
Advice: Write an ugly first draft. It doesn’t have to be perfect. But it has to end! I meet so many writers who’ve been rewriting that first chapter for years, striving for perfection. In my experience, that’s not the best way to learn. One of my favorite writing quotes is from Michael Crichton. He said, “Books aren't written - they're rewritten. Including your own. It is one of the hardest things to accept, especially after the seventh rewrite hasn't quite done it.” It’s so true. But you can’t rewrite a book that’s not done. So learn to write fast and ugly first drafts so that you can step back and look at the thing and revise it.
Resources: Come visit the www.GoTeenWriters.com blog. It’s filled with great articles on writing related topics, and we add new content five days a week. Also, we have free downloads on our Go Teen Writers book page. (Note from Emily: This is my #1 piece of advice for authors ages 9-29 as well!)
Also, visit my author website www.JillWilliamson.com and click on the Go Teen Writers tab. There you’ll find freebies, tutorials, and all kinds of writing-related information.

Where can we find you online?
Besides www.GoTeenWriters.com and www.JillWilliamson.com, I’m also on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest. Come find me!

Thank you so much for coming today, Jill!  I can't wait to see where YAWA goes in the future, but I know we owe Go Teen Writers for so much.  Without GTW, not only would there not be YAWA - we admins would have missed out on so many lessons and great relationships!

*YAWA is not officially associated with or approved by GTW.