How to use this Page

I LOVE this post by ‪#‎YAlit‬ author Ava Jae On The Lack of Chronic Illness Rep In YA, and I’m honored that she included Parallel Visions in her list. We need to change the message that’s out there in YA lit for chronically ill teens: that their stories are only worth telling if they die or have a miracle cure. Chronically ill kids and teens can be heroes in their own right. I wrote Parallel Visions after getting asthma. It’s terrifying to feel like you can’t breathe. But chronic disease has nothing to do with us being strong, intelligent, empathic beings who can be heroes and have adventures, too.

Read her fantastic post, book suggestions, and reader comments on more book suggestions.

Add a Comment

Happy Pride Week from Petal and me! I wish you pride and a feeling of rightness in who you are–always. I hope you find many, many friends who celebrate you and love you for who you are. And I hope you celebrate the freedoms we have and that we’re still fighting for, hope you celebrate love and the right to be who we are, in whatever way you choose to. Happy Pride!

Add a Comment

STAINED comes out in paperback today! I’m excited and happy. (Grinning) Like I did with SCARS, I drew on some of my own trauma and healing to write STAINED.

In STAINED, Sarah thinks she knows what fear is-until she’s abducted. Now she must find a way to save herself.

Sarah is a strong girl character who grows to recognize her own strength. And just like I had to, Sarah must rescue herself over and over again until she’s finally safe. I know that you can save yourself, too, if you need to. You are stronger than you know.

I’ve been so excited that I had to take another pic with my “Sometimes you have to be your own hero” T-shirt–the tagline from STAINED and a theme in most of my books–and the paperback copy of STAINED in my hand. (Grinning)

My lovely 94-year-old neighbour Nan took the photo, and though you can’t see her, Petal is on the sofa behind me. (Smiling)

If you want one of the special message T-shirts or hoodies you can order at http://www.teespring.com/cherylrainfield and when there are 20 orders they will print again.

Add a Comment

Welcome rgz Diva Melissa Walker

 Melissa's here to tell us some Series Secrets about Dust to Dust 

 ~Dust to Dust is the mysterious, thoughtful, and poignant sequel to Melissa Walker's haunting and heartbreaking novel Ashes to Ashes.~



-Did you run up against any roadblocks as you wrote Dust to Dust? Anything you wished you set up differently in Ashes to Ashes?

No roadblocks really, but there’s a new character who appears in Dust to Dust and I really enjoyed him, so when he came along, I wished he had been part of the duology from the beginning, just because he was such fun!

 -What did you enjoy most about writing book two?

The contemporary setting of book two, as opposed to the otherworldly feel of book one, is much more my comfort zone. Having the characters in school, driving around, at home and in Charleston was easier for me than having them in the Prism, which was a world somewhere between Earth and Heaven. So I enjoyed that ease.

-What would you like readers to take away from this book?

Dust to Dust deals a lot with holding onto pain, and how important it is to be able to let go and enjoy the present moment rather than grappling with past slights or sadnesses. I always hope that readers who've grown to like the characters feel that everyone’s in the right place at the end. I never tie things up perfectly, but I do try to have everyone in a place where we’re okay saying goodbye to them by the last pages.

About the book: When Callie McPhee miraculously recovers from a tragic accident that should have taken her life, she thought her connection to the ghost world would be severed forever. And that she would never see Thatcher—the ghost she fell in love with in the hereafter—again. But when she receives unexpected signs from Thatcher, she's led down a dark road toward the angry souls who once tried to steal her soul's energy for another chance at life. Now Callie must prevent the real world and the spirit world from colliding, and that could mean saying good-bye to people she'd never imagined she'd lose.

More about Melissa Walker here

Dust to Dust, Katherine Tegen Books. out May 5th! Get the book here

Add a Comment

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Speak out when you can. Support survivors. Take gentle care of yourself. I do. smile emoticon

-Cheryl Rainfield, author of SCARS, STAINED, and HUNTED, and incest, rape, and torture survivor.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Speak out when you can. Support survivors. Take gentle care of yourself. I do. smile emoticon

-Cheryl Rainfield, author of SCARS, STAINED, and HUNTED, and incest, rape, and torture survivor.

Add a Comment

STAINED releases in paperback on May 11th! To celebrate, I’m hosting this contest. Share to win 1 of 3 Limited Edition T-shirts, or a Limited Edition T-shirt plus a signed copy of SCARS, STAINED, and HUNTED.

To enter: Share one or both contest images; copy & paste this paragraph; follow Cheryl Rainfield (on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter); and tag @CherylRainfield. This contest is to celebrate STAINED paperback releasing May 11th! T-shirts are also available for purchase at teespring.com/cherylrainfield Full contest rules on CherylRainfield.com/blog.

Twitter contest tweet: “Share to win 1 of 3 Inspirational T-shirts plus 3 signed books by @CherylRainfield” (or whatever message you want as long as you tag me and include the contest image).

You get 1 entry for each social media you share this on. Remember to tag CherylRainfield so I can see your entry.

You get 10 entries for each copy of STAINED that you buy. Yes, this includes any copy you’ve already purchased, in any format. Email a receipt to Cheryl(at)CherylRainfield(dot)com

T-Shirt has two inspirational quotes–one on the front, and one on the back.

Open to US, Canada, UK, and New Zealand readers.

Contest ends March 30, 2015 at Midnight EST.

Winner will be chosen randomly using the Random Number Generator.

Add a Comment

If you’ve read my books or interviews about me, you’ll know that I write about strong-girl (and emotionally strong boy), and that I draw deeply on my own trauma and healing. I had to save myself over and over again until I was finally safe, and I had to draw on my own strength to survive. I believe we are often much stronger than we think we are, and sometimes we don’t know just how strong we are until we’re faced with painful situations where we have to draw on our own strength to cope.

STAINED comes out in paperback on May 11! To celebrate, I’m releasing these limited edition T-shirts and hoodies. One quote is on the front, and one on the back. They’re available for pre-order now.

You ARE strong. Remind yourself or let someone you love know you believe in them.

Add a Comment

Welcome, welcome, welcome. Its Author Interview Thursday and another wonderful opportunity to get to know an author whose shaking and baking somewhere on God’s green earth. Today’s special guest comes from the beautiful nation of New Zealand. She’s a first time author and her book – Fraud & Fabrication – was published a couple of days ago. She’s encountered some unique challenges on the road to getting her novel published and I’m so excited she gets to spill the beans on how she navigated those speed bumps. She’s also an avid reader and blogger and does all she can to support writers. She’s ready and I know I’m ready, so without further ado, please join me in welcoming KD Forsman.

 

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and the first time someone complemented you on something you had written.

I was born in the UK and immigrated to New Zealand with my family at the age of four. I have lived in the Waikato region which some may know as ‘middle earth’ from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. For most of my life I have been a keen horsewoman, and enjoyed a range of equestrian activities, dressage, endurance, hunting and everything in between. I have a wonderful husband and between us we have four grown up ‘children’, so I guess we’re your typical empty nesters. These days our ‘babies’ are our two dogs; Max, a fox terrier, and; Jimmy Choo, a Chihuahua cross.

I’m a project manager by day and a freelance writer, blogger and ebook author by night. I have done a lot of voluntary work in the past for organisations including; Arts Waikato and Riding for Disabled, which involved writing content for their website and newsletters. Fraud & Fabrication is my first attempt into the unfamiliar territory of fiction writing… as for complements; I’m sure my readers will be quick to judge either way!

  

What can a reader expect when they pick up a book written by KD Forsman?

A book that is readable and one that they can relate to.

Fraud & Fabrication is centred a wealthy racing family and reveals that underneath the veneer of success, the Leighton’s have everyday issues, drama, personality clashes and family secrets. It is spiced with a bit of romance, but the book is not a classic romance novel in the true sense of the word; the genre would be more women’s contemporary drama. Whilst I hope the story is entertaining for my readers, the underlying theme is about uncovering the truth and making a life changing decision… rightly or wrongly.

  

Your first book – ‘Fraud & Fabrication’ has just been released. Can you tell us about any challenges you encountered while writing and how you overcame them?

My biggest challenge was writing the love scenes. It took me a month to get past one particular chapter, but in the end I threw caution to the wind and just went for it. Then I let a girlfriend read it (big mistake) and I ended up re-writing it completely. After wasting a lot of time and angst, on something that really didn’t matter; I finally came to the conclusion that you should never let close family or friends read your draft until it is completed. Big lesson for a newbie!

 

Can you tell us a little bit about Fraud & Fabrication’ and if you’ll consider doing a series?

Fraud & Fabrication is the first of the Leighton Park series, about the wealthy and eccentric Leighton family, their successful horse racing empire and their closely guarded family secrets.

I knew I had to get serious about my writing when I realised the characters in my head were not going to leave me in peace. They’re a bunch of crazies, but they’re my crazies. A couple of story ideas had been percolating in my imagination for a number of years. In the end I thought it would be interesting to mush them all together and see what I could cook up. The result is Fraud & Fabrication. Seeing this book through to fruition was amazing and even I was surprised at how the ending turned out.

 

How critical was having a copy editor/proof-reader in getting your book published?

Absolutely paramount. As mentioned, I let a couple of close friends/family read the first draft which did sway the final product. However this feedback was nothing compared to the ‘polish’ a professional editor was able to provide me with. Despite the fact that I’d read and re-read, spell checked and triple checked my manuscript before I sent it to my editor; she was still able to provide huge improvements to the overall readability of the story. She also picked up numerous errors and typos that I had overlooked. As writers we can be completely blind to our common mistakes – it’s just the way we are wired. I got huge value from an independent, professional editing service and would never ever skip this step. I want my readers to enjoy a quality product when they order and read my books.

  

What three things should writers avoid when writing dialogue?

1. Being too formal – not writing how the character would speak
2. Overuse of dialogue tags – he said, she said, John said etc.
3. Underusing dialogue. Dialogue is a great way to set the pace of the story and get important information across quickly, keeping the reader interested and engaged with the story.

  

What book or film has the best dialogue that inspires you to be a better writer and why?

Gosh that was a hard question! 

Film – I’d have to say Silence of the Lambs; “A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.”

Book – One I read recently which was extremely memorable was Gone Girl; it had a great dialogue, fantastic plot which kept the reader guessing all the way to the end.

Gone Girl’s parody Go Away Girl was equally as good, extremely witty with some memorable laugh out loud moments – I’d definitely recommend both books, read the real one first!

 

Toy Story or Shrek?

Shrek without a doubt. I can so relate to the princess and the donkey.

 

You’ve been blogging since 2008. What have you found paramount in maintaining a successful blog.

1. Writing on a topic I enjoy
2. Regular posts – at least one post per week
3. Being generous with my time for others. I offer a free book tweeting service for fellow authors and this has really helped build a readership for my blog. In an information rich society, the only way to stand out from the crowd is to be willing to truly engage with others and pay it forward.

  

What three things should a first time visitor to New Zealand do?

New Zealand is a unique location with something to suit every age and stage… I found it exceptionally hard to narrow down three things, but here goes;

• Trout fishing at Lake Taupo
• Surf lessons in Raglan (home of the legendary left hand break and black sand)
• Annual Marlborough Food & Wine Festival

 

What can we expect from KD Forsman in the next 12 months?

I am hoping to finish the second book of the Leighton Park series which will centre more on one of the more colourful characters from book one, who else but the amazing Cheree! She has so many layers to her, I’m looking forward to unravelling that a bit further and seeing what we can find.

 

Where can readers and fans connect with you?

Email               [email protected]

Web                 www.kdforsman.com

Twitter             https://twitter.com/mybookreviewsnz

Facebook         https://www.facebook.com/kdforsman

 

Any advice for authors out there who are either just starting out or getting frustrated with the industry?

Do what it takes to get the job done!

For me, that meant scoping out the entire outline of ‘Fraud & Fabrication’ before I wrote a single word. It made it so much easier and gave me a roadmap to let the story unfold. It also made a huge difference to my writing and helped me take my story from an idea concept to an actual plot to a first draft. This worked for me, but I realise that everyone is different. I made a conscious choice to get serious about my writing in May 2014 and worked with ‘book midwife’ Maria Carlton to get me on the way to completing my first draft. Without that help, I’d probably still be thinking about it now.

I read somewhere recently that to be a successful author, you need to write more books. I totally believe this, and realise now that publishing my first book doesn’t mean ‘I’ve now made it’ as an author!

 

I couldn’t agree more with you Karen. This writing gig is definitely a journey and not a destination. I loved what you said about having a copy editor being paramount to the success and completion of your book. I think sometimes copy editors and proof readers are sometimes the unsung heroes who can make all the difference to a novel. You can enter to win a copy of Fraud and Fabrication on GoodReads. If you can’t wait, feel free to grab a copy on Amazon. Remember to leave a comment below and share this interview using the Social buttons.

Display Comments Add a Comment

Do you love my books? Do you want to read even more books by me? Here’s how you can help me (and other authors you love):

Buy a copy of our books. Publishers look at sales when they’re considering publishing a new book by an author. If the previous books don’t have good sales, another book by the same author might not get published.

If you can’t afford a copy, then please request it at your local library. Most librarians are happy to order in books that readers request.

Post a review–it doesn’t have to be long, even a sentence or two–on Amazon, especially, and also B&N, GoodReads, etc. Reviews help other readers find the book. This is one of the most helpful things you can do, and authors really appreciate it.

Post your review on social media: your blog, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. This again helps other readers find the book.

Post a photo of the book, or the book and you, a book and your pet, etc. to social media. This also helps get more reader interest.

Recommend it to your friends. I know I love hearing about books my friends have enjoyed, and your friends likely do, too.

Request a copy at your local library.If there are a lot of requests for a book, a library may order more. Or, if there haven’t been any previous requests, they may order a copy.

Recommend it to a book club.If you or a friend is reading in that genre, why not let others know about it?

Ask your local bookstore where the book is located. This may help to gain more bookstore interest in the book.

Add it to your to-read or other lists on GoodReads.You may help someone else discover a book they’d like to read.

Re-post an author’s book tweets, posts on Facebook or Instagram or other social media.

If you like a tweet or post, it helps to re-post it; many more people will see it and perhaps look up the book.

If you especially love my books, sign up for my newsletter or join my street team (where you can sometimes win prizes, hear news first, read a free short story, and more.

If you do any of that, know you have my deep appreciation and thanks.

Add a Comment

With each passing page I read in this book, the lump in my throat got bigger and bigger. 

The Fault in Our Stars is a book I feel privileged to have read and would whole-heartedly recommend for everyone to read.

There’s nothing inherently new about the tale being told here. Boy meets girl and falls in love with girl who falls in love with boy despite some very challenging circumstances. Where this book differs from most books out there trying to tell the same story is the way the author – John Green – beautifully captures the voice of the main protagonist, Hazel Grace and makes us FEEL every single high and low moment she suffers as a normal teenage girl but diagnosed with terminal cancer. Augustus Waters a.k.a. Gus, is the very charming and attractive gentleman who captures Hazel’s heart. Gus’s passion for life is very contagious and it fills every page. I have to say there was a very, very important moment in Amsterdam that really took me by surprise and I had to go back to reread the previous pages. It almost slid under my radar but it was a MOMENT and I feel like the author could have made that moment more impactful as it changed everything. Readers of the book will know what I’m talking about. Maybe it’s just me but that moment deserved more bells and whistles… in my humble opinion.

You will find many laugh out loud moments plus quite a few ‘Oh No!’ moments as you read this book. There are many positive and inspiring messages to be found here. I think it’s a celebration of life and a celebration of love. I’ll give myself a few months before watching the movie as I’m not yet ready to have Hollywood dilute the experience.

A MUST-READ! Please do grab a copy today. 

Add a Comment

Pay attention to the good in your life. You may have more than you realize.

It’s easy to pay attention to the painful moments, the hard things, the things that bring you down. They grab our attention, grip us tightly, tear at us. And sometimes, especially if we’ve had a lot of pain, abuse, or trauma in our lives, it can be hard to notice the good things that happen. The little things and the big things that all add up to help us appreciate being alive.

The hug from a friend. The friendly lick from a cat or dog. The smile from a stranger. Someone telling us they appreciate our work. Someone telling us we have a nice smile. Laughing with friends. Good food. Finding that book we want. Reading a good book. Time with friends.

I’m going to try to make an effort to focus more on the good in my life–and I hope you’ll join me.

---

This can be a hard time of year for many people, so I thought I’d post more positive messages for people again–selfies along with the messages, so people can see the person (and author) behind the message. I think it helps make it more personal and real.

I will try to post photos most days of December for you all. Let me know if you like this idea.

And if you like this post, if it speaks to you, I hope you’ll share it with others. You can see them on all www.CherylRainfield.com/blog

#cherylrainfield #YAwriter #YAlit #writer #iReadYA #YAsaves #booklover #bookworm #booknerdigan #quote #inspiration #authorquote #writerlife

Add a Comment

Find what gives you joy–and do it.

If you were abused or suffered trauma, it may be hard to feel joy or even imagine it. But you have the potential to inside you. I think we were all made to feel and to find great moments of joy.

Try connecting with the child inside you, the young, innocent part of yourself who can look at the world with wonder–can see the sparkle of light on the snow and find it beautiful, delights in a rainbow in the sky, in blowing bubbles or getting and giving a hug, playing with a pet, finding a good book. Try to stay with the wonder, the happiness, the joy. And when you find it, do more of it. (smiling)

I think it’s easy to forget to find joy, the harder we work or the more responsibilities we have, or the more hard and painful things we’ve been through in our lives. But that’s when it’s all the more important to find joy, and to do the things that give us joy.

I hope you keep seeking out joy, doing things you love, things that make you happy. You deserve that. Happiness and joy.

---

This can be a hard time of year for many people, so I thought I’d post more positive messages for people again–selfies along with the messages, so people can see the person (and author) behind the message. I think it helps make it more personal and real.

I will try to post photos most days of December for you all. Let me know if you like this idea.

And if you like this post, if it speaks to you, I hope you’ll share it with others. You can see them on all www.CherylRainfield.com/blog

Add a Comment

Notice the love around you. Take it in. You may have more love around you than you know. I get love from friends and from my little dog Petal, and they all make up my chosen family. I’ve also experienced kindness, acceptance, and compassion from strangers, acquaintances, and friends, and to me those are all forms of love.

I didn’t grow up with love. My parents abused and tortured me, and so did many other family members and their friends. I was bullied as a child and teen. I was taught to hate myself. So it became hard for me to trust that people could actually like me, never mind love me. But people (and animals) do. And I know they do for you, too.

This time of year especially, or any time that is hard for you, it’s important to take in the love, to not let it bounce off your defenses or reject it.

Notice the love, kindness, and compassion around you. Take it in and really embrace it. You deserve that love, and you’ll feel happier taking it in.

---

This can be a hard time of year for many people, so I thought I’d post more positive messages for people again–selfies along with the messages, so people can see the person (and author) behind the message. I think it helps make it more personal and real.

I will try to post photos most days of December for you all. Let me know if you like this idea.

And if you like this post, if it speaks to you, I hope you’ll share it with others.

Add a Comment

You matter. You really do. You might not see right now how many lives you touch–just by a kind word, a smile, listening to friend or loving someone, telling someone something they need to hear right at that moment–but you matter. Everything you do and say affects someone, and you have a place in this world.

I hope you can treat yourself with the same kindness, compassion, and love that you do your friends and other loved ones. Hope you realize that you matter, and it’s good you’re here.

---

This can be a hard time of year for many people, so I thought I’d post more positive messages for people again–selfies along with the messages, so people can see the person (and author) behind the message. I think it helps make it more personal and real.

I will try to post photos most days of December for you all. Let me know if you like this idea.

And if you like this post, if it speaks to you, I hope you’ll share it with others.

Add a Comment

Trust yourself. You know what you need. We’re given constant messages from the media about what we need and how we should be. But we are each individuals, influenced by our past experiences–and we are not all the same. I’m queer. You might not be. I need to write, to have a voice through my writing, and to reach others. Maybe you have a voice in a different way. I need to talk about traumatic or painful things with trusted friends and a therapist–but sometimes I need time to think about them first. I also need time for fun, play, and hugs. Maybe you’re different. I love time to myself to read. Maybe you don’t. I need time with friends, but I also need quiet time. Figure out what it is you need, and follow that. Listen inside, and your heart will tell you what you need–to be happy, to be safe, to take care of yourself.

---

This can be a hard time of year for many people, so I thought I’d post more positive messages for people again–selfies along with the messages, so people can see the person (and author) behind the message. I think it helps make it more personal and real.

I will try to post photos most days of December for you all. Let me know if you like this idea.

And if you like this post, if it speaks to you, I hope you’ll share it with others.

Add a Comment

Comments from readers like these two–by Miracle and Annie–are a HUGE part of why I write. It is incredible to hear that my books help people stay alive and get through hard times, or stop cutting and get help, or accept their queerness and come out to others! (beaming) Amazing and so feel-good to have my books help others survive and heal and stay alive–just the way my favorite books helped me. I’m not sure I could have survived the torture and abuse I did without books, so it feels like a gift to me that my books help others, too.

I feel I can share these two letters because they were made publicly. I receive letters like this often–and they fuel me. They are soul food. On my darkest days, they give me light.

So if you have a book that helped you through hard times, don’t hesitate to let the author know!

Add a Comment

If you loved SCARS, I think you’ll enjoy STAINED–and you may want to get it while it’s deeply discounted. Right now STAINED is on sale for both Kindle and Nook for $1.99–until Oct 31st. I hope you grab yourself a copy.

In STAINED, Sarah think she knows what fear is–until she’s abducted. Then she must find a way to save herself.

Like I did with SCARS, I drew on my own trauma and healing experience to write STAINED.

I hope you enjoy it! And if you enjoy it, or like this deal, I hope you’ll let others know about it, too.

Add a Comment

Dear Teen Me,

I know you have no safe place—not at home being abused, and not at school being bullied. You are an easy target: shy, scared, jumping at touch, not looking people in the eyes—the marks of someone who’s been hurt. You’re afraid all the time. You hate yourself instead of your abusers and tormentors. You cut to cope. You think about killing yourself. But you keep hanging in there. You’re stronger than you know.

I know you think you’re weak. All the terrible things that happen to you at home. The way you struggle to stand up to your own bullies. But do you remember that Spring day on the way home from school when those boys were running after a girl with coke-bottle glasses and ill-fitting clothes, hooting and hollering at her, calling her names, throwing things? Do you remember how you ran after them, shouting at them to leave her alone? How angry and protective you felt? And how when the boys turned and saw you they ran away?

Do you remember the look in the girl’s eyes—the surprise and the relief that someone cared enough to stand up for her? Or how you walked her home even though it was out of your way just so she’d stay safe? And how you listened to all the horrible things she’d been through and told her she didn’t deserve any of it? That wasn’t weakness, Cheryl. That was strength. I am so very proud of you for standing up to those boys. For helping that girl find a small pocket of safety.

So what if you couldn’t do that for yourself yet? You were still being abused at home. You had victim tortured into you. But still you stood up for others. And you did it over and over again—with that same girl on other walks home, with a girl being harassed by a drunk man on the streetcar, with another girl being sexually harassed, with children being hit by their parents. You tried to protect other kids and teens the way you needed to have someone protect you. You were brave, even though you didn’t feel like you were.

I know you still feel ashamed for some of the bullying you endured, for the way you couldn’t protect yourself. Like the time you were wearily leaning against your girlfriend’s shoulder on the bus and the driver stopped the bus and told you to separate or you’d have to get off. You argued with him, but he was enraged and in authority, and you were too tired and scared so you pulled away from your girlfriend and sat there, feeling humiliated and ashamed and later angry at yourself, wishing you’d written down his number and reported him. Or like the boys in school who would poke you and then hoot and laugh when you jumped—over and over again. You were so angry and ashamed because you couldn’t stop yourself from jumping, couldn’t fight back. Or like the time that man said that he should have sex with you so you wouldn’t be queer—suggesting rape would “fix” you. You froze when he and the other men laughed, fear gripping you, and it took you long moments to tell them that that wasn’t okay. You still feel ashamed that you didn’t stand up to them more strongly. To all your bullies. But you don’t deserve that shame or the anger you turn on yourself. It belongs to the people who hurt you.

And you know what? You often did stand up for yourself, even though it felt like they won. Sometimes it’s okay to not challenge too hard for your own safety. And the other times? Come on, you were a traumatized, bullied kid. Have more compassion for yourself. Yes, you wish you’d done more. Or that someone else had stood up for you. But it’s time to let that go, and to recognize your own strength.
I know you’re hurting—so badly that you don’t want to be here. That every day feels like another day you can’t endure. But I’m glad you’re here. You have a place in this world. Never forget that. And there are good people, even if you haven’t met many of them yet. Just keep hanging on. You will find more and more people with love in their hearts instead of hate.

I want you to be proud of who you are. You’re a survivor, a strong, gentle soul who doesn’t hurt others even though most others hurt you. You have compassion and kindness for others even though you don’t experience that yourself. And you will put even more goodness into the world with your writing. Yes, you will publish books! So be gentle with yourself. Let yourself love yourself, just a little. Let go of the hate and shame that aren’t yours. And know that things will get better. You will find true friends, kindness, love. You will find hope. And one day you will be glad that you are here, making a difference in the world.

I pledge to speak out against bullying when I see it & try to make a positive difference in this world, always. #OneVoice

---

I hope you’ll join us all in taking a stand against bullying. Share the #OneVoice hashtag and let’s let people know that bullying has to stop!

The fantastic YA authors who are taking part in the #OneVoice Campaign all this month include:
Oct. 1- Cole Gibsen
Oct. 2- Ellen Hopkins
Oct. 3- Ann Aguirre
Oct. 4-5- weekend/open
Oct.. 6- Anna Banks
Oct. 7- Shannon Lee Alexander
Oct. 8- Julie Cross
Oct. 9- Alyssa Day writing as Lucy Connors
Oct. 10- Jus Accardo
Oct. 11- D.R. Rosensteel
Oct. 12- Sunday/open
Oct. 13- Rebekah Purdy
Oct. 14- Mary Lindsey
Oct. 15- Tracy Clark
Oct. 16- Chantele Sedgwick
Oct.17- Francesca Zappia and Rachel Caine’s post (Rachel in the morning, Francia in the afternoon)
Oct. 18- Lisa Brown Roberts
Oct. 19- Victoria Scott
Oct. 20- Trinity Faegan
Oct. 21- Tiffany Truitt
Oct. 22- Tara Fuller
Oct. 23-Jennifer Bosworth
Oct. 24- Cheryl Rainfield
Oct. 25- Chloe Jacobs
Oct. 26- Sunday/open
Oct. 27- Carrie Jones
Oct. 28- Sarah Bomley
Oct. 29- Sarah Darer Littman
Oct. 30- Tonya Kuper
Oct. 31- Nikki Urang

I hope you’ll check in (you can go back to look at any post), leave comments, and help spread the word!

Add a Comment

Welcome to the YA Scavenger Hunt!

I'm Martina Boone, your host for this stop of the YA Scavenger Hunt. I’m the author of the new Southern Gothic romance Compulsion and the Heirs of Watson Island trilogy. It’s a series about love, family, mystery, and a bit of murder and mayhem, all set in the kind of magical place I love to visit.

I most definitely have a compulsion for reading. If I could, I would read 1222 books a year! My other compulsions are chocolate tea, Nutella, and stale sugar-free licorice.

Add a Comment

It’s my birthday today. To celebrate, I’d like to give you a free ebook copy of Parallel Visions, my YA paranormal fantasy.

In Parallel Visions, Kate sees psychic visions of the future and the past—but only when she’s having an asthma attack. When she “sees” her sister being beaten, she needs more visions to try to save her, along with a suicidal classmate—but triggering her asthma could kill her. Parallel Visions is the story of one brave, caring psychic teen whose unusual gifts put her own life in danger.

If you’ve got a Kindle or a Kindle App (for Windows, iPad, etc) you can download it for free from Amazon today (August 19) and tomorrow, just in case you see this late.

If you need another version–for your Nook, Kobo, iPad, etc.–then email me today or tomorrow at Cheryl (at) CherylRainfield (dot) com with the version you need and I will send you that version. I won’t be sending them out today, but I will in the next week or so.

I hope you enjoy it!

Display Comments Add a Comment

with the first chapters of SCARS, STAINED, and HUNTED up for you to read. Also some poems.

http://www.wattpad.com/user/CherylRainfield

Display Comments Add a Comment

YA BOOK GIVEAWAYS THIS WEEK

The Strange Maid
by Tessa Gratton
Signed Hardcover Giveaway
Random House Books for Young Readers
Released 6/10/2014

Fans of Neil Gaiman, Holly Black, and Maggie Stiefvater will embrace the richly drawn, Norse-influenced alternate world of the United States of Asgard, where cell phones, rock bands, and evangelical preachers coexist with dragon slaying, rune casting, and sword training in schools. Where the president runs the country alongside a council of Valkyries, gods walk the red carpet with Hollywood starlets, and the U.S. military has a special battalion dedicated to eradicating Rocky Mountain trolls.

Signy Valborn was seven years old when she climbed the New World Tree and met Odin Alfather, who declared that if she could solve a single riddle, he would make her one of his Valkyrie. For ten years Signy has trained in the arts of war, politics, and leadership, never dreaming that a Greater Mountain Troll might hold the answer to the riddle, but that’s exactly what Ned the Spiritless promises her. A mysterious troll hunter who talks in riddles and ancient poetry, Ned is a hard man to trust. Unfortunately, Signy is running out of time. Accompanied by an outcast berserker named Soren Bearstar, she and Ned take off across the ice sheets of Canadia to hunt the mother of trolls and claim Signy’s destiny.

Author Question: What is your favorite thing about The Strange Maid?

THAT I FINISHED WRITING IT. Haha, just kidding. Sort of. My real favorite thing is that I was able to write a story about an angry, unlikable girl who turns herself into a passionate hero because of her anger and un-likeability. In a moment of grief and fury, Signy dedicates herself to Odin Alfather the god of war, madness, and poetry, and to truly follow him, she has to embrace all those things, and discover how they relate to each other and to her own heart. She has to learn to use herself as a weapon, and fight passionately for what she thinks is right. It was HARD to write, but taught me a lot about myself as a writer and also what I, too, want to be like to other people. I’ve never been so angry at a character, or loved one so much.


Purchase The Strange Maid at Amazon
Purchase The Strange Maid at IndieBound
View The Strange Maid on Goodreads





On The Road To Find Out
by Rachel Toor
Hardcover Giveaway
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Released 6/10/2014

A funny, uplifting debut about running, romance—and dealing with college rejection and other hurdles

On New Year’s Day, Alice Davis goes for a run. Her first ever. It’s painful and embarrassing, but so was getting denied by the only college she cares about. Alice knows she has to stop sitting around and complaining to her best friend, Jenni, and her pet rat, Walter, about what a loser she is. But what doesn’t know is that by taking those first steps out the door, she is setting off down a road filled with new challenges—including vicious side stitches, chafing in unmentionable places, and race-paced first love—and strengthening herself to endure when the going suddenly gets tougher than she ever imagined.

Author Question: What is your favorite thing about On The Road To Find Out?

My favorite thing about On the Road to Find Out might be that my editor and I refer to it as OTRTFO. If you say all those initials out loud and fast, it kind of sounds like a melody. But my other favorite thing is that one of my funniest, smartest, sweetest characters (IMHO) is the size of a hot dog bun. I thought I was going to write a novel about running for all the people who love to run and for the many more who hate it and think they can’t do it. (They’re wrong, wrong, wrong, do you hear me? Wrong!) I ended up writing about college admissions, first love, and—keep an open mind here, people—why rats make the world’s best pets. If you read this book and you don’t love Walter the rat as much as Alice and I do, well, I’ve failed as an author. But if you have loved a rat, please write and tell me that. Rat lovers unite!

Purchase On The Road To Find Out at Amazon
Purchase On The Road To Find Out at IndieBound
View On The Road To Find Out on Goodreads

YA BOOK GIVEAWAYS LAST WEEK: WINNERS

Paranoia
by J.R Johansson
Paperback
Flux
Released 6/8/2014

Winner - Taffy Lovell

In the aftermath of the events that nearly killed him, Parker Chipp is trying to learn to cope better with life as a Watcher. And it seems to be working...until he wakes up in jail with a hangover and 12 hours of missing time. Darkness has somehow taken control and Parker doesn't have a clue how to stop him. He finds an unlikely ally in Jack, the mysterious guy in the motorcycle jacket who offers to help Parker master his abilities as a Watcher. But even as they practice, the darkness inside Parker is getting more and more powerful, taking over Parker’s body and doing everything he can to destroy Parker's life.

When Jack reveals that there is another kind of Night Walker, known as a Taker, Parker starts to wonder if the strange things happening in Oakville are more than just a coincidence. After all, people are more than just sleepwalking. They're emptying their savings accounts with no memory of doing so, wandering into strange parts of town and disappearing, they're even killing other people--all in their sleep. If Parker wants to find out what's happening or have any hope of seeing his father again, he’ll have to defy Jack and put his own life in danger...because the more he learns about these other Night Walkers, the more certain he becomes that his life isn't the only one that could be lost.

Author Question: What is your favorite thing about Paranoia?

My favorite thing about PARANOIA was the ability it gave me to delve even farther into Parker's world. There is so much more that we get the opportunity to learn about him, his friends, even new characters that we didn't know before. I loved being able to bring more of that world onto the page and out to readers and I can't wait to do it again in Book #3. :)

Purchase Paranoia at Amazon
Purchase Paranoia at IndieBound
View Paranoia on Goodreads




The Strange Maid
by Tessa Gratton
Hardcover Giveaway
Random House Books for Young Readers
Released 6/10/2014

Winner - Arlinda Smith

Fans of Neil Gaiman, Holly Black, and Maggie Stiefvater will embrace the richly drawn, Norse-influenced alternate world of the United States of Asgard, where cell phones, rock bands, and evangelical preachers coexist with dragon slaying, rune casting, and sword training in schools. Where the president runs the country alongside a council of Valkyries, gods walk the red carpet with Hollywood starlets, and the U.S. military has a special battalion dedicated to eradicating Rocky Mountain trolls.

Signy Valborn was seven years old when she climbed the New World Tree and met Odin Alfather, who declared that if she could solve a single riddle, he would make her one of his Valkyrie. For ten years Signy has trained in the arts of war, politics, and leadership, never dreaming that a Greater Mountain Troll might hold the answer to the riddle, but that’s exactly what Ned the Spiritless promises her. A mysterious troll hunter who talks in riddles and ancient poetry, Ned is a hard man to trust. Unfortunately, Signy is running out of time. Accompanied by an outcast berserker named Soren Bearstar, she and Ned take off across the ice sheets of Canadia to hunt the mother of trolls and claim Signy’s destiny.

Author Question: What is your favorite thing about The Strange Maid?

THAT I FINISHED WRITING IT. Haha, just kidding. Sort of. My real favorite thing is that I was able to write a story about an angry, unlikable girl who turns herself into a passionate hero because of her anger and un-likeability. In a moment of grief and fury, Signy dedicates herself to Odin Alfather the god of war, madness, and poetry, and to truly follow him, she has to embrace all those things, and discover how they relate to each other and to her own heart. She has to learn to use herself as a weapon, and fight passionately for what she thinks is right. It was HARD to write, but taught me a lot about myself as a writer and also what I, too, want to be like to other people. I’ve never been so angry at a character, or loved one so much.


Purchase The Strange Maid at Amazon
Purchase The Strange Maid at IndieBound
View The Strange Maid on Goodreads

MORE YOUNG ADULT FICTION IN STORES NEXT WEEK WITH AUTHOR INTERVIEWS

Brazen
by Katherine Longshore
Hardcover
Viking Juvenile
Released 6/12/2014

Mary Howard has always lived in the shadow of her powerful family. But when she’s married off to Henry Fitzroy, King Henry VIII’s illegitimate son, she rockets into the Tudor court’s inner circle. Mary and “Fitz” join a tight clique of rebels who test the boundaries of court’s strict rules with their games, dares, and flirtations. The more Mary gets to know Fitz, the harder she falls for him, but is forbidden from seeing him alone. The rules of court were made to be pushed…but pushing them too far means certain death. Is true love worth dying for?

Author Question: What is your favorite thing about Brazen?

I wouldn’t have said this at the time, but I love that it was so difficult to write. I couldn’t find the voice, I couldn’t figure out how or where to start the story, I had trouble building the characters, and when I finally got a draft, it wasn’t really a draft at all and I had to break all the pieces down and put them back together. I learned more about my writing process with this book than I had in the three I’d written before. I also learned how to trust myself and my characters to get me to the end. My editor says it’s my best book yet, and now that I’ve had some time and distance from it, I can see she has a point. The famous quote goes: "Writing is easy. You just open a vein and bleed.” This book certainly wasn’t easy, but I bled on every page.

Purchase Brazen at Amazon
Purchase Brazen at IndieBound
View Brazen on Goodreads



Push
by Eve Silver
Hardcover
Katherine Tegen Books
Released 6/10/2014

It’s either break the rules or die.

Miki Jones lives her life by her own strict set of rules, to keep control, to keep the gray fog of grief at bay. Then she’s pulled into the Game, where she—and her team—will die unless she follows a new set of rules: those set by the mysterious Committee.

But rules don’t mean answers, and without answers, it’s hard to trust. People are dying. The rules are unraveling. And Miki knows she’s being watched, uncertain if it’s the Drau or someone—something—else. Forced to make impossible choices and battling to save those she loves, Miki begins to see the Committee in a glaring new light.

And then the Game crosses a new boundary, pushes harder into Miki’s and her friends’ lives, and there’s nothing in the rules that can save them now.

Push is the sequel Rush fans will be screaming for.

Author Question: What is your favorite thing about Push?

The deepening relationships between the characters and the ways those relationships contribute to Miki's growth and strength.

Purchase Push at Amazon
Purchase Push at IndieBound
View Push on Goodreads



Wings
by Elizabeth Richards
Hardcover
Putnam Juvenile
Released 6/12/2014

Following the cliffhanger ending of Phoenix, Natalie finds herself separated from Ash and unexpectedly reunited with her parents, including the father she thought was dead. But she can only think of Ash. She hasn't heard a word of him since she and Elijah were brought to the underground headquarters of the Sentry Rebellion. But she vows to find him.

Ash, meanwhile is back in Black City; it's the perfect place to hide from the Sentry government. But not for long. He won't give up on Natalie or bringing an end to the terrible reign of Purian Rose.

A pulse-racing end to an exciting series.

Author Question: What is your favorite thing about Wings?

Oooh, well in WINGS I've introduced a third narrator, Edmund, who was a lot of fun to write! So I'd have to say that was my favorite thing.

Purchase Wings at Amazon
Purchase Wings at IndieBound
View Wings on Goodreads

MORE YOUNG ADULT NOVELS NEW IN STORES NEXT WEEK

Don't You- Forget About Me
by Kate Karyus Quinn
Hardcover
HarperTeen
Released 6/10/2014

Welcome to Gardnerville.

A place where no one gets sick. And no one ever dies.

Except...
There’s a price to pay for paradise. Every fourth year, the strange power that fuels the town exacts its payment by infecting teens with deadly urges. In a normal year in Gardnerville, teens might stop talking to their best friends. In a fourth year, they’d kill them.

Four years ago, Skylar’s sister, Piper, was locked away after leading sixteen of her classmates to a watery grave. Since then, Skylar has lived in a numb haze, struggling to forget her past and dull the pain of losing her sister. But the secrets and memories Piper left behind keep taunting Skylar—whispering that the only way to get her sister back is to stop Gardnerville’s murderous cycle once and for all.

Purchase Don't You- Forget About Me at Amazon
Purchase Don't You- Forget About Me at IndieBound
View Don't You- Forget About Me on Goodreads



I Become Shadow
by Joelle Shine
Hardcover
Soho Teen
Released 6/10/2014

Ren Sharpe was abducted at fourteen and chosen by the mysterious F.A.T.E. Center to become a Shadow: the fearless and unstoppable guardian of a future leader. Everything she held dear—her family, her home, her former life—is gone forever.

Ren survives four years of training, torture, and misery, in large part thanks to Junie, a fellow F.A.T.E. abductee who started out as lost and confused as she did. She wouldn’t admit it was possible to find love in a prison beyond imagining, but what she feels for Junie may just be the closest thing to it.

At eighteen they part ways when Ren receives her assignment: find and protect college science student Gareth Young, or die trying. Life following a college nerd is uneventful, until an attack on Gareth forces Ren to track down the only person she can trust. When she and Junie discover that the F.A.T.E. itself might be behind the attacks, even certain knowledge of the future may not be enough to save their kidnappers from the killing machines they created.

Purchase I Become Shadow at Amazon
Purchase I Become Shadow at IndieBound
View I Become Shadow on Goodreads



Lies My Girlfriend Told Me
by Julie Anne Peters
Hardcover
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Released 6/10/2014

When Alix's charismatic girlfriend, Swanee, dies from sudden cardiac arrest, Alix is overcome with despair. As she searches Swanee's room for mementos of their relationship, she finds Swanee's cell phone, pinging with dozens of texts sent from a mysterious contact, L.T. The most recent text reads: "Please tell me what I did. Please, Swan. Te amo. I love you."

Shocked and betrayed, Alix learns that Swanee has been leading a double life--secretly dating a girl named Liana the entire time she's been with Alix. Alix texts Liana from Swanee's phone, pretending to be Swanee in order to gather information before finally meeting face-to-face to break the news.

Brought together by Swanee's lies, Alix and Liana become closer than they'd thought possible. But Alix is still hiding the truth from Liana. Alix knows what it feels like to be lied to--but will coming clean to Liana mean losing her, too?

Purchase Lies My Girlfriend Told Me at Amazon
Purchase Lies My Girlfriend Told Me at IndieBound
View Lies My Girlfriend Told Me on Goodreads



Starbird Murphy and The World Outside
by Karen Finneyfrock
Hardcover
Viking Juvenile
Released 6/12/2014

In her sixteen years of life, Starbird has never touched a dollar bill. She’s never been in a car. She’s never used a cell phone.   That’s because Starbird has always lived on the Free Family Farm, a commune in the woods of Washington State.   But all that is about to change. When Starbird gets her "Calling" to be a waitress at the Free Family’s restaurant in Seattle, she decides to leave behind the only home she’s ever known.   

Nothing could have prepared Starbird for the World Outside, or for what it would teach her about the Family—and herself.  

From the author of The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door comes this hilarious and poignant story about finding your true calling in life.

Purchase Starbird Murphy and The World Outside at Amazon
Purchase Starbird Murphy and The World Outside at IndieBound
View Starbird Murphy and The World Outside on Goodreads



The Fallen
by Charlie Higson
Hardcover
Disney-Hyperion
Released 6/10/2014

The Enemy is among us . . . First the sickness rotted the adults' minds. Then their bodies. Now they stalk the streets of London, hunting human flesh.

The Holloway crew are survivors. They've fought their way across the city and made it to the Natural History Museum alive--just barely. But their fight will never end while the Enemy lives, unless there's another way. . . .

The kids at the museum are looking for a cure. All they need are medical supplies.To get them they must venture down unfamiliar streets, where it isn't only crazed, hungry sickos who lurk in the shadows.

In this fifth terrifying entry in Charlie Higson's Enemy series, suddenly it's not so clear who--or what--the enemy is.

Purchase The Fallen at Amazon
Purchase The Fallen at IndieBound
View The Fallen on Goodreads



Trouble
by Non Pratt
Hardcover
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Released 6/10/2014

In this dazzling debut novel, a pregnant teen learns the meaning of friendship—from the boy who pretends to be her baby’s father.

When the entire high school finds out that Hannah Shepard is pregnant via her ex-best friend, she has a full-on meltdown in her backyard. The one witness (besides the rest of the world): Aaron Tyler, a transfer student and the only boy who doesn’t seem to want to get into Hannah’s pants. Confused and scared, Hannah needs someone to be on her side. Wishing to make up for his own past mistakes, Aaron does the unthinkable and offers to pretend to be the father of Hannah’s unborn baby. Even more unbelievable, Hannah hears herself saying “yes.”

Told in alternating perspectives between Hannah and Aaron, Trouble is the story of two teenagers helping each other to move forward in the wake of tragedy and devastating choices. As you read about their year of loss, regret, and hope, you’ll remember your first, real best friend—and how they were like a first love.

Purchase Trouble at Amazon
Purchase Trouble at IndieBound
View Trouble on Goodreads



When Mr. Dog Bites
by Brian Conaghan
Hardcover
Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Released 6/10/2014

Dylan Mint has Tourette’s. For Dylan, life is a constant battle to keep the bad stuff in – the swearing, the tics, the howling dog that escapes whenever he gets stressed. And, as a sixteen-year-old virgin and pupil at Drumhill Special School, getting stressed is something of an occupational hazard.

But then a routine visit to the hospital changes everything. Overhearing a hushed conversation between the doctor and his mother, Dylan discovers that he's going to die next March.

So he grants himself three parting wishes: three ‘Cool Things To Do Before I Cack It’.

It isn’t a long list, but it is ambitious, and he doesn't have much time. But as Dylan sets out to make his wishes come true, he discovers that nothing – and no-one – is quite as he had previously supposed.

A story about life, death, love, sex and swearing, When Mr Dog Bites will take you on one *#@! of a journey . . .

Purchase When Mr. Dog Bites at Amazon
Purchase When Mr. Dog Bites at IndieBound
View When Mr. Dog Bites on Goodreads



Wicked Games
by Sean Olin
Hardcover
Katherine Tegen Books
Released 6/10/2014

Wicked Games is the first book in a sexy thriller series where passion, lies, and revenge collide-perfect for fans of Simone Elkeles and Sara Shepard.

To all the locals in the small beach town of Dream Point, Carter and Lilah seem like the perfect It Couple-but their relationship is about to brutally unravel before everyone's eyes.

Carter has always been a good guy, and while Lilah has a troubled past, she's been a loyal girlfriend for the last four years. When smart, sexy Jules enters the picture at a senior-year bash, Carter succumbs to temptation. And when Lilah catches wind of his betrayal, she decides that Jules needs to pay.

By the end of the summer, the line between right and wrong will be blurred beyond recognition. Blood will be shed. Nothing in Dream Point will ever be the same.

This juicy summer read will keep readers turning pages until the shocking, nail-biting finale.

Purchase Wicked Games at Amazon
Purchase Wicked Games at IndieBound
View Wicked Games on Goodreads


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Add a Comment

So not only is STAINED one of Bank Street College Center for Children’s Literature’s Best Book of the Year for ages Fourteen and Up–it’s also going to be released in paperback on 5/11/15 and be only $8.99!

So much good news today! I love good news. (beaming)

Add a Comment

I’m delighted that STAINED is one of Bank Street College Center for Children’s Literature’s Book of the Year for ages Fourteen and Up! (beaming)

Links to all books and categories here.

It’s such a feel-good thing to have my book recognized! For any author to have that happen. (grinning)

Display Comments Add a Comment

It’s Author Interview Thursday! Woohoo! Today’s special guest interviewed me on her blog a few weeks ago. Well, today she gets to sit on my hot seat and answer all my questions. Muhahaha! Ok, enough of my ‘The Count’ from Sesame Street impersonation and let’s get right to it. Speaking to her over the last few weeks and visiting her blog, it’s clear to see she’s in this for the long haul. Her book covers stand out and you can tell a lot of thought was put into creating them. I got introduced to her by Sharon Ledwith who is a great connector of authors and readers. I’d really like you to connect with her at one of the links she provides in our interview as she’s a wonderful person to know and learn from. With that been said, please join me in welcoming Lisa Orchard.

 

Can you tell us a little bit about the first time someone complemented you on something you had written? 

Sure. One of the first and best compliments I have ever received was from a mother who read “The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer” with her daughter. The story sparked a conversation between them about what her daughter would do if she were in the same situation as the main character. I loved that my story helped them bond. It was a wonderful feeling.

 

What can a reader expect when they pick up a Lisa Orchard book? 

Hmmm. Good question. They can expect an entertaining, thought provoking story. Readers have said that I write an unpredictable mystery. I was so excited to hear that because it means I’ve accomplished one of my goals with my stories.

 

You’ve gone the traditional route and are published by Astraea Press. What would you say are the advantages you’ve experienced compared to a self-publisher?

I would have to say the advantages are the fact that I didn’t have to pay for an editor or cover artist. I received both excellent editing advice and I absolutely love my covers. There’s also an excellent writer community with the Astraea Press authors. This community helps with marketing and social media strategies.

 

What tips can you give us in terms of working with a publisher to ensure your vision for a story doesn’t get diluted or compromised by the demands of a publisher? 

Good question. Keep in mind; I only have my experience with Astraea Press to guide me with this answer. My experience with Astraea has been that they work with the author to make sure there is no dilution or comprising of the story. They’re very attuned to making sure that doesn’t happen.

 

You write in the YA (Young Adult) genre which is very popular and competitive. What advice would you have for someone who wants to write in this genre?

Know your market. I can’t stress that enough.

 

You’ve published three books in the Super Spies series. Was it a conscious decision to write a series and what led you to do it? 

Yes. It was a conscious decision to write a series and what led me to do it was that I enjoyed reading series when I was younger, so a series was the most natural way for me to go.

 

What have you found to be a successful way to market your books? 

I’ve found the best way to market my books is to get in front of my readers. I do classroom visits that are very effective and writing workshops with various girls’ groups near me.

  

What were some of your favourite books as a child?  

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Series, Nancy Drew, The Boxcar Children, Trixie Belden, and The Bobbsey Twins just to name a few. 

 

What three things should writers avoid when writing dialogue? 

Repetitiveness.

Dialogue that doesn’t move the story forward.

Wordiness.

 

What book or film has the best dialogue that inspires you to be a better writer and why?

I would have to say the book “Frozen Fire.” I thought the dialogue was wonderful and it helped me to be less wordy.

 

What is your definition of success as an author?

Ahhh…good question. I would say success for me as an author would be having a positive impact on my fans. Although, I’d be excited to hit the New York Times Bestsellers list or the USA Today Bestseller’s list as well.

 

Toy Story or Shrek?

This is a tough one, because I watched both movies with my kids and liked them both. I’m going to have to go with Shrek though. There’s just something about that loveable old ogre.

  

What three things should a first time visitor to Michigan do? 

Check out the Great Lakes. They’re gorgeous and it’s so relaxing by the water. An event that’s worth attending is ArtPrize in Grand Rapids. It’s inspiring to see the creativity of the artists in the area.

  

What can we expect from Lisa Orchard in the next 12 months? 

I’ve just completed a Coming of Age Young Adult Novel titled, “Gideon Lee.” I’m excited about it and I can’t wait until its release date. It’s with an editor now and she’s checking it out. She read the first few pages and didn’t want to put it down. I think that’s a great sign!

  

Where can readers and fans connect with you?

You can find me at these social media sites:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-Orchard/328536613877060?ref=hl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lisaorchard1

Website:  http://www.lisaorchard.com/

 

Any advice for authors out there who are either just starting out or getting frustrated with the industry? 

Keep plugging away! You’ll get there. I know it’s frustrating, but keep writing and persevere.

 

Couldn’t agree more with you Lisa. At the London Book Fair, Jasinda Wilder talked about how her big breakthrough came on book 26! Imagine if she had quit on Book 25? It’s been an absolute pleasure having you today Lisa and your pearls of wisdom were and are appreciated. Lisa and I would love to hear your comments on our interview, so leave a few lines in the comments section below. You can also grab a copy of Lisa’s book at the link below and do remember to share this interview on your social circles.

Lisa Orchard on Amazon

Display Comments Add a Comment