GUESTOPIA: YA Debut Author, Kit Mallory

It’s Guestopia time again! Today, I am delighted to introduce you to an awfully talented young person whose words you should absolutely read. Immediately. Please meet...

KIT MALLORY

Kit is a YA author living in Devon, UK. She writes speculative fiction about underdogs, kickass girls who love other girls, and mental health. Her first novel, BLACKOUT, was shortlisted for the 2016 Mslexia Children's Novel Competition and longlisted for the 2016 Bath Children's Novel Award. She has a secret alter ego who works as a mental health nurse, and was almost certainly a mermaid in a former life.

Awesome! Right, let’s get straight down to business... 

Is this your first published book?

Yes! Which is both incredibly exciting and kind of terrifying.

What’s it called?

Blackout.

Which genre?

It’s YA speculative fiction; technically dystopian, but in a very near future, close-to-home sort of way.

Which age group?

14 up, I’d say.

Is it a series or standalone?

At the moment it’s looking like a duology – I’m working on the sequel right now.

Are you an agented author?

Nope!

Which publisher snapped up your book?

It’s indie published.

How involved have you been in the whole publishing process of your book?

Very, since I’m an indie author (and my goodness has that been a massive learning curve!).

Do you have another job? 

Yes! I’m a mental health nurse who specialises in cognitive behavioural therapy.

Did you receive many, if any, rejections prior? 

Yes, quite a few. I got a lot of really positive – even glowing – feedback from agents, as well as making it to the shortlist of the 2016 Mslexia Children’s Novel Competition, but ultimately got a lot of feedback about it not being right for where the market was at the time. I still believed in my characters and my writing, though – and in fact the feedback I was getting gave me the confidence to believe that Blackout was worth sticking with. I also believe very strongly that LGBTQ teens and teens with mental health problems really need to see themselves represented in more and better ways in YA fiction, and ultimately getting my story into the hands of those readers was the most important thing to me, so I decided to release it myself.

What created/what were you doing or watching when the first idea for this book sneaked up on you?

It was 2012 and at the time I lived up in York (in the north of England, for those abroad!) – and what came into my head was a story about a girl who lived in a cellar and who was furious at the world and everything around her. That girl turned out to be Skyler, and I knew very early on that hers was a story I wanted to tell. The original inspiration for the setting and the concept of the Wall came from the Berlin Wall, which I’ve always been fascinated by, the concept of the UK’s north/south divide, and a long-held wondering about what might happen when fossil fuels start running out.

How long did you plot/plan until you started writing it? 

I didn’t! I’m very much a pantser, and I always start with the characters first – I think once you know your characters well enough to know how they’ll respond in any given situation, the story starts to unfold naturally. I prefer to work that way rather than trying to force the characters to behave in a way that fits the plot. It feels like going on an adventure with them, and I love that.

Once you started, did the story flow naturally or did you have to step in and wrestle it into submission? 

It flowed to a point, and then it got to a point plot-wise where I had to sit down and really think about the logistics of what was going to happen next. The point where I tend to get stuck is the point at which I realise I’ve written my characters into a predicament I might not be clever enough to get them out of…

How many drafts did you write before you let someone read it? Who was that someone?

When I was writing the first draft I shared snippets with a friend who was also drafting a novel. It took a good couple of years before I was brave enough to show another friend the whole thing!

Did you employ an editor/proofreader or did you have a critique partner/beta readers before you started querying?

I have been incredibly lucky in having a whole bunch of amazing critique partners and beta readers who gave me feedback on various drafts of the manuscript. I was also part of an author’s collective to whom I owe an awful lot of credit for helping me develop as a writer. Blackout wouldn’t be the book it is – and I wouldn’t be the writer I am today – without the help of my incredible friends and CPs.

Roughly how many drafts did it take before you sent the manuscript off into the real world?

At a rough estimate, approximately twenty million.

How many drafts until it was published?

Forty million? I was still doing edits even after I got the first proof copy through! That might have been the biggest learning curve of all, actually – learning to let go once and for all.

Has the book changed dramatically since the first draft?

Oh, God, yes. The main bones of the plot haven’t really changed, but the detail and nuance have changed a LOT. And I basically learned how to write as I was writing it, so in terms of the actual writing, it’s changed a bunch.

Are there any parts you’d like to change even now?

I haven’t gone back and read it again since it was published because I know as soon as I do I’ll find something I want to change – honestly I suspect that will be the case with everything I ever write. Tolerating the knowledge that it’ll never be perfect – there’ll always be some way I can make it better, and the more I learn and develop my writing, the more I’ll notice those ways – has been one of the hardest parts of the whole process.

What part of writing do you find the easiest?

Getting to know the characters and their voices, I think. Emotion-driven scenes are my favourite ones to write.

What part do you find hardest?

Complicated plot stuff (you know, the bits where my characters have to be smarter than I am). Ignoring the voice of self-doubt. Knowing when to stop editing!

Do you push through writing barriers or walk away?

It depends what they are. If I’m avoiding something because it’s difficult or anxiety-provoking, I know that facing it head on is what’s going to get me through it and out the other side. When I’m stuck on a plot point, though, for example, I know that often the best thing to do is step away and do something totally different to give myself time to process things without forcing it. If I do that, I can generally trust that the answer will come to me at some point (it happened in the shower just the other day!).

How many projects do you have on the go at the same time?

Currently in the works I’ve got: the sequel to Blackout, the first in a YA contemporary fantasy series that needs revisions, a partially-written draft of another standalone work, and a short story that’s nagging me to be turned into a novel. So I should be all set for the next five years or so…

Do you think you’re born with the talent to write or do you think it can be learned? 

I think it’s a bit of both – I definitely think the technical aspects can be learned, and no matter how naturally talented you are you can always learn more and improve your craft. That obsessive drive you need to not only actually finish a novel but to redraft it over and over until it’s what you want it to be – that I don’t think you can learn.

How many future novels do you have planned?

*counts on fingers* As of right now, at least five.

Do you write other things, such as short stories, articles, blogs, etc?

I’m not great at brevity, so short stories aren’t my natural forte, but I do write them sometimes. I also blog about book stuff, LGBTQ stuff, and mental health stuff at www.kitmallory.wordpress.com. I’ve just started a new blog post series over there on writing mental health representation (and I’m taking requests for post subjects!).

What’s the highlight of being published so far? 

Hands down, it’s been getting feedback from readers that Blackout has connected with them in some way. People have been really positive about the representation, which has been amazing because that was something I was really concerned about getting right. Somebody live-tweeted their reactions as they read the book on its release day, which was just absolutely delightful; someone else let me know they’d asked their local library to buy a copy. That feeling – that I created something that people have enjoyed, that’s made them feel seen, that they’ve taken the time to share that with me and let others know about it – it’s been absolutely magical, and without a doubt, it’s made the entire journey 100% worthwhile.

Give me one writing tip that works for you.

Find your people; the ones who can both lift you up and challenge you. Learn to love criticism – it’s the key to becoming a better writer – but don’t forget to embrace and celebrate your strengths and the positive feedback you get just as much.

And one that doesn't.

I’ve never been convinced about the whole “write every day” thing. Self-care is the most important thing. If that rule works for you, awesome; but don’t push yourself to stick to a rigid set of rules because you think that’s what you *should* be doing.

Can you give us a clue or secret about the next book?

Blackout’s sequel – I really need to come up with a damn title! – is my first ever multi-POV novel, with four viewpoint characters. You’ll get to see through both some familiar eyes and some new ones as the gang attempt to deal with the aftermath of the first book’s events.

What question have you always wanted to be asked but never have? What would the answer be?

I’ve heard a lot from readers about who their favourite character in Blackout is (there’s definitely a common theme!) but I don’t think I’ve talked about who mine is! Although I love all three of the main characters in Blackout, Skyler definitely has a special place in my heart. She’s the very definition of an unlikeable heroine – she’s selfish and stubborn and a total pain in the ass sometimes - but those qualities, actually, have allowed her to survive in incredibly difficult circumstances and I love the fact that she knows full well how smart and talented she is and she never apologises for who she is. At the same time, I think she grows and changes a LOT throughout the book and that takes a lot of courage on her part.

Fantastic! What a great interview. Thank you so much for joining us today, Kit, and we wish you all the best with Blackout, its sequel, and all the rest that follow.

If you would like to find out more about Kit and grab a copy of Blackout (which you should), these links should help:

Amazon UK 

Amazon US

Books 2 Read 

Goodreads 

Blog 

Twitter

GUESTOPIA: YA Author Amber Elby

Today, we’re lucky enough to get a fascinating look into the writing world of a new and exciting YA author! You will love this!

AMBER ELBY

Amber Elby was born in Grand Ledge, Michigan but spent much of her childhood in the United Kingdom. She began writing when she was three years old and created miniature books by asking her family how to spell every, single, word. Several years later, she saw her first Shakespearean comedy, Much Ado About Nothing, in London. Many years later, she studied Creative Writing at Michigan State University’s Honors College before earning her Master of Fine Arts degree in Screenwriting at the University of Texas at Austin. She currently resides in Texas with her husband and two daughters and spends her time teaching, traveling, and getting lost in imaginary worlds.  

Is this your first published book? 

Yes, but I’ve had short films produced and also published a handful of poems. 

What’s it called?

Cauldron’s Bubble

Which genre?

I call it Shakespearean fan-fiction fantasy for young adults. It takes place within the fiction of Shakespeare’s plays but is written in a fast-paced, modern style that appeals to most YA fans. It also contains magic and time travel and such, hence the fantasy aspect.

Which age group?

Cauldron’s Bubble is intended for young people who are about to begin studying Shakespeare’s plays in school, but most of their parents read and enjoy it, too. My youngest fan that I know is eight years old, and my oldest fan is past eighty. 

Is it a series or standalone?

It is the first in a series called the Netherfeld Trilogy. The second book, Double, Double Toil, will be released later this year (date TBA), and the final book, Trouble Fires Burn, will come out in 2019. 

Are you an agented author?

Not yet, but I emailed my first query letter a week or so ago. I received distribution help from my publisher and only realized that I needed an agent when I started looking into international sales. 

Which publisher snapped up your book?

Verdopolis Press of Austin, Texas. 

How involved have you been in the whole publishing process of your book?

I was, thankfully, incredibly involved with the publication. I worked closely with my cover artist, Brandi Harrison of TypeJar Studio, to create the front and back covers. I even got to choose the font for the book. I wanted an artistic say in this project because I learned from screenwriting how it feels to have someone else take control of your writing, which is why I knew from the beginning that I wanted to go with a smaller press who would let me retain creative control. 

Do you have another job?

Yes, I teach rhetorical writing and British literature at a local community college. I write under a pen name, so my students generally don’t know that I am a published author. 

Did you receive many, if any, rejections prior?

The stars were actually aligned for Cauldron’s Bubble, so I worked with Verdopolis Press from relatively early in the process with the clear intent to publish with them. I actually didn’t submit the manuscript elsewhere. 

What created/what were you doing or watching when the first idea for this book sneaked up on you?

I used to teach ninth grade English at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy in Austin, Texas. This was many years ago, back when the Percy Jackson series first exploded into popular culture. My students had to read The Odyssey, Beowulf, and Macbeth for the class, and they could all relate to The Odyssey because they had read Percy Jackson for pleasure. They had read Grendel the previous year in school, so they were prepared for Beowulf, but they had no prior experience to help them understand Shakespeare. I realized that there needed to be a bridge text that could help students relate to plays like Macbeth, Hamlet, and The Tempest, so that is how Cauldron’s Bubble was first conceived. Actually prior to this, starting when I was in middle or high school, I always wondered what Macbeth’s witches did offstage, how Hamlet escaped from the pirates on his way to England, and what happened on Prospero’s island before the play actually begins, so many of the novel’s elements have been in my mind since I was a teenager.  

How long did you plot/plan until you started writing it?

I thought about Cauldron’s Bubble for about ten years before I started writing what would become the first draft. During that time, I reread and taught many of Shakespeare’s plays, and I wrote extensive notes containing my ideas that I emailed to myself (so I could easily find them later), but I had major life events like births and deaths and building my home that prevented me from focusing on writing. I knew my title at the very beginning of the process, but I didn’t develop the protagonists, Alda and Dreng, until about two years before publication. Once I wrote the first chapter, my notes allowed me to complete the novel relatively quickly. I have some regret for not starting sooner, but I’m not sure I could have written it without everything that happened in the years between inspiration and writing.

Once you started, did the story flow naturally or did you have to step in and wrestle it into submission?

I practice world-building when I write, so I almost feel like I observe the events of the novel rather than create them because I am so imbedded in the fiction. I call this “going down the rabbit hole.” I knew where I was going when I wrote, or at least I thought I did, but the characters seemed to go on their own adventures, so my ideas had the potential to change seemingly without my control.

How many drafts did you write before you let someone read it? Who was that someone?

By the end, I wrote about seventy drafts, but I know that other writers would not count each of these revisions as a draft because they were not all complete page-one rewrites, even though I did make significant changes to at least part of the novel each time. I’m not sure when I let my husband first read it, but I believe I was about halfway through the process before I let him read only the first chapter. I hesitated to share it because it is part of a new fantasy world, and I knew that anyone who read an early, incomplete version would have too many questions and just be confused. I also kept my writing secret from most of my friends and all of my extended family because I was afraid that something would go wrong with publication, so I didn’t tell my mother about it until I handed her a printed copy. 

Did you employ an editor/proofreader or did you have a critique partner/beta readers before you started querying?

I had many readers outside of my publisher. I am lucky to have educated and talented friends who have degrees and backgrounds in creative writing and English, so I called in some favours and got people to read my early full drafts with no pay. I thanked all of them in my acknowledgements, but that doesn’t seem adequate for the time that they gave me, so thanks again, everyone, for all of your help. 

Roughly how many drafts did it take before you sent the manuscript off into the real world?

As I said, I wrote about seventy drafts. I revised as I went, too, so the first draft probably had nearly that many revisions before it was complete. Again, these were not page-one rewrites. Each rewrite fixed a specific problem within the draft or added a new subplot or expanded several scenes or rewrote the dialogue. I know that other writers would probably count this as fewer drafts, but I have over seventy different versions saved on my computer. 

How many drafts until it was published?

Revision was all one long process, and I don’t really know where pre-publisher revisions ended and publisher revisions began. I have many scribbled-on manuscripts on my shelf, and I don’t even know how many times each one was reviewed or in which order they were revised. I think that “many” is a good answer for this question.

Has the book changed dramatically since the first draft?

Yes, of course. The first chapter was significantly longer in the first draft, and it was incredibly wordy. I also wrote part of the first draft as I was reading Frankenstein, and I had to throw out those chapters and completely rewrite them because I became overly verbose and archaic (see, I used big words again just thinking about it). I don’t want to say I’m embarrassed by my first draft, but, well…

Are there any parts you’d like to change even now?

I’m actually scared to read the printed copy because I know I will find things to change! I don’t understand how people actually “finish” writing. I know that if left to my own devices, I would release about ten different editions with minor changes to things that no one else even noticed.

What part of writing do you find the easiest?

I was about to jokingly say typing, but then I accidentally hit the equal sign in the middle: typ=ing. If “easiest” means “the part that you feel the most confident about,” then I suppose that the dialogue comes the most naturally because I studied it for so long when I wrote screenplays. Tomorrow I might say that characterization is easiest, or plotting, or conflict, so it probably just depends on the scene and my mood.

What part do you find hardest?

Physical exhaustion. Really, writing is taxing on me. I lose time when I write, so I think things like, “It’s almost noon. I should stop and eat lunch.” Then it’s suddenly 2:00, and I’m faint with hunger. I also have severe and vivid nightmares when I am in the depths of writing; sometimes these help with ideas, but they are often about things that are “off-stage” in my work, so I usually cannot include them directly. 

Do you push through writing barriers or walk away?

I push through. If I need a little break, I either take a shower, nap briefly, or pet my cat. I have a writing cat who sits next to me when I work (he’s at my feet right now), and I highly suggest the adoption of a similar companion for anyone who needs writing support. 

How many projects do you have on the go at the same time?

I can work on many different projects, but I have trouble writing more than one work of prose-fiction at a time. At the moment, I’m working on a scholarly/research project, writing a travel blog under a different pen name, and working on the sequel to Cauldron’s Bubble. I’ve also been outlining several other novels, but they are essentially on a shelf until I finish the Netherfeld Trilogy. 

Do you think you’re born with the talent to write or do you think it can be learned?

I teach college students how to write, so I know it can be learned. It might be easier for some people to learn, but I always tell my students that everyone is capable of earning an A. Everyone can write well, too, but some have to study longer and work harder than others.  You also have to be humble when you write and take criticism because that is the only way to improve.

How many future novels do you have planned?

I have at least four novels that are seriously under construction, but I plan to write until I die, so I’ll say “many.”

Do you write other things, such as short stories, articles, blogs, etc?

Yes, I write a travel blog under a different pen name (I keep my identities separate for professional purposes), and I have also written many screenplays and have a MFA in screenwriting. When I was an undergraduate, I wrote poetry and studied under a successful Beat poet, but she told me to go into fiction writing because I had “too many characters in my head.” 

What’s the highlight of being published so far?

My fourth grade daughter did a book report and project about Cauldron’s Bubble. She was not allowed to ask me questions because she had to interpret the book herself, but she did a great job visualizing the story and created a poster collage of the different settings. I keep it in my office. 

Give me one writing tip that works for you.

I always try to give an unusual answer for this question: one of my screenwriting professors told us to create a soundtrack to play when we write that includes “theme songs” for the characters. I was reluctant to do this at first, but now I think that it does help. 

And one that doesn't.

I knew a lot of aspiring writers in college who felt like they had to drink or do drugs to write well; a classmate even told me that it was impossible for anyone to write sober. I want every young person reading this to know that such an outlook is not true. The most successful writers I know are clean and sober (of course there are famous, mostly dead, writers who were otherwise). I have never done any illegal drug, and I don’t drink when I write. Trust your imagination, and it will guide you without any stimulus. 

Can you give us a clue or secret about the next book?

My protagonists enter the world of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but my fairies are much more terrifying than they are usually portrayed on stage. Ophelia is also introduced as a character in the next book, so she actually gets her own voice instead of being subjugated by male characters. 

What question have you always wanted to be asked but never have? What would the answer be?

“If you could write for any other series, which one would you choose?”

My response a year ago would have been the long-cancelled television series Veronica Mars because of my background in screenwriting, but my nine-year-old daughter recently became obsessed with a middle-grade book series called Tales from the Haunted Mansion from Disney Press. I would love to contribute to that series, especially because it has the potential for 999 books, one for each ghost in the Haunted Mansion attraction, so I could remain in that imaginary world for a long time. 

Told you. How cool is Amber? Thank you so much for joining us today, Amber, and we wish you all the success with this and every book that follows.

If you would like to catch up with Amber, learn more about her writing, or purchase a copy of Cauldron’s Bubble, then these links might help!

Website

Twitter

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon Australia

Goodreads

GUESTOPIA: Multi-published author Karen King

Karen King

It's Guestopia time for July and our first guest this month comes in the form a prolific and talented author. Please meet Karen King.

Karen King is the author of over 120 children's books and has had two YAs published, Perfect Summer and Sapphire Blue. Perfect Summer was runner up in the Red Telephone Books YA novel competition in 2011 and has just been republished by Accent Press.

Karen is also the author of two romance novels, and has been contracted for three chick lit novels by Accent Press. The first, I do?... or do I? was published in 2016 and the second, The Cornish Hotel by the Sea, has just been released. In addition, Karen has written several short stories for women’s magazine and worked for many years on children’s magazines such as Thomas the Tank Engine and Winnie the Pooh as well as the iconic Jackie magazine.

When she isn’t writing, Karen likes travelling, watching the ‘soaps’ and reading. Give her a good book and a box of chocolates and she thinks she’s in Heaven.

And here's the interview...

Is this your first published book?

No, I’ve had about 120 children’s books published, two YA, two romance novels, two chicklits and there’s another chicklit in the process of publication.

What’s it called?

Perfect Summer

Which genre?

Dystopian

Which age group?

12+ there’s some gritty scenes!

Is it a series or standalone?

It’s a standalone

Are you an agented author?

No – although I have had agents in the past and may again in the future.

What created/what were you doing or watching when the first idea for this book sneaked up on you?

I’ve been concerned for a long time about the pressure society puts on people to have perfect looks then I read a magazine article about girls as young as four or five worrying that they were too fat or too ugly. I thought that was really sad. I started wondering what would happen if people got so obsessed with physical perfection that it became a ‘crime’ to be different in any way. Another concern of mine is how disabled people are treated, so both these concerns sowed the seeds of this story.

How long did you plot/plan until you started writing it?

I always plan a bit first. I write character profiles to make sure I really know my characters well and don’t change their eye or hair colour halfway through the story. Then I work out a plot outline so I know roughly where the story is going, and then I start writing it up.

Once you started, did the story flow naturally or did you have to step in and wrestle it into submission?

I started writing the story in third person at first but I felt that it wasn’t flowing right so I changed to the first person and I was away.

Has the book changed dramatically since the first draft?

Not dramatically, the basis of the story is the same. It’s more refined I guess. I rarely change the plot when I’ve revising, but I do change some phrases that I think aren’t flowing right, or make scenes more dramatic/concise.

What part of writing do you find the easiest?

Getting the initial idea. I have notebooks full of ideas.

What part do you find hardest?

Finding the time to write up the ideas. Then getting the story out of your head and onto the screen/page!

Do you push through writing barriers or walk away?

It depends. If I’m on a deadline I’ll write through them. If I’m not I’ll turn to something else for a while then I go back with a fresh mind and can usually find that the story flows okay again.

How many projects do you have on the go at the same time?

Three or four. I like a variety, and it helps stave off writer’s block if you have another project to turn to.

Do you think you’re born with the talent to write or do you think it can be learned?

That’s a difficult one. I’m a writing tutor and basically believe that writing is a skill, so like all skills it can be learned or improved – especially article and feature writing. Story writing, however, is different. You need that spark of imagination, that kernel of tale-spinning inside you, the ability to make a story out of thin air. If someone has that they can be helped to improve how they write their story down but that basic storytelling kernel of imagination can’t be taught.

How many future novels do you have planned?

I’m working on three at the moment, and also a couple of short stories.

Do you write other things, such as short stories, articles, blogs, etc?

Yes, I write short stories and blog posts. I also run a blog called The Writer’s Surgery, where I post articles and tips to help new writers.

What’s the highlight of being published so far?

Signing a three book contract for chicklits with Accent Press, two of the books, I do?...or do I? and The Cornish Hotel by the Sea are now out. The third will be out next year.

Give me one writing tip that work for you.

Just write. Get your first draft down then go back and revise it afterwards.

And one that doesn't.

Write drunk, edit sober – a famous tip by Ernest Hemingway

What question have you always wanted to be asked but never have? What would the answer be?

Can we make your book into a film? The answer would be yes!

Excellent! I imagine most authors want to be asked this, and I expect their answers would be the same too! Thank you so much for joining YAtopia today, Karen. We wish you all the best with your chick lit and YA novels.

Here's a little about Karen's latest YA, with some links to help...

Set in a society obsessed with perfection, 15-year-old Morgan is best friends with the seemingly perfect Summer. But when Morgan’s brother, Josh, who has Down’s syndrome, is kidnapped, they uncover a sinister plot and find themselves in terrible danger.

Can they find Josh before it’s too late? And is Summer’s life as perfect as it seems?

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2mMXTzI 

Trailer: https://youtu.be/yL0gA_q0dag

And if you would like to find out more about Karen and her work, these links might help as well!

Website: http://www.karenking.net/

Twitter: @karen_king

Facebook: Karen King Young Adult Books

Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/karenkingauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenkingauthor/?hl=en