Beth Fehlbaum, YA fiction author

Please visit me at my new website,  http://bethfehlbaumbooks.com 

This site, http://bethfehlbaumya.com,  is no longer updated; however, archived materials remain (for now).

YA Writer Wednesdays interviews beginning August 15, 2012 may be found here.

GO TO MY NEW SITE!

I'm discontinuing this site at the end of February and all new content is here:

http://www.bethfehlbaumbooks.com

THE LINK TO THE CONTEST IS HERE!

YA Writer Wednesdays is happy to welcome Laxmi Hariharan, author of THE DESTINY OF SHAITAN! Comment on my interview with Laxmi for a chance to win her e-book, THE DESTINY OF SHAITAN! I'll draw the winner at random on Tuesday, August 14! 

About Laxmi Hariharan: (In the author’s words) I am a writer, technophile and, dare I say, a futurist, with a penchant for chai and growing eye-catching flowers. Wanderlust drove me out of my home country, India, to travel across Asia, and I lived in Singapore and Hong Kong before coming home to London. I am inspired by Indian mythology; I draw from the stories my grandmother narrated to me as a child. It is in acknowledging my roots that I found my voice. When not writing, I love walking in the woods with my soulmate, and indulging my inner geek. My debut novel, The Destiny of Shaitan, is available on Amazon (e-book).

Welcome, Laxmi! What's your book about? 

Partially set in a futuristic Bombay, The Destiny of Shaitan is a coming of age story painted against the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic world. When Tiina, a young seventeen year old, accompanies her ex-boyfriend Yudi on a mission to save the universe from the ruthless Shaitan, she seeks more than the end of the tyrant; she seeks herself. Driven by greed and fear for his own survival, Shaitan bulldozes his way through the galaxy, destroying everything in his path. Tiina wants Yudi to eliminate Shaitan, thus fulfilling the prophecy of the autocrat being killed by his son, but she finds that Yudi is hesitant to do so. The final showdown between Yudi and Shaitan has unexpected consequences, for Shaitan will do anything in his power to win the fight—including getting rid of Tiina. The stakes are high and the combatants determined. Will Shaitan's ultimate destiny be fulfilled?

What inspired you to write it?

I am inspired by Indian mythology. My grandmother narrated for me these amazing stories of Indian Gods and Goddesses and their fantastic adventures when I was growing up in Bombay. So I think the seeds of this book were sown when I was a five year old. I hope The Destiny of Shaitan will introduce an entire new generation around the world to Indian mythology – in a very cool, easy to understand fashion.

When is your book coming out / When did it release?

The second edition of The Destiny of Shaitan released on July 1. If you have read it, I'd  love to profile you my reader in my Reader Avatars series on my blog . E-mail me to be included: laxmihariharan@yahoo.com . 

Has the reality of being published been different than you thought it would be?

With being published comes the enormous responsibility of giving my readers the best experience my words can afford. I found I had to be very true to myself about acknowledging why I write. I write to be read.

What's the best part of being published?

The best part is to be read! I write to introduce a new generation of people around the word to the magnificent wonders of Indian mythology and culture. If I have managed to move even one person, I am fulfilled.

FIND LAXMI ON https://www.facebook.com/laxmihariharanauthor" target="_blank">FACEBOOK!  SHE'S @laxmi ON TWITTER, AND SHE'S ALSO ON PINTEREST . CHECK OUT HER WEBSITE, TOO! 

What is something about publishing that you wish someone had told you in advance?

That it is no cakewalk  and that there are no real monetary rewards at the end of it. I don't think you can write to make money. You write because it is a compulsion and there is no other way out!

Do you write from an outline or are you a "pantser"?

The Destiny of Shaitan is a sheer seat of the pants story which grew from a very organic space. The characters were off having mad adventures and I had to make sense of it all for the reader. With my next one, The Seven Islands, I am going to plot first--then write!

Who's your favorite author? What is it about his or her writing that has made you a fan?

George R R Martin is my favourite. His characters drive the story forward. And he does not hesitate to kill them off and come up totally new and even more intriguing ones. Fantastic!

Are you a full-time writer or do you have a "day job"? What do you do in your "day job"?

My day job is working in a creative media house. I am fortunate that my job nurtures my soul and pays my bills so I can write!

Why YA as opposed to some other genre?

I not only write YA, I am YA. In fact I have my own quiz to help you figure out if you are also a Young Adult:

a. Do you have more in common with your girlfriends’ fourteen year old (especially your love for Hunger Games, Twilight, et al)?

b. In workplace meetings or in ‘grown up’ parties or at the pub, are you the only one who knows Formspring (or for that matter, Twitter)?

c. Are you health-conscious (in fact, probably vegetarian?) and also probably love to take extra vitamins in the hope of staying perpetually young?

If you got even two of the above three right, chances are that, like me, you are YA forever.

Who's your agent? Take this opportunity to brag on him/her if you'd like!

I’d very much like to talk about my PR representative and my all around favourite woman, Pavarti K. Taylor. You must read her new novel, Shadow on the Wall. Its bold, daring and unputdownable! She is a phenomenal lady who just keeps going, never gives up!

YA Writer Wednesdays is excited to welcome ERIC DEVINE, author of TAP OUT, a YA title releasing September 1, 2012 from Running Press! Comment below to win a free signed copy of TAP OUT! I'll draw the winner at random on Tuesday, August 7! 

Welcome, Eric! What's your book about? Tap Out is the story of Tony Antioch’s struggle to get out of the horrendous environment in which he’s been raised--abusive father; drugged out mother; subsequent abusive boyfriends; harsh poverty; the pull of the local meth-slinging biker gang. He keeps his head low and his act clean, praying that his Vo-Tec training will someday provide employment and possibly a way out, and that his mother will stay clean long enough for him to do so. But, Cameron, his mother’s latest boyfriend, has different ideas. The only bright spot in Tony’s life is his friend Rob, who convinces Tony to join the local Mixed Martial Arts gym in order to protect himself from Cameron. Tony finds refuge within the walls of the gym, but they are not strong enough to keep the weight of his world out. With pressure from Cameron, the gang, and a downward spiral of his own dire circumstances, Tony has choices to make. Each comes with a consequence he doesn’t want to live with, but has to. 

When is your book coming out? September 1, 2012.

Who's your publisher? Tell us your story-- how'd you come to be a published author? Running Press, an imprint of Perseus Publishing Group, is releasing Tap Out. This is my first major release, but I have another novel and a handful of short stories out there. I followed the traditional advice in order to become published: Write what you know. I did, non-stop, for years. Then I joined a critique group and got serious about my writing. I found and lost two agents, but the third time was the charm. Kate McKean offered impeccable advice and I followed every word. I continued to write and to listen to my students (I teach HS English) and incorporate their struggles. I hit on the concept for Tap Out, wrote a few chapters and knew it had legs. I ran the concept by Kate. She again offered her advice and I got to work. A little over a year later Kate sealed a deal with Running Press and editor Lisa Cheng.

Do you write from an outline or are you a "pantser"? Both. I outline but deviate as needed and then outline again, deviate and on and on. I write before work, early in the morning, so I need a concrete structure to return to each day. It helps to have a sense of where I want to go, but an ability to let go of that direction if something else just feels more appropriate.

Are you a full-time writer or do you have a "day job"? What do you do in your "day job"? I work full-time as a high school English teacher, part time as a personal trainer, per diem as an educational consultant and I write. However, I think about writing all the time. My stories are with me always and I will often write notes while teaching and training. My mind is always turning over my work. And I feel fortunate to be with high schoolers every day. I teach freshman through seniors and get to witness the development of my students, their conflicts with friends, school, identity, societal pressure. I live in their world and then translate it onto the page.

Why YA as opposed to some other genre? I have yet to fully grow up. I am intrigued by adolescence, how it’s morphed since I was a teen, and yet how so much has remained constant. Even though I am an adult--am married, have two daughters own my home--I have yet to let go of my teen self. I am not him, but I can remember vividly so much of my own trials that to not use them as fodder would be a waste of insight. I also write YA to better understand my students, to be able to relate to them on a more personal level, because education is not solely about tests and data, it is very much about the individual, and his or her dignity. And I hope I can continue to write YA so that I will be better prepared for when my daughters are teens.

Who's your agent? Take this opportunity to brag on him/her if you'd like! Kate McKean is brilliant, witty, and all-around amazing. She and the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency took a chance on me. I had little to no credentials and a manuscript that needed work, yet Kate saw something and chose to guide me. And that is exactly why a writer needs a fabulous agent like Kate. I write a mess of a story, clean it up and then let her have at it. She nudges me about how to make it more than I saw it could be. She has an uncanny ability to sense potential and to provide careful nudging and encouragement. I couldn’t ask for more.

TODAY ONLY!

Order HOPE IN PATIENCE today and e-mail me proof of purchase (email confirmation or receipt), and I will choose one person at random to receive a signed copy of COURAGE IN PATIENCE, Book 1 in THE PATIENCE TRILOGY, absolutely free!

In addition, you'll be entered in my contest for an $80 Visa gift card!

Click here for links to buy HOPE IN PATIENCE.

I am holding a campaign retroactively from July 24, 2012, through August 24, 2012.

Buy a NEW** copy of HOPE IN PATIENCE from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk, or your local independent bookseller within this time frame, and I will enter your name in a drawing for an $80 Visa gift card.

Here's the rules:

1. You must buy a copy of HOPE IN PATIENCE between July 24, 2012, and August 24, 2012.

2. Forward me either e-confirmation of your purchase OR scan in your receipt and send it to me via e-mail. My e-mail address is beth@bethfehlbaum.com

3. This contest is open to readers worldwide.

4. The purchase MUST be made from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk, or your local independent bookseller.

5. ONE winner will be drawn from all who send me confirmation or receipt of your purchase between July 24, 2012 and August 24, 2012.

6. ONE entry per book purchased, i.e. if you buy 3 books, your name is entered 3 times in the drawing.

7. The prize is an $80 Visa gift card.

8. **Purchases made from private sellers or sellers such as Amazon Marketplace or Barnes and Noble Marketplace are NOT ELIGIBLE for this contest.

YA Writer Wednesdays is pleased to welcome Michael Taylor, author of SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST! Comment on my interview with Michael for a chance to win signed copy of SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST! I'll draw the winner at random on Tuesday, July 31! 

Welcome, Michael! What's your book about?

Survival of the Fittest – The Last Hope for the Human Race is about teenagers who are genetically altered before birth. The genetic mutations come from alien DNA. Governments of the world were made aware of the impending alien invasion and these genetically altered teens were created to fight the aliens.

What inspired you to write it?

My inspiration for writing my book was to engage students (I’m a Language Arts teacher in Frederick, MD) who are reluctant readers to want to read. I figured that students would enjoy reading something they knew they could critique, positive or negative, with the author.

FIND MICHAEL ON FACEBOOK!  @AuthorMTaylor ON TWITTER!

CHECK OUT HIS WEBSITE!  AND BLOG! 

When is your book coming out / When did it release?

Survival of the Fittest – The Last Hope for the Human Race was released last November 2011. The follow-up, Survival of the Fittest – The Closest Enemy should be out in about 6 weeks.

FIND SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST ON AMAZON, BARNES AND NOBLE, AND THROUGH IUNIVERSE. 

Has the reality of being published been different than you thought it would be?

It has been different. I had those stars in my eyes and thought, published equals famous. Well, fame doesn’t happen overnight. So, reality sunk in, and it was hard in the beginning, but I’ve been fortunate enough to have made many indie author friends, and they have been the greatest support.

What's the best part of being published?

I’ve realized a dream I’ve always had.

What is something about publishing that you wish someone had told you in advance?

That publishing isn’t simply writing a book. There are processes to go through. And some of those processes aren’t always fun, like editing, 10, 20, 30 times.

Who's your publisher? Tell us your story-- how'd you come to be a published author?

I’m an indie author. I’ve published the book through iUniverse. I did a lot of research until I found an organization that was going to work with me throughout the publishing process. I’ve met some very good people who really want to see authors reach success.

Do you write from an outline or are you a "pantser"?

Pantser! I never know where the story is going to go until I sit down and begin writing. A humorous story, well, at least humorous to me is, I created this character and honestly, she was a pain in the butt. I couldn’t stand her. It took me until near the end of the second book to finally get rid of her. Now the strangest part, SPOILER ALERT! she’s back in the third book. I guess the character is like “antser in the pantser.”

Who's your favorite author? What is it about his or her writing that has made you a fan?

I love anything by Neal Shusterman. I’ve read everything he’s written and it’s just WOW! What really made me a huge fan of Shusterman are two books he wrote, Bruiser and Unwind. I don’t see how anyone could read either of these books and not fall under the Shusterman-spell.

What's the last book you read that you still haven't been able to shake off? What was it about the book that stayed with you?

Unwind by Neal Shusterman. He wrote two chapters near the end of the book that left me a little disturbed. Not disturbed in a negative way, but disturbed in the way that leaves a reader questioning how an author could come up with something so unique.

Are you a full-time writer or do you have a "day job"? What do you do in your "day job"?

I have a full-time day job. I’m a teacher. I teach middle school Language Arts in Frederick, MD. When people find out what I do, they usually groan a little, but honestly, I love it. I don’t think there’s a day that I don’t find enjoyment in what I do.

Why YA as opposed to some other genre?

I write YA because I teach young adults. I want to encourage kids to pick up a book, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, etc. and put down the video game. Kids need to be able to develop their own imagination and I don’t believe video games help with that.

Who's your agent? Take this opportunity to brag on him/her if you'd like!

No agent, but would love to have one.

YA Writer Wednesdays is thrilled to welcome Dave Hendrickson, author of CRACKING THE ICE! Comment on my interview with Dave for a chance to win a signed copy!  I'll draw the winner at random on Tuesday, July 24! 

Follow Dave on Twitter: @DHWriter! Friend him on Facebook! 

You can buy CRACKING THE ICE on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

What's your book about? It's 1968 during the height of the Civil Rights struggle. Jessie Stackhouse is a fifteen-year-old black hockey player who gets recruited to break the color line at an elite, all-white prep school. Although the headmaster who recruited him is very idealistic and is trying to make changes, the coach doesn't want Jessie there and neither do most of his teammates. Jessie must overcome not only the team in the other locker room but also the one in his own.

What inspired you to write it? Over the course of many years, I've built a substantial audience for my college hockey writing and earned several awards for it. I've coached the sport and watched my son go from Learn-to-Skate all the way to becoming co-captain for his college team. Hockey is in my blood. As a result, it was natural for me to turn to the sport for a Young Adult novel. Every novel needs conflict and I thought there was no more dramatic conflict than that of an African-American athlete during the Civil Rights era playing the whitest of sports. Those years in our history have always fascinated and horrified me. Putting together those two interests (or perhaps obsessions would be a more accurate term) led me to start writing and researching Cracking the Ice. Many different sources helped make the book come to life. In particular, I'm indebted to Richard Harris, a black hockey player during that era, who spent hours talking to me about his experiences. Cracking the Ice is a novel -- Jessie Stackhouse's story -- but I'd like to think that all that research led to a book that rings true.

What's the best part of being published? Hearing those magical words, "I couldn't put it down." That puts a huge smile on my face, and I've heard it over and over with Cracking the Ice. I view myself as a storyteller over and above everything else. If my readers can't put my book down, I've done my job.

Do you write from an outline or are you a "pantser"? For me, a detailed outline would kill all creativity. I write notes to myself about where things are going, but I need my creative subconscious to provide a lot of the most interesting twists and turns. Sometimes I'll write what I call a development draft. As I write, I learn about my characters and where they need to go. Then perhaps I set that aside and armed with what I know, I start afresh. In the case of Cracking the Ice, I wrote the first draft straight through then evaluated what I had. I threw out chapters two through nine because they didn't work at all and began from scratch on a new Chapter 2 and all the rest of the material that got Jessie to Chapter 10.

Why YA as opposed to some other genre? To be honest, I'd never considered YA until I took Kristine Kathryn Rusch and Dean Wesley Smith's Master Class. As part of it, each writer participated in something called The Game, which simulated the life of a full-time freelancer. Each day, in addition to our classes and other responsibilities, we had to write a specified number of novel pitches to a pretend board of publishers made up of four full-time writers. You got to stay a full-time writer if you could sell enough to pay the bills. If you're writing four or five pitches a day, you pretty soon get outside of your comfort zone, which in my case was fantasy, horror, and mystery. I needed pitches so I considered YA for the first time. Cracking the Ice came from that pitch, which the pretend board of publishers liked as did a senior New York editor who arrived near the end of the Master Class. Two weeks later, I began Jessie Stackhouse's story.

Are you a full-time writer or do you have a "day job"? What do you do in your "day job"? In my day job, I write embedded software that makes ultrasound systems work. I also have two part-time jobs, teaching in the evenings at two universities and covering college hockey for uscho.com. As a result, writing fiction would become quickly crowded out if I didn't make it a priority. But because it is a priority, I make the time, whether it's easy or not. I have little patience for people who say they want to become writers but don't follow through with a commitment to write on a regular basis. If you aren't writing, you aren't a writer.

Check out this inspiring story of legendary swimmer and childhood sexual abuse survivor, Diana Nyad.

http://www.out.com/entertainment/sports/2012/07/09/Diana-Nyad-swimmer-cuba-lesbian?page=0%2C0