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| Great SMILE! |
AN INTERVIEW WITH LIZ DEJESUS
If you look back 3 posts, you'll find my interview with author Marissa Meyer. In that interview, Marissa said that one of her fav indie authors was a young lady named Liz DeJesus. So I connected with Liz and we've become long distance friends. What she knows about publishing helps me, and what I know about it helps her.
Miss Liz is an impressive lady. While corresponding, I discovered that English is NOT her first language, but after reading her book First Frost, I would never have known if she hadn't told me. But more on First Frost later. I'd like you to meet Liz DeJesus.
THE QUESTIONS
You've done
several interviews. What were 2-3 of your favorite questions you were asked? Why is storytelling so important for all of us?
Everyone needs stories. They
shape and define us. Stories, words have power. Stories can be used for
everything. Entertain. Teach. Reach out to someone. Empower. Overcome. I know
that there are some books that I feel helped save my life when I was at my
lowest. Those moments when I was all alone, there was always a book nearby.
Always a character that made me feel as though I wasn’t the only one feeling
this way. Anyone that is an avid reader has at least one book where there is
one sentence (or even a word) that changed the way that they saw themselves or
saw the world. We need stories. Words are the only things that will live on
long after we have perished.
What was the most surprising thing you learned in creating Bianca?
How real she is to me. And how
loud her voice is in my head when I’m writing for her. Sometimes when I’m
writing scenes for her and she’s going through a particularly hard time, you
can often find me crying as I’m typing. I’m also using a lot of the emotions
and angst I felt as a teenager and putting it all into Bianca and the other
characters. Her best friend, Ming, the charming prince, Ferdinand and the love
interest, Terrance.
What advice would you give to indie authors getting ready to publish?
Read your contracts carefully.
And listen to your editor. They’re not trying to change the story. They’re
trying to make it better. Also learn how to market your book. You can’t simply
publish your book and expect for it to sell without you putting some work into
it. This means searching for bloggers and reviewers that read the genre your
book is in. They are an indie authors bread and butter.
What
were your favorite books/authors as a child?
I loved the Sweet Valley High
series. I also read The Curious Clubhouse by Christine Govan A LOT.
Sweet Valley High #1: Double Love
Curious Clubhouse
Who are your top 5 favorite best-selling authors, now?
Are there any indie authors/books that you would suggest?
Don’t know if this qualifies as
indie but I love Merry Shannon’s writing. My favorite book of hers is Branded Ann. Another great author is Kerri Hawkins,
she’s the author of The Blood Legacy series. AMAZING. Definitely pick up her
books.
And if you could be any character in any book, who would you be? And why?
Oh wow. Good question. Hmmm….I would
have to go with Alice from Alice in Wonderland. I would want to visit Wonderland and
meet all of those interesting characters. (This link isn't as fun as the Cat in the
Hat link *boing*boing* but there's a nice surprise waiting for you.)
MANY THANKS!
Thank you to Liz DeJesus for the great interview and all of your help.
Coming Soon...
Interviews with:
Paul G Day - Young Adult/Children's Author
Sam Whitehouse - The Prophecy of Three
(I'm so excited to bring these two guys to readers, I can't hardly stand it.)
A little writing tip!
Don’t tell me
the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.
- Anton Chekhov
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