K.A. BARSON INTERVIEW AND 45 POUNDS GIVEAWAY

Hi Everyone! Hope you're having a great summer. Mine is filled with driving my daughter around and going to swim meets, but it's been fun. And I've been reading some great books.

First, here's the winner of the Freedom to Read Blog Hop.

The winner is Kristina Vallaste who chose INSOMNIA.

Congrats! E-mail me your address so I can send you your book. Please e-mail me by the end of Wednesday or I'll have to pick another winner.

Today I’m excited to have debut author Kelly (K.A.) Barson here to share about her contemporary story, 45 POUNDS, that was released on July 11, 2013. Kelly is a Michigan SCBWI member like me and I'm excited to help celebrate her debut. I really connected with Ann, the main character who needs to lose 45 pounds before her aunt’s wedding from the first chapter. I was overweight as a kid, though not as much as Ann, and could empathize with a lot of Ann’s feelings. And Kelly did a fantastic job bringing all the characters in this story to life very vividly. I felt like I really got to know them all. This was a really fast read for me and I read half of it while waiting for my case to be called in Court and at lunch one day. It reminded me how much I enjoy contemporary stories and that I need to read them more often.

Here’s a description from Goodreads:

Here are the numbers of Ann Galardi’s life:

She is 16.
And a size 17.
Her perfect mother is a size 6.
Her Aunt Jackie is getting married in 10 weeks, and wants Ann to be her bridesmaid.
So Ann makes up her mind: Time to lose 45 pounds (more or less) in 2 1/2 months.

Welcome to the world of infomercial diet plans, wedding dance lessons, embarrassing run-ins with the cutest guy Ann’s ever seen—-and some surprises about her NOT-so-perfect mother.

And there’s one more thing. It’s all about feeling comfortable in your own skin-—no matter how you add it up!

Hi Kelly. Happy Debut! Thanks so much for joining us.

Thanks, Natalie! It’s great to be here.

1. Tell us about yourself and how you became a writer.

I was an early reader and always loved stories. I don’t remember ever not writing, but I didn’t know how to go from hobbyist to professional until a friend, Vicky Lorencen, introduced me to SCBWI and Highlights Foundation workshops. They led me down the path to publication—from magazine articles, through several not-quite-there manuscripts, to Vermont College of Fine Arts, and around the submission process.

2. I know Vicky too. It’s awesome that you’re friends with her and that she got you on your path to publication. Ann is such a likeable, sympathetic character. And I loved that she wasn’t the commonly portrayed hot, thin beauty. Share a bit about how you developed her as a character and any challenges you faced.

In my reading, I’d never encountered a character that battled weight the same way I did. I wanted to write about a girl who knew how to diet, but didn’t know how to combat emotional eating. I also wanted to have a girl that didn’t fit in her family or her clothes or her world. However, I also wanted her “fitting in,” or lack thereof, to be more in her own mind than her family or classmates really not accepting her.

3. I think one of the reasons I could so relate to Ann is that you focused on the emotional struggle. And I think a lot of teenage girls will be able to relate to her as well. Did you plot this out or were you a panster? What did you learn from that process?

I’ve revised this book so many times that I’m not really sure. I’m sure I started as a pantster. I used to just start writing to see where it took me. That was fun, but more often than not, I wrote myself into a corner. By the final version of 45 POUNDS and for anything newer, I plot out the big plot points using a loose version of the snowflake method. (http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/articles/snowflake-method/) Then I “pants” my way from point to point, always with the ending in mind. Just knowing the high points and not the details allows me more latitude for humor and character development, things I can’t plan ahead.4. Thanks for the link. I definitely just do a loose version of the snowflake method too. What advice do you have for the rest of us who want to write a contemporary novel? What are some of the pitfalls to avoid?

The best advice is to read—not only contemporary, but everything. Pay attention to what makes those books good, or not-so-good. One pitfall is to try to write a blockbuster or to write to trends. Instead, write the story of your heart.

5. That’s great advice to write what your heart is into. Your agent is Sara Crowe. Share about how she became your agent and your road to publication.

It was pretty simple, really. I did my homework and made a list of top agents I thought would be a good fit. (Your website is one the very best for doing this.) Then I queried her. She requested the full and offered representation a few weeks later. She submitted, followed up, and made the sale.

6. You make it sound so easy! I’m glad Literary Rambles helped in the querying process. Awesome that Sara became your agent a few weeks after requesting a full manuscript. What’s surprised you about the year leading up to your book’s publication?

I knew there’d be a lot of waiting, but I was surprised how many little celebrations there were along the way. Making deadlines, the cover reveal, blurbs, ARCs, reviews, receiving the first hardcover, and notes from readers are all perfect excuses for constant celebratory toasts.

7. That’s a great idea to celebrate those little milestones and if some of the celebrations are public, you can use them to create excitement for your book release. What are some of the essential things you recommend an author do after they sign a contract for their book to be published to develop their writer platform?

First, if not already done, a website and/or blog, a Facebook author page, and a Twitter feed are musts. (If you’re dead set against social media, at least create a website.) Readers, bloggers, and others will want to keep up on what’s going on with you and your books. It’s also easier and more succinct to put a web address on bookmarks, postcards, and other swag than info that may need to be updated. I also highly recommend that debut authors find promo groups. Not only do they help navigate the craziness of the year(s) leading up to release, but they also connect you with other author friends who are in the same place you are.

8. I’ve heard a lot of authors recommend joining a debut promo group. I’d definitely want to do that. I read that you’re going to the American Library  Association (ALA) conference in Chicago. How did that come about? What’s your advice for finding out about these opportunities and arranging to attend them?

The Class of 2k13, one of the promo groups I’m part of, set that up. Again, never underestimate the awesomeness of groups working together for a common goal. It’s hard to do it on your own and still write. But when we divide up the work and brainstorm ideas together, we’re actually more successful.

9. Cool that your debut group helped arrange for you to go to ALA. ALA seems like a great way to connect with librarians, which is such an important way to spread the word about your book. What are you working on now?

I’m working on my next book, which is also with Viking. It’s about a high school cosmetology student who thinks she has her life planned out and under control. When everything falls apart, she has to learn to let go, listen, and appreciate her real friends. Watch my website, Twitter feed, or Facebook author page for title, cover, and release updates.

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Kelly. You can find Kelly at www.kabarson.com (website), www.facebook.com/kabarson.author (Facebook), @kabarson (Twitter), http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5555591.K_A_Barson (Goodreads).

Thank you, Natalie, not only for this interview, but for all that you and Casey do for writers.

You’re welcome, Kelly. So glad you appreciate it.

Kelly and her publisher, Viking, have generously offered an ARC of 45 POUNDS for a giveaway. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower (just click the follow button if you’re not a follower) and leave a comment by midnight on July 27th. I’ll announce the winner on July 29th.

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry. You must be 13 or older to enter. International entries are welcome.

Here’s what’s coming up:

Tomorrow I have a fantastic Tuesday tip on characters by Cindy Cipriano and an ARC giveaway of her middle grade fantasy, THE CIRCLE.



Next Monday, I have an ASK THE EXPERT interview with Dianne Salerni’s daughter and an ARC giveaway of THE 5TH WAVE. This is an amazing dystopian/sci-fi story with never a dull moment. I can’t wait to share this fantastic book and interview with you. I couldn't believe how much Diane's daughter and I have in common reading-wise.
 
On Wednesday, I’m giving away a copy of SHIP OUT OF LUCK by Neal Shusterman. It’s an adventure story about Antsy, a middle grader, who goes on a cruise with his family to relax. Only it doesn’t work out that way. It’s gotten great reviews that also say it’s funny. I’m hoping you or one of your middle graders would enjoy this. I know my daughter and her friends all loved Neal Shusterman’s books when she was in middle school. That’s how I learned about him.


The following Monday, I have an interview with debut author Corina Vacco and an ARC giveaway of MY CHEMICAL MOUNTAIN, a YA story about living in a small town that’s a toxic waste grounds. I found it fascinating contemplating what it would be like living somewhere like that where swimming in a really toxic stream is no big deal and I enjoyed that the story was told from a male POV.

Wednesday that week I’m interviewing debut author Lisa Amowitz and giving away an ARC of BREAKING GLASS, a mystery about a guy who is receiving messages from the dead. It got great reviews on Goodreads so I’m excited to share it with you. And Lisa is also a talented cover designer who designed Lisa Gail Green’s gorgeous cover for DJINN: THE BINDING STONE. We’ll be talking about cover designs as well.

And don't forget our Tuesday Tips and Casey's Thursday agent spotlights.

Hope to see you tomorrow!