THE BEST LAID PLANS by Tamara Mataya

From last week's interview with Kelly Barnhill, her short story, "The Insect and the Astronomer," is now available for free! 

This week, we switch to romance. I found Tamara Mataya on Twitter when I saw her posts on Janet Reid's blog. Not only is she a super cool writer librarian, her new book, THE BEST LAID PLANS, came out November 4.

Jayne Griffin isn’t looking for Mr. Right. She’s looking for Mr. RTFN and a toe-curling good time. She’s got the brains, the powerful job as a futures broker, and thanks to a makeover and a thin book of dating advice, the confidence to turn any man’s head.

Malcolm Black notices his high school crush, Jayne, from the stage of her company’s work party. His adolescent feelings for her died beneath months of abuse at the hands of bullies. Abuse that was Jayne’s fault. Though this scorching hot studio musician is unrecognizable as the band geek he used to be, the hurt still lives inside him, and he hatches a plan: Seduce Jayne into falling in love with him, and then shatter her heart.

The white-hot chemistry between them is a pleasant surprise. It all goes so smoothly until Feelings start to develop... and that invitation to their ten year high school reunion lands in their inboxes.

Jayne wants the perfect lover. Malcolm wants revenge. But you know what they say about The Best Laid Plans...

Here are Tamara's answers to some of my questions:

 As a fellow librarian, you must have a healthy love of books! Did that draw you toward writing, or did the writing happen first?

I've ALWAYS been a reader. I ended up sucking at math in the fifth grade, because we had reading period before math, and I sat at the back of the room. EVERY DAY I'd sort of emerge from my book haze and realize that the rest of the class had moved on to math, and I'd still been reading, and had missed half the lesson! So I've ALWAYS lost myself in books. As for writing, my first real writerly experience, was in the sixth grade, when my short story was chosen as a winner, and I got to go to the Young Author's Conference, and have my story published in an anthology. The story was about a jack-o-lantern that came to life, found love, had seventeen children, then was left a widower and single father! I still have the anthology :)
 
That's awesome! I had a similar math experience. I always pulled a C average, and was called a "daydreamer"  by one of my elementary school teachers.
I love the premise of THE BEST LAID PLANS. What inspired the idea, and what do you want readers to take away when they're finished?

I was thinking about the stories we all carry with us beneath our skin. People are shocked when I tell them I was picked on in school, and wasn't popular by any means. I wondered if two seemingly perfect people could get past the scars of their pasts and see something amazing right in front of them... even if they share a less than stellar past.
 
As for what people take away from it, I hope it helps them let go of something weighing them down. Maybe letting go of some hurt from their pasts too. :)
 
Very well put. I love your Twitter handle, Feaky Snucker. How did it come about?

A conversation with my dad and older brother! My brother was talking about what he'd name a spy/ detective agency, and my dad called him Sneaky Fu..... I promptly commandeered it from my brother, made a tweak, and I've been Feaky Snucker ever since!
 
You just signed a 3 book deal with Swoon Romance--congratulations! Will your books all be part of the same series? What other projects are you currently working on?

 Thank you!!! I feel like Malcolm and Jayne (MC's from THE BEST LAID PLANS)'s story has been told, and at this moment in time, I can't think of anything I want to add. There could be books featuring other characters in TBLP, which would include a peek at Malcolm and Jayne in the future!

As for WIP's, how much time have you got?! I have WAY too many ideas. I'm currently writing two main WIP's, and have about 7 ideas for others vying for my attention! I've got contemporary NA romance, NA Action/ adventure, YA Sci-fi, NA Urban Fantasy! I'm set for a while and am SO fortunate to have found an agency that lets me write more than one Category/ Genre! 

To get a hold of THE BEST LAID PLANS for yourself, click on the link below:

 

THE TRUE STORY OF JACK and IRON HEARTED VIOLET by Kelly Barnhill

When I read this blog post by author Kelly Barhill, I knew I wanted to interview her immediately. In addition to her novels, she also has a new short story called, "The Insect and the Astronomer" in Lightspeed Magazine. Be sure to check it out!

Enter a world where magic bubbles just below the surface. . . .

When Jack is sent to Hazelwood, Iowa, to live with his strange aunt and uncle, he expects a summer of boredom. Little does he know that the people of Hazelwood have been waiting for him for quite a long time.

When he arrives, three astonishing things happen: First, he makes friends -- not imaginary friends but actual friends. Second, he is beaten up by the town bully; the bullies at home always ignored him. Third, the richest man in town begins to plot Jack's imminent, and hopefully painful, demise. It's up to Jack to figure out why suddenly everyone cares so much about him. Back home he was practically, well, invisible.

The Mostly True Story of Jack is an eerie tale of magic, friendship, and sacrifice. It's about things broken and things put back together. Above all, it's about finding a place to belong.

The end of their world begins with a story.
This one.

In most fairy tales, princesses are beautiful, dragons are terrifying, and stories are harmless. This isn’t most fairy tales.

Princess Violet is plain, reckless, and quite possibly too clever for her own good. Particularly when it comes to telling stories. One day she and her best friend, Demetrius, stumble upon a hidden room and find a peculiar book. A forbidden book. It tells a story of an evil being—called the Nybbas—imprisoned in their world. The story cannot be true—not really. But then the whispers start. Violet and Demetrius, along with an ancient, scarred dragon, may hold the key to the Nybbas’s triumph . . . or its demise. It all depends on how they tell the story. After all, stories make their own rules.

Iron Hearted Violet is a story of a princess unlike any other. It is a story of the last dragon in existence, deathly afraid of its own reflection. Above all, it is a story about the power of stories, our belief in them, and how one enchanted tale changed the course of an entire kingdom.

Here are Kelly's answers to some of my questions:


Your website bio mentions that you "have a bunch of short stories in various publications." What do you like most about short story writing?

I really enjoy writing short stories a lot, and it's something that I let slip in my regular writing practice for a couple years, due to an over-focus on the novels. Not to trash-talk novel-writing, mind you, but it is good to keep the different creative muscles flexing. I have two short stories coming out soon - one called "The Insect and the Astronomer" which will be in Lightspeed Magazine and another which will be in an anthology of feminist science fiction sometime next year. As well as a number of others currently out on submission. For me, writing short stories has more in common with the construction of a poem than the long journey of a novel. Both require a focus on sound and a precision of language that is not quite as true in novel-writing. Both are designed to be consumed in a single sitting, which means that both are built on an intricate web of harmonics and reverberation - each moment carries an echo of every other moment in the story, and every word, every comma, every break, every beat, matters. And that's a fun way to write. Stressful, yes. But fun.

I've heard writers should write outside their usual genre--to challenge themselves and grow. And, short stories sometimes offer extra income, so it's valuable from a business standpoint, too.
I love the premise of IRON HEARTED VIOLET! Where did the story concept originate, and what do you want readers to take away when they're finished reading?

The story started a number of years ago. We have a little cabin that my family goes to from time to time - just a shack in the woods, no electricity, no running water, no phones. Even our cell phones don't work up there. Just eleven acres of scrubby forest and running creeks and sometimes a cougar or bear or wolverine sighting. It's awesome. Anyway, I was snuggled up with my daughters and was getting ready to tell them a story. They wanted me to tell them the story of a princess. "But not a pretty princess," they said. "Pretty princesses are boring." And so I started telling them about Violet. And then I couldn't stop.

Pretty princesses are boring! And Violet really seems to break the mold. You also wrote THE MOSTLY TRUE STORY OF JACK. Great premise here, too. Did Jack come fully formed or did you develop him while writing his story?

Jack arrived fully formed. I am a runner, and do quite a bit of writing while running. Normally, I will start with a sentence that pleases me, and will just string it further and further, looping back to the beginning and adding word after word, like beads on a string. I am primarily an aural thinker, and not a visual thinker at all, so when images pop into my head....well, it's rare. So I pay attention. I was out for a run, and I had a sudden image of a boy sitting in the back seat of a rental car, barreling through Iowa, with the landscape stretching away in every direction like a broad, green quilt. And this kid in the car? He was such a singular fellow. And desperately lonely. I could feel his loneliness hit me like a truck. And I wanted nothing more than to write him a place to be - a place to belong. I had so much compassion for that loneliness, and I wanted to write him home.

It's wonderful when inspiration comes at unexpected times! Your website bio also mentions that you teach and freelance. What strategies have you found while juggling various tasks? Do you have any recommendations for writers balancing more than one career?

Man. I'll tell you, it's hard. Both my husband and I are independently employed, and we have three kids, so we have essentially built our lives together out of duct tape, cast-off lumber, cardboard and gum. And sweat, of course. And tremendous love for the work. Mostly, I have a pretty good sense of when to work like mad, and when to give myself a break. When I'm teaching, for example, I absolutely cannot write. Teaching requires such a tremendous rush of energy going out, that I'm completely depleted by the end of the day. Happy, yes. Satisfied, most definitely. But too exhausted to write. So I schedule things far in advance, I let my editors know where my teaching gigs are, and they are wonderfully flexible and forgiving. And I do my best.

What that means, of course, is that sometimes projects don't happen in exactly the way I think they will. And that can be frustrating - particularly because it is easy for us to be hard on ourselves, and to assume that any deviation of the original plan must constitute failure. The fear of failure is huge with artisty-types, and it's not helpful. Being able to bring what I can to the page, to trust the work when it happens, and not to judge myself - well that was a hard one to learn. But worth it.

Excellent advice. Especially the part about how crippling "fear of failure" can be. What are some current projects that you're working on?


Well! I have a new book coming out next year called The Witch's Boy, which will be published by Algonquin Books for Young Readers. And I am terribly excited about it. And I have two books that will be heading to my agent shortly - and I'll let him decide which one comes next. One is called The Boy Who Loved Birds, and it is about a girl who goes to live with her estranged grandmother when her father is deployed to Afghanistan, and the boy she meets who may or may not be able to speak to birds. The other is called The Sugar House, which is about a boy who is out of the good graces of pretty much everyone on earth after he accidentally almost blows up the school. He also has Type 1 Diabetes, which means that he's the only kid in the neighborhood who hasn't fallen under the spell of a gingerbread-house-witch who is wreaking all kinds of havok on the block. And no one believes him. Why would they? He already almost blew up the school. Accidentally. Mostly. I'm also finishing up a short-story-turned-novella called The Unlicensed Magician. And a couple more stories. It's good to have a bunch of logs in the fire. Very good indeed.

Indeed! Thanks, Kelly, for an excellent interview! 

To snag Kelly's books for yourself, click on the links below.

Once Upon a LORD OF THE RINGS Panel...

One of the perks of my day job is working with faculty who teach really interesting subject content. This semester I had the privilege of doing a library session for a class studying Tolkien and LORD OF THE RINGS. Even better, I've been invited to a panel discussion on Halloween to talk about Tolkien's impact on literarture and culture. And, I'll be able to dress up.

To prepare, I'm reading the THE HOBBIT to refamiliarize myself with Tolkien's language. I love how he inserts the real within the fantastical, much how Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, Roald Dahl and J.K. Rowling do. That they're all British is probably no coincidence--British humor has a way of depicting very straight, narrow, and normal characters in absurd situations, and making it all engaging and amusing. Something I strive for in my writing all the time.

But what really got me thinking is how Bilbo decided to embark on his adventure in the first place. His mother was a Took, known for welcoming the unexpected, whereas his father, a Baggins, was very accustomed to routine.

It's the classic head vs. heart scenario. The Baggins part of Bilbo doesn't want the adventure, but the Took part of him craves it. Much like my writer/librarian divide. The librarian in me loves the routine of my job, the security of it. The writer in me (more at some times than others) yearns to break free. And then the librarian remembers how scary that is (and reminds me that I get to do cool things like be on LOTR panels).

As writers, we are all embarking on our own adventure. Even the published among us are carried on various roller coasters.

So we have to find a way to sync our heads and hearts. Marry our Tooks with our Bagginses. And the best way to do that is to focus on the writing--which remains constant, no matter where our rollercoaster adventures take us.

So, go, and be free. Write what you love. Listen to your Baggins. But don't deny your Took.

Interactive Book Trailer: Jonathan Stroud's THE SCREAMING STAIRCASE

The book trailer for Jonathan Stroud's THE SCREAMING STAIRCASE (the first in the Lockwood and Co. series) is probably one of the best I've seen--because it's interactive. And, it's perfect for Halloween.

Go ahead and give it a try:





And here's more information about the book itself:

When the dead come back to haunt the living, Lockwood and Co. step in . . .

For more than fifty years, the country has been affected by a horrifying epidemic of ghosts. A number of Psychic Investigations Agencies have sprung up to destroy the dangerous apparitions.

Lucy Carlyle, a talented young agent, arrives in London hoping for a notable career. Instead she finds herself joining the smallest, most ramshackle agency in the city, run by the charismatic Anthony Lockwood. When one of their cases goes horribly wrong, Lockwood & Co. have one last chance of redemption. Unfortunately this involves spending the night in one of the most haunted houses in England, and trying to escape alive.

Set in a city stalked by spectres, The Screaming Staircase is the first in a chilling new series full of suspense, humour and truly terrifying ghosts. Your nights will never be the same again . . .

Happy early Halloween, everyone!

Let's Start a Mutual Admiration Society

This morning, I ran into a coworker who goes to the same place I do for physical therapy and massage. Apparently, my physical therapist told her that I was one of the bright spots in her day. I was completely flabbergasted! It was excellent to hear, especially because her impact on my life (my stress, and my physical pains resulting from said stress) has been life-changing.

I told my coworker that she was also filled with 100% awesome, because she is. And because she is, she told me of something that I can only give her credit for. She mentioned that she and a friend established a "mutual admiration society." And, as a result, she and I established one right then and there. I suppose I have one, of sorts, with my physical therapist too.

In addition, a student contacted me to let me know that I had reignited his passion for school and research. And I realized how people can touch one another in small ways, every day, sometimes without even knowing it.

I started thinking about friends I really admire. And authors I admire. Especially those who reignite my passion for life, writing, and other things.

So here's a list of a few. I will also be tagging them on this post, in case they want to pass the baton to others (and keep the admiration going!):


Angelica R. Jackson - An excellent writer and critique partner. She also runs an annual auction, Pens for Paws, to raise money for Fat Kitty City, a no-kill animal shelter. How cool is that?

Alison Kemper - Like Angelica, as a crit partner, Alison really helped me hone my craft. And, she's also a librarian! Her debut novel, DONNA OF THE DEAD, is forthcoming.

Erin Kellison - Erin gave an excellent workshop at a local writers' meeting. She's super nice, and really knows her stuff. Her most recent novel, SOUL KISSED, is now available for purchase on Kindle, Nook and Kobo. And, she also has a book in the Dark and Dangerous Box Set, which releases tomorrow, October 17!

Gini Koch - A whirlwind of greatness--and also gives excellent workshops. She writes everything--including supermodel aliens and ghosts in retirement homes. Her newest book, ALIEN RESEARCH, will debut in December.

Eliza Green - An author kind enough to let me in on some knowledge of Irish culture! Her debut novel, BECOMING HUMAN, can be found here.

FeakySnucker - Another fellow writer/librarian who makes me laugh hysterically. She also agreed to be interviewed on my blog (forthcoming).

Jennifer Baker - An excellent writer and friend--and one of the sweetest people I know. She also writes flash fiction at Femme Fatale.

T. Michael Martin - Wrote THE END GAMES. Excellent writer and vlogger with an awesome YouTube channel.

And this is only the tip of the iceberg. I'll likely do a follow-up post with other names. So, happy Wednesday, all, and be sure to spread some love.

Who do you admire and why? Who helps you reignite your passion? Feel free to comment.

Conserving Brain Energy...Odds are, We'll be All Right

There's nothing like the common cold to help with perspective. When I perused my new novel pages written pre- and post-illness, I found something surprising. Post-illness--they were (at least from a line-edit standpoint) relatively flawless. But pre-illness, when my brain was tired and stretched to its maximum capacity--it was like Forrest Gump wrote my pages.

This got me thinking. As writers, we are constantly encouraged to keep our butts in those seats and write often as humanly possible. And for the most part, this is correct.

But there is a breaking point. Things constantly pick at our brain every day--work, job, kids, family, traffic, government shutdowns, lions, tigers, bears, oh my. The Internet (and Facebook) are particularly good at this. Each thing takes a piece and doesn't give back. So by the end of the day, your brain is only running on about 15% capacity--because the other 85% got left behind with all the other stuff.

This post from Kathleen McCleary on Writer Unboxed says it best, and epitomizes the importance of taking long breaks. She had to take three months off from writing before inspiration struck again. Even when she was asked to produce another book right away.

*Gasps* I hear from some of you. "Missed opportunities," you whisper. I know. Because it wasn't all that long ago that I would have said exactly the same thing.

But not chasing after every little thing doesn't equate to lost opportunity. In reality, it's the opposite. Constantly running around is what really breeds those missed chances--because you're so worn out and so ragged that you can't function enough to capitalize on the opportunities that do come your way.

So, relax. Conserve that brain energy. Take that break, especially if your mind and body urge you to. Rest. Play. Live. Experience. Nothing will fall apart. Nothing will blow up. Odds are, things will be all right, as this song from the Barenaked Ladies states so well:

Sure things go wrong, but I’ll take my chances
Odds are long, so why not play?
(full lyrics are found here)

Elysium: The Dangers of Relying on World-Building Alone (Beware of Spoilers)

I'll have to admit, I was excited when I saw the trailer for Elysium. Very cool premise. A select group of rich people live on a utopian, heaven-like space station called Elysium, while the rest are stuck on Earth, with high pollution, sickness, overpopulation, and poverty.

But when I saw the movie, I realized that's all it was. A premise. NPR movie reviewer, Linda Holmes, says it best: "One of the great threats to any film is that the people who are making it live too much inside it. Just as you learn to navigate a city without looking at signs, they learn to navigate the world they've built so well that they forget to make it comprehensible and important for people who have just arrived."

Because building a world is not the same as building a story. Elysium establishes a set of rules, and then forgets about them in order to flesh out the plot. About three storylines are running at any given time--and they get so tangled that they often negate one another. Such as (beware of spoilers):

• The citizens of Elysium seem to have no compassion for those on Earth. Wouldn't some assist the people that come through looking for help? Certainly not every one of them are rich, self-centered bastards.
• Why give Matt Damon's character radiation poisoning when his would-be girlfriend also has a sick daughter? Only one of these is needed to establish the objective of trying to get to Elysium and get healed.
• And then there's a guy with a samurai sword set to kill everyone and everything. He's probably the most two-dimensional guy in the whole movie, and he's the one they decide to keep around (even after they explode his face off and bring him back to life so he can kill the more plausible, more layered villain).

This is something I have to be very careful of in my writing. It's not enough to create a fantastical world with really unique things in it. It's more important to give the story cohesion, realistic motivations for the characters, and real obstacles for them to face. There has to be a reason for everything to fit together the way it does.

So, when you're looking at the stories you've written, be sure that:

• Your protagonist's motivation is related to the setting you've created--and the protagonist is affected by it in a realistic and plausible way.
• You've deleted story layers that don't belong (even if you love them really a lot).
• Your world "rules" maintain consistent throughout the story.
• Your secondary characters have a bigger role than just standing in the world they've been created in. What are their motivations? How do they affect your protagonist?

As Linda Holmes says, "However important the point you want to make, you rise or fall on what happens on the stage you've built, not on how immersive an experience that stage creates."