Author Interview—Lori MacLaughlin

Lori MacLaughlin's debut novel is out now! Who else is excited to read LADY, THY NAME IS TROUBLE? Don't you just love that title? I recently read an excerpt on Lori's blog and was so excited to read her novel. Lori was kind enough to go into the hot seat and answer a few of my questions. Welcome, Lori!

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What is your favorite line from Lady, Thy Name is Trouble?

I had to think about this for a while. I'm going to go with a line — two lines, actually — that mysterious rogue Jovan Trevillion says to my main character, Tara Triannon. "There will always be choices. You must choose with your heart and not your head." For Tara, who bears many emotional scars, choosing with her heart is a frightening prospect. Her struggle to overcome her fear of letting someone near her heart again is a pivotal moment in the story.

Ooh, I love those lines! What books or authors have most influenced your writing?

In terms of world-building and scope of adventure, I must credit J.R.R. Tolkien and Terry Brooks. Their amazing works left me in awe and gave me incredible heights to strive for, though I doubt I'll ever reach them.

Cornelia Funke, author of the Inkheart series, is another writer I admire. Her descriptions and use of similes and metaphors are wonderful, as is her storytelling. Her characters live and breathe as if they did walk right out of the book.

Tolkien is the king! What has been the hardest thing about publishing your novel?

The social media and marketing aspects have been the most difficult for me. I'm an introvert and would be more than happy to spend all my time in my little room, writing. I find it really hard to put myself and my writing out there, and not be overwhelmed by the worries and doubts. It's all very time consuming, as well.

I discovered, though, that I enjoy connecting with people through blogging, and I've met a lot of truly lovely people in the blogosphere. It's definitely time well spent.

Blogging is a great way to connect with other writers. What’s your next project?

My next project not related to Lady, Thy Name Is Trouble is another fantasy adventure novel I'm calling The Road Once Taken. I'm about two-thirds of the way through it. Here's a really short blurb:

While traveling in Vermont, Jacinda Harper comes across a fatal car accident. In fulfilling the driver's dying wish, Jaci is unwittingly transported into a world where magic rules in the form of a ruthless sorcerer who has been prevented from world domination by the lack of a single key. Jaci has that key.

Cool premise! Now for some fun questions!

Tell us about a unique or quirky habit of yours.

Well, I have this weird way of mowing my lawn. I think most people mow in a pattern, like around and around in a circle or back and forth diagonally. I've seen lawns with perfect diagonal or crosshatching patterns, and they look really nice, but I can't do that. I get bored going in the same direction all the time, so I'll mow a patch over here, then mow a path across and do a patch over there, sometimes in a circle, sometimes back and forth. It doesn't take any longer to do it that way, and it breaks the monotony. When my kids were younger, I used to mow maze paths for them to follow. Many adventures were had along those trails.

Haha. Sounds fun! Finish the sentence.

If I wasn’t afraid, I would __________. (What?) Skydive. I've always been fascinated by flight and wished I could fly without having to use a plane. There's no guarantee, though, that your parachute will open and work correctly every time, and it's a loooooong way down if it doesn't.

Someday, I want to ______________. (What?)  Travel more. There are so many places I'd love to see — Italy, Neuschwanstein, Machu Picchu, Greece, to name a few.

I would choose to skydive too! Here's one for you—If you had a time machine, where would you go?

I'd go far into the future and see if space travel like in Star Trek and Star Wars really happened. Are there other worlds out there with intelligent life?

Hmm, good question. If you could eliminate one thing from your daily schedule, what would it be and why?

Hmmmm. My first thought would be to pick a household chore, but in thinking about it, I really don't mind doing the chores, if I have the time to do them. Well, except for dusting. I hate dusting, but then, I don't do it every day. It really all comes down to time. I wish I could eliminate about two hours of sleep a night. If I could get by on five hours of sleep instead of seven, I'd have two extra hours every day I could spend writing. Unfortunately, my body says no to that option. Anyone out there know where I can find self-cleaning clothes and dishes?

Ahh, that's what I need. Laundry is the bane of my existence. So, tell me, what’s your motto in life?

I have two of them: Anything is possible if you believe, and Nike's "Just do it."

Those are great ones! Thanks so much, Lori!

Thank you, Kristin, for having me here!

Lady, THY NAME IS TROUBLE

Trouble is Tara Triannon’s middle name. As swords for hire, Tara and her sister Laraina thrive on the danger. But a surprise invasion throws them into chaos... and trouble on a whole new level. Pursued by the Butcher, a terrifying assassin more wolf than man, Tara and Laraina must get a prince marked for death and a young, inept sorceress to safety. There’s only one problem – eluding the Butcher has never been done. Aided by a secretive soldier of fortune, they flee the relentless hunter.

Gifted with magic and cursed by nightmares that are all too real, Tara must stop an army led by a madman and fend off an evil Being caught in a centuries-old trap who seeks to control her magic and escape through her dreams – all while keeping one step ahead of the Butcher.

Available at:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Name-Trouble-Lori-MacLaughlin-ebook/dp/B00TT8NERU/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425178824&sr=1-1&keywords=lady+thy+name+is+trouble

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/lady-thy-name-is-trouble

My Website/blog: http://lorilmaclaughlin.com

Lori L. MacLaughlin traces her love of fantasy adventure to Tolkien and Terry Brooks, finding The Lord of the Rings and The Sword of Shannara particularly inspirational. She's been writing stories in her head since she was old enough to run wild through the forests on the farm on which she grew up.

She has been many things over the years – tree climber, dairy farmer, clothing salesperson, kids' shoe fitter, retail manager, medical transcriptionist, journalist, private pilot, traveler, wife and mother, Red Sox and New York Giants fan, muscle car enthusiast and NASCAR fan, and a lover of all things Scottish and Irish.

When she's not writing (or working), she can be found curled up somewhere dreaming up more story ideas, taking long walks in the countryside, or spending time with her kids. She lives with her family in northern Vermont.

Social Media Links:

Website/Blog: http://lorilmaclaughlin.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/28853366-lori-l-maclaughlin

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoriLMacLaughlin

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lorimaclaughlin/

Twitter: @LLMacL

Author Interview—Megan Miranda

I can't tell you how excited I am about the author interview I have for today. Megan Miranda is an acclaimed YA author who happens to be the writer of some of my favorite YA books. Just to name a few of her works: FRACTURE, VENGEANCE, HYSTERIA, and her most recent novel SOULPRINT released in February.

I recently had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Megan over coffee/hot cocoa, and I can attest that she is as lovely in person as she appears online. So, without further ado, let's get to the interview!

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I absolutely love the premise for SOULPRINT. What inspired you to write the novel?

Thank you! The idea for Soulprint came from a question I had years ago, when I was studying science in school. We had been learning about the human genome project—where scientists were mapping each section of our DNA to what it coded for—and I wondered: what if scientists found the soul? What would that look like? What would that mean? How could we use that….and, in the case of this story, how might that be used against us?

We often hear that writers unconsciously leave a little of themselves in their main character. How are you the same or different from Alina in SOULPRINT?

Oh, definitely. I think there are pieces of myself in each of my characters (totally subconsciously) because they are characteristics I am familiar with. I tend to be drawn to writing only children, since I am also one. Looking at it from the outside, I think we also share common interests, and that desire for knowledge.

But in practice, we are very different. A lot of Alina’s character comes as a result of her circumstances (she is very secretive and internal because she’s been unable to trust anyone; and she’s been contained on an island for her entire life, so she is driven---above all else—to escape at any cost).

Soulprint delves into the idea of a past life for the soul. If you had a past life, who would you have been or what would you have accomplished?

I don’t think I’d even want to know! Which is something I thought about a lot while writing Soulprint. Does that knowledge of who we were and what we’ve done help us or hurt us? Does that knowledge influence who we ultimately will become in this life? If we know, are we destined to essentially repeat the past?



What are you currently working on?

I’m working on the edits for my next YA – which is about a girl named Kelsey who has been raised on fear by her mother, who was a victim of abduction many years earlier. When her mother goes missing, Kelsey begins to question the sequence of events she’s grown up with, and realizes she may have just set something dangerous in motion.

I also have a debut adult suspense novel coming out next year, which is about 2 girls who go missing 10 years apart, and whose cases are linked by the same group of friends in a small NC town. The story is told over the course of 2 weeks, and it’s also told backwards.



What bit of advice can you give to aspiring authors?

The advice I always give first is to read a lot—both the types of books you like, and ones you think you might not. And to write. Write a lot. Try new things. Remember that if something doesn’t work, it’s not a failure—it’s just a step, a part of the process that will eventually get you to the version that works. Keep writing. Write the stories that speak to you, because I think it’s the things that make us different that will make our work stand out.

Now for some fun questions! :)

Tell us something nobody knows about you.

Oh man, that nobody knows? Okay. *I* am the one who ate all that missing Halloween candy, kids.

What would we find recorded on your DVR? In other words, what are your favorite TV shows?

The Blacklist…. I’m so far behind on television, everything else is just playing catch-up on Netflix. And I still haven’t gotten over the fact that Friday Night Lights has ended.



List five adjectives to describe yourself.

Type-A. Caffeinated (at the moment). Uncoordinated. Short. Not-a-morning-person.

If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do?

Well, not to be totally creepy, but…. Pretend to be a ghost? Levitate objects? Move things around and freak people out? All in the name of book research, of course!



If someone made a movie of your life, what would the name of the movie be?

Fueled By Pop-Tarts & Coffee


Thanks so much, Megan!

Thanks so much for having me!



Book Blurb:

Seventeen-year-old Alina Chase has spent her entire life imprisoned on a secluded island—not for a crime she committed in this lifetime, but one done by her past self. Her very soul is like a fingerprint, carried from one life to the next—and Alina is sick of being guilty.

Aided by three teens with their own ulterior motives, Alina manages to escape. Although she’s not sure she can trust any of them, she soon finds herself drawn to Cameron, the most enigmatic and alluring of the trio. But when she uncovers clues from her past life, secrets begin to unravel and Alina must figure out whether she’s more than the soul she inherited, or if she’s fated to repeat history.

This stunning “new world” romance from acclaimed author Megan Miranda will leave readers wondering how far they would go to escape the past.

Author bio:

Megan Miranda is the author of the young adult novels Fracture, Hysteria, Vengeance, and Soulprint (all from Bloomsbury). Her debut adult suspense novel will be published by Simon & Schuster in 2016. Megan has a degree in Biology from MIT and currently lives near Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband and two children.

You can find Megan here: Website 

You can buy SOULPRINT here: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
 

Author Interview—Lisa Buie-Collard

Lisa's latest novel The Seventh Man released in January, and she was kind enough to stop by and answer a few of my questions. And now, on to the interview!

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Tell us a little about The Seventh Man.

Here is the blurb:

When a young writer is kidnapped by a man who can't be seen, her only hope of escape rests on the one London cop who believes in ghosts.

On a cold, white, before-Christmas day, an assassin completes a job only to be pursued by police. Dodging through crowded city streets, the assassin nabs a young woman for cover.

Celia Wight, a reclusive American writer is shopping between engagements during a book tour. When a knife is pressed against her back, she loses her tenuous grasp on her carefully controlled existence.

Assigned to the homicide case, Detective Alban Thain, of the Metropolitan Police, suspects an assassin he calls the Wraith. The problem is, only Thain believes the assassin exists. Disregarding the consequences, Thain, who is the only one who believes there is a connection between the murder and the kidnapping, will do whatever it takes to exploit the Wraith’s first and only mistake: the kidnapping of an innocent bystander—if she is innocent.

What was your inspiration for the story?

First it was my infatuations for the actors Sean Bean and John Hannah. If it ever made it to the big screen, it seemed like a movie they might actually do. Second, I read a story about the amount of CCTV (over 1 million) cameras used in the UK, more than in any other country thanks in part to the IRA. Here is one article similar to what I read: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/mar/02/cctv-cameras-watching-surveillance Third, I love mysteries. I love London. I love York. I wanted to write a mystery tied to those places.

Do you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser?

I used to be a pantser, but have moved into a land in between. I use an outline. I also use a check list once the first few drafts are done. That said, I also usually write a first draft in scenes and not in any order. Just as they come to me. Then I put them all together in order to see if what I have will work and where my holes are.

What are you currently working on?

A novel tentatively titled “Rain.”

Every relationship has its secrets, but is this one too big?

Annalyn and Jack meet in a Caribbean paradise and fall in love. After a whirlwind romance they decide to marry, but Annalyn discovers a dark and sinister lie that tears apart the life they’ve started.

Desperate to forget the agony of a past so well loved and so thoroughly destroyed, they each embark upon separate journeys to try and rebuild their shattered lives, loves and faiths.

But Annalyn and Jack can’t build their futures or make peace with the past until the lie that tore them apart is put to rest. Will facing the truth allow them to find the healing they each so desperately need, or will it only confirm that there are no second chances?

What are some books in your TBR (To Be Read) pile?

Oh boy, sure you want to open that pandora’s box?

I want to read some YA like Woven, co-authored by David P. King and Michael Jensen

Sudden Secrets and The Great Timelock Disaster by C. Lee McKenzie
The second in the series about Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Sci Fi; Dragon of the Stars by Alex J. Cavanaugh

Romances like,
Indiscreet by Mary Balogh
Laughing Hawk by Linda Katmarian
Anything by Kristi Gold

And we haven’t even gotten to the suspense or mysteries, of which there are more than too many.

And now for some fun questions! :)

Tell us something you hate doing. Why?

Marketing. I really LOVE to write. But I hate to market. It is hard. It takes up a lot of time and energy with results I can’t count on, yet. I must be very self motivated, as I must in writing. But writing gives me better, and faster, gratification.

Favorite day of the week?

Only one? Thursday. Because I like the exercise class I take that day, and it’s the day before Friday so it feels like a “pre-Friday” Friday! Also, usually I don’t go anywhere on that day.

What makes you unique?

My DNA? Ha ha. Seriously, I think if there is one thing that makes me unique, it might be my take on life and emotions. I’ve been called naïve before and probably will be again, but I pay attention to my “emotional” intelligence more, sometimes, than my brain. Besides that? You’d have to ask my husband, my kids and my mom.

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?

Hmmm… “That 70s Girl?” or 80s or 90s? I don’t know. I find it hard to think in terms of my entire life. I think the times we live in do define us to a point. I’ve just finished watching a program done in the UK that started in 1964 and follows 14 seven year-old children right up to present day. It’s called the “Up Series” and I found it fascinating. In the last installment they were 56. The next installment doesn’t come out for another three or four years. I’ll be looking for it.

If you could visit any place in the world, where would you choose to go and why?

I’ve answered this question before and don’t remember what I said! But right now, I think I’d like to go to Australia. I’ve been to New Zealand and absolutely loved it. I would go again, but I have always wanted to see what the “down under” is really like, and I’d like to taste their beer!

Thanks so much, Lisa!

When a young writer is kidnapped by a man who can't be seen, her only hope of escape rests on the one London cop who believes in ghosts.

On a cold, white, before-Christmas day, an assassin completes a job only to be pursued by police. Dodging through crowded city streets, the assassin nabs a young woman for cover.

Celia Wight, a reclusive American writer is shopping between engagements during a book tour. When a knife is pressed against her back, she loses her tenuous grasp on her carefully controlled existence.

Assigned to the homicide case, Detective Alban Thain, of the Metropolitan Police, suspects an assassin he calls the Wraith. The problem is, only Thain believes the assassin exists. Disregarding the consequences, Thain, who is the only one who believes there is a connection between the murder and the kidnapping, will do whatever it takes to exploit the Wraith’s first and only mistake: the kidnapping of an innocent bystander—if she is innocent.

Available now in EBook and TreeBook (soft cover) on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RUE8GOG

About the Author:

Lisa is a mother, wife, sister, and daughter, has waited tables, been a dental assistant, teacher, journalist, gardener and architectural administrative assistant. She's traveled in Europe, New Zealand, and the US. French and English are her languages of preference, with a little Spanish on the side. She grew up in Florida, lived four years in Georgia before moving to Texas for eighteen years. For the moment, she once again lives in Georgia. She writes full time and has completed six novels.

Review: This gripping story of revenge, passion, and longing is no mere police procedural but an exciting page turner that will have you wondering, to the end, who will outwit whom. Not to be missed! Linda Ellis, The Editing Place

Photo credit: Steven Heddon

Links:

Facebook:  http://tinyurl.com/mo4rs6n

Goodreads: http://tinyurl.com/m8paj8a

Twitter:  http://tinyurl.com/m8paj8a

Website: http://www.lisabuiecollard.com

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lisabuiecollard/

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/lisabuiecollard

Author Interview—Rebecca Belliston & A Giveaway!

Today, we have author Rebecca Belliston here to talk about her latest novel, Citizens of Logan Pond: LIFE. Welcome, Rebecca!

Thanks for having me! I’m excited to be here and share a little about my new book.


Tell us a little about Life. Is it a stand alone book or part of a series?

This is the first book in a trilogy about a little band of neighbors in a small Midwest town who pull together after a global financial disaster wipes out their money, jobs, transportation, food supply, and basic way of living. At the heart of the story is quiet, unassuming Carrie Ashworth (23) who struggles to raise her siblings after her parents’ deaths. Without meaning to, she’s caught between two men: one with the power to destroy her clan, and the other with the power to crush her will to survive.

The series is entitled Citizens of Logan Pond, and the books are subtitled Life, Liberty, and The Pursuit.

*Oh wow, I love the premise of this series! -K.S.


What inspired you to write the series Citizens of Logan Pond?

Six years ago, I got stuck on a single question. “What if the end of civilization as we know it doesn’t come from some huge war or catastrophe? What if it comes from the absence of one small thing: the dollar?” This question wouldn’t leave me alone and has grown into this series.

I also wanted to explore what kinds of things would survive if everything is taken away from a person. Namely family, friendships, and love.

*What a great 'what if' question! And those can lead to some stellar novels! -K.S.


Is there a message in your novel you want readers to grasp?

Definitely! I want readers to remember that the human spirit is strong and amazing. That love goes on, regardless of circumstances. That people can be good, in spite of what life throws at them. As a race, we are natural-born survivors. I want my readers to believe in people and themselves.

*Love this message! -K.S.


When writing a novel, do you ever experience writer’s block? If so, what do you do to overcome it?

Yes. More often than I like. A few things have helped me push through it.

1) Walk away and let the scene stew in my mind for a while. Sometimes months.

2) Jump ahead and write what comes next in the story. This works really well. Usually after I figure out what happens later in the story, the earlier parts come more easily. I can go back and fix the scene that has me stumped.

3) Stop and dissect what I’m trying to write. The best advice I heard is that when the writing is coming slow, it’s probably not good writing. This is because when the story is awesome, amazing, and engaging, we can’t wait to get it onto paper. We can’t type fast enough. So if the story isn’t coming, the key is to figure out why. Easier said than done, right?

*I tend to jump ahead too! It does help, doesn't it? -K.S.


If you had a book club, what would they be reading, and why?

Hmmm. I have so many favorite books. I’m not sure I’m intelligent enough for many book clubs, though. They often read really deep, or profound books. Personally, I love reading sweet YA romances, so I’d have to have friends in the book club who also enjoy those. My favorite series I’ve read lately is “Cinder” by Marissa Meyer, or “The False Prince” by Jennifer Nielsen. Both are well written and fun reads, so I’d start with them.

*Oooh, sweet YA romances are the best. Good choice! -K.S.

And now for some FUN questions! :)

If I came to your home and looked in your fridge, what would I find?

A mess. Sorry, but it’s true. I’m getting to it eventually, I really am. Just not until after I get this book release out of the way.

Oh, you meant food? Milk. Cheese. Fruit. You know, the basics. Hopefully enough to keep my kids out of my hair. ☺

*Lol. Too funny! -K.S.


What is your favorite quote?

Non-writing quote: Men are that they might have joy.

Writing quote: Good books aren’t written. They’re rewritten.

*Love both of these quotes! -K.S.


If given a chance, what would you like to be for a day?

Do I have to pick one thing, because it’s really hard to choose? You didn’t specify, so here are a few: A sky diver, a film-score composer, a world traveler, and a NYT bestselling author. All at the same time. ☺

*Haha! Yes, all at the same time. Although with all your talents, it might be possible... ;) -K.S.

What takes you out of your comfort zone?

Social settings. I’m not exactly shy, but I’m not a big-group kind of person. I tend to sit on the edge of the crowd and find one or two people to talk to.

*I'm not a big group person either! I prefer small groups or one-on-one. ;) -K.S.


What’s your favorite thing to do in the summer? Fall? Winter? Spring?

Summer: beach with the family and a good book
Fall: park with the family and a good book
Winter: couch with the family, blanket, and a good book
Spring: starting my flower garden

*I get the feeling you like books... :) -K.S.


Thank you, Rebecca! It was great having you on Unicorn Bell today!

Thanks for having me, and thanks for the fun questions!




Author Bio:

Rebecca Lund Belliston is the author of the romantic suspense novel, Sadie, and it's sequel, Augustina. Rebecca also composes piano and vocal music. When she's not writing fiction, music, or chasing her five kids, she can be found cuddled up with a good book. She and her family live in Michigan.

Find her online: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Book blurb: Citizens of Logan Pond: LIFE
Her home. Her parents. Her freedom. Gone.
His dreams. His sister. Himself. Lost.
Two people.
One future.

The economy crashed, the country is floundering, and Carrie Ashworth struggles to keep her siblings alive. She has two jobs in her newly-formed, newly-outlawed clan: growing crops to feed thirty-six people, and keeping Oliver Simmons, their local patrolman, happy. Carrie’s life is almost content when Greg Pierce shows up. A man with the ambition to help them survive. A man determined to hate her.

When a government raid nearly wipes out their clan, Greg realizes the true reason behind their safety. Patrolman Simmons has fallen for Carrie. Greg takes it upon himself to give the socially-awkward patrolman what he wants. Only Carrie doesn’t like Greg throwing her in Simmon's path, especially when Greg’s brusque exterior melts, and she catches a glimpse of the real man underneath. Carrie is forced to choose: follow her heart or save her clan.

Life won’t let her choose both.


You can follow Rebecca on her Blog Tour. And be sure to sign up for the Giveaway and a chance to win a signed copy of Life AND a $25 Amazon gift card! Sounds awesome, right?

And now for the Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Interview—Elizabeth Briggs

We are so excited to have Elizabeth Briggs, author of the New Adult novel MORE THAN MUSIC here with us today. Thanks for joining us, Elizabeth!

Thanks for having me!

Tell us a little about MORE THAN MUSIC.

MORE THAN MUSIC is about a geeky guitarist who joins a rock band and goes on a reality TV show like The Voice but for bands. It’s a light, fun, sexy read with lots of pop culture and music references, and it’s completely stand-alone – the other books in the series will be about Maddie’s friends going on other reality TV shows. I’m also working on a prequel novella now, called MORE THAN EXES, which I hope to have out in October.

*Rock band and reality show...sounds like a fun read! -K.S.

Even though you have an agent, you decided to self-publish MORE THAN MUSIC. What influenced that decision?

When I wrote MORE THAN MUSIC I’d already been on submission for years with my YA books and was pretty burnt out by it all. I decided MORE THAN MUSIC would be a perfect book to self-publish since New Adult generally does better in ebooks than print anyway. Also, the book has a lot of pop culture references in it and I wanted it to come out now instead of two years from now or more. I knew that by self-publishing I would have control over the content, the release date, the price, the cover, the interior format, and so forth – and I’d keep all the rights and the profits, too! Giving up all of that for a traditional deal didn’t seem worth it for this particular book.

*Sounds like a smart decision, especially considering the circumstances. -K.S.

What inspired you to write MORE THAN MUSIC?

I went to high school for a short time with Adam Levine and the other guys in Maroon 5, back when they were called Kara’s Flowers. They played at our school dances and I sat behind them in class and was completely in love with them. Of course, they had no idea I existed! Many years later I saw Adam Levine on The Voice, and had the idea of a geeky girl joining an up-and-coming rock band at her school and going on a show like The Voice, and MORE THAN MUSIC grew from that.

*Wow, such a cool inspiration and fun story! I wish I knew Adam Levine in high school... -K.S.

What has been the most difficult part of your publishing journey? Looking back, would you have done anything differently?

The most difficult part was learning that great books often don’t sell because of the market or for other reasons. I hit a really low point after going through this myself, but it led to me writing and self-publishing MORE THAN MUSIC, so I wouldn’t change anything about my journey.

*Very true, sometimes great books don't sell. Love that you wouldn't change anything about your journey! -K.S.

Some writers may be scared to self-publish because they aren’t sure how to market or promote their book. Do you have any advice for marketing or promotion? How did you get your book “out there?”

One thing to consider is that even if you traditionally publish you will end up doing a lot of the marketing and promotion yourself, so it’s not too different when you self-publish. Promotion is one of the hardest things for all authors because it’s difficult to tell what works and what doesn’t. To get my book out there I did a cover reveal and some blog tours, and I also put my book on Netgalley to get early reviews and buzz going. I tried a few other things too, such as Facebook ads, but I’m not sure how effective they were. But I believe in trying everything once to see if it works, if it’s worth the time, and most importantly, if you enjoy doing it. I think it’s especially important to be a real person on all of your social media and to think about other ways to get your name out there that isn’t about selling your book. For example, I mentor other writers in Pitch Wars and The Writer’s Voice, and I do it because I love helping other authors – but it’s also good publicity, too.

*Great advice! -K.S.

I’m headed to a writing conference in a couple days, and I’m working on my elevator pitch. What would yours be for MORE THAN MUSIC?

MORE THAN MUSIC is a New Adult romance about a geeky guitarist who joins a rock band to compete on a reality TV show and ends up falling for the tattooed lead singer. When the show pressures them to remain single they have to keep their relationship secret, and she must decide if following her dream is worth losing her heart.

*Oooh, love the pitch! You made me want to read it! :) -K.S.

Okay, now for some fun questions that have nothing to do with writing, but more to do with getting to know you!

If you had to wear a T-shirt with one word on it for the rest of your life, which word would you choose? Why?

“Rawr!” This word just works for so many different situations.

*Lol. Great word! :) -K.S.

Describe your ideal romantic date.

Having dinner at a fun, casual restaurant, followed by seeing my favorite band in concert.

*Fun! -K.S.

Tell us something nobody knows about you.

When I was 13 or 14 my mom wouldn’t let me go to Lollapalooza, so I lied and said I was going to a friend’s house… but then I went with this friend and her super cute older cousin to Lollapalooza anyway. It was awesome, although nothing ever happened with the hot cousin, sadly. Even as a kid I was all about rock music + hot guys!

(I really hope my mom never reads this interview…)

*Haha! Your secret is safe with me...and the rest of Unicorn Bell... -K.S.

What is the craziest thing you’ve done lately?

I recently played Cards Against Humanity with my mother-in-law and one of her friends. It was pretty embarrassing, but also hilarious because these two older British women ended up being dirtier than the rest of us!

*Lol. Too funny! -K.S.

What is your absolute favorite thing about being a writer?

My absolute favorite thing is hearing from fans that they loved my book, read it in one night and couldn’t put it down, and can’t wait for the next one. It’s truly the greatest feeling in the world!

*Aww, love that! -K.S.

Thank you, Elizabeth!! It was great having you on Unicorn Bell! And best of luck to you and MORE THAN MUSIC! :)

MORE THAN MUSIC blurb

Music major Maddie Taylor just finished her junior year of college and has a summer internship lined up with the LA Philharmonic, yet every night she practices guitar and secretly dreams of a louder life. But geeky girls like her don't get to be rock stars. That is, until tattooed singer Jared Cross catches her playing guitar and invites her to join his band on The Sound, a reality TV show competition.

Once on the show, Maddie discovers there’s more to Jared than his flirty smile and bad boy reputation – and that he’s just as big a geek as she is. With each performance their attraction becomes impossible to ignore, but when the show pressures them to stay single they’re forced to keep their relationship secret.

As the competition heats up, Jared will do whatever it takes for his band to win, and Maddie must decide if following her dream is worth losing her heart.

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Author bio:

Elizabeth Briggs is a full-time geek who writes books for teens and adults. She plays the guitar, mentors at-risk teens, and volunteers with a dog rescue group. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and a pack of small, fluffy dogs.

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