The Big Break with Scott Tracey

Today I am really pleased to welcome Scott Tracey, debut author of Witch Eyes onto the blog. Scott tells us about his journey to publication as well as answering all my questions about Witch Eyes.

Firstly, can I thank you for joining me today on my blog. 
Thank you so much for having me! I was so excited when you asked. :)

Witch Eyes has a big creep factor, did you intend it to be so creepy?
I think the cover is creepier than the book actually is. But I wanted to tell a story that was a little more somber, a little more melancholy. I think the cover gives you a sense of atmosphere, that this isn't a happy smiley story of adversity.


Do you enjoy reading books about witches?
I ADORE books about witches - there's something so fascinating to me about the whole practice of magic and what you can/cannot do with it.
It's especially interesting because in YA novels, teens who typically LACK power over their lives can find this substitute in magic. Suddenly, they can go from no power at all, to having all KINDS of power. I think it's a fun question to ask: what would you do if you could do anything?

What is your favourite witch from either TV, film or book?
Ugh, so many to choose from! I have to pick one of each.
From a YA novel, Faye from The Secret Circle novels because I love a bad girl. Willow from Buffy, because who doesn't love Willow? Her growth through the course of the series, ups and downs, always sticks with me. And definitely Nancy from The Craft, because a damaged bad girl? Even more fun.

Belle Dam sounds like an intriguing town, where did you get your inspiration for it?
The inspiration for Belle Dam all came from the idea of the feud. If there's a town that's divided not just by political leanings (Democrats/Republicans, or Conservatives/Liberals) but by these two very polarizing individuals, how would the town exist around them? How do people divide themselves up? Are there "Lansing" places and "Thorpe" places? How do people carry themselves on a daily basis, do they acknowledge this feud, or do they pretend everything is perfect?

These are the kinds of things I was thinking of when I started writing. One of the things I quickly realized was that, for the town to continue growing and to be stable, there had to be some sort of balancing act between the families. Otherwise, it would be one catastrophe after another. So I had to put a lot of thought into how Catherine and Jason dealt with each other, and in turn how that relationship would affect the town.


What research did you carry out before writing the book?
I did a LOT of research on the Pacific Northwest, specifically the coast of Washington. I looked at weather, climate, industry - all the things that I thought were important in laying the groundwork for this town. I wanted to have as much information as I could about how to try and make this town come to life.

I also did a little bit of research into light sensitivity, or photo phobia, to try and figure out the kinds of experiences that Braden might have gone through; in addition, I looked into different cultures and their perception of the Second Sight, and what that entailed.
I also might have walked around my apartment for a few days wearing sunglasses and consequently banging into things...all in the name of research, of course.


I love that your main protagonist is gay, especially during the controversy over YA authors being told to ‘ungay’ their characters? Did you write him this way to challenge attitudes?
I actually just wrote him that way because I wanted to read a traditional kind of urban fantasy with a gay protagonist. And at the time (Witch Eyes was originally written back in 2007), there weren't a lot of books like that available.
So for me, it was never really about changing attitudes, it was just about writing a book that I would have wanted to read. Braden being gay was one of the first things I knew about the book, it was one of the main parts of the story I wanted to tell.


Who was your favourite character to write?
In the first book, it was a toss-up between Braden himself, and Lucien. Or possibly Riley. Braden got some of my favorite lines, and both Lucien and Riley steal the scenes they're in. Actually, Riley was an unexpected addition to the book - she just popped up into this scene I was writing, spastic and nosy, and I kind of had to keep her around after that.

It changes with each book, though. My favorites from the second book are two other characters (one who was in Witch Eyes, and one who doesn't show up until book 2).


What was your first reaction when you found out that your book was to be published?
It's kind of a funny story. Leah (Clifford, author of A Touch Mortal) was working on a revision for her agent at my apartment at the time, since she couldn't concentrate at home. My phone rang, it was my agent, who I literally stopped after the words "We have an offer" so that I could put down the phone and tell Leah, "Ha! I win!"
Between the two of us, everything is a competition. And it just so happened we were both waiting on book news at the same time - it just so happened that mine came in first, which meant I won. :)


How did you keep yourself occupied as you waited for publication day?

I worked on other things, trying to keep myself distracted. I wrote other books, I worked on other projects and started trying to build an online presence.
There's always this sense of "it's not really real" until your book comes out, so that helped a lot.


How did you celebrate on publication day?
I spent a ridiculous amount of time online, haha. I had a bunch of different things planned for launch day, so I did a lot of those.
I think we might have gone out to dinner, but I can't remember if that was on the release day, or just a day surrounding it. Overall, it was very low-key.


I understand that Witch Eyes is the first in a series, what can you tell us about the next book?
The second book, Demon Eyes, picks up just about a week or two after the end of Witch Eyes. A lot of it deals with the fallout with some of Braden's choices in the first book, and a new mystery that begins. A couple of new threats emerge, and new lines get drawn in the sand as Braden's friends start pulling away from him.


Do you write full time now?
I do at the moment, but I'd really like to get a part time job in a bookstore or something. I love having the freedom to write whenever I want, but I'd also do well with a bit more structure. ;)


Tell us what a typical writing day would be like?
I usually write in chunks of time. So if I wake up at 9, I'll start writing from 11-1, and then take a break for a few hours. Then write from 2-5, and then I'll watch TV and make dinner, all the normal things like that. Then another writing push from 11-1 or until I get bored and go to bed.


What advice would you give to aspiring and unpublished authors?
Write a lot. Read a lot. Don't just read the genre you write in - embrace many different subjects and styles. Start learning the business and how it works almost from the moment you start writing. Follow agency blogs, editor blogs, writer blogs. Use social media to start networking - not only is it a good long-term skill, but it also can help you make friends who are at the same level you are (writing, editing, querying, etc).

Thank you Scott for some fabulous answers. 
Witch Eyes is currently not published in the UK, but can be bought via The Book Depository and Amazon UK. 


To find out more about Scott:


Website: http://scott-tracey.com/

Twitter: @scott_tracey

Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey

Pages - 340

Binding circles were bad news, my uncle said. Since I was currently trapped in one, the word understatement came to mind.

'You think its going to be that easy to escape?' Across the field from me, the graying man snickered. The sun was just about to set, and the odds of help coming from somewhere in Middle of Nowhere, Montana were slim. 

Goodreads Summary

Braden was born with witch eyes: the ability to see the world as it truly is: a blinding explosion of memories, darkness, and magic. The power enables Braden to see through spells and lies, but at the cost of horrible pain. 

After a terrifying vision reveals imminent danger for the uncle who raised and instructed him, Braden retreats to Belle Dam, an old city divided by two feuding witch dynasties. As rival family heads Catherine Lansing and Jason Thorpe desperately try to use Braden's powers to unlock Belle Dam's secrets, Braden vows never to become their sacrificial pawn. But everything changes when Braden learns that Jason is his father--and Trey, the enigmatic guy he's falling for, is Catherine's son.To stop an insidious dark magic from consuming the town, Braden must master his gift—and risk losing the one he loves.

**********

From the start of the book, I loved Braden. He is  such a sensitive soul, who has never been to school and is suddenly thrust into the world of high school drama.  He really wore his heart on his sleeve and fell for Scott in a big way. This is the first book I have read that had a gay relationship in it and I found it extremely refreshing and heartwarming. Scott has created a beautiful relationship. However, this relationship is hindered by the Capulet and Montague warring traditions that made Romeo and Juliet so famous. Braden and Scott come from opposing sides and their relationship can only be doomed. You are never quite sure which is the right side to be on. 

This book took me back a quite a few years to a series set around a rather unusual town called Twin Peaks.  Who remembers Twin Peaks? Well, this book had that feel to it. The town of Belle Dam has some unusual and  very clever aspects to it that really made me think. In fact, I found the town of Belle Dam to be a character in itself; full of magical elements hidden from the human eye. 

A couple of the characters surprised me in this book and I found myself feeling a little double crossed. Never assume that what you see in a character is real in this book, as they may have a hidden side that is yet to be revealed. 

The ending was certainly explosive leaving a couple of strands to ponder over. I am certain that a second book is being created and hopefully these unanswered questions will be dealt with. 

I had one really big issue with this book and it is by no means the fault of the author. The blurb on the back of the book gave away two huge spoilers about the book , revealing events to me that did not happen until midway through the book. I would urge anyone reading this book, not to read the blurb on the back as it will spoil your enjoyment of the book.

Issues aside, this was a brilliant read that took the Romeo and Juliet story and gave it a refreshing and original feel with a paranormal twist. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. 

The Witches Have Arrived......

Midnight strikes, heralding in a new day, yet an evilness weaves through its hopefulness. The witching hour has begun. All Hallows Eve is here. A silence falls across the land. An eerie expectant feeling wakes many from their disturbed dreams as they find themselves compelled to look out of their windows into the night sky. They look, but can see nothing and return to their beds, troubled by their thoughts, unsure of the strange noises they thought they might have heard. A whoosh of a brush, a cat meowing, a distant cackle. The noises fade leading them back to a disturbed sleep.

One by one they begin to appear in the streets. Gently landing onto the ground. No sound could now be heard. Dressed in darkness; emerald, midnight blue and blood red. they all stand silently waiting to begin.

The Witches have arrived................

**************

Join me for a week of wicked witchiness as I lead you through some of the best witch books around. Lots of guest posts and witchy fun!

IMM (17)

 In MyMailbox (IMM) is a weekly feature organised by The Story Siren. IMM is a post where you can show which books entered your house and it also gives you a chance to say thank you to the people that kindly sent them. To find out more about how you can join in click here.

Picked up at the HarperCollins event.

Department 19 by Will Hill

Wuthering Tights by Louise Rennison

The Raven's Knot by Robin Jarvis

The Woven Path by Robin Jarvis

Muse by Rebecca Lim

Slide by Jill Hathaway

Ash Mistry and the Savage Fortress by Sarwat Chadda

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

 Bought/Gifted/Won/ Swapped

The Decision by Penny Vincenzi - Won at Tesco blog

The Undrowned Child - Swapped on ReaditSwapit

Blood Ties by Sophie McKenzie - Swapped on ReaditSwapit

Blood by KJ Wignall - Gifted from Foyles at Cassandra Clare event

Love. Inc - Gifted from Foyles at Cassandra Clare event

Something From Tiffany's - Bought

Fire by Kirsten  Cashore  - Swapped on ReaditSwapit.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater - Gifted by the lovely Emma at Bookangel Booktopia

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne - Gifted by the lovely Emma at Bookangel Booktopia

Looking for Andrew McCarthy by Jenny Colgan - Swapped on ReaditSwapit

Review

Tiger's Voyage by Colleen Houck - thanks Hodder

The Lost Angels Avenger's Angel by Heather Killough-Walden - thanks Headline

Advent by James Treadwell - thanks Hodder and Stoughton 

The Double Shadow by Sally Gardner - thanks Indigo

Opal Moonbaby by Maudie Smith - thanks Orion

One Minute to Midnight by Amy Silver - thanks Arrow

Phew! This is what happens when I leave this post a few weeks! What would you read first?

Judy Blume Giveaway - Win THREE of the set! Three prizes to win!

The lovely people at Macmillan Children's Books  have just re published nine of Judy Blume's books. If you haven't ever read them then you are really missing out. These are a treat for you and your children. These are books that were aimed at the pre teen and teen market and were originally written in the late 70's and early 80's and still hold the test of time. Young girls still face the same problems they did back them and I urge you to invest in these books for your girls. I most certainly will be buying a set for mine.

Here is a brief overview of each book being republished.

STARRING SALLY J. FREEDMAN AS HERSELF

Sally J. Freedman loves making up stories – stories in which she is always the star of her own lavish film spectaculars. But when her close-knit family is separated because of her brother's illness, even Sally's daydreams are not enough to comfort her. With her beloved father left behind in New Jersey, a winter in the Florida sunshine seems gloomy, and the cramped and dingy flat can't compare with her comfortable home, or her new classmates with her old friends. Worst of all, it is 1947, and Sally is convinced that Adolf Hitler is alive and living in Miami Beach…

JUST AS LONG AS WE’RE TOGETHER

Stephanie and Rachel have been best friends for years, in spite of their differences. Alison is new in town, and immediately becomes an integral part of their group. But is it possible to have two best friends? And how can you call anyone a friend if you can’t tell them your most painful secrets?

THEN AGAIN, MAYBE I WON'T  

Tony Miglione is thirteen, and his family lives in a cramped house in New Jersey. But then his Dad invents something that makes them rich, and they move to a luxury home in Long Island. But being rich brings it's own problems - Tony's Grandma feels useless when she doesn't have to cook any more, and his mum is obsessed with impressing the neighbours, but Tony knows the boy next door isn't as perfect as he looks…

HERE'S TO YOU, RACHEL ROBINSON

Rachel is the youngest in a family of high-achievers. She’s also the cleverest. But it’s not easy being super-intelligent – especially when her errant older brother insists on disturbing the peace and undermining everything she ever says or does. And her best friends seem to be falling for his charming veneer . . .

A powerful sequel to JUST AS LONG AS WE’RE TOGETHER.

ARE YOU THERE, GOD? IT'S ME, MARGARET

Life isn't easy for Margaret. She's moved away from her childhood home, she's starting a new school, finding new friends – and she's convinced she's not normal. For a start she hasn't got a clue whether she wants to be Jewish like her father or Christian like her mother. Everyone else seems really sure of who they are. And, worst of all, she's a 'late developer'. She just knows that all her friends are going to need a bra before she does. It's too embarrassing to talk to her parents about these things. So she talks to God instead - and waits for an answer . . .

DEENIE

'I hate it when my mother brags about me and my sister. "Deenie's the beauty and Helen's the brain."'

Mrs Fenner has very fixed ambitions for her daughters. Deenie is thirteen years old and gorgeous. Her mother wants her to be a model – but Deenie's not so sure. So when she's diagnosed with scoliosis – curvature of the spine – Deenie's almost relieved. No more traipsing round modelling agencies, no more living up to her mother's expectations. But she has to wear an ugly, uncomfortable back brace for the next four years. And she's convinced that it will put an end to normal teenage life – including her blossoming relationship with Buddy Brader . . .

IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD

Karen's parents have always argued, and lately they've been getting worse. But when her father announces that they're going to get divorced, it seems as if Karen's whole world will fall apart. Her brother, Jeff, blames their mum. Her kid sister, Amy, asks impossible questions and is scared that everyone she loves is going to leave. Karen just wants her parents to get back together. Gradually, she learns that this isn't going to happen – and realizes that divorce is not the end of the world.

FOREVER

Do you remember the first time?

Still the bravest, freshest, fruitiest and most honest account of first love, first sex and first heartbreak ever written for teens. It was a book ahead of its time – and remains, after thirty years in print, a teenage bestseller.

TIGER EYES

Davey’s father has been murdered – and the aftermath is causing her family to fall apart. Her heartbroken mum plucks them up and takes them to stay with her prim and proper aunt in Los Alamos. Davey escapes the claustrophobic house by cycling up to the canyon, where she meets a mysterious older boy called Wolf: intense, brooding, and also about to lose someone close to him. But falling for someone won't make her dad come back - there are no easy answers when you need to stick your broken family back together . . .

Don't they all sound fabulous!

So between the publicists of Macmillan Children's Books and I, we decided to split the prize three ways. So three winners will win three books from the set. 

 
So if you would like to win THREE of the nine books, then please enter your details below. The set of nine books will be split between THREE winners. If you would like a  chance for an extra entry, then please leave a comment in the box, telling me what your favourite Judy Blume book was if you ever read them in your teens. If you haven't read them, then just leave a comment about your favourite children's or teenage book that helped you throwing those turbulent teenage years. 

Hot Books For November

There seems to be a lot less books being published at the moment, but I have been told that is quite normal for this time of year. So after speaking to quite a few publisher, I  won't be doing a Hot Books post for December, but will return at the end of December for all the January highlights. 

So here are the goodies coming out this month which you might like to try.

Indigo

 The Double Shadow by Sally Gardner is going to be awesome. It is set in an old picture palace, where one of the main characters has created a memory machine. I am so excited by this book and can't wait to read it.

To find out more, click here.

 Indigo will also be publishing the third book in the Heir Chronicles. I haven't read the first one of these yet, but from what I can gather this series really took America by storm. To find out more, click here. 

Random House

November sees the publication of the second book in the Joanne Harris  YA series. Described as a cross between Discworld's Tiffany Aching and Percy Jackson. I am really looking forward to this series. For more information, click here

Doesn't this book look gorgeous.  Ian Beck is well known for his illustrations, but he also writes fabulous books too. This is the story of Charity, who is growing up in a vast, isolated house which she is forbidden to explore. But Charity has a secret.... To find out more, click here. 

Piatkus

This is the first time Jacquelyn Frank's Nightwalker series has been published in the UK. They are publishing this one first and hope to publish the rest of the series in 2012. Adam is an immortal demon from the 16th century, want to know more? Click here.

Piatkus are also publishing debut author Darynda Jones's series which begins with First Grave On The Right. This series follows the antics of Charley Davidson, a PI and grim reaper all in one. This book is recommended by J.R. Ward. and has won numerous awards including the 2009 Golden Heart. Click here for more information. 

Bloomsbury

This is the author's first venture into the YA market and is set in the years following World War II. The main character opposes war and goes on a journey in order to stay out of the war zone. Sounds like a compelling book. For more information, click here. 

Simon and Schuster

A debut and a contemporary read. This deals with relationships in a hard hitting way. For more information, click here. 

This is the second book in this dystopian world. The first one Marked was extremely popular. Definitely a series I need to read. To find out more, click here.

Atom Books

 Atom are bringing out the book tie in to the film Breaking Dawn, which I personally can't wait to see. 

Abrams and Chronicle

 For any dragon lovers out there, this one might be for you. Two boys, one an invisible prince, the other a shy boy from Germany. Read to find out how their stories become entwined. Please click here for more information. 

If I didn't have so many other books to read, this one would be top of my list.  A compelling and action-packed book, this work of historical fiction explores the life of Beryl Markham, the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic from east to west. For more information, click here. 

Walker Books

Two lives. Two hearts – but only one is working.

Dani was born with her heart on the wrong side of her body. Amanda is a competitive gymnast, her body a small package of sleek muscles, in perfect health.They don’t know each other, but their lives are about to collide.

I am busting to read this! To find out more, click here. 

Macmilllan

Macmillan are re releasing the Judy Blume books with brand new covers.I am not going to show them all to you now as I have a special post coming up in the next couple of days concerning them. 

Lots of lovely books to choose from. Which one will you read next?

Darkness Unbound by Keri Arthur

Pages -  320
Published by Piatkus in October 2011

I've always seen the reapers.
Even as a toddler - with little understanding of spirits, death, or the horrors that lie in the shadows - I'd been aware of them. As I'd gotten older and my knowledge of the mystical had strengthened, I'd begun to call them Death, because the people I'd seen them following had always died within a day or so. 


Goodreads Summary
Risa Jones is as extraordinary as her heritage. Born from a lab-enhanced clone mother and an Aedh father, she can not only talk to the souls of the dying and the dead, but she can see the reapers and walk the gray fields that divide this world from the next.
This is a skill she rarely uses, however, preferring to concentrate on the business she shares with her two best friends. But when her mother asks her to help the parents of a little girl locked in a coma, she reluctantly agrees. What she discovers scares the hell out of her. Because the little girl’s soul no longer resides in her body, and it wasn’t death and the reapers that took her.
Someone had ripped her soul from her flesh.
As it turns out, a creature consuming the souls of the innocent–and not so innocent–is the least of her problems.
Because someone wants to rip open the gates that divided hell from earth, and Risa is a key component in their plans.
And the only person standing between her and disaster is a reaper who isn’t exactly on her side.

**********

This is my first adult urban fantasy book so bear with me. I found myself a little confused to begin with as urban fantasy worlds seem to be full of lots of different types of people, made up from two different breeds. From Aedh's to wolves, I found I had to concentrate to work out what every one was. Risa alone, was half werewolf and half Aedh, so that confused me. Once I seemed to have a handle on that, I was off and away!

Risa is an amazing character, she most certainly kicks butt. She is pretty cool and stands for no nonsense at all. She isn't afraid to take on a few and beat them senseless. She seems to be a little in denial of what she is capable of and doesn't really use her talents to their full potential until the explosive and heartbreaking ending. By the end of the book, you realise why Risa will take the new position with the Directorate; in her shoes, I think I would probably do the same.  As a character, she made me feel extremely tired. This girl hardly ever sleeps! She can go nearly 48 hours without stopping and I found myself closing my eyes for her. 

I loved the tolerant relationship between Risa and Azriel, definitely open for future investigation within the series. You can just sense that all the smart remarks will eventually turn to sizzling romance. Risa is very protective of all her family and friends and it was fantastic to see the lengths they all went to in times of darkness. 

Lucien concerns me as a character, as far as I can see he is too nice. I am sure there is some dark, disturbing side to his nature and I don't think Risa should trust him as much as she does. All the characters in the book, including the secondary ones are really strong. I have never been able to bond with secondary characters as quickly before, but these ones really stand out from the crowd.

One of the things that had previously put me off urban fantasy, was the amount of sex and violence, but I didn't find it too bad with this book. It was readable with blushing!

The writing was smooth and I found myself steadily drifting along with the story, each new turn urging me to read on further. It left me intrigued to read the Riley Jensen series now which I haven't really taken much notice of before. 

I really enjoyed reading this book and I definitely see myself reading more books in the series. 

Mantelpiece Musings - A Day In The Life of Annabel Pitcher

As part of the Mantelpiece Musings blog tour which celebrates the paperback publication of My Sister Lives On the Mantelpiece, the delightful debut author Annabel Pitcher, stops by to give us  a peek at a day in her life. 

A day in the life…

In September 2010, my life changed dramatically, going from the very structured environment of a school to the freedom of working from home as a writer. Well, I say freedom... I was so used to the regimented school day that at first I found it impossible to get out of the habit of thinking in those terms.

            ‘It’s period one,’ I’d say to myself at 9.10am. ‘Better start working.’

I had a break at break time, my lunch at lunch time, and found it impossible to do anything after 4pm when the school day finishes.

After a month or so, I realised that this was an ineffective way to work. I write far better in the early hours of the morning than after lunch. And by early hours, I mean early: after much experimentation over the past year, I have discovered that I am at my most creative between the hours of 5am and 10am. For some ungodly reason, my brain is far more active, words flow far easier, and I can make decisions about plot or character far more quickly and efficiently. It was therefore a bit futile to start work at 9am and work ‘til 4pm as I was wasting four hours of my most productive time of day.

This means, then, that I often get up when the world’s in darkness, stumbling about in my dressing gown and stubbing my toe as I switch on the light and make my first cup of tea of the day. Thankfully, my husband is an early riser too so we’re always out of bed by 5.30am and I am normally at my desk by 6am in my skinny jeans, purple boot slippers and one of my giant jumpers – my writing outfit of choice. I have converted one of our bedrooms into an office, and I only ever go in there to write to try and create the sense that I’m going to work, rather than just staying at home. I couldn’t possibly write in the lounge or in bed (though I have to admit I am typing this hidden under the duvet because it is a particularly cold, wet morning!). I love my office. It has a big desk and bookshelf and it overlooks the fields at the back of the house.  It’s east-facing as well, which means I often see the sun rise as I’m writing. No matter how difficult it is to get up so early – and yes, I do moan and groan and rub my eyes with my hair sticking up all over the place – I am always so pleased to be at my desk when the sun peeps over the fields, turning the whole world golden. There is a gorgeous sense of newness and excitement and potential at that time of day, and I love the feeling of writing a few hundred words before the rest of the world has woken up.

I work hard all morning in two hour bursts, taking fifteen minutes out for a cup of tea at regular intervals, and I have normally completed all the productive writing that I’m going to do by lunch time. After a half an hour lunch break, it’s time for emails or editing. I edit as I write, perfecting each section before moving onto the next, and I find it takes less concentration than producing the words in the first place, so it’s no problem to focus on this after lunch.  After a couple more hours, I am usually itching to get out of the house, so I go for a walk or run or to the gym (or sometimes just slob about in a cafe with a book, a coffee and a big piece of cake!).

Thank you Annabel for letting us intrude into your writing day. If you would like to follow the blog tour or read some of the previous posts from Annabel, then please check out the posts and blogs below. 

More information about Annabel Pitcher.

Website: http://www.annabelpitcher.com/

Twitter:@APitcherAuthor

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop

As part of the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and The Diary of a Bookworm I am giving away a hardbacked copy of Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver. This is the UK version of the book. 

This is an international competion. To enter, just fill out the form below.  For an extra entry, become a follower of this blog. If you are already a follower and you come up in the followers section of the blog, you will automatically gain a second entry.  The competition closes on the 31st October. 


Please fill out the form below for a chance to win. 


For more chances to win brilliant prizes in this huge giveaway, click here to visit the rest of the Spooktacular Giveaway.

The Big Break with Phil Earle

Phil Earle is definitely one of the reasons why I love Twitter. If I hadn't been on Twitter, I would never have found out about his brilliant book 'Being Billy' which I reviewed yesterday. He is really lovely to talk to and I was really pleased when he agreed to come on the blog to talk about his Big Break.

Firstly, can I thank you for joining me today on my blog. 
Hi Viv. Absolute pleasure, thanks for inviting me on...

As a member of the Simon and Schuster team, did this have any impact on your decision to write a book?
I’ve been writing, on and off, for ten years now, long before I worked at S&S, or Random House before that.
My decision to start writing dates back to working as a bookseller for Ottakar’s. After six months of shelving sci-fi/fantasy and Erotica, I was thrown into the kids section, mainly because no-one else wanted to do it.
I’d been a reader before that, had studied English and Drama at University, but had never found a genre, other than graphic novels, that fired my imagination. All of a sudden I was reading David Almond’s ‘Skellig’, and SE Hinton’s ‘The Outsiders’, and that was it. I was completely smitten. I’ve read little else but kids fiction since.
In terms of writing, I decided to give it a whirl after Celia Rees came in to talk to kids in the shop. She spoke with such passion, that I was inspired to give it a whirl. I spent the next three years writing most lunch hours on a battered old laptop in the basement of the shop.

You must have witnessed an increase in YA manuscripts entering the S&S offices, did you wonder whether the market had reached saturation point and whether there would be room for your book?
We certainly saw a huge increase in paranormal romance (or Fang-Bang(!), as we ended up calling it) and then in dystopian fiction, but not really an increase in contemporary, gritty YA. It’s always been difficult to sell books like mine in big numbers, although there are exceptions like ‘Before I Die’. What’s important with this genre, I think, is the quality of the characters ‘voice’. I feel so ridiculously lucky, that despite the difficulty of the subject matter, I found an editor who fell in love with Billy.

How long did it take you to write your debut novel ‘Being Billy’?
I started in January 2009. We’d just had out second baby, and were unbelieveably tired and grumpy. After finally getting both kids to bed, we’d collapse in front of the telly with a bottle of wine and a box set of ‘24’. Three series and a vineyard in, I realised my head was turning to mush, so decided to start writing again, basically between 8 and 9pm every night.
It took me four months to clobber the first draft, and by the August of that year, I had a two book deal with Puffin. Looking back, I realise how unbelievably jammy I’ve been.

Where did you get the idea for the book?
It had been in my head since the mid 1990’s when I worked in children’s homes. The kids were angry and violent, but when you dug away at what they’d seen, the unforgiveable things that had been inflicted on them, you started to understand why they acted as they did. You started to realise just how resilient, and insightful, and unbelievably special they were. I wanted to try and understand how they felt to be abandoned, how they saw the world when by the age of ten, they’d been resigned by many, to the scrapheap. Most importantly though, I wanted to paint them accurately, truthfully.

‘Being Billy’ is a rather gritty, heartbreaking, contemporary read, did you have to do lots of research to provide such a realistic background?
I’ve learnt quickly that I don’t react well to research. It slows me down, takes the immediacy out of the process. To be honest, I hardly even plot my books. For ‘Billy’ I wrote a two page synopsis, then never looked at it again. It feels more exciting that way. The book I’m working on now doesn’t have a synopsis. I’ve decided to wing it, it could go horribly wrong!!!
With Billy, I had the best research I could imagine. I’d known the kids, worked with them closely, had utterly fallen in love with them. It felt like the kind of insight that I couldn’t better.

I loved Billy, I think he is one of my most favourite characters of the year. Did you base him on anyone you knew, or is he a mixture of people you have met?
Thanks so much Viv. It feels amazing when people love Billy, as he’s so vile when you first meet him. He’s an amalgamation of kids I’d known and worked with, many of which had been in and out of different care settings. I knew kids who’d had thirty placements in three years. How can you ever make attachments to adults, or trust them, when you’ve been bumped around so frequently?

One of my favourite scenes in the book, is the camping trip. What was your favourite scene to write?
I’m glad you liked the camping scenes. They were late additions, as my editor wanted to see more of Ronnie, of his back story. And of course, she was right to want them, as it deepens Ronnie and Billy’s bond, as well as showing just how similar the pair actually are.
I think I have two favourites, the first being the boxing scene where Ronnie has built Billy the gym. I grew up loving boxing as a kid, wanted to be one until I realised how much it hurt, so I got a real thrill about writing those scenes. They’re also vital scenes in Billy’s journey, as for the first time he starts to realise that he’s angry at someone, and not just everyone.
My other favourite scene, perverse as this sounds, is when the twins are taken away from Billy. I’ve been present in these scenarios, had to peel kids away from their siblings as they move on to a new foster family. It pulls you apart. As a result this was a really draining chapter to write, but I knew it was important to get right, if I wanted to write honestly. I think I’m more proud of that chapter than anything else I’ve ever written.

Will we see more of Billy in the future?
I don’t think so. I’ve just finished writing about his mate Daisy, and in the first draft, a boy made an appearance who could’ve been Billy. That scene got chopped and I never put him back in, mainly as ‘Saving Daisy’ is about what happens to her before they meet. It stands alone as a novel, but if you’ve read ‘Being Billy’, it’s kind of a prequel I suppose.
I’m really comfortable with where I left Billy. He’s in a better place and there’s hope. The rest is up to him….

Was this your first finished manuscript, or are there others hidden away?
This was the second book I finished. The first book, which I wrote whilst bookselling, was for a younger audience, kind of Roald Dahl age. It was a great process to go through, to finish something, prove to myself that I could tell a story, but it wasn’t good enough to entice an agent to take me on. I found it the other day, then put it straight back in the drawer. Best place for it!!

Did you show your manuscript to your peers at SandS, or did you wait until it was published?
I showed a pal who works on the adult list, who gave me advice and honest feedback, but I didn’t really mention it to many of the kids team until it was out on submission to publishers. They would have laughed otherwise...

What was your first reaction when you found out that your book was to be published?
I think it’s the same reaction that I have now, two years later. Disbelief really. It’s hard to think of kids books and not think of ‘Puffin’. To be published by them and see that logo underneath your name on the spine? It’s the most brilliantly surreal thing that will ever happen to me. Makes me feel proud. I just hope I do them justice.

How did you keep yourself occupied as you waited for publication day?
I went on an eighteen month binge of drugs and destruction.
Or
I went back to work and cracked on with paying the bills. We have three kids now, so I’ve spent most of it kicking footballs, pushing swings and changing nappies. I’ve also managed to write another book and a half in that time, which feels good. Oh, and I’ve watched a few more series of ‘24’.

What are you working on now?
I’m 25,000 words into a new YA story. New characters and setting, but heavily influenced by SE Hinton’s ‘The Outsiders’.
I love that book, the sense of brotherhood in it, how the characters would lay down their lives for each other. I was really affected by that.
So I’m writing about two brothers and how their lives change when one returns from fighting in Afghanistan. It’s called ‘The Glorious Homecoming of Jammy Mcgann’. (I’ve posted the prologue on my blog)
I’ve no idea if it’s any good, but I hope so. I’m enjoying writing it, which is a start….

How do you fit writing in around your normal day job?
I can’t write at home any more. It’s like a war zone and by the time we get all three to bed we’re ready to collapse. I’ve carved out other time instead. 95% of ‘Saving Daisy’ was written on the
bus home from work, which worked really well for me. I could get anything from 500 to 1000 words done each journey.
With the new book I’m trying to do the same, but have started going to a caff for an hour before work. Tea, toast and a laptop.
I’m trying to hit 5000 words a week, which doesn’t happen often, but I get close if I put my head down.

What advice would you give to aspiring and unpublished authors?
What I love about writing is that there are no rules. Loads of people scoff and ridicule me for writing on the bus, but it works for me. I’ve proof that it does.
That’s the best advice. Find what works for you and stick to it.

Thank you Phil from some fantastic answers. Being Billy is available to buy from all major bookshops right now.
If you would like to know more about Phil Earle here are some places you can catch up with him.

Twitter: @philearle

Website: http://www.philearle.com/

Blog: http://www.philearle.com/blog/