Interview and Giveaway with self-pub author, Andrea Tracy - @annie_danielle

I always like to start with a little background, where were you born?

Near Mesa, Arizona

How long does it take you to write a book? What is the average word count?

The average word count would be around 70,000 words. Some books take longer than others. Since I have no set limits I tend to bounce around my stories but one always gets more attention in the end. My first book took me about a year. My second only a couple of months. The one I plan on finishing next I actually started it a couple years back. So the time it takes me to finish a book varies. This would be a different story if I had deadlines.

Do you have a critique partner(s)? Do you ever use beta readers?

I’ve always have used my friends. The first person to read my first book was actually an old teacher of mine I went to visit before moving away. Recently, I’ve been using my sister who is also an inspiring writer.

Did you hire a professional freelance editor before submitting to agents or editors (or self-publishing)?

No, I did most of the editing myself. I asked my friends to mark any mistakes they found while reading my books. I went over my books so many times before publishing. I know they’re not perfect but books done professional aren’t always perfect either.

How long did it take you to get an agent or publisher when you were starting out?

I decided to self-publish, but I am planning to get an agent later. Maybe, once I’m out of school.

Tell us about your newest release. How was your story birthed? 

My newest book, The Grace of Running, actually came from a Pete Yorn song I was listening to a lot at the time. The song is called EZ, it says something along the lines of things being easier at a younger age but still giving those things up. Since, I love happy ending though the main character got what she thought she lost forever back.

What was your motivation for this story?

All my books I’m motivated by the fact that most books aren’t like them. In High School, I always wanted to read a certain kind of story that I never found so I wrote it. The same could be said for The Grace of Running.

Was it the original book title or did it change along the way? 

“The Grace of Running” comes from the girl’s name Grace and the fact that she was a running in more than one way. It was original called EZ as a placeholder because that was the song it was based off.

Be honest, how many drafts did you have to write for this book? 

It took so many drafts that I lost count. I never really get rid of scenes normally I pull them out but I end up finding a better place for them to occur.

What's your secret to creating a realistic character? 

I have them talk in my head. There’s conversations going on up their all the time. I usually always keep the first thing they say. I never change the dialog because that’s how the real conversations would go between real people.

How do you come up with your character's names? 

Some names are easy, some are hard, but almost all come from babynames.com.

If your book were to be turned into a movie, what would your dream cast be for the top five main characters?

I never think about that stuff. You would have to ask my sister. She’s always dreaming up the cast.

How do your family and friends feel about your book or your writing venture in general?

They love my books. Friends that say they aren’t a fan of reading, tell me that they couldn’t put it down. 

Who is your favorite author and what really excites you about their work?

Sarah Dessen would have to be my favorite. I own all her books. She’s the kind of writer I want to be.

Tell us a little about your next book. 

“Thinking of You” is about a teenage girl named Arabelle who believes she’s in love with her best friend, Keefe. Only there are several problems in the way. Keefe only sees Arabelle as a sister which is the totally opposite from how Keefe’s older brother, Bryce, sees Arabelle. This is mixed with Arabelle being a serial dater and Keefe claiming he’s in love with his current girlfriend, Paulina. The story starts when Bryce returns home from school during the Christmas holiday. 

Buy the book

Amazon Kindle

Amazon Paperback

 Where can potential readers find you online?

Author blog: http://andreatracy.blogspot.com/

Book Blog: http://two-tall-tales.blogspot.com/,

Twitter: https://twitter.com/annie_danielle

goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5275049.Andrea_Danielle_Tracy

Author Bio

Andrea Tracy grew up in Mesa, Arizona. She started her first short story in eighth grade, and enjoyed writing so much that she began writing Fanfiction with her friends. Her first self-published book, “The Grace of Running” was released this year. Someday, Andrea hopes to branch out into fantasy/romance, but right now, she's content writing tales of young adult romance.

Book Giveaway Details

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ecdd0b1/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't Give Up on Your Writing - #WriteTip - #GetPublished

Yes, I have neglected my poor blog while I finished revisions on my new book. Sorry for being out of touch for so long. As some of you know, I’ve had some personal tribulations going on with my daughter and numerous computer issues, but now I’m back and ready to talk books and life with all my lovely followers.

I have to admit that I find it daunting to find time to promote, write, edit, and blog. I don’t know how other writers do it. It’s a difficult juggling act. It’s exhausting. It’s overwhelming.

And I am in awe of other writers that seem to do all those things so effortlessly. Maybe most of them don’t have kids. :)

Anyhoo, I wanted to chat about my new novel with you today. I actually wrote the first draft of IMMORTAL ECLIPSE aka IE about nine years ago. A year later, I also made the mistake of sending it out on submission to editors and agents. I did get a lot of requests for fulls and partials, but no one I sent my manuscript to offered a publishing contract or representation. I spent about six months querying agents and contacting editors, before giving up. However, I did get some really nice and helpful rejection letters. (You can read one of them on my writing blog HERE ) Every time I read this thoughtful letter from Sable Grey (doesn’t that sound like a movie star’s name?), it reminds me not to give up hope. That one day I’ll be able to make a living as a writer. 

Even rejection letters that offer useful advice from literary agents or publishing editors should help your writing. Yes, rejections suck, but take a deep breath and put your ego aside, and then use it to become a better storyteller.

That’s what I did.

The story for IE has evolved over the years and with each new draft, the storyline has (hopefully) improved. However, the basic plot elements remained, which featured a young woman relocating from New York to Carmel, California and moving into a supposedly haunted house, and then discovering a dead girl that died on the property, which mysteriously resembles the main character. 

The early drafts had the protagonist as a disillusioned runway model, but I wasn’t sure most readers would be able to relate to her, so she developed into a fashion photographer instead. 

I knew in my gut that it was a good story, but it needed more revision. A lot more. And an insightful professional editor. But before I found the right editor for IE, I found an amazing critique partner/editor named, Carmen. I have mad respect for this woman, because not only is she a fantastic writer, but she’s also an astounding editor. I was so impressed by her skills that I asked her to join my editing services business.

Then, luckily, I found Beth Hill of A Novel Edit. I spent about a month searching for the perfect editor for my work before deciding to hire this remarkable freelance editor. Now, no editor is perfect and any lingering grammar goofs or missed punctuation is probably my fault, because as many of you know, I like to endlessly edit. LOL

And I learned so much from both of these extraordinary writers/editors that my own writing skills have flourished and has been greatly enriched by working with them. IE would not be the gripping tale it is today without their support. 

So, "Immortal Eclipse" has been a very long labor of love for me (almost a decade), and to see it finally published after all these years is an accomplishment that I am immensely proud of. The novel incorporates all the things I personally love: spooky atmosphere, snarky heroine, thrilling suspense, humorous respite, romantic tension, and even a dash of fashion fun!

I knew while writing this book, that I was creating a narrative that wouldn’t speak to the overall market, but I really wanted to write this story. A tale about a different kind of heroine not found in most horror, urban fantasy, and darker paranormal romances. My idiosyncratic, yet tough heroine is brave, considerate, stubborn, albeit confused, and somewhat of a fashionata. I think all these quirky aspects of her personality make her somewhat unique.

In closing, I hope readers will give my heroine, Skylar a chance and hopefully enjoy reading my new book. 

And for aspiring writers, I hope this post gives you the determination to keep writing. It took a long time for IE to be published, but all good things come to those who wait….