Happy Book Birthday + Interview with Kelley Lynn

Hello, We-Do-Writers! Please help me welcome Kelley Lynn. She is here to discuss her debut novel, FRACTION OF STONE, which releases today!

Happy release day, Kelley! Tell us a bit about yourself.

Brown hair, brown eyes, likes long walks on the beach. Okay, that’s true but I’m pretty sure that’s not what you’re asking. Haha. I am an engineer by degree and blessed to have found someone who likes my work as an author. I enjoy keeping active: playing soccer, softball and volleyball in my free time as well as being crazy enough to run with other crazies in a number of half marathons. I participate in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and find that there is never enough time to do everything I would love to do.

You sound busy. Maybe you can sign my petition to add a few more hours to the day. 

How long have you been writing?

I declared myself a ‘serious writer’ July of 2011. So, all in all, not very long. Since that day I have completed eight manuscripts, three of which are collaboration projects. One of the collab projects, with Jenny S. Morris, is titled ALREADY THERE and is represented by the fabulous Jamie Bodnar Drowley.

Tell us about FRACTION OF STONE. What’s the story about?

Wind tunnels, torrential rains and earthquakes tear apart Casden. The cause of the world’s imbalance is unknown, but the mounting occurrences suggest there’s little time before life ceases to exist.

Rydan Gale and Akara Nazreth are the only humans with the ability to wield magic. The tattoo on their necks and the discovery of an ancient book explaining the importance of a blue stone, dictate they are the key to the world’s survival.

But the greatest obstacle for saving mankind isn’t the natural disasters, extreme betrayals and magic-fearing men hunting them.

It’s that Akara doesn’t believe the world is worth saving.

Ooh! Intriguing! How did the idea of the story come to you?

FRACTION was my second 2011 NaNo (National Novel Writing Month) project. I was working on a YA Contemporary at the start of NaNo and just wasn’t feeling it. While flying home from a business trip I closed my laptop and asked myself what I was feeling. A girl, so broken and depressed she had no faith in the world, came to me. Ten days later, the first draft of FRACTION OF STONE was complete.

Ten days? Wow! Not only are you busy, you're fast! Do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers to help you clean up the loose ends, or do you self-edit?

Oh man, self-edit? My work would be HORRIBLE if I did that. Ha! I have many CPs/Beta readers. I love critiquing and find my work greatly benefits from doing so and my CPs are some of my best friends. My core group of CPs are the ladies of Falling for Fiction. It was them, as well as the amazing Angela Cothran, that helped get FRACTION OF STONE to where it is today.

Yes. CPs and beta readers are awesome, wonderful people. So, planner or pantser?

Pantser. Definitely. Before I worked on ALREADY THERE, with Jenny Morris, she thought she was a Pantser, but I proved there can be someone more clueless as she plods through a book than she was. After I sold FRACTION I realized I didn’t really know what was going to happen in the next four books. (I sorta knew…) So I went through and outlined. That felt weird and I’m sure it will all change.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Finding the time. There’s just never enough time.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

Music. Must, have, music. When writing FRACTION OF STONE I had the self titled Evanescence CD on constant replay. When the movie comes out (wink, wink) that CD could be the soundtrack for it.

Oh, I love that CD! Amy Lee's voice is so powerful and beautiful, it's easy to see the inspiration.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

Oh geez. It’d be cool to fly.

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

Haha. This is a great question. It’s not that weird, but one of my MS has a lot to do with Space, of which I know little to nothing about. Doing research for that story was super fun.

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: fraction, fracture, and fabricated.

The fabricated excuse was the catalyst for the fracture in our friendship, leaving us a fraction of what we once were. (That was kinda dark… sorry. Haha)

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ... 

Thinking about writing. It’s an obsession I tell ya!

Don't I know it. But, a fun obsession.

Who would you like to thank for supporting you and your writing? 

I’ll keep my ‘thanks’ short here (since I literally wrote a book of acknowledgements in my book.) A huge shout out to my CPs/Betas. Not only are these ladies fantastic writers but they are fabulous women. Also thank you to the whole Sapphire Star Publishing family. FRACTION OF STONE couldn’t be in better hands and I can’t wait to continue the FRACTION Series with them. And of course, thanks to my family and non-writing friends. This dream/obsession snuck up on them and they are doing a great job of helping me to balance both jobs and what is most important, spending time with them.

And finally, where can people find you and your books online?

It feels so weird to actually be asking people to buy my book now, but obviously I would be completely honored if you would do so. You can get FRACTION OF STONE through the Sapphire Star Publishing website, as well as through Barnes and Noble and Amazon. And of course, if you love it, request to have it stocked at your local bookstore/library. ;)

Thanks so much for having me!

You're more than welcome! Thanks for playing along!