Interview with Suzanne Kamata

Funny how Monday sneaks up on us, isn't it? Let's soften the blow to the head Monday tends to deliver, by indulging in a chat with author Suzanne Kamata, author of YA novel GADGET GIRL.

Hi, Suzanne! Welcome to We Do Write. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I'm an American, originally from Michigan, but I've been living in Japan for the past 25 years. I teach English to Japanese students, and more recently, writing.

We're like two peas in a pod, as I'm also a transplanted American teaching English. *expat high-five* How long have you been writing?

Since childhood. I decided that I wanted to be a writer when I was about six years old, and never came up with anything else. I wrote for my high school newspaper, took creative writing classes in college, and started publishing my short fiction when I was in my early twenties.

Awesome. Tell us about GADGET GIRL. What’s the story about?

Well, here's the back blurb:

Aiko Cassidy is fourteen and lives with her sculptor mother in a small Midwestern town. For most of her young life Aiko, who has cerebral palsy, has been her mother's muse. But now, she no longer wants to pose for the sculptures that have made her mother famous - and have put food on the table. Aiko works hard on her own dream of becoming a great manga artist with a secret identity. When Aiko's mother invites her to Paris for a major exhibition of her work, Aiko at first resists. She'd much rather go to Japan, Manga Capital of the World, where she might be able to finally meet her father, the indigo farmer. When she gets to France, however, a hot waiter with a passion for manga and an interest in Aiko makes her wonder if being invisible is such a great thing after all. And a side trip to Lourdes may just change her life.

Sounds cool. How did the idea of the story come to you?

Initially, I had an idea of writing a story about a mother and a 14-year-old daughter with disabilities taking a trip to Paris together in an effort to bond. This was partly inspired by my fantasies of taking my real-life daughter to Paris when she was about that age (old enough to appreciate the City of Lights). Also, I remember being very difficult and not getting along with my own mother when I was thirteen or fourteen. I wanted to write a mother-daughter story with tension.

My daughter is fourteen, so I know what you mean about tension. Do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

I rely on a select group of trusted readers who are also writers. I'm also a member of SCBWI, and I take advantage of critique opportunities at events. AND I got some help from the writers at YALitchat, a great site run by YA author/publisher Georgia McBride. (Which is where I *met* you.)

Yay for connections! Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I'm mostly a pantser, thought I have an idea of where I want to go with a story.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Finding the time.

I know, right? With all the scientific advancements of the day, you'd think they'd come up with something that gives us more time. Hmph. What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

Nothing really. Since becoming a mother, I've become very flexible. I can write just about anywhere, as long as I have a pen and some paper.

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

To be able to travel at will, without jet lag or having to wait in long airport lines.

Good choice. I hate airports. What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

Hmmm. Maybe the Lourdes web cam?

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: gadget, gigantic, and grading.

She paused in grading papers to look out the window and saw a gigantic can opener whirling in the air like a helicopter blade, like something that had fallen out of a monster's gadget drawer.

LOL, okay, I'm trying to wrap my head around that image. Great way to break Monday morning tension, that's for sure! Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ...

trying to get Japanese students excited about using English.

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

There are so many! Thanks to my parents, my kids, my publishers, SCBWI-Tokyo, YALItchat, the Literary Mama community, my university colleagues, and to everyone who has read my previous books!!

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

My website is at http://www.suzannekamata.com
Twitter - @shikokusue
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/#!/SuzanneKamata (Please like!!)
Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Gadget-Girl-The-Being-Invisible/dp/1936846381/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1360889353&sr=8-2&keywords=Suzanne+Kamata

Suzanne, thanks so much for stopping by the blog. I'll be sure to check out your book!

Author Update: Dorothy Dreyer

Yes, you read that correctly. It's about me!

I'm very happy to announce that I've signed a two-book publishing contract with Month9Books! My young adult urban fantasy novel, MY SISTER'S REAPER, will debut May 29, 2013. The sequel will be released May 28, 2014.

I'm so very excited about this, I can't even tell you. The news has even been announced in Publishers Marketplace. What!? OMG, that makes it real!

*thud*

Interview with Lacey J Boldyrev

Happy Friday, everyone! Let's get an early start to the weekend by having a fun chat with a fantastic aspiring writer. I've seen her around the blogosphere and was immediately intrigued by an excerpt of one of her stories. The talented Lacey J. Boldyrev is sure to be a hit.

It's nice to have you here, Lacey. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m a 25 year-old wife and mom. I grew up in Pennsylvania but spent most of my adolescence in North Carolina. Now I reside in NY. When I’m not writing, I’m doing the mom thing. My kids are young, so if I manage to get *me time* I spend it reading. I’m so exciting!

How long have you been writing?

Funny you should ask. I feel bad admitting this, but I just started writing seriously in February 2009. Within 30 days I had a rough (like #50 grit sandpaper, rough) first draft of a YA historical I call FATED. I’ve revised it for over a year and it’s still not ready.

What is the name and genre of your current manuscript?

I have a number of them stashed around my house and on a few hard drives (and thumb drives and disks), but the one I will be seeking representation for in the near future is titled GREYSKIN. It is a YA paranormal (my favorite kind of book) but it’s not heavily saturated in paranormal.

Perfect title, I love it! Here’s the part where you pitch it. What’s your story about?

When sixteen-year-old Charlie Waite falls for Jack O’Donnell, an older guy and a bounty hunter for the supernatural, she decides the only way to get close to him is to start salting bones herself. But things go wrong fast when Charlie tags along on a dangerous greyskin hunt. The bokor, a voodoo sorcerer who hired Jack to catch the greyskin, sends hell hounds after him. When Jack goes missing, Charlie knows if she ever wants to call him hers she’s going to have to hunt down the bokor herself.

Awesome. And having seen a quick peek, I have to say I love the voice in your manuscript. How did the idea of the story come to you?

The first line--There’s a dead girl in the trunk and all I can think about is how white the trees are—came while cruising down I95 and passing a bunch of trees that were, well, white. No, I did not have a dead girl in my trunk. Promise. When I started writing it, the voice of my narrator, Charlie, really came to me. More so than with any other character I’ve written. Charlie is me in a lot of ways and she and I really connected.

What point are you at now?

I’m going to submit to my critique partners for their input and probably do another round with my readers, and then it will be ready to query agents. I hope.

Do you rely heavily on critique partners and beta readers, or do you do a lot of self-editing?


I do as much self-editing as I think I can before I send it to my critique partners, Valerie and Kristi--the Sisters in Scribe. We can be found at our shared blog sistersinscribe.blogspot.com.
With the first manuscript I wrote—FATED—I sent them a very rough draft. And I still apologize for it, even though they never complain.

I polish the manuscript and then when my turn comes up with the group, I send it and wait about a month for their notes. I have amazing critique partners and they catch everything. After I’ve filled in my plot holes and readjusted some sentences or whatever else needs fixed, I feel comfortable submitting to my beta readers. As of right now, I have two. One is a very good friend and fellow YA writer, A.J. Spindle, and the other is a book blogger. Her name is Jess, formerly of bookreviewsbyjess.blogspot.com which is now thecozyreader.com.

Sounds like good detailed process. What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Aside from trying to write while I have a toddler at my side pretending she’s a cat, it’s writing the bad guy showdowns. Action scenes are so hard to get right! You want to convey the right amount of emotion, but at the same time it’s got to be fast paced and concise. And it’s tempting to allow the villain to break into a monologue to explain his evil plot.

Yes, I have the same problem, lol.Any tips you’ve learned about writing you’d like to share?

Simple is usually best. Don’t use big words or lengthy sentences to explain simple thoughts. Just spit it out the way your character would.

Do you have an idea of your book’s cover art?

GREYSKIN is very new so I haven’t toyed with that yet, but I did mock up one for FATED. I don’t own rights to the image so I’ll just explain it. It has a white background with a (very pretty) eye in the center. Inside the eye I put a reflection of the Nazi flag. Underneath it reads FATED in blood-red.

GREYSKIN would be cool if it had Charlie holding a sawed-off shotgun with her Bull Mastiff, Odin, standing beside her and Jack’s 1966 Chevelle convertible in the background.

Sounds great. Who are your inspirations?

Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse books were what really made me think, Hey I want to do that! But there are so many great authors I look up to and admire. Two name a few: Maggie Stiefvater, Carrie Harris and Richelle Mead.

Let’s get to know you on a deeper level. What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

Coffee. So stereotypical, I know. And I have a small metal elephant (I love elephants and I have a lot of them scattered around my house) that my husband bought me at a motorcycle event. He’s about 3” high and he flips open to reveal a small compartment inside. When I get stuck I flip him open and closed. Somehow it helps. And I chew on my red pen.


With GREYSKIN, I need a giant bowl of Good & Plenty candy. When (not if) you read it, you’ll know why.

Ooh, I'm intrigued (and I love Good & Plenty).

Okay, quick writing test: Use the words funnel, chipmunk, and encyclopedia in a sentence.

In one sentence? Wow, lol!

The crafty chipmunk made a funnel out of the torn pages of an encyclopedia, and used it to pour the nuts into his burrow.

Clever! Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Who would you like to give a shout out to?

My husband, because without him I wouldn’t be writing. He pushes me to follow my heart and he believes in me every step of the way. And he works hard so that I can spend my time doing what I love.


Also, my family for not locking me away when I talk about my characters as if they’re real people. My friends, both writers and non. My critique partners and beta readers and the endless support I’ve gotten from the writing community.

And finally, where can people find you online?

I can be found in a myriad of places under the name L.J. Boldyrev.


www.ljboldyrev.com
Twitter.com/ljboldyrev
Ljboldyrev.blogspot.com
Facebook.com/ljboldyrev


And I am also a member of the Blue Boards, SCBWI, and the YAlitchat community.

Thank you, Lacey, it was so great talking with you. I'm really crossing my fingers for you on your publication journey, and I can't wait to get my hands on GREYSKIN!