Welcome to the Musings of Many!
What is the hardest thing about writing? I went to my high school reunion over the summer and it brought back a lot of repressed memories that went into this book…so basically I probably can’t go to the next reunion unless I want to risk getting hit in the face. Some of the things I wrote about: breakups, betrayal, losing a friend, watching a loved one suffer, all bring up feelings that most people want to avoid, so that’s never easy to relive for the sake of a story. It has to be done for the story to feel authentic though. How much research is involved when writing your books? I visited Grand Haven, Michigan several times before and after I began the Star Series. A lot of the mean girl/relationship drama is from things I’ve gone through either as a teen or as an adult. I didn’t have to do much research when it came to Nick’s grandfather having Lewy Body dementia and Parkinson’s because I had a relative going through it. I’ve been both Pilar in what she dealt with with her grandmother, and Nick with his relative, and I know what that world feels like all too well. Any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer’s block? I watch movie and TV shows to try and kick start my brain into storytelling mode. Do you let the book stew – leave it for a month and then come back to it to edit? What’s your views on social media for marketing? I enjoy it because I love being able to connect with readers. There’s nothing like getting feedback from someone who was touched by something you wrote, which is something authors wouldn’t be able to experience without social media. Character Interview with Hadley Daniels from Competing with the Star How do your relationships impact you? Nick is my first real boyfriend and it’s really weird having his ex-girlfriend, Reagan, go on group dates with us. She always manages to say something to remind Nick of when they were together—so uncomfortable! She always makes me feel like an awkward little kid when I’m around her. Plus, finding out Nick used to be in love with my friend Simone and now she likes him—how do you compete with a TV star? What is your biggest fear? My best friend from my last school moved away and barely texts me, so now that I’ve moved, too, and made all new friends, well, I still worry about getting left behind. I felt so lonely after my best friend moved and then with the drama with Nick and Simone—my biggest fear is being alone and rejected. What is the one word you would use to define yourself? I’m definitely optimistic. I try to see the best in people and hope for the best whether it be with fitting in with a new group of friends or my relationship with Nick. I want to believe Nick wouldn’t kiss Simone and I also wants to believe Simone wouldn’t betray our friendship, but I know one of them has to be lying. What ‘group’ were you in during their high school years? I moved to Grand Haven hoping to make a fresh start and reinvent myself from the book loving introvert I am to someone who can fit in with the former TV star, Simone Hendrickson’s popular crowd. I did manage to get in with that group, but without losing my identity thanks to my best friend Charlotte who doesn’t get caught up in worrying about what other people think. I wish I could be more like Charlotte in that way. What annoys you? Fake people annoy and dealing with mean girls. Nick’s ex, Reagan, make me feel awful on a group date when she kept dropping passive aggressive comments about her and Nick’s relationship in front of everyone. Can you imagine your boyfriend’s relationship history being broadcast in front of a group while you just sit there and pretend it doesn’t bother you? What are your short term goals? To meet my favorite singer, Jack Brogger. He has a summer home in Grand Haven and Asia and I ran into him once. He’s going to be casting for a new music video that’s set in town, so I hope to meet him and maybe I’ll be an extra in his video in another book. *cough* hint, hint, Krysten. (Author’s note: I hear ya, working on it in book three now.)
COMPETING WITH THE STAR
by Krysten Lindsay Hager
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: March 22, 2016
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
– SYNOPSIS –
Hadley Daniels’s life seems perfect…
Before the beginning of sophomore year of high school, Hadley and her family move to a beautiful beach town, where she makes amazing new friends and lands the boyfriend of her dreams—Nick Jenkins. He’s the kind of guy every girl swoons over, and it isn’t long until Hadley discovers some are still swooning.
A famous ex-girlfriend makes matters more complicated…
After some time dating, Hadley and Nick form a deep bond. But insecurity sets in when Hadley discovers her boyfriend once had a huge crush on her friend—who just happens to be the beautiful former teen TV star, Simone Hendrickson.
The past is the past—or so they say…
Hadley confronts Nick, who confesses about his history with Simone. Though he claims to only have eyes for Hadley now, it’s hard to believe—especially when she’s blindsided with the news that Nick and Simone kissed after school.
Now Hadley must determine who is telling the truth. Love, betrayal, friendship…who needs soap opera drama when you’re busy competing with a star?
– PURCHASE –
AMAZON US | AMAZON UK | AMAZON PAPERBACK | B&N PAPERBACK
– NEXT DOOR TO A STAR, Book 1 – AMAZON US | AMAZON PAPERBACK
- EXCERPT -
Two days passed and Nick hadn’t called again. I couldn’t blame him. After all, I had pushed for him to be honest and then had bailed on him. I’m sure he was mad at me for telling him he could tell me the truth and then I punished him for it—and he would be right. I couldn’t handle the icky feelings, and instead of being a big girl and dealing with them, I came home from school and retreated into the world of books. A world where people were kidnapped, jewels were stolen, but nobody’s heart ever got broken because in my favorite series, The Raven Chronicles, Raven’s boyfriend, Fernando, was ever faithful and loyal and would never even look at another girl. He was the perfect book boyfriend. In other words, he was fictional and didn’t exist.I saw I had a text from Simone. Oh great, maybe she was asking for my blessing to go out with Nick, or if I was still planning to go to Watson High School next year so she could make out with him in a different hallway from my locker. Simone: Are you mad at me? Nick said you’re upset because you found out he used to like me. Oh fabulous. He told her the whole gross story. Well, of course he did, seeing as how he was always over with her clique and he could tell the love of his life anything.
– ABOUT THE AUTHOR –
Krysten Lindsay Hager is an obsessive reader and has never met a bookstore she didn’t like. She’s worked as a journalist and humor essayist, and writes for teens, tweens, and adults. She is the author of the Landry’s True Colors Series and her work has been featured in USA Today and named as Amazon’s #1 Hot New Releases in Teen & Young Adult Values and Virtues Fiction and Amazon’s #1 Hot New Releases in Children’s Books on Values. She’s originally from Michigan and has lived in South Dakota, Portugal, and southwestern Ohio. She received her master’s degree from the University of Michigan-Flint.
1 Comment
|
About the AuthorOlivia Night's novels keep readers on the edge of their seats. Her first series,The Men of FTI takes place all over the world with Alpha men who will capture your heart. Archives
June 2018
Categories |