GYDO: Ashley Elston

Ashley Elston, Author of The Rules for Disappearing

I’m so excited to be a part of GYDO! And since this has been a wild and crazy ride – I thought I would give you my “Rules” for surviving your Debut Year:

Rule #1: Be prepared for your family to act crazy.

Your mom will approach strangers is a bookstore and stalk them until they agree to buy your book. You may be present and watch in horror as this happens or she may call you afterward to report her sales for the day. I’m sorry, book-shoppers. She means well.

Rule #2: Do not Google yourself.

Ever. Or search for your book’s title on Twitter, Goodreads, Tumblr, etc… This is a hard one. No matter how many gushing, awesome, incredible reviews and posts you find where the reader loves your book, it only takes one gif of a guy banging his head against a wall, screaming, “Noooo!” to crush you completely. Save yourself that heartache.

Rule #3: Find 348 ways to tell the same story.

            I’m not kidding. Friends, co-workers, family, and strangers in the grocery store all ask how you sold your book. In order not to be completely sick of yourself before your book hits the shelves, find a way to replay this story in an entertaining way so you don’t drone on like that teacher from FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF. 

Rule #4: Hope for a crowd but be prepared for empty seats.

Sometimes you will have awesome turnouts for events and sometimes you will hear crickets. My first book signing was incredible – Barnes and Noble sold out at 175 books. And then I had an event where the only attendees were my parents and a random family of three that probably thought they were there for something else. Both were incredibly humbling experiences.

Rule #5: Have fun!

            This is the most important rule. You are only a debut once so make the most out of it!

Rules for Disappering Blurb
She’s been six different people in six different places: Madeline in Ohio, Isabelle in Missouri, Olivia in Kentucky . . . But now that she’s been transplanted to rural Louisiana, she has decided that this fake identity will be her last.
Witness Protection has taken nearly everything from her. But for now, they’ve given her a new name, Megan Rose Jones, and a horrible hair color. For the past eight months, Meg has begged her father to answer one question: What on earth did he do – or see – that landed them in this god-awful mess? Meg has just about had it with all the Suits’ rules — and her dad’s silence. If he won’t help, it’s time she got some answers for herself.
But Meg isn’t counting on Ethan Landry, an adorable Louisiana farm boy who’s too smart for his own good. He knows Meg is hiding something big. And it just might get both of them killed. As they embark on a perilous journey to free her family once and for all, Meg discovers that there’s only one rule that really matters — survival.

Author Bio

Ashley Elston is the daughter of an attorney and grew up surrounded by talk of court cases and the law in general --- all of which triggered the ideas in her debut YA novel, THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING. She has a Liberal Arts degree from Louisiana State University and worked for many years as a wedding/ portrait photographer. She is also a licensed landscape horticulturist. Ashley lives in Shreveport, Louisiana with her husband and three young sons.

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GYDO: Kelly Fiore

Kelly Fiore, Author of Taste Test

A lot of people ask me why I write Young Adult fiction. Because my writing beginnings centered around verse (I have an MFA in Poetry), I think a lot of people would assume that I’d want to write things that are more…poem-ish. Not only that, but many also will ask what the appeal is in writing for young adults – as in, why write for children (who have seemingly less buying power) than for adults (who have, theoretically, plenty of buying power)?

People couldn’t be more clueless or wrong about young adult readers.

First, let me say that there is a reason young adult literature is booming – it’s the most visceral, exciting, emotional literature around. Teenagers feel things and they feel them hard. Their literature must be a reflection of that. As a writer for teens, it is my job to reflect that in my work.

Moreover – this whole buying power scenario? Trust me, there are lots of adults buying YA for themselves and the teens in their lives. When you write teen literature, you aren’t just writing for teens – you’re writing about a time period that everyone has lived through and that everyone can remember as, most likely, a dramatic part of their lives.

Another reason writing teen lit is such an amazing ride is because so many coming-of-age “firsts” happen for teenagers – there’s writing gold there, people! I mean, think about it – driving, proms, school, jobs, crushes, relationships. It’s not that adults don’t have those things – but isn’t the first time you do something way more exciting than the 200^th? I can still remember on my 16^th birthday, getting behind the wheel of my 1987 red Chevy Nova and jamming to Spacehog’s “In the Meantime” on my cassette player as I drove down the street. But if you asked me what song I listened to in the car just yesterday, I probably couldn’t tell you. Teenage moments matter and they last. Who wouldn’t want to catalogue that?

But, most of all, I write young adult literature because, the majority of the time, I feel like a young adult. I still dream the way my teenage self would dream. I’ve never lost that inexplicable sense of hope – of what if – of one day. If there were a way to encapsulate that wonder, wouldn’t you do it? I get to do it on the page and it’s pretty much the coolest job ever.

Ask any YA writer why they write YA, and you’ll probably get a different answer from each one. But, in the end, we can all agree that YA lit is the place where we can remember how it felt to do something amazing for the very first time. The fact that I get to share those feelings with others – well, that just makes it all the more important.

Taste Test Blurb
Nora Henderson has been basting baby back ribs for as long as she could reach the counter of her dad's famous barbecue joint. When she's accepted to Taste Test, a teen reality cooking competition, Nora can't wait to leave her humble hometown behind. On set, run-ins with the maddeningly handsome and talented son of a famous chef, Christian Van Lorten, make Nora wonder if it's him or the win she really wants, but as she and Christian emerge as front-runners for the final prize, Nora can't ignore the mysterious accidents plaguing the kitchen arena. Someone is conducting eliminations of their own, and if Nora doesn't stop them, she could be next to get "chopped" for good. 

With romance and intrigue as delectable as the winning recipes included in the story, this debut novel will be devoured by all.

Author Bio

Kelly Fiore has a BA in Creative Writing from Salisbury University and an MFA in Poetry from West Virginia University. Cooking and writing are two of Kelly's greatest passions; others include cupcakes, facials, and VH1 Classic. She lives in Maryland where she lives with her husband and son. Taste Test is her debut novel.

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GYDO: Amy Christine Parker

Amy Christine Parker, Author of Gated

Before writing GATED I didn’t naturally gravitate towards writing contemporaries. In my head they had strict boundaries. I’d very wrongly pigeon-holed the genre and found it rather limiting compared with other(more preferred) genres of mine. But then along came this idea that wouldn’t let go of me once it grabbed hold and I knew that I had to jump into the contemporary world—even if I did it kicking and screaming. Imagine my surprise when I realized that I didn’t need to leave behind the genres I loved most in order to write within it. The contemporary genre was really only limited by my own imagination and my perception of the world around me.

GATED is first and foremost, a contemporary novel. It takes place in the real world.

 Right here.

Right now.

But you won’t have to read very closely (hopefully) to see that this book has clear nods to the paranormal and dystopian genres in particular within it. It’s not a mash up so much as a pointed observation that our present existence as a society definitely includes elements of the fantastic and communities that border on (and in my opinion, clearly are) dystopian—you just have to look at it under those lenses.  When I was brainstorming how to go about writing GATED, one of the things that became obvious is that cults check all the boxes that dystopian societies do.

--There’s a leader(s) who has absolute power over a group of people.

--The society is built upon 1) The idea that the world/society—as is—isn’t working/is doomed and 2) the  quest to change their people’s direction for the better (at least on the surface).

--The majority of the people inside these societies won’t question those in charge or don’t dare to speak out if they do, for fear of being punished—sometimes for generations.

-- The person who does gather the courage to stand up and speak out, will face fierce, often times life threatening opposition.  

--Maybe most importantly, in the face of disturbing circumstances, the other, non-questioning members of the group will cling to their devotion if only so that they don’t have to face just how misguided it has been.

For me, realizing that what I feared most about the future was happening right under my nose was chilling. My hope was that it would be for readers too. Writing contemporaries began to be more and more addicting and now I am an ardent fan. All it took was questioning what I thought I knew about them and deciding to add my own spin.

Gated Blurb
Do the gates keep the unchosen out or the chosen in?
In Mandrodage Meadows, life seems perfect. The members of this isolated suburban community have thrived under Pioneer, the charismatic leader who saved them from their sad, damaged lives. Lyla Hamilton and her parents are original members of the flock. They moved here following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, looking to escape the evil in the world. Now seventeen, Lyla knows certain facts are not to be questioned:
Pioneer is her leader.
Will is her Intended.
The end of the world is near.
Like Noah before him, Pioneer has been told of the imminent destruction of humanity. He says his chosen must arm themselves to fight off the unchosen people, who will surely seek refuge in the compound's underground fortress--the Silo.
Lyla loves her family and friends, but given the choice, she prefers painting to target practice. And lately she'd rather think about a certain boy outside the compound than plan for married life in the Silo with Will. But with the end of days drawing near, she will have to pick up a gun, take a side, and let everyone know where she stands.

Author Bio

AMY CHRISTINE PARKER tried out many different jobs, including collectible doll maker, fondue waitress, and inner-city schoolteacher. It wasn't until she became a mom and began making up bedtime stories for her children that she finally realized what she was meant to do. Now Amy writes full-time from her home near Tampa, Florida, where she lives with her husband, their two daughters, and one ridiculously fat cat.

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GYDO: Rachel Alpine

Rachel Alpine, Author of Canary

In CANARY, the main character Kate has a blog called All My Truths (www.allmytruths.com).  She titles each post “Today’s Truth” and shares her secrets.  I thought it would be fun to posts my own truths and share some secrets about the book!

Today’s Truths about CANARY:

·         When I first started to query CANARY it was called UNTIL SOMEONE HEARS YOU.  I also suggested called it ALL MY TRUTHS.  My publishers loved CANARY and wanted me to keep that title.

·         The title came from something that miners used to do to test to see if it was safe to go into the mine.  They’d lower a canary in a cage down first and then pull it back up.  If it was alive, it was safe to go down.  If it died, they knew there was carbon monoxide in the mine.  They also often brought the birds down with them and knew that as long as the bird was singing, it was safe.  Canaries could detect carbon monoxide before humans can.  This relates to the main character, Kate, in my book and what she has to breath in and endure in her new school

·         One of the poems that is in CANARY is a poem I wrote in a college class.  It’s the poem that sparked the whole idea for the book, and I’m so excited I got to keep it in the book.

·         Kate swims at night with the pool lights off.  I used to go to my grandparents’ house in Florida every year and swimming at night was one of my favorite things to do.

·         Kate’s brother Brett enlists in the Army.  Originally, I had him going overseas, but changed it when I revised because he’s important to the story.  I wanted to keep him around (he’s one of my favorite characters!).

·         A lot of the characters in my book are named after my good friends.  They either have a character with their first or last name.  However, none of the characters were inspired or based off of my friends.

·         I was so nervous about what the cover would look like that I didn’t open the e-mail from my publisher for a couple of hours!  The good thing is that when I finally did, I loved it!

So there you have it…my truths about CANARY!                

In the book, Kate starts posting on her blog Sunday, August 11.  Be sure to visit her blog (www.allmyturths) as the posts in the book will be put on this blog in real time!

Canary Blurb
Kate Franklin’s life changes for the better when her dad lands a job at Beacon Prep, an elite private school with one of the best basketball teams in the state. She begins to date a player on the team and quickly gets caught up in a world of idolatry and entitlement, learning that there are perks to being an athlete. 
But those perks also come with a price. Another player takes his power too far and Kate is assaulted at a party. Although she knows she should speak out, her dad’s vehemently against it and so, like a canary sent into a mine to test toxicity levels and protect miners, Kate alone breathes the poisonous secrets to protect her dad and the team. The world that Kate was once welcomed into is now her worst enemy, and she must decide whether to stay silent or expose the corruption, destroying her father’s career and bringing down a town’s heroes.
Canary is told in a mix of prose and verse.

Author Bio

Rachele Alpine is a lover of sushi, fake mustaches, and Michael Jackson. One of her first jobs was at a library, but it didn’t last long, because all she did was hide in the third-floor stacks and read. Now she’s a little more careful about when and where she indulges her reading habit. By day she’s a high school English teacher, and by night she writes with the companionship of the world’s cutest dog, Radley, a big cup of coffee, and a full bag of gummy peaches. Rachele lives with her husband in Cleveland, Ohio, but dreams of moving back to Boston, the city she fell in love with while attending graduate school there.

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GYDO: April Genevieve Tucholke

April Tucholke, Author of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

Happy Never After or Happy Ever After

A bittersweet mixture of both. 

Hardback, paperback, or eBook?

Hardback and paperback. I don't own an ereader. 

Bad boy or boy next door?

Both.

Chocolate or candy?

Dark chocolate.

Coffee or Tea?

Coffee. No question.

Truth or Dare?

Truth.

Reading in the sun or reading next to a fireplace?

Both, with a slight leaning towards the fireplace.

Sweet or Sour?

Sour is my least favorite taste. And I like my desserts bittersweet, like my endings.

Would you rather be super cold or baking in the sun?

Super cold. Hands down.

A million dollars or a life time supply of books?

I already seem to own more books than I could read in a lifetime. I'd take the million dollars and donate half to cash-starved libraries. I would use the rest to build a fleet of bookmobiles that would travel the land, giving away my favorite books.

Favorite YA book? (Besides your own of course!)

That's tough. Sabriel and Lirael by Garth Nix. Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer. To Kill a Mockingbird. The Golden Compass. A Wrinkle in Time. The Folk Keeper. I could go on and on...

Favorite 2013 debut?

THE MADMAN'S DAUGHTER by Megan Shepherd. TAKEN by Erin Bowman. IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS by Cat Winters. SPLINTERED by A.G. Howard. And there are still several I haven't had a chance to read yet...

Favorite place?

Northern Italy. Lourmarin, France. The Scottish Borders. Salzburg, Austria. Bruges, Belgium. 

Favorite food?

Affogato. Manakeesh with olives, feta, and crisp cucumbers. Summer Corn Chowder made with coconut milk and fresh corn right off the cob. The Khai Soi at Pok Pok in Portland. The Sticky Chicken at the Real Food Street Bistro food cart.

Favorite website?

I'm on my local library's website almost every day. I really like deviantART.com...and audible.com. I listen to a lot of audiobooks. 

Favorite social media?

None. I wish we could go all go back to writing letters.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea Blurb

You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…
Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town…until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery...who makes you want to kiss back. Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.
Blending faded decadence and the thrilling dread of gothic horror, April Genevieve Tucholke weaves a dreamy, twisting contemporary romance, as gorgeously told as it is terrifying—a debut to watch.

Author Bio

April Genevieve Tucholke is a writer who digs classic movies, red-headed villains, big kitchens, and discussing murder at the dinner table. She and her husband Nate Pedersen live in Oregon at the edge of the forest.

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GYDO: Liz Coley

Liz Coley, Author of Pretty Girl-13

Way back in seventh grade, the social divisions were fairly well established even in a tiny private school. There were the cute boys who played basketball and then the rest of the guys, ill-assorted and usually awkward. For some reason, these traits went together, although looking back on yearbook photos, I realize in retrospect that although there were dorky athletes and cute nerds, those category cutting exceptions weren’t noticeable at the time.

In some private schools, there’s one additional category of student—the kid who is there because he’s been kicked out of the public school system. Oddly enough one of these kids became one of my best guy friends in seventh grade.

His name was generic enough that I’ve no hope of finding him again—Jeff Smith—though I would love to know what ever became of him. He arrived at our school in seventh grade as a bird of a completely different feather. He was worldly, he was a bad boy, he was kind of cute, with shoulder length wavy brown hair and a ready smile. He smoked cigarettes and pot, he shoplifted, and he broke into houses. For reasons I can’t even begin to guess, he decided to hang out with “the good girls” at lunch. Maybe because we were so nice, we just accepted him, with all his baggage. Maybe because our eyes sparkled at his tales of mischief and misdemeanor. Maybe because we were as much a curiosity to him as he was to us. He nicknamed me Albert, after Einstein, and I answered to that name as if it were my own, all year. I considered it a badge of affection and something completely mysterious and indefinable.

I think he managed to flunk seventh grade. He knew he was leaving in early June, and on our last day, he presented the three of us girls in his odd posse with necklaces, personal to each of us. Mine was an owl, the others a dove and a choker that said “oh shit” on it. He proudly announced that while he had stolen the money, he had actually paid for the jewelry in a store. Shades of moral gray. It seemed like a step in the right direction to us—that’s how charmed we were. I’ve still got this token of the charismatic delinquent who brushed my life for just a few hundred days, and it’s still an unaccountably precious memory.

Pretty Girl-13 Blurb
Angie Chapman was thirteen years old when she ventured into the woods alone on a Girl Scouts camping trip. Now she's returned home…only to find that it's three years later and she's sixteen-or at least that's what everyone tells her.
What happened to the past three years of her life?
Angie doesn't know.
But there are people who do — people who could tell Angie every detail of her forgotten time, if only they weren't locked inside her mind. With a tremendous amount of courage, Angie embarks on a journey to discover the fragments of her personality, otherwise known as her "alters." As she unearths more and more about her past, she discovers a terrifying secret and must decide: When you remember things you wish you could forget, do you destroy the parts of yourself that are responsible?
Liz Coley's alarming and fascinating psychological mystery is a disturbing - and ultimately empowering page-turner about accepting our whole selves, and the healing power of courage, hope, and love.

Author Bio

Liz Coley's short fiction has appeared in Cosmos magazine and speculative fiction anthologies. Her passions beyond reading and writing include singing, photography, and baking. She plays competitive tennis locally in Ohio to keep herself fit and humble.

With a background in science, Liz follows her interest in understanding "the way we work" down many interesting roads. Pretty Girl-13's journey into the perilous world of dissociative identity disorder is one of them.

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