Name: Jason Offutt
Novel Title: The Girl in the Corn
Genre: Horror/dark fantasy
Release Date: January 2022
Website/Platform Name: www.jasonoffutt.com
Contact Information: [email protected]
 
1. Can you give me a brief overview of your novel?

An entity has always haunted Thomas Cavanaugh; in the guise of a fairy, a young girl, a teenager and finally his girlfriend. The entity convinces him he must confront an evil that threatens his world. Is she the evil?

2. What inspired you to write it?

Watching a Disney Tinker Bell movie with my young daughter and knowing, in mythology, fairies aren’t like that—not at all.

3. Tell me about the main characters in your book. What makes them unique or relatable?

Thomas Cavanaugh is a farm boy who grows up to be a young man traveling aimlessly through life. His one constant is the fear of the fairy coming back to him.

4. What themes or messages do you hope readers take away from your novel?

There is evil in this world, but there is good. Good should always strive to do better.

5. How did you approach the writing process for this book?

I put my butt in a chair and typed.

6. Do you have any writing rituals or habits that you follow?

Write at the same time, for the same length, every day.

7. Were there any challenges you faced while writing this novel? How did you overcome them?

A proper ending is always a challenge. I overcame it when my editor told me to change my original ending!

8. What advice do you have for aspiring authors who are working on their first book?

Simple. Finish it. You can’t fix the first draft of an unfinished manuscript.

9. Can you share any upcoming projects or future plans in the world of writing and literature?

The sequel to The Girl in the Corn--The Boy From Two Worlds—is due out in June.

10. Is there a particular moment or review from a reader that stands out to you and made your journey as an author more meaningful?

When a reviewer says my book gave them the willies.

11. Finally, if there's one thing you'd like your readers to remember about you and your work, what would it be?

They had fun reading it. 

 

Name: Kristi McManus
Novel Title: How to Get Over Your (Best Friend’s) Ex
Genre: YA Romance
Release Date: June 11 2024
Website/Platform Name: www.kristimcmanus.ca
Contact Information: [email protected]
 
1. Can you give me a brief overview of your novel?

Hannah Taylor has lived in her best friend Braelyn’s shadow all through high school. But when she meets Seth, the handsome and charming newcomer, she wonders if, for once, she might finally be in the spotlight. Until Braelyn and Seth meet, and Brae sweeps his attention away as only she can. Hannah is left to watch the first boy she’s ever truly liked date not only someone else, but her best friend.

When Seth unexpectedly breaks up with Brae months later, Hannah vows to help her friend get over the breakup while secretly trying to move on from Seth once and for all. Because even though Seth is no longer dating Brae, you never, ever date your best friend’s ex. But getting over Seth is easier said than done when Hannah learns that she was the reason for the breakup, and Seth may like her back.

2. What inspired you to write it?

The title came to me first while driving. I wanted something relatable, something that a lot of teens can likely relate to when it comes to crushes and friendship. I wanted to show the power dynamic of high school and also the vulnerability that comes with it, while also showing the challenges of first love.

3. Tell me about the main characters in your book. What makes them unique or relatable?

I think Hannah is relatable in that she is the quintessential girl in the background. Wonderful in her own right, but somehow always overshadowed by the loud, outgoing girl in Brae. I think a lot of teens can relate to that, always feeling like someone else is more popular, prettier, more deserving.

4. What themes or messages do you hope readers take away from your novel?

To always belief that you are worthy of love, of friendship, and of being who you are.

5. How did you approach the writing process for this book?

Typically when starting a new book, I sit with the idea until the first few chapters have somewhat formed in my head. Then I outline by breaking down the entire story by chapter, making sure I hit certain plot points, following a clear arc, ect. I find this way I can get a feel for how the story will play out, and avoid writing myself into a corner. As I write, the story may change, and I update my outline as needed.

6. Do you have any writing rituals or habits that you follow?

I need silence to write. I’m easily distracted, and when writing I want to immerse myself in the world, in the minds and emotions of the characters. To do that, I need quiet and focus. Some people need music, I need silence.

7. Were there any challenges you faced while writing this novel? How did you overcome them?

As with any novel, I always reach a point where I wonder if its any good, if I’m doing the story justice in comparison to what I hoped it would be, etc. Especially with first drafts. I tell myself to just keep writing, get the draft done, and it is in the revision process I can flesh things out and deepen the emotion. It doesn’t have to be perfect the first round.

8. What advice do you have for aspiring authors who are working on their first book?

Just write. Like I said above, it doesn’t have to be good in the first draft. Or the second, even. Just get words on the page, get the idea out, then polish it during revision. You can revise a bad draft, you can’t do anything with a blank page.

9. Can you share any upcoming projects or future plans in the world of writing and literature?

I am currently writing the first draft for a new YA historical retelling. I’ve had the idea for years, and just decided it was time to write it. I also have a revision for my editor for a possible third book which is a gender swapped Cinderella retelling, but it’s far from complete. I have another YA romance currently under consideration with my publisher, but don’t know yet if it will find its way to the shelves yet.

9. Is there a particular moment or review from a reader that stands out to you and made your journey as an author more meaningful?

While at a book conference last summer, I met a young reader. She was enthusiastic and it was clear she loved reading. While chatting, she told me that she really wanted to read my book, but only had enough money for 1 which she had already bought. She said she had to choose between reading/books and paying rent that month. It killed me that someone would have to sacrifice their love of reading, so I gave her my own copy of Our Vengeful Souls that I had brought with me. Her gratitude and excitement is still my favorite author moment so far.

10. Finally, if there's one thing you'd like your readers to remember about you and your work, what would it be?

That whether it’s a fantasy or a romance, I hope to inspire hope and create relatable characters that readers can root for and love.

Name: Nicole M. Wolverton
Novel Title: A Misfortune of Lake Monsters
Genre: young adult horror/speculative
Release Date: July 2, 2024
Website/Platform Name: www.nicolewolverton.com
Contact Information: [email protected]
 
1. Can you give me a brief overview of your novel?

A fun compliment I received early on about A Misfortune of Lake Monsters is that it is like Jaws and Clown In a Cornfield had a baby in the Welcome To Night Vale podcast. The gist: A high school senior is trapped in a future she doesn’t want when her family taps her to take over their generations-old legacy of secretly impersonating her rural town’s (very fake) lake monster—but when she discovers a very real lake monster with a taste for human flesh, she must reveal the well-guarded secret to her friends in a bid to save the town.

2. What inspired you to write it?

The spark for A Misfortune of Lake Monsters initially happened when I was a kid, doing my least favorite household chore: washing dishes. There’s a small lake about a mile behind my childhood home, so I’d stand at the sink, developing dishpan hands, daydreaming about what might lurk below the water. Hey, it was a small town without much to do, and washing dishes is boring! Quite a few years later, as an adult the idea resurfaced—and at the time I had been reading a lot about cryptid theory, and the full concept for the plot snapped into place.

3. Tell me about the main characters in your book. What makes them unique or relatable?

Lemon Ziegler, elected to be the new lake monster impersonator, and Troy Ramirez, one of her best friends who just happens to be in love with her and struggling with his own future, are the main characters in A Misfortune of Lake Monsters. Lemon wants so much out of her life—something more than what she thinks small town living can give her. That really resonates with me. I grew up in a small town (Lemon’s town of Devil’s Elbow is very loosely based on my own hometown) and never felt like I fit… and I was determined to leave as soon as I could to find a place where I could be more myself (and I did). But more than that, she has the incredible weight on her shoulders of what her family expects of her—both in terms of fulfilling the family legacy but also expectations around gender. Troy also faces gender expectations and pressure around his future but in a very different way. Whether you’re a teenager or an adult, I think we all struggle to find ways to have what we want in the face of what others think we should do or be.

4. What themes or messages do you hope readers take away from your novel?

I hope what is coming across is that you absolutely can find a way to get what you want and be who you really are, and do better for yourself than the limit of the expectations put upon you by others. There are also themes of toxic masculinity, environmentalism, and friendship that I hope very loudly come through.

5. How did you approach the writing process for this book?

The same way I approach everything: with aggressive organization. I am a full-on plotter when it comes to novels. I might get an idea and free-flow write the opening scene or first chapter, but then I immediately feel compelled to plot out the entire story, start to finish. The popular term is zero drafting: basically telling yourself the bones of a story. From there I focus on fleshing out characters and setting, rearrange pieces of the plot, etc... only then do I start writing.
Of course, in the case of A Misfortune of Lake Monsters, there was a research component thrown into the mix before I felt comfortable plotting. I wanted to know more about cryptids, about existing lake monster legends, and I even made a visit to Loch Ness in Scotland so I could have a good visual about what a lake of that size looks like, how the water moves, how the trees shadow the shoreline—and I took a boat out on the loch to look for Nessie… so Ziegler’s Ferry Tours owes its existence to cruise and tour business that operates at Loch Ness.

6. Do you have any writing rituals or habits that you follow?

I used to just write wherever I could, but like a lot of people during the earliest parts of the COVID-19 pandemic, I worked from home—and while my dining room table is a fine place to work, I converted my guest room into a home office… and swiftly filled it with a range of strange and spooky art. I’ve found that having oddball things around me is inspiring and motivating, so I do the bulk of my writing in my home office. My “Lake Monsters of America” poster is directly visible over the left of my dual monitor set-up! Other favorite things in my office: a 3D, anatomically correct, and very life-like heart that appears to be dripping with fresh, glistening blood and a plastic anatomical model with removeable internal organs. Hey, the rituals of horror writers are usually a little strange!

7. Were there any challenges you faced while writing this novel? How did you overcome them?

I love to write dialogue, so to give myself an extra challenge I imbued Ike Zieger—Lemon’s grandfather—with a very particular way of speaking. Ike’s speech patterns are modeled on my own grandfather, who was a farmer for most of his life in the rural Pennsylvania town where I grew up. My grandfather was very quiet but very opinionated, so Ike also had to be a man of strong opinions that were mostly left unvoiced until he felt it necessary—but there’s also a specific cadence to the words and as well as an accent and word choice that took me a while to get right. It was a lot of reading it aloud, tweaking, reading it aloud, tweaking, putting it away for a few weeks and then reading it again until it felt good. It was also a little spending time with my grandfather again, which was pretty strange and really fun.
 
8. What advice do you have for aspiring authors who are working on their first book?

The difference between a published author and an unpublished author is that the published author never gave up. What people like to read—and what those in the position to acquire your work like—is subjective. There are all sorts of reasons why your work might not get picked up, and it often has more to do with external forces than with the quality of your work… so keep trying, keep writing, keep querying, keep submitting. That said, writers should never truly be satisfied with their own work. I don’t know a single good writer who believes that anything they write is gold and that there’s not room for one more tweak, one more editorial pass, one more revision. We should strive for perfection but also have enough sense to recognize when something is ready to be queried and submitted.

9. Can you share any upcoming projects or future plans in the world of writing and literature?

I have two short stories acquired for anthologies in 2025, as well as two creative nonfiction works that are slated for publication either later this year or early next year. I’m always tinkering with a next novel, as well—and the one I’m currently working on, another young adult horror manuscript—is quite dark and, strangely, set entirely in a grocery store. During my undergrad years I took a course called The City and Detective Fiction, and one thing that has always stuck with me is a discussion the class had about locked-room mysteries. I loved the idea of everything happening in a single, locked-down location, so I’m adapting it to horror in my own way. I’m having a great time with it and hope it finds a good publication home!

10. Is there a particular moment or review from a reader that stands out to you and made your journey as an author more meaningful?

Last spring I was finishing up a masters degree in horror and storytelling, and I was lucky enough to, as my final class, take a course taught by the very fabulous young adult speculative writer Nova Ren Suma. I’ve read all her books and think she’s an incredible writer. Nova is simply good people, too, and she’s very supportive and kind—and so when it came time to solicit author blurbs for A Misfortune of Lake Monsters, I was so grateful when she agreed to give the book a read and offer advance praise. Having her be part of the process of bringing A Misfortune of Lake Monsters into the world means a great deal to me since she was also such an integral part of earning my masters degree.

11. Finally, if there's one thing you'd like your readers to remember about you and your work, what would it be? 

There’s a reason the logo on my website includes the words, “fear enthusiast. writer. strange bird.” I’m always absolutely in for fear and strangeness—and I mostly write about the horror of isolated spaces in rural or suburban settings… and I write what I know…. or at least what terrifies me! 😊

Name: Maia Correll
Novel Title: Dare to Au Pair
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Release Date: August 6, 2024
Your Website/Platform Name: maiacorrell.com (maia.correll on IG)
 
1. Can you give me a brief overview of your novel?

Just a typical day at your summer job. When recent business school grad and meticulous ten-year planner, Kat McLauren, takes an unplanned au pair position in the French Riviera to schmooze a future employer, she haphazardly upholds her reputation while rejuvenating a local tourism magazine, grappling with three unruly kids, and avoiding a romance with the host family's eldest son. But if a summer full of well-aged wine, sizzling flirtation, and a bit of betrayal can promise one thing, it’s that sometimes the best things in life are the ones we don’t plan for.

2. What inspired you to write it?

The atmosphere and story themes dropped in and I was enamored and transfixed. I got this feeling like I had to write this story. I’m also a recent business school grad, just like Kat. I had my sights set on Corporate America for as long as I could remember. It was part of the identity I’d crafted for the outside world. After a few rock-bottoms, I was presented with a crossroads: continue on with a great company and a great team in Orlando, or move back home to Rhode Island and embark on the career of my dreams (author/screenwriter/entrepreneur). I quickly learned that just because an opportunity is a great one doesn’t mean it’s for everyone. Maybe it’s the Aries Rising in me, but it felt like a fire had roared awake inside my being. I knew exactly where I was headed. I had no way of knowing how or when anything would transpire, but I had faith in the process and in myself. Within six months, I had a publishing deal with CamCat Books. 

3. What themes or messages do you hope readers take away from your novel?

Especially for my recent college grads out there, you’re right on time. And it’s never ever ever too late (or early) to shift career lanes.

4. How did you approach the writing process for this book?

First, I went straight to Pinterest to really compile the atmosphere I was looking for. Since my book is set in the south of France, I did a lot of research on these seaside towns to capture the colloquialisms, the food, and the sights. Much of my YouTube history included vlogs around farmers’ markets and beach cafes.

5. Were there any challenges you faced while writing this novel? How did you overcome them?

Many of my characters pepper in French words and sayings, so I had to do a little French 101 to make sure the translations came across as intended.

6. What advice do you have for aspiring authors who are working on their first book?

If you’re like me, I’m a big-picture kind of gal. I like to feel, see, smell, taste, and hear the whole story. That’s absolutely wonderful, and I will continue with my cinematic approach to writing. That being said, the big-picture may (and often does) evolve throughout the book, so once you’ve got something to work with, start penning that first chapter, or whichever you’d like to start with! That’s how I’ve finished some of my greatest scenes. Just by sitting down and seeing what words fly out of my fingertips. I have to tell myself this with every book I write now, because I can so easily get lost in my Pinterest boards soaking up *vibes* for hours on end.. Dive in. First and foremost, always do the process that works best for you.

7. Can you share any upcoming projects or future plans in the world of writing and literature?

I’m really inspired by the world of metaphysics in my day-to-day life. Many of my writing projects will include that moving forward. (Think astrology, tarot, elemental magic, yoga, etc.). Other projects include a sprinkling of romantic comedies and dramedies. 
 
8. Finally, if there's one thing you'd like your readers to remember about you and your work, what would it be?

​Some amazing news that I get to share is Dare to Au Pair has been optioned for TV production by Levantine Films (the same production studio behind Academy Award Nominee Hidden Figures) — stay tuned for development updates!

Name: Madison Lawson
Novel Title: The Registration & The Registration Re-Written
Genre: Sci-fi Suspense
Release Date: 09/27/2022 & 10/01/2024
Website/Platform Name: madisonlawson.com
Contact Information: [email protected] & 903-413-9224
 
        1. Can you give me a brief overview of your novel?
​
The Registration:
Most citizens have the legal right to murder one person in their life, as long as they Register and complete the murder within fourteen days. Lynell Mize plans to Register the man who abused her through her childhood but never gets the chance when her name is said by a stranger at the front of the line. Death looming and her estranged husband back by her side digging up the past Lynell prefers to bury, her world begins to spiral. In an effort to survive the next fourteen days, she's confronted with dark secrets about her family and herself. Lynell is determined to outlive the Registration, overcome the guilt that tore her marriage apart, and discover who wants her dead… and why. 

The Registration Rewritten:
Still bearing wounds from barely surviving the Registration, Lynell struggles to fill her new role as the heir and leader of the very system that aimed to kill her. She must convince the Registration committee and the country’s oligarchs that she can fill her uncle’s shoes, while simultaneously proving to the country’s largest rebel group that she is nothing like her uncle—ruthless and greedy. When Sawyer, the leader of the Resurrection, reaches out with proof that they are both on the hitlist of powerful people who wish to destroy the rebels and take over the Registration, the two women form an uneasy alliance. With mere days until the committee announces a policy change that will increase the Registration’s lethal power, Lynell and Sawyer must find out who wants them dead—and all signs point so someone close.

        2. What inspired you to write it?

A few years ago, some political current events kept coming up in my life and causing friction in my relationships, specifically any happenings around abortion and the death penalty. I have very strong personal opinions about both, but what caused the true grief and anger was how these opinions influenced all my relationships. I noticed how easily I lost trust in someone after learning their opinion. This made me want to write a book where both are completely legal, which turned into anything that anyone considers murder (from abortions to assisted suicide to killing an innocent person in cold blood) is legal no matter the circumstance. I didn’t want to focus on the government aspect or write a “teenage girl saves the dystopian world” novel, I wanted to focus on this sort of law would impact relationships, particularly familial relationships.

        3. Tell me about the main characters in your book. What makes them unique or relatable?

Lynell is an incredibly strong and resilient person who has been through more than her fair share of trauma. She struggles with the fear of abandonment and trust to the detriment of a happy life. Her inability to trust herself, others, or life in general has kept her from finding the happy, safe, peaceful life that she wants more than anything else. Her decisions might sometimes look selfish but they’re born out of fear, something that I’m sure many people can relate to. Despite this, when she’s forced to face the worst of life, including the immediate threat of her own life and long-since buried familial secrets, she steps up to the plate and meets it head on. Her biggest fears and her biggest hopes often clash and both of these come to a head in The Registration.

In the Registration Rewritten, we meet Sawyer D’Angelo, the head of the largest rebel group in the country. In many ways, she’s the exact opposite of Lynell. She’s super in touch with her emotions and other people. She’s trusting and desperately wants to make the people she loves proud. She’s still dealing with intense grief from losing her wife six years ago. When she’s faced with danger and betrayal she’s never experienced before, she’s forced to look into herself and figure out who SHE is and what SHE wants outside of her friends and family. Sawyer is much more relatable to people who are ruled by their heart more than their head or gut (like Lynell). But she’s also more understanding and caring than someone like Lynell who is much more cynical. Sawyer and Lynell are similar in their loyalty and their desire to protect their family and their dreams of a better future for everyone. Daniel is more similar to Sawyer in that he’s in touch with his feelings and heart and he’s unafraid to be vulnerable or let people know how much he loves them. He’s also more forgiving than Lynell would ever know how to be.

        4. What themes or messages do you hope readers take away from your novel?

In almost everything I’ve ever written; family has been a theme. In The Registration, I wanted to answer the question: How resilient are family bonds and what sort of duty do we have to family members? I think what moves me about this is that there doesn’t seem to be a clear-cut answer. It all depends on the individual and the situation. And while I want to believe that blood family doesn’t mean anything beyond genetics unless we give it meaning, there does seem to be a sort of pull there, whether we want it or not.

Honestly, I’m okay with any message readers walk away with. But if I had to pick, I would love for people to realize that most things are always more complicated than they seem and no one should be reduced to one opinion. Yes, I think some things and political views are not okay, but most people are so much more than one view. And those opinions are always influenced by other aspects of their life. But in the end, we should all be choosing what is good. Also, I’d love for readers to see that family is more important than most things. But family doesn’t have to be blood. It can be chosen. You get to choose who is in your life and deserves your love, loyalty, and trust.

        5. How did you approach the writing process for this book?

My writing process different all the time but usually, I’ll go to a coffee shop, listen to one of my playlists, and simply start writing. I’m a pantser, not a planner, so I let the story unfold as I write it. That was incredibly true with The Registration. I had no idea what was going to happen until it happened. Then there is a LOT of work during the editing process because of the previously mentioned.

The Registration Rewritten was a different type of process than anything else and was, by far, the hardest book I’ve ever written. This book went through more HUGE developmental, plot point changes then any other book, so the writing process for it was more like a giant editing process.

        6. Do you have any writing rituals or habits that you follow?

I always create a playlist dedicated to the specific book I’m working on. I have one for every book I’ve written and most I want to write in the future. I also tend to go to a coffee shop and get a latte when I do a large chunk of writing.

        7. Were there any challenges you faced while writing this novel? How did you overcome them?

For The Registration, the most challenging part was probably describing locations. I can’t really see pictures in my head, so it’s difficult to describe settings that are realistic and flushed out. Even more challenging is remembering what I’ve described in the past. I can’t tell you how many times a location or a character’s appearance changed throughout the book simply because I couldn’t remember what I’d written in the past. This became way more of an issue when writing The Registration Rewritten. I never planned on a sequel to the Registration but Sawyer’s story came to me and it had to be told. However, I didn’t write the first book with a second in mind so I had to work around world rules and things I said in book 1. I couldn’t figure out how to start the book or what the main plot would be and these kept changing. I deleted several characters and added giant plot points and changed the timeline, etc. so many times before creating this final version.

        8. What advice do you have for aspiring authors who are working on their first book?

Keep going. I know that’s so vague and broad but it’s honestly the best advice I can give. I heard someone say once that to be a successful writer you need at least two of these three things: talent, persistence, and luck. If you’re persistent, then you’re halfway there. Writing often comes with a TON of rejection. First you have to query agents, then you have to send your manuscript to publishers, and then reviewers and bloggers get their hands on the book. Most of us will be rejected dozens and dozens of times during our careers. But it really is true what they say: it only takes ONE yes. I queried 82 agents with three different manuscripts before signing with Julie Gwinn with The Registration. Try not to let disappointment or discouragement stop you from trying to achieve your goals and dreams.

        9. Can you share any upcoming projects or future plans in the world of writing and literature?

I’m not done with the world of The Registration, so keep your eyes out for news about a future for Lynell and Sawyer. I’m actually working on quite a few things. A sapphic fantasy, another adult dystopian (although less fast-paced than The Registration and much darker), a YA fantasy that I’m writing with a friend of mine, and an adult contemporary fantasy/mystery that is honestly my favorite book I’ve ever written!
​
        10. Is there a particular moment or review from a reader that stands out to you and made your journey as an author more meaningful?

It’s more every little response that makes this journey worth it. Anytime someone tells me they couldn’t put my book down or that they loved the story, I’m filled with encouragement. Also, since The Registration Rewritten was such a difficult book to write, hearing people say they love that book, in particular if they say they love it more than the first book, means the world to me.
The main point of my books is entertainment. But hearing that my book meant more to someone than entertainment purposes is incredibly meaningful. Like if it made them think about how certain opinions or beliefs have negatively impacted their relationships or their judgment of other people or if it made them appreciate a loved one’s journey more or see something from someone else's point of view, then it’s all worth it. 

        11. Finally, if there's one thing you'd like your readers to remember about you and your work, what would it be?

There is always more coming and I post all my updates on my website – madisonlawson.com. Also, you can subscribe to my email list to be the first for all updates on future projects!