Author: Estelle Laure
Release Date: December 22nd, 2015
Pages: 288
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook
"A funny, poetic, big-hearted reminder
that life can—and will—take us all by surprise.” —Jennifer E. Smith, The
Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
Can the best thing happen at the worst time?
Her dad went crazy. Her mom left town. She has
bills to pay and a little sister to look after. Now is not the time for
level-headed seventeen-year-old Lucille to fall in love. But love—messy,
inconvenient love—is what she’s about to experience when she falls for Digby
Jones, her best friend’s brother. With blazing longing that builds to a fever pitch,
Estelle Laure’s soulful debut will keep readers hooked and hoping until the
very last page.
Today we welcome Estelle to the blog for an interview!
Did you always know you wanted to
be a writer or did you want to be something else?
I always wanted to be a
writer but never thought I could be until I got old enough to realize we’re all
basically winging it, so you might as well not waste time making choices based
on insecurities.
How long does it take you to
write a book from start to finish?
Now that I’m nearing the end of writing my
second novel I think I can estimate about eighteen months of actual writing,
though that’s for a relatively small story. If I were to do something epic, I’m
sure I would need longer.
How do you come up with themes
for your stories?
There are things that are important to me, things that have
hurt me, common human condition type issues, and it’s sort of whatever is front
and center for me at any given moment that seems to wiggle its way to the
forefront.
Do you have a schedule of when
you write?
believe in getting up early, writing before anything else so
that’s done, but I also have a day job and kids, so I’ve learned to write
whenever I can, sometimes in fifteen minute increments, which is only possible
in the editing phase. During drafting I need utter silence and several hour
chunks.
How are you able to balance
other aspects of your life with your writing?
It’s a
struggle, a perpetual work in progress, but I try to think in terms of each
thing being its own life. Kid life, exercise life, bill paying life, cooking
life. That way nothing has to give, and to be honest, they are all equally
important and necessary (though kids take priority in the end no matter what).
What elements do you think make
a great story line?
I don’t much care about a story in and of itself. I
care about attaching emotionally to the characters. You could have the most
amazing plot ever and if I don’t connect to the people, I won’t be dazzled.
What was the hardest thing about
writing a book?
Having faith that it would ever shape into something cohesive,
coming back to it every day even though I sometimes hated it. Writing a novel
takes a ridiculous amount of commitment and tests every aspect of self-doubt
there is. Being okay with that is the hardest part.
How many books have you written
so far? Do you have a favorite?
I’ve written three altogether, one of
which will never see the light of day. And the one I’m writing now, a companion
to This Raging Light is my favorite
right now and I have to believe each one will be better than the last.
Do you have a favorite
character?
I say Wren because she’s a little sage. While she’s human, she has a
connection to something otherworldly, and out of everyone she’s the most zen
while still being very much a child.
Where do you write?
I write at a café sometimes, but it wrecks my back, so I
switch between my office desk and my bed. It can be depressing though, to
realize you’ve literally been in bed all day.
When deciding on how to
publish, what directed you to the route you took?
I worked for an agent so
I never really considered self-publishing. And then when my boss, Emily van
Beek, signed me, she directed the whole thing.
Have you gotten feedback from
family about your book(s)?
What do they think? What are they going to say? They
all claim to love it. I’ll never know.
What kinds of things do you
like to do outside of writing?
I love yoga, baking, Pilates, reading, watching
movies, fair weather hiking, sitting on beaches, traveling, and I’d be happy
doing just about anything with my kids.
What kinds of advice would you
give to someone who wants to start writing?
Read a lot. A lot! Saturate yourself in your chosen
area, then read widely. And pay attention to things you like, things that touch
you and how they’re being done.
What is your favorite book?
favorite author? Do you have an author that inspired/inspires you to
write?
My all time favorite ever book is East of Eden by John Steinbeck, but in the young adult world I
think Jandy Nelson is one of the most mindblowing. When I
look at how brave, compassionate and free she is, I’m inspired to do the same,
even though our styles are totally different. She moves a deep heart place in
me.
Do you have any go to people when
writing a book that help you with your story lines as well as editing, beta
reading and such?
My agent Emily van Beek and my editor Elizabeth Bewley.
They’re both to die for.
Are you working on anything
now?
Like I said, a companion to This
Raging Light called These Mighty
Forces. Super excited!
Thanks so much for stopping by today, Estelle. It was great having you here!
About
Estelle:
Estelle Laure is a Vonnegut worshipper who
believes in love and magic and the power of facing hard truths. She has a BA in
Theater Arts from New Mexico State University and an MFA in Writing for
Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and thinks
everyone should have to wait tables or work in a kitchen at least once in their
lives. She lives in Taos, New Mexico with her children.
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
1/4/2016- The Cover
Contessa- Interview
1/5/2016- Just
Commonly- Review
1/6/2016- Fire and Ice- Guest Post
1/7/2016- Adventures
in Reading- Review
1/8/2016- Once Upon A
Twilight- Review
Week Two:
1/11/2016- Curling Up
With A Good Book- Interview
1/12/2016- The Candid
Cover- Review
1/13/2016- BookHounds YA- Guest Post
1/14/2016- Book Briefs- Review
1/15/2016- Such a Novel
Idea- Interview
This one is on my wish list. Can't wait to read it!
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