The Game Can’t Love You Back
Karole Cozzo
(Swoon Reads)
Publication date: May 15th 2018
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Eve is used to being the odd woman out. As the only girl on her school’s baseball team, she knows exactly how to put sweaty, macho baseball players in their place, and she’s focused on one thing and one thing only—being the best pitcher she can be.
But when a freak accident forces her high school to be absorbed by the neighboring town, Eve has to contend with a new group of guys who aren’t used to having a woman on their team. And the new team’s star pitcher, Jamie, has no interest in being ousted from his throne. He can’t afford to give up his starting slot to a new pitcher—even worse, to a girl.
As the competition between Jamie and Eve starts to heat up, so does their attraction to each other. Can they keep their heads in the game, or will they end up getting played?
Today we welcome Karole for an interview!
1. Did you always know you wanted
to be a writer or did you want to be something else?
Part of me
has always been a writer, certainly. Over summer breaks during elementary
school, I can remember starting novels on my dad’s old typewriter – we didn’t
even have a computer at home then (really dating myself here!). Writing was
always a passion, a creative outlet, even as I pursued more “practical”
endeavors. I’m still a School Psychologist as my “day job,” but I would always
love more time to write.
2. How long does it take you to
write a book from start to finish?
I am strangely consistent, and it
typically takes me about three months to write a first draft. I usually spend
some time before that outlining, but once I’m on a roll… about three months.
3. How do you come up with themes
for your stories?
Sometimes an interesting local
article will catch my eye and its subject will inspire a story. Sometimes I’m
so in love with a town and its local flavor, I’ll set a story there, developing
the characters and plot around it. Most recently, someone shared a news article
and tweeted “someone really needs to write a YA story about this”… and I got
the idea for my current WIP.
4. Do you have a schedule of when
you write?
I don’t really have a schedule, but
I do have a “code.” On any given day that I have time set aside to write, I
tell myself I must cross off the other items on my to-do list before I can sit
down and get lost in imaginary worlds. This way I make sure I don’t lose track
of time writing and forget to feed my kids or something, but also, it’s more
fun when I’ve taken care of other responsibilities first.
5. How are you able to balance
other aspects of your life with your writing?
The “code,” man, it’s all about the
code. J
Seriously, though, the natural publishing schedule helps. Typically, I’m only
putting out one book a year, so there are natural breaks between drafts, while
the story’s in copy edit, etc., etc. This spaces things out and allows me to
focus solely on other aspects of my life at different times in the year.
6. What elements do you think make
a great story line?
For me, it’s CHEMISTRY, first and
foremost! Give me all the banter and snark and UST! I love characters who
experience true growth. Characters who are multi-faceted and do things that
surprise me.
7. How many books have you written
so far? Do you have a favorite?
Thus far, I’ve published four YA
romance novels with Swoon Reads. They are truly my “book babies” and it’s
impossible to pick a favorite. I have a special spot in my heart for each of
them.
8. Do you have a favorite
character?
Again, this is tough, but I’d
probably pick one of my leading men! Pax from How To Keep Rolling After a Fall
or Miller from The Truth About Happily Ever After.
9. Where do you write?
My dining room table. My sunroom.
Starbucks or Panera or the Malvern Buttery (yum!).
10. When deciding on how to
publish, what directed you to the route you took?
I got wind of Swoon Reads before it
ever went live. The opportunity to receive a real edit letter by submitting
that first week seemed like a golden ticket. At the time, I was finding it
difficult to balance the agent search with full-time work and little kids at
home. Being able to eliminate the middle man and submit directly to a Macmillan
imprint felt like a dream come true.
11. Have you gotten feedback from
family about your book(s)? What do they think?
My mom is my most faithful and
thoughtful reviewer. She doesn’t “do” technology and instead mails handwritten
letters with her feedback. My mother in law is wonderful, too. I don’t know –
they’re clearly very biased and think everything is wonderful. And my first two
books made my dad cry, but he’s a natural crier, so…
12. What kinds of things do you
like to do outside of writing?
I like working out and running, and
this year did my first half marathon down at Disney. I like making messes with
my kiddos and being a part of my daughter’s Daisy troop. I love crafty seasonal
projects. I love going to Target and perusing the dollar spot. Weekend trips to
the Jersey Shore during summer.
13. What kinds of advice would you
give to someone who wants to start writing?
Publication doesn’t make you a
writer; the love of writing makes you a writer. At the end of the day, after
the contracts have been signed and the edits made and the books actually
printed, it’s the love of writing that makes us all keep doing this. Write from
the start, write because you want to, and if the rest of it happens, that’s
just icing on the cake.
14. What is your favorite book?
favorite author? Do you have an author that inspired/inspires you to
write?
The Secret Society Girl series by
Diana Peterfreund has a special place in my heart. And it made me want to pick
up the proverbial pen, too. It’s just so smart and juicy!
15. 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?
Yes! I’d be lost without my
community of writing pals, particularly my Swoon siblings. Sandy Hall is a
godsend for my current project, and Katy Upperman has also beta read for me.
16. Are you working on anything
now?
Why yes I am. J It’s
not done yet, so I can’t say too much about it, but I’m loving it so far. It
involves a very brave young lady taking on “the system” with a little help from
her best friend’s older brother.
17. Tell us 5 things that make you
smile
My kiddos being sweet to each other
– walking into the Magic Kingdom – truffle fries – my best friend’s text
messages – the sound of coffee brewing
18. Tell us 5 things that make you
sad
This is Us (obviously!) – just thinking about the time I read Forbidden
– Sound of Silence by Disturbed – when people I love are hurting – when my kids
get up at 6:40 on Saturdays
19. If you could travel anywhere in
the world to visit a place so you could use it as a background for a book,
where would it be?
Luxury yacht around the Mediterranean… you know, in the name of research
Luxury yacht around the Mediterranean… you know, in the name of research
Thanks so much for being here with us today, Karole. It was great having you!
Author Bio:
Karole lives outside of Philadelphia, PA with her loving husband, exuberant little girl, and smiley little boy. She adores YA Romance, because it would be awesome if life in general had a requisite feel-good happy ending rule. Vices include obscene Haribo gummy consumption, addiction to Starbucks NF vanilla lattes, and tendency to hoard Bath and Body Works 3-wick candles.
Thanks for being on the tour! :)
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