Please join me in welcoming YA author Lauren Cude for today's Finding Fiction Friday segment! First, I'll let her introduce herself ...
I went the university route and picked up three very
expensive pieces of paper. This led to
the traditional stream of office jobs and eventually found me working as a
project manager. I quite enjoyed that
actually, but decided it was time for a change.
In a complete turnover I leased a farm and opened a horseback riding
school. My time is now spent riding,
writing and teaching. It’s slightly
crazy, but all kinds of fun.
Lauren, talk to us a
bit about your journey in writing. What
made you decide to write and eventually to try to publish?
Several years ago I took a break from being an adult and
went south for the winter to focus on horseback riding. I started writing a blog at the request of
those at home who wanted to live vicariously.
When I returned, a friend challenged me to participate in #fridayflash –
which now a large group of writers, was then fairly small. The challenge was to write a story under 1000
words and post on Friday. The group was
exceptionally welcoming and the writing continued.
We know what your bio
says. Tell us one thing about yourself
that you think might surprise us.
My life is always a surprise – even to those who know
me. I’m known for making complete random
changes just to keep life interesting.
There are too many amazing opportunities in this world to settle for
being less than impassioned.
Do you remember what
it was like, the feeling you had when you learned your first book was out there
in the world?
It was very much like the day I found out I was accepted to
the university program I wanted.
Excitement, disbelief, and terror all warring with each other. It’s a powerful feeling.
Tell us a bit about
your first book, “Beyond the Wall”. What
can the readers expect?
Beyond the Wall is a young adult fantasy novel. My main character, Jezina, has grown up
wanting to know what exists beyond her isolated village. One night a visitor comes to the village and
Jezina takes the opportunity to escape the town she'd known and discover a
world beyond her imagining. Struggling to know where to turn in a world of
friends, wizards, dragons, and others, Jezina must find the strength and wisdom
to discover where she truly belongs.
If there is one
character you’ve written or are writing that you would really like people to
meet, who would it be and from what book?
From Beyond the Wall, I’d love to meet the professor. I’m not sure I’d actually like him, but I
think he’d be an interesting character to meet. From my upcoming work – Lissa, my main
character, is a riot. I think she’d be a
lot of fun to meet.
On the extreme other end, Casey, a character from one I’ve
written but not published yet, is absolutely terrifying and I’d really rather
not run into her. At least, not if she
were having a bad day.
What do you have
coming up next? Is it a sequel or
something new?
I’m really excited about the next one; it’s in the editing
phase now. It’s in the same genre, but
not a sequel. It’s going to be the first
in a series though, and its sequel is now in progress. I really enjoy several of the characters in
this one so quite looking forward to it.
What other ideas do
you have bouncing around in your head?
I have one in progress that’s of the crime-fiction
genre. First draft is done, but now it’s
on hold until I have a few more of the YA fantasy out. This one will attract a very different
audience, so I’m holding it back for the moment.
What about being
published and the book industry in general has most surprised you?
The amount of support from others in the industry. I’m still
slightly overwhelmed by how helpful and supportive other writers are. People I’d never met, who had no reason to
help, went out of their way to help me get going and cheered me on after Beyond the Wall was actually real. They answered questions about everything from
finding an editor and cover artist to how one goes about publishing and
marketing. I found a whole new group of
friends from this experience. It was
amazing.
What other things besides
writing do you have going on that keep you busy?
I own and run a horseback riding school, so that consumes
most of my time.
To close the
interview, I have ten questions for you, plus one. Here they go!
- What is your favorite word? Really?
- What is your least favorite word? Can’t.
- What turns you on? Romance. Of the old fashioned sappy variety. It’ll make me roll my eyes, but I’ll fall for it every time.
- What turns you off? Ignorance. In any form.
- What sound or noise do you love? My text ringtone
- What sound or noise do you hate? My text ringtone
- What is your favorite curse word? Frig. I don’t even know if that counts, but I use it all the time and it amuses me to no end.
- What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? There’s not enough space or time for all the professions I’d like to attempt. Any form of academics or research would be amazing, in pretty well any discipline. More active careers - I’d love to learn to be a pilot. Or maybe a deep sea diver. Or any of the other professions you thought would be cool when you were five.
- What profession would you not like to do? Telemarketing. I don’t like annoying people, I really dislike sales, and I avoid calling people whenever possible. Combining the three pretty much makes for my nightmare profession.
- If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? Welcome back.
- What question have you never been asked, that you wish someone would ask you? That depends who’s doing the asking…
Lauren, thanks so much
for spending time with us. Can you let
us know where to follow you, and where we can go to purchase your work?
Beyond the Wall –
paperback
Ebook version available for Kobo and Kindle in their
respective stores, and almost all other formats at Smashwords.
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Rudy and Trish are the main characters in our two published short stories in the "Evernight: Romance in a World of Darkness" anthologies. You can get to know them as well as get 23 other great stories! Here's where you can find them:
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