Monday, July 28, 2014

Awesomesauce Authors: An Interview & #Giveaway with Megan Whitmer!

Hi kids!

Today I'm thrilled to welcome Megan Whitmer to the blog, whose debut novel BETWEEN releases TOMORROW eeeeeek!!! Let's jump right in and learn all about Megan and her new book baby. And don't forget to check out the giveaway at the bottom of the post!

About Megan


Links to find Megan online: 



Megan Whitmer loves all things Southern, and has a soft spot for football, kissing scenes, and things that sparkle. Aside from her personal blog and weekly vlog series, she's also a contributing blogger for YA Misfits and All The Write Notes

She lives in Kentucky with her family. Also, she writes books and talks a lot. You can learn more about her at www.meganwhitmerwrites.com.

About BETWEEN:

Releases July 29, 2014 from Spencer Hill Press


When a supernatural freak of nature forces her family to separate, seventeen-year-old Charlie Page must turn to her frustrating (yet gorgeous) neighbor, Seth, to help reunite them. Seth whisks Charlie to Ellauria—a magical world filled with the creatures of myths and legends—and tells her of the Fellowship, the group charged with protecting mystical beings from human discovery. (All except Bigfoot: that attention whore is a total lost cause.) But when Charlie learns that she's under the Fellowship's protection herself, well, "stressed" is an understatement.

Ellauria should be the safest place for Charlie while the Fellowship works to find her family, but things in the mystical realm aren’t what they seem.

Magic is failing, creatures are dying, and the Fellowship insists Charlie holds the key to saving everyone. With her family still missing and the danger in Ellauria growing, Charlie doesn't know who she can trust. She's dealing with a power she never asked for, falling for a guy she can't have, and being forced to choose between her destiny and her heart. And if she chooses wrong, she could destroy magic forever.

Charlie may be in over her head.

Tell us a little about your writer's journey so far:

I’ve always turned to writing as a creative outlet—it’s been a constant in my life since I was a kid. Aside from some nonfiction work for a local telecommunications agency during college, I didn’t start pursuing writing as a serious career until 2011. I finally sat down and wrote what would eventually become Between, joined twitter, found some critique partners, and started querying and entering contests. I got a lucky break when the editors from Spencer Hill Press spotted my opening pages in the forums of WriteOnCon and asked to read more.

Okay, let's hear your Twitter Pitch! (140 characters or less.)

17yo Charlie encounters a monster and finds herself in the mystical realm's version of the witness protection program. Holy Sheet!


What's your favorite thing about writing?

I like the discovery of it. I don’t like outlining too much, because I feel like it takes away some of that “hmmm, wonder what’s going to happen?” I think it takes me longer to draft because of that, but it also makes the process so much more fun for me. I like not always knowing what my characters will say or do next.

What's your least favorite thing?

I hate those days when the characters won’t say or do anything! Those are the days that I wish I was more of a plotter. I try to plot the major events, but pants my way from one point to the next. Some days, I can’t figure out how to connect the dots and it’s incredibly frustrating.

Now it's time to brag a little--What do you love most about your book?

I researched creatures found in urban legends from all over the world in various cultures and time periods. It was fun finding ways to work them into the story, and I love how naturally many of them fit. I also love the twists on what humans supposedly know about some of the more well-known creatures, since the Fellowship has done a good job of spreading misinformation around.


Who was your favorite character to write? Why?

Alexander. He’s fairly complex. I really love Charlie and Seth, particularly when they’re together, but Alexander still surprises me, which is fun. I don’t feel like I know him as well as the others. As I work on book two, he’s really become the one that keeps me on my toes.

What has surprised you most about publishing?

It surprised me to realize how much work goes into a book after you actually finish the writing of it—after the editing and copyediting and whatnot. There’s still so much work to do that has nothing at all to do with writing. It took up a lot more time than I expected!

Okay, now a little about you. (And yes, I stole these questions from In the Actor's Studio with James Lipton.)

What is your favorite word?
Glisten.

What is your least favorite word?
I can’t decide between curd and chunky.

What turns you on?
Seeing people doing something they love- I love the uninhibited joy and confidence it naturally brings out in them when they’re in the act of whatever it is.

What turns you off?
People who aren’t genuine.

What sound or noise do you love?
My kids’ laughter

What sound or noise do you hate?
Drake’s voice.

What profession, other than your own, would you most like to attempt?
I’ve thought about becoming a publicist. I’ve always thought that seemed like a really fun job.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear G-d say when you arrive at the pearly gates?
Well done, kiddo.

Finally, what's the one question you've always wanted to answer in an interview? (And of course, you have to answer it!)
Why is McDonald’s Coke so good?

I am SO GLAD YOU ASKED! It’s because it’s magical. It instantly cures most ailments, including hangovers, migraines, and, of course, thirst. 


LOL! Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today. Wishing you all the book sales!

Giveaway Deets!


BETWEEN Prize Pack #1

BETWEEN by Megan Whitmer ARC (signed)
SING SWEET NIGHTINGALE by Erica Cameron (signed) 
EVER by Jessa Russo (signed)
RECLAIMED by Sarah Guillory (signed)
TRAGIC TALES OF STRANGE GIRLS ebook by Suzy G
THE ART OF FALLING ebook by Jenny Kaczorowski
OF SCARS AND STARDUST postcard with download code for eARC by Andee Hannah


BETWEEN Prize Pack #2

BETWEEN by Megan Whitmer ARC (signed)
DOORWAYS TO EXTRA TIME by Erica Cameron (signed)
DIVIDE by Jessa Russo (signed)
RECLAIMED by Sarah Guillory (signed)
Preorder of BLACKFIN SKY by Kat Ellis
ULTRAVIOLET CATASTROPHE by Jamie Grey


BOTH prize packs will also include various swag from authors: Jessa Russo, Dahlia Adler, Tonya Kuper, Lynne Matson, and Kat Ellis


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