Thursday, July 8, 2010

Giveaway and Author Interview: So Over It

My guest today is author Stephanie Morrill, author of several popular books for teen girls (and the young at heart) Read on to find out how to enter to win her latest book. : )

Welcome to Writing for Christ! Thank you for being with us today.



Thank you so much for having me!

Tell us a little about yourself!

Stephanie Morrill is a twenty-something living in Overland Park, Kansas with her husband and daughter. Her only talents are reading, writing, and drinking coffee, so career options were somewhat limited. Fortunately, she discovered a passion for young adult novels a few years ago and has been writing them ever since. Stephanie is the author of The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series and is currently working on other young adult projects. To check out her blog and read samples of her books, check out http://www.stephaniemorrillbooks.com/ .

1: How long did you write before you were published?

I’ve been coming up with stories and saying I wanted to be a writer since I was in first grade. I finished my first novel as a junior in high school and made the commitment then that I was “going for it.” That was in 2000, and I received the call from my agent that Revell had bought The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series in June of 2008.

2: When you held that first book in your hands, what was your first thought?

It’s eerily similar to having a baby. There’s a lot of build up to it, and you get glimpses of what it’ll look like when it arrives, but until you’re holding it in your hands, it doesn’t feel totally real. Both the first time I held my daughter and the first time I held one of my books were moments too big for “real” thoughts. It took time for me to wrap my mind around the fact that I was really, truly, and forever a mom, and it was the same way when Me, Just Different arrived. I knew for the rest of my life I’d be able to pick up the book and marvel at the fact that God was using me in such a way, that he’d blessed me so richly.

3: What are you working on now?

Staying sane.

The third book in The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series, So Over It, just released so there’s a lot of stuff going on with that. And I’m due any day now with our second child. Already, it’s been quite the summer!

4: Where can readers find out more about your books?

http://www.stephaniemorrillbooks.com/  You can read sample chapters of all three Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt books, sign up for my quarterly(ish) newsletter, download discussion questions, and follow my journey as a novelist.

5: What message(s) do you want to be clear to your readers?

In high school, I deceived myself into thinking life as a teenager was somehow separate from my adult life. Or my “real” life as I thought of it. I didn’t fully grasp how decisions I made then would follow me around for the rest of my days. That’s a theme I find myself returning to over and over, the importance of good decisions even at a young age.

6: What are two things that people wouldn't normally know about you as a writer and or person?

1. I totally stink at grammar. For whatever reason, I just cannot keep all those rules straight. My editors totally earn their money!

2. That I find being a published writer scarier than being unpublished. Before I was published, my big fears were that it would never happen for me, that I was wasting my time. Now I worry about having lousy sales numbers, disappointing my publishing house, disappointing my readers, receiving bad reviews, and so on. It’s like when you move out of your parents’ house. It’s not that you want to move back home or anything, but you discover it wasn’t all bad either.

Thank you for being with us today. Any final words for readers?

If anyone is a teen aspiring to be a writer (or knows a teen aspiring to be a writer) point them over to http://www.goteenwriters.com/ . It’s a blog I run that’s focused on helping teens improve their writing and better understand the publishing business.

Thank you so much for having me!

Okay readers, here is your chance to enter to win Stephanie's latest book, So Over It.

PLEASE LEAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS! If I draw your name and there is no email, YOU WILL NOT WIN!

For extra entries:
~Be a follower
~Be a subscriber

And a NEW one:
~Follow one of my favorite blogs, Finding Hope Through Fiction HERE

Contest is only open in the U.S. and void where prohibited. Chances of winning are based on the number of entries and winner is draw from a non-biased third party- Random.org. I am not responsible for any lost or damaged items for said prize.

Thanks for coming by to enter! Contest ends on July 24th.

40 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Stephanie Morrill's journey as a novelist is by this review is outstanding. So Over It sounds like a great read for my neighbor's daughter.
    Thanks!
    rbooth43(at)yahoo.com

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  3. I am a follower and email subscriber.
    rbooth43(at)yahoo.com

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  4. This author reminds me of my daughter. She's in her 20's also and loves reading, writing and coffee. In fact she works at a coffee cafe. She is interested in writing young adult books herself.
    plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net

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  5. I enjoyed reading about you, Stephanie after "seeing" you around the web. You and I are pretty much the same age, so I relate. Enjoy your second! Mine are 5 and 2 and I'm starting to get that misty-eyed baby-itis again. Also, glad to hear another writer that isn't good at grammar...I feel that's my weak point, so gives me hope.

    I follow.

    I follow Finding Hope Through Fiction, too. Love Nora's blog!

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  6. would love to read stephanie's latest novel...thanks for the chance :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot coom

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  7. Casey, thanks so much for having me on!

    Patsy, feel free to have your daughter contact me if she has questions or just wants to talk about the YA genre. She can contact me through my web site.

    Julia, I'm 39 weeks along today, and the idea of doing this again seems like pure madness. But I remember feeling that exact same way with my first. Right up until they handed her to me in the delivery room. Then I'm like, "Okay ... I could do this again."

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  8. I read Out With the In Crowd and would love to read this one, too.

    Ann

    Ann_Lee_Miller@msn.com

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  9. Count me in.

    estherym[at]ayhoo[dot]com

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  10. I am a follower for quite a while now :)

    estherym[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am also a subscriber


    estherym[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I also follow Finding Hope Through Fiction now.


    estherym[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh, my teenage daughter would love it if I won this book.
    thanks
    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  14. subscriber
    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Please enter me :)

    I am now a follower of this blog and your other blog!

    pinkdaddysgirl[at]msn[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I would love to read this one. Please enter me. Thanks!
    bluerose_shelnut(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm a follower.
    bluerose_shelnut(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'm a subscriber.
    bluerose_shelnut(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Carman sent me!

    Please enter me in this giveaway - Thanks!

    seizethebookblog(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I am a follower.

    seizethebookblog(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  21. As a teacher I try daily to get young people to understand that there are consequences to their action;therefore,they need to think carefully before acting. Goodluck getting your point across to young people.
    enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  22. e-mail subscriber.
    enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  23. GFC followers.
    enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  24. I would enjoy reading this book.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

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  25. Please enter me! It looks like a great book!

    God bless!

    ~Katie G.

    katiegalyean (@) yahoo (.) com

    ReplyDelete
  26. I am a follower and subscriber.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Pretty cover! I have see the author's name before but haven't had a chance to read anything by her yet. This one looks god though. It is always nice to get to know a little more about the author too.
    gijanechosen(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  28. Looks good! please enter me!
    dymesich(at)juno(dot)com

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  29. Hi, this is my first time at this website, Casey, and I want to learn to make jewelry as well as learn to write. Stephanie, I'm wondering if your baby has arrived yet? I enjoyed your interview and admire your bent to work with teenagers. Your encouragement to them is valuable, you are payihg it forth and are being blessed in more ways than one. Best wishes to all three of you!

    Blessed Be in Christ,
    Barb Shelton
    barbjan10@tx.rr.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. Enyl, it's such an important thing for them to hear. I don't know that I understood it until I graduated.

    Barb, thanks for asking! No, not yet. We've had lots of false labor, and the doctors keep saying it could be anytime now, but I remain quite pregnant.

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  31. I found your review to be intriguing and one that I would take pleasure in reading.
    Thank you so much for hosting this giveaway.

    steven(dot)capell(at)gmail(dot)com

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  32. I would love to be entered for this giveaway.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  33. I am a follower.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  34. I would love this book for my granddaughter who is 14 and will be going to high school this year. She loves to read and in the honor club.

    mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  35. I follow on google


    mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  36. This sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance. I am a follower.

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    ReplyDelete
  37. email subscriber

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    ReplyDelete
  38. follower

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    ReplyDelete
  39. Loved this interview. Stephanie sounds like a writer with a good head on her shoulders.

    I'm a follower and a subscriber. Thanks for the chance to win.

    Cheryl
    cg20pm00(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  40. Now following Finding Hope through Fiction.

    Cheryl
    cg20pm00(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for stopping by, I love to hear from those who traffic my blog! Have a wonderful day. :)