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.