I've heard nothing but great things about Mindi Scott's debut, Freefall, and I'm dying to read it! So I'm so happy that I got the chance to interview this awesome author as part of a Teen Book Scene (I love this site already!) author tour.
CONTEST CLOSED
Describe your debut novel, Freefall, in 6 words.
Boy meets girl. Life stops sucking.
According to the bio on your site, it sounds like you dealt with quite a bit of rejection. How'd you handle it? And what advice would you give to aspiring authors about rejection?
With my first manuscript, I handled the rejection very well. I kept copies of all my rejection letters and thought about how cool it was that real agents were taking me seriously enough to actually correspond with me at all!
But with my second manuscript (originally THE FAKE MCCOY, now FREEFALL) agents kept telling me that they admired the writing, but they could not represent me for one reason or another. I’m not going to lie; I went through some dark times with this manuscript. But finally, I met the right agent and everything fell into place!
My advice is that if you really want it, if you have a manuscript that you believe in, that your critique partners believe in, and that agents are giving personalized feedback for, you’re close. Don’t give up after six, twelve, twenty, fifty rejections. Try to be objective and savvy, revise what needs to be revised, and keep trying.
Which of your characters would you say is most like you?
Most people who know me would say that Rosetta is the character in Freefall who is the most like me. I will confess that some of her dialogue is stolen from my own! But Rosetta has a different kind of confidence. Deep down, I feel more like Kendall.
What are a few of your favorite books and/or authors?
I love Cynthia Voigt’s Tillerman family saga, the works of John Green and David Levithan (and I really, really need to read WILL GRAYSON, WILL GRAYSON, like, now), GUYAHOLIC by Carolyn Mackler, THIS LULLABY by Sarah Dessen, MERMAIDS by Patty Dann, RATS SAW GOD by Rob Thomas. I could go on and on!
What do you want readers to take away after reading Freefall?
I hope that readers will take away whatever it is that they need from it. And if this story that I wrote happens to make people think or—better yet!— to feel, that would be the most gratifying thing that I can imagine.
Thanks for the cool interview Mindi! And guess what? One of you lucky peeps are gonna win one signed, personalized copy of Mindi's book, Freefall (that I'll be stealing from you, cause I've gotta read this). This giveaway will end October 16 and is open to US only. (Sorry!) Fill out this form to enter (comments are very, very appreciated but not counted as entries).
Good luck!
CONTEST CLOSED
Describe your debut novel, Freefall, in 6 words.Boy meets girl. Life stops sucking.
According to the bio on your site, it sounds like you dealt with quite a bit of rejection. How'd you handle it? And what advice would you give to aspiring authors about rejection?
With my first manuscript, I handled the rejection very well. I kept copies of all my rejection letters and thought about how cool it was that real agents were taking me seriously enough to actually correspond with me at all!
But with my second manuscript (originally THE FAKE MCCOY, now FREEFALL) agents kept telling me that they admired the writing, but they could not represent me for one reason or another. I’m not going to lie; I went through some dark times with this manuscript. But finally, I met the right agent and everything fell into place!
My advice is that if you really want it, if you have a manuscript that you believe in, that your critique partners believe in, and that agents are giving personalized feedback for, you’re close. Don’t give up after six, twelve, twenty, fifty rejections. Try to be objective and savvy, revise what needs to be revised, and keep trying.
Which of your characters would you say is most like you?
Most people who know me would say that Rosetta is the character in Freefall who is the most like me. I will confess that some of her dialogue is stolen from my own! But Rosetta has a different kind of confidence. Deep down, I feel more like Kendall.
What are a few of your favorite books and/or authors?I love Cynthia Voigt’s Tillerman family saga, the works of John Green and David Levithan (and I really, really need to read WILL GRAYSON, WILL GRAYSON, like, now), GUYAHOLIC by Carolyn Mackler, THIS LULLABY by Sarah Dessen, MERMAIDS by Patty Dann, RATS SAW GOD by Rob Thomas. I could go on and on!
What do you want readers to take away after reading Freefall?
I hope that readers will take away whatever it is that they need from it. And if this story that I wrote happens to make people think or—better yet!— to feel, that would be the most gratifying thing that I can imagine.
Thanks for the cool interview Mindi! And guess what? One of you lucky peeps are gonna win one signed, personalized copy of Mindi's book, Freefall (that I'll be stealing from you, cause I've gotta read this). This giveaway will end October 16 and is open to US only. (Sorry!) Fill out this form to enter (comments are very, very appreciated but not counted as entries).
Good luck!
She seems so nice and I think I have to get the book, like now!
ReplyDeleteHey! Just found your blog through Ashley's Bookshelf. I like what I see so far. Check out my blog and follow back if you want!
ReplyDeletePris
www.benterudbookshelf.blogspot.com
Love the answer about rejection. Glad everything worked out for you.
ReplyDeleteAhh This Lullaby. That one was my introduction into the YA world. :)
"Boy meets girl. Life stops sucking."-LOVE THIS!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win!