1. When did you first become a passionate reader?
I was twelve years old and I had gotten sick so my grandmother tucked me into her bed. I wasn’t supposed to go anywhere or even get up. Naturally being a twelve year old, I was bored. There wasn’t much around except for a pile of books on the nightstand, one of which was young adult that I had asked my grandmother to buy for me because I was curious. Before that day, I don’t think I had ever really read something, let alone allowed myself to get invested in the characters. By the time she came back to check on me, I had gone on an adventure where a woman disguised herself as a man to become a knight, with a prince as her only confidant and not because she choose to tell him. I had finally given a book a chance and was ready for more. By the time I was feeling better I had gone through the entire series!

2. Who or what helped you become an independent reader as a child?
Hmmm… My father got me the Beatrix Potter books about Peter Rabbit and I loved the illustrations so much that I always wanted to know what they meant. So naturally, I learned to read the words next to them out of pure curiosity with my father and grandmother’s help.

3. What is your current favorite genre?
I think my favorite genre will always be Young Adult. I write Young Adult novels because they are what I have always enjoyed reading and because you don’t have to worry as much about adult content. Young Adult books normally have in-depth plots and are well written, with the only real difference being that you wouldn’t have to worry about your child reading about things you would prefer they not if they happen to pick one up. As a genre it just suites me. Everyone has their own favorite, but with Young Adult I can enjoy all of the sub genres too!

4. Did you always love to write?
Secretly, yes. Only I thought it was a secret and didn’t realize that everyone knew. I would get notebooks all the time and thought I was so clever because no one got to read them. I didn’t realize that every time I made a mistake and ripped out a page and left it in the room where I was staying at my grandmother’s she would find it when I went back home. Now, she has a collection of tons of ripped out pages from my old notebooks.

5. Tell us about publishing your first book at twenty. What has the experience been like?
To be perfectly honest, terrifying, even though my publisher made it much easier for me than it is for a lot of other authors, it was hard to put my work out there and have to hear so many people say no. But it was so worth it when I finally started to hear yes. The real trick to getting published is that you have quality work and a serious stubborn streak. You are going to be querying for a long time (don’t quit your day job) but once you actually have your work out there and published it really changes your life. It was what I always secretly wanted and having my “pipe-dreams” come true has meant the world to me. It really proved to me that if you want something badly enough and are willing to put the work into it, no matter what it is, you CAN do it.

6. Do you have any suggestions for parents on how to promote reading with their kids?
Start out by playing Bingo if they are first being introduced to the concept. Once they realize they get a prize for spelling it and getting the right numbers they will hopefully be as thrilled as I was when my family played Bingo every Thanksgiving. Also, never try to force a specific book on your child. Take them on a trip to your local library and just let them choose – you might be surprised at the results. Sometimes it doesn’t matter as much what they start out reading, just that they enjoy it and it becomes a happy memory. Reading opens an entirely new world to anyone who will let it and all you have to do is show them that possibility. Children are always curious and wanting to learn. When they realize how easy it can be they are more likely to try it.

7. What had your journey been like in publishing and promoting The Thirteenth Chime?
Getting The Thirteenth Chime published was hard, but promoting, while difficult and time consuming, turned out to really be something I enjoy. You hear so often about authors being introverts or not being very social but the truth is that if you want to do well, you kind of have to be extroverted and I feel blessed that I get to have a job where I am able to do all of the things I love doing. I get to help others through my words, meet people who also love reading or writing and travel! I have always wanted to travel and am really looking forward to getting to see more of the world over time.

8. Do you think you’ll stay with YA literature for a while?
Yes, I am almost constantly reading Young Adult novels, so it is easier for me to keep up with what is currently out there and what everyone enjoys. I am always filled with ideas but overall I believe in content being something where a parent should not have to worry and plan to have all of my novels be books that I think I would enjoy reading.

9. What advice do you have for other young authors trying to publish a book?
I actually have an entire series of posts in regards to that. I post whenever I can with advice and tricks that they can use or things they may find helpful. It is on my blog: under the tab “Project to Published”. But my main piece of advice is to always work hard and let your stubborn streak show. There are plenty of things you will want or need to do but the one you need the most is to want to get published and share your work more than anyone wants to tell you no. As long as you can let those no’s pass you by and keep going, eventually you will get there. Thinking outside the box helps. I started out the way that everyone does and queried agents but kept having trouble getting past the ‘gatekeepers’, so I finally went and started querying publishers who were open to ‘non-solicited’ works and next thing you know I am here! So just keep believing and remember that as long as you put the work into it, you really can do anything!

Thanks Emma. Mom to Madre wishes you great success!