Meet Some UtopYA2015 Lovelies (Unofficial) : Morgan Wylie

Please welcome the next guest in my Meet Some UtopYA2015 Lovelies (Unofficial) series. I’ve known Morgan online for a couple of years, but our lives recently crossed in a very “It’s a Small World” way.

We moved to California two years ago, and my daughter became friends with a sweet girl. One day when I was picking my elementary school daughter up from a playdate, her mom asked if I was an author because she noticed her sister and I were mutual friends. That sister… Morgan. So awesome!

So, this year, I was determined to finally meet Morgan. She’s amazing, sweet, and always has a smile on her face.

Thanks for hanging out on the blog today!

MW: It really is a small world sometimes, isn’t it?! I was floored when my sister asked if I knew you. I was like, “Well, yeah she’s awesome, but how do you know her?” It was so fun to FINALLY meet you in person and meet your lovely daughter as well.

My 15yo daughter was so excited to meet you this year, too, because she’s a huge fan of your The Age of Alandria series (I can’t wait to get to them myself). What book are you currently working on?

MW: Currently, I am wrapping up a new project. It’s an NA paranormal romance that takes place in Seattle. It’s called Rylen and follows him and his crew as they lead the pacific northwest faction of an underground network of supernaturals (think underground magical crime syndicate) as the confront a conservative group intent on ridding the world of magic. Look for it end of this summer!

That sounds so cool, and I love the cover! When did you know you wanted to be an author?

MW: I had dabbled with writing on and off during my school years, but hadn’t done much with it. In 2001, I had thought about writing non-fiction during some years I that I had shelved reading fiction, but just wasn’t “feelin’ it”. Finally, in 2007 I had been feeling the need and urge to read and write again (I know that took awhile to come back to it, right?) but just wasn’t finding the right story. I had decided that was what I really wanted to do though, and in 2009—7 months preggo—I finally found my story and have been writing it ever since.

My story is very similar. I always dabbled, but I started really writing when my first child was born. So, as an author, where do you see yourself in five years?

MW: Hmmm… I plan to continue writing full time (even more so than I am now), I want to be traveling more/attending more conferences, and want to be expanding not only further into YA and NA genres but also middle-grade.

I think Middle Grade is a great area to move into. I've thought about it myself. I've been asking everyone during this series to share their inspiration, because it's so important. What is your favorite inspirational quote? Why?

MW: “Not until we are lost, do we begin to find ourselves.” Henry David Thoreau. 

For me, I was trapped in a box of being someone I believed I should be or who people told me I was. It took me coming to a place in myself where I felt lost and unsure of who I was and where I was going in life. But then I found myself. It’s not always a quick easy path, but I believe it was essential for me to be lost in order to find myself.

It's like you know me or something! I could have given a very similar answer. UtopYA, renamed Utopia for it's fifth year in 2016, brings so many people together. What do you think makes it so special?

MW: For me, it has always been the people. I love and enjoy all the learning and inspirations, and FUN, but I have made truly enriching relationships—relationships that make me a better person and a better writer—there that I will continue to cherish for years to come.

I asked everyone to send in their favorite photo from UtopYA2015, and I love that Morgan sent this awesome collage...

✮✮✮✮✮ Quick Answers ✮✮✮✮✮

Last Movie you Saw: Inside Out (loved it!)

Comedy, Romance, Drama, or Horror? Romance

Last book you Read: Spring Rain by Lizzy Ford and Edge Season Two, episode 4 by Jamie Magee, and Fighting Destiny by Amelia Hutchins (it was a binge reading week)

First Job: Corporate Office Assistant for a health club (I think this was my first)

Gift cards or Cash? Gift cards

Favorite Vacation Spot: Disneyland

I hope to see you in Nashville next year, if not sooner!

MW: Absolutely!! Thank you so much for having me!!

More about Wylie

Morgan Wylie published her first novel, Silent Orchids, one year after moving across the country with her family on a journey of new discovery. After an amazing three years in Nashville, TN and the release of two more books, Morgan and her family found their way back to the Northwest where they now reside. Still working everyday with great optimism, Morgan continues to embrace all things: “Mama”, wife, teacher, and mediator to the many voices and muses constantly chattering in her head… where it gets pretty loud!

You can find her and news on her books at the following:

MorganWylie.net

MorganWylieBooks on Facebook

@MWylieBooks on Twitter/Instagram

Info@MorganWylie.net Email

Goodreads and Amazon (Author Bio)

Silent Orchids (The Age of Alandria: Book One) is FREE right now! 

Veiled Shadows (The Age of Alandria: Book Two)

Daegan (The Age of Alandria: A Companion Novella)

Fractured Darkness (The Age of Alandria: Book Three)

Please visit often for more UtopYA2015 Lovelies (Unofficial) interviews, 

and check out the announcement post to see

the schedule and links to past interviews.

Carolina Book Fest Fun!

Good Monday morning.

I am heading back to California today after three incredible weeks of family bonding. Still, I must admit... I'm ready to not be living out of a suitcase. I haven't been home since 7/27. 

This past Saturday I attended the Carolina Book Fest. It was an amazing event. Our host LP Dover, and her amazing assistant Kim Walker, deserve a huge round of applause for a well-run, fun event. Not only did I meet new authors and readers, but I was able to visit with dear friends.

I shared a table with the lovely NL Greene, who was one of the writers on Fractured Glass. I love her!

And I got to see old friends and finally meet people I've known online forever. It's always great seeing Inger Iverson, Bethany Lopez, Michelle Hart, and Devyn Dawson, and I loved meeting Amy Miles, Nadege Richards, and Apryl Baker.

I hope to be able to make this event again next year. 

Hope everyone has an amazing Monday!

Meet Some UtopYA2015 Lovelies (Unofficial) : Eva Pohler

Please welcome my next guest in my Meet Some UtopYA2015 Lovelies (Unofficial) series. I actually met the beautiful Eva last year, but this year I got to hang out with her at The Parthenon just after UtopYA ended. It was the perfect way to wrap up a wonderful five days.

She’s truly a beautiful person and so eager to share her knowledge and inspiration with everyone. Much love for her.

Thanks for hanging out on my blog today!

EP: Thanks so much for having me!

When I read your author bio, I want to go back to school and study all things literature. What was your favorite literature class and why?

EP: Wow, that’s a tough one. You don’t waste any time, do you? Hmm. I think my very favorite was Narratology, because we analyzed the different elements in prose—such as plot, character, and point of view—using specific systems created by six different narratologists. I’d never looked at storytelling so analytically before that class, and I absolutely loved it.

Man, I really do want to go back to school some days! What inspires you most about teaching literature to college students? What’s the best thing a student ever said to you?

EP: The reactions of my students continue to remind me of the importance of stories in our lives. I love it when a student finds a deep connection with one of the assigned readings. It totally reinforces the idea that our work as writers is valuable to others.

The best thing a student ever said to me was in a letter. He told me that he entered my class hating literature and left it wanting to major in English so that he could teach it on the college level one day, too. He said my enthusiasm was contagious. That felt amazing.

I totally agree... your enthusiasm is contagious. So, now I have to ask about your writing. Is there a common element in all of your books?

EP: Another tough one! Maybe you should be a college teacher, too! You could write some really hard exam questions, lol.

I write two different types of books. My fantasy novels revolve around Greek mythology and the desire to experience adventures of god-like proportions. Usually these adventures lead the human protagonists to an important moment of self-actualization.

My suspense novels revolve around the idea that readers are like victims of the Stockholm Syndrome (the phenomenon that occurs when captives fall in love with their captors). Narrators lure us in, abduct us, and torment us with their stories, and yet we are grateful.

So inspiring. Now, what book are you currently working on? When can readers expect to get their hands on it?

EP: I’m working on the final book in The Vampires of Athens series, Vampire Ascension. It will be released on August 24^th of this year. I’m so thrilled for everyone to discover how this trilogy ends!

Congrats! I have some more information and a short trailer about that below. So, I have to ask... what was your first favorite book? Why was it so special?

EP: Very first? Probably a Nancy Drew mystery. I loved trying to solve the mystery before the characters could.

  

I loved Nancy Drew, too. A question I've been asking everyone: What is your favorite inspirational quote? Why?

EP: I have two, and they both come from my series, The Gatekeeper’s Saga. The first was inspired by Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple, and is inscribed on a locket that Athena gives to my main character, Therese: “The most common way people give up their power is by believing they have none.”

The second comes from Hades: “Life isn’t fair, but death is.” I like this because it reminds us that we are all equal in the end. None of us is immune to death. I think we should try to remember that in our dealings with others.

I love those! It's been such a treat getting to know you at UtopYA the last two years. What do you think makes UtopYA, renamed Utopia for its fifth year in 2016, so special?

EP: As Rachel Harris said in a Publisher’s Weekly article, “It’s the conference with heart.” The Utopia team goes out of its way to make sure people feel included and to make sure the conference is successful for all. The authors who attend also try really hard to avoid being cliquish. They invite newbies in and make them part of the tribe.

Some lovely UtopYA-an women surround Eva 

✮✮✮✮✮ Quick Answers ✮✮✮✮✮

Last Movie you Saw: Jurassic World

Comedy, Romance, Drama, or Horror? Drama!

Last book you Read: A Cygnet’s Tale, by Susan Burdorf

First Job: Pizza Maker at Mr. Gatti’s Pizza

Gift cards or Cash? Either!

Favorite Vacation Spot: The mountains of Colorado

Thanks so much for hanging out today, Eva. Now, to share more about Vampire Ascension...

Watch the trailer

More About Eva

Eva Pohler is the Amazon bestselling author of The Gatekeeper's Saga, The Purgatorium Series, The Vampires of Athens Series, and The Mystery Book Collection. She also teaches writing and literature at a university in San Antonio, where she lives with her husband and three children.

You can keep in touch with Eva on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest,Linked In, and by email at eva@evapohler.com.

Please visit often for more UtopYA2015 Lovelies (Unofficial) interviews, 

and check out the announcement post to see

the schedule and links to past interviews.

Meet Some UtopYA2015 Lovelies (Unofficial) : PM Hernandez

Please welcome my next guest in my Meet Some UtopYA2015 Lovelies (Unofficial) series. 

I met PM early on, and she was a brand new face to me. Her beautiful hair (you’ll see in the picture below) drew my attention. Then, we started talking, and I knew we were going to be fast friends. After all, we both understand the perils of DC traffic. Whenever I saw her, I made a point to strike up a conversation. She’s magnetic.

Thanks for hanging out on my blog today.

PH: No problem. I feel like a rock star. I’ll make sure to have a list of demands next time. Spoiler alert: I only eat blue and green M&Ms.

Too funny. I've never met an M&M I won't eat. So, how did you hear about UtopYA, and what made you decide to attend?

PH: I’m always looking to improve my craft, meet more authors, and learn about the publishing industry. A fellow author suggested I attend BEA. I researched going, but quickly decided it was too much conference for me at this stage in my career. I figured there had to be a smaller conference geared more for my genre (YA/NA paranormal/fantasy/sci-fi). Google did the rest. What struck me most were the great reviews UtopYA got from past participants and the enthusiasm of the UtopYA community.

It is an amazing community. I felt at home the minute I stepped into the hotel. When did you know you wanted to write?

PH: I’ve been writing since I can remember, definitely since elementary school. I did fan-fiction before it had a name! I’ve been doing what I call serious writing - stories I’d actually want to see in print - for the last five years but only in the last year pursued it in earnest. I have a day job and it’s wonderful, but writing is what I love to do…full time if I can swing it.

I noticed a post on your blog talking about Dark and Bright, a manuscript you were writing during last summer’s CampNaNoWriMo. Is this what you are currently working on? If so, can you describe the story? If not, what are you working on?

PH: Dark and Bright was inspired by Frankenstein. I love the horror classics and wondered what if Frankenstein’s monster was a young woman? What if she didn’t know she was a monster? I wanted to explore the idea of a sheltered girl having the rug pulled out from under her, her life completely upended, and how that transforms her, inside and out. The story follows Caroline as she discovers the truth about her father and his experiments, and what she does with this discovery. She’s joined by Ethan, a young scientist who is part of an undercover operation to expose and put an end to her father’s horrifying work. While I’m querying Dark and Bright, I’m working on something unrelated involving aliens. The hot kind. Not the green kind. Not that there’s anything wrong with green aliens.

Hot aliens. I'm in! I can't wait to hear more about it. And Dark and Bright sounds fascinating. As an author, what would you like to accomplish by this time next year?

PH: UtopYA definitely got me thinking about goals and staying accountable to those goals. (I made a list and everything!) I’ve been querying, but the more I make friends with indie authors, the more attractive that path becomes. My goal is to either have a publishing deal by this time next year or join my indie friends. Who knows? Maybe I’ll have a book ready for Utopia 2016!

I know you can do it. I'm planning on buying your book in 2016! What was your first favorite book? Why was it so special?

PH: That’s so hard! As a young girl, it was Anne of Green Gables. I could totally relate to her rich interior life and her dissatisfaction with her looks. As a young adult, I got hooked on Emma and it’s still my all-time favorite. When you think about it, Emma is kind of annoying with a weird case of noblesse oblige. She means well, but she’s stuck-up. Watching her transform from a privileged know-it-all into a mature young woman is a great ride. I reread it about once a year. Keep your Mr. Darcy. I’m all about Mr. Knightley. (“If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more.” Swoon!)

Anne of Green Gables is one of my favorites. I knew we clicked for a reason. One question I'm asking all my Lovelies... What is your favorite inspirational quote? Why?

PH: There you go again with the hard questions! I’m a reader so all my favorite quotes come from books. One of my favorites is something Dumbledore says when he confronts Harry about his nightly visits to the Mirror of Erised: “It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.” I have a tendency to get caught up in shoulda, woulda, coulda. The quote is a good reminder to be present and mindful of where I am and what I have. It’s even engraved on the back of my iPad!

PM with her "book boyfriend" from the After Light premiere

Finally, what do you think makes UtopYA, renamed Utopia for its fifth year in 2016, so special?

PH: It’s obvious that what sets UtopYA apart is the community. Everyone is supportive and awesome and downright cool. Something Janet Wallace (UtopYA/Utopia founder) said this year really stuck with me: “The only person you should compete against is yourself.” Utopia is filled with people looking to lift each other up. There is a sense from the whole community that as individuals succeed, they need to bring others along with them. Pay it forward, if you will. So many people got home this year and immediately clicked ‘buy’ for their 2016 tickets, myself included. That’s a powerful testament to the value of UtopYA. I love the ‘fight for your write’ theme for next year. It’s such an exciting time to be in the publishing industry. Authors have an unprecedented amount of creative control and choice. That means more wonderful books are on the market. My TBR pile is insane, but more creativity in the world is a beautiful thing.

✮✮✮✮✮ Quick Answers ✮✮✮✮✮

Last Movie you Saw: Avengers: Age of Ultron

Comedy, Romance, Drama, or Horror? The best things in life have all four elements.

Last Book you Read: Sea of Stars by Amy A. Bartol! Still getting over it.

First job: Babysitter, of course!

Gift cards or Cash? Gift cards, especially to places that sell books and/or coffee.

Favorite Vacation Spot: Outer Banks, North Carolina, or my home state of California.

More About PM

Paulette (PM) Hernandez is a young adult/new adult paranormal, sci-fi, and fantasy author. Her day job involves writing, but it's a completely different style, sadly lacking in discussions of superpowers, werewolves, fairies, mad scientists, or steam-powered inventions. She is a self-proclaimed nerd. She wears a lot of black, not because she's cool but because she's fashion-challenged. She regularly has reading hangovers and tends to fangirl. You’ve been warned.

Please visit often for more UtopYA2015 Lovelies (Unofficial) interviews, 

and check out the announcement post to see

the schedule and links to past interviews.