Monday, February 24, 2014

Part Two of my interview with Dianne Salerni, author of THE EIGHTH DAY -- and a Giveaway!




We're back with Part Two of my interview with Dianne Salerni, author of The Eighth Day, coming from HarperCollins in April.




You teach full time, have family obligations, keep up with your blog twice a week, AND you're very generous with advice and beta reading for less experienced writers, like me (thank you!). When do you find time to WRITE?

I write whenever I’m not teaching. Ask my family. They’ll tell you I’m attached to my laptop, that I can be obsessive, and it’s sometimes hard to get my full attention!

I do most of my blog reading and commenting in the mornings over coffee. I will write in the late afternoons, evenings, and weekends. What I’m writing impacts when I do it. I can revise already-written words at any time of day, but new words come most easily late in the evening.

So, if I’m facing the first draft of a new chapter, I will probably work on blog-related stuff or beta-reading in the afternoons and early evening (and promotional things like this interview!) and wait for the Muse to show up around 9 pm!


You are repped by Sara Crowe of the Harvey Klinger Agency. Can you briefly fill us in on how you got your agent?

I signed my first contract un-agented and quickly realized I didn’t know what I was doing. I started looking for an agent shortly before We Hear the Dead was published, but it took months to land with Sara. I had plenty of outright rejections and two full Revise & Resubmits that ended in “passes” during that time. As disheartening as those R & R rejections were, I credit them for helping me produce a manuscript that was worth reading before I queried Sara.


Your first two novels, We Hear the Dead and The Caged Graves, were YA. How different did it feel to write MG?

The manuscript I called “Grunsday” started out as YA too! It was my agent Sara who recommended that I revise it for MG, and as soon as she did, I saw the potential in that change. Writing the MG voice was a lot of fun for me. Maybe that’s because I’m around kids all day.

The one thing I miss from YA is romance. But Jax has a couple of YA friends with an understated romance going on, so I get to play around with it a little. Jax knows the romance is brewing, and he’s rooting for them, but he doesn’t want to know the details!  Eww.


Ha! That's great. The Eighth Day will be a series. Can you give us any hints about Book 2?

Well, Jax Aubrey is an orphan, living with 18 year old Riley Pendare, who was named as his guardian by Jax’s dad before he died. But there are a lot of things Rayne Aubrey lied about – and a very specific reason he chose Riley as Jax’s protector.

Turns out, Jax has relatives, and they want him back. And when Jax finds out who they are, his world is turned upside-down and backwards.


Oh, cool! What a great hint. Now I can’t wait for book two! Thanks so much, Dianne.


*   *   *   *   *

And now, readers, I have a two-part giveaway. 

First, I'm giving away my ARC of The Eighth Day to one lucky winner I will choose at random.

Second, I will give away a pre-ordered, SIGNED hardcover copy of THE EIGHTH DAY to another lucky winner, also chosen at random. I will get it signed at Dianne's book launch in April.

All you need to do to enter this giveaway is be a follower and comment on this post. If you tweet about it or mention on facebook, let me know and I'll give you extra chances. I would give you an extra day, but that only happens in this book! International entries welcome. This giveaway ends at 10pm EST on Sunday March 9 and the winners will be announced on Monday March 10. 


74 comments:

  1. Loved the interview. I so admire Dianne and how she squeezes it all in with working. I'm especially impressed that she can write at 9:00 pm. I'm nodding off after my long day by then.

    Don't enter me in the contest. I have an ARC too to give away.

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    1. Thanks, Natalie. I write in the evening too. But more so since I left the bookstore. When I was working, nodding off in the evening was my normal mode, so I hear you.

      Glad you're also spreading the word about The Eighth Day. Yay!

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    2. Natalie, I really do produce new words better late at night ... at least until exhaustion makes me type more incorrect letters than correct ones. Once the ratio tips in that direction, I go to bed!

      Delete
  2. *flails* *flails* some more.
    Thank you for the fun interview. AND the fantastic giveaway!!!!!!

    ~Akoss

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I tweeted:
      https://twitter.com/akossket/status/437929462689050624

      and facebooked:
      https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000900796039

      Delete
    2. Ha ha, Akoss! Sounds like you really want this book. Thanks for the mentions. Extra chances duly noted.

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    3. Thanks, Akoss! I hope you get a copy!

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  3. 'K, try 2. I just deleted my comment instead of hitting published. Grrr... Do over!

    Every time I see Dianne with this book I want to cry. Yes, it's that profound for me. She's one of my oldest and dearest blogging bud, CPs, and all-around inspirations. Believe it or not, she was my first Twitter friend, and she private messaged me. ((Hugs)), Dianne. But she already knows how much I heart her. I'm not entering the giveaway, but best of luck to all! (Already have my copy in da' works...)

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    1. I hate when I delete a comment by mistake, Sheri! How cool that Dianne was your first Twitter friend, and is one of your CPs.

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    2. Sheri, you are so sweet!!! Hugs right back to you!
      And I think Blogger switched some buttons around on us, because I have hit that "Sign out" button instead of publish WAY too often. (Why is it even there?)

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  4. Anxious for this one! Thanks for the chances at winning it! Diane, I, too, can only write new words at certain times of the day. Afternoon works best for me, the problem is is that supper-prep always interferes. So irritating. :-)

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    1. Thanks for entering, Barbara. Cooking takes up a lot of my afternoon, too, Barbara, since I'm the only one who cooks in my household.

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    2. Barbara, I could recommend taking the laptop into the kitchen with you, but I have burned too many dinners that way -- so actually, I contra-recommend it.

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  5. Good interview, and I like the premise. Cool that it's going to be a series! I'd like to read that book.
    My writing schedule is similar in someways: social catch up in a.m. and new writing in the afternoon. I'd never make it past 9 p.m., though. That's bedtime for me.

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    1. Thanks for entering, Elizabeth. And you're not the only one who's sleepy at 9 pm.

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    2. Elizabeth, I guess 9 pm is when the internal editor goes home for the night, because it feels like the only time I can really slam down the first draft words!

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  6. Hey, we didn't both write about Dianne this week! As you know, I'm a huge fan--but don't enter me in the giveaway, as I intend to buy my own copy in support of my Project Mayhem bud. (But if you snag an ARC for book 2, then all bets are off!)

    P.S. I'm a morning person and a morning writer. I can't even read past 9 o'clock without some major nodding off/book smack in the face sort of stuff.

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    1. Imagine that, Michael! We did something different. :)

      Glad you're buying your own copy of Dianne's book. Man, I would LOVE an ARC of book 2.

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    2. Book 2 hasn't even gone through copy-editing yet, so no ARCs for awhile. However, when I get some, I'll let you know! :D

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    3. I shouldn't have said that.
      The copy-edited manuscript just landed in my In-Box.
      Like Right This Second.

      Delete
  7. Excellent interview! I'm REALLY excited to read The Eighth Day - it reminds me a little of the Midnighters (although they only had an extra hour ;). Thanks for the giveaway!

    (P.S. I tweeted! :)

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    1. Aww, an extra hour is NOTHING. :) But I do like Scott Westerfeld. Dianne should be flattered at the comparison. Thanks for following! And for the tweet.

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    2. Thanks, Skye!
      I have heard of the Midnighters, but I've never read it. I am thinking I will hold off until this series is complete, so as not to be influenced by it. But I DO want to read it!

      Delete
  8. Great interview, am attached to my laptop too….it has all my books after all ;)

    Tweeted about it: https://twitter.com/FizaHalliwell/status/438054829265416192

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    1. Thanks. And thanks for tweeting, Fiza.

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    2. Hi, Fiza.
      I just dropped my open laptop facedown on the floor yesterday. Scared me to death. But it's okay, poor baby.

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  9. I'm really looking forward to reading this! I'd love to win a copy.
    And I have to second what you've said about Dianne's generosity. I was so impressed during DL Hammons' WRiTE CLUB to see how encouraging and considerate she was in the many, many comments she left for participants. (And I have to say the same thing about you, Joanne, as well.)

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    1. Thank you, Faith!
      I really enjoyed WRiTE CLUB and I was sad when the writing schedule for this series became so tight I had to back off my commitment to participating in it. I missed it!

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  10. I'm really looking forward to reading this one, especially after this great interview. Thanks for the chance to win. I tweeted (https://twitter.com/rosihollinbeck/status/438079968979861504)

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  11. Nice interview and thanks for the giveaway. She's a very busy writer,

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    1. That she is, Janet. Thanks for entering.

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    2. Hi, Janet! I feel pretty busy these days. I was hoping to get the second draft of Book 3 finished before the copy-edited version of Book 2 came back needing my attention. I did not win the race. I need a couple more days on Book 3, and the Book 2 manuscript just turned up tonight. Erg.

      Delete
  12. Glad to hear Dianne has the good taste of being another night-owl writer. ;) And that sequel sounds fantastic, too! Can't wait!

    Joanne, I'd love to get an ARC of your book, so please enter me in that giveaway, but I already won a copy of Dianne' book elsewhere so it would be selfish of me to enter here for it again. Aren't I sweet to play nice? lol

    Great to see another MMGM post up!

    --Suzanne
    www.suzannewarr.com

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    1. It's one and the same book, Suzanne (I've edited my post to clarify that, so thank you). The ARC winner just gets to read Dianne's book a little sooner. :)

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    2. Gotcha! Well as I know Dianne's ARC for me is on its way, I will bow out then. And if YOU have a book in the works or coming out, be sure to let me know! I was wondering how that slipped by me. ;)

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    3. Hope you get the tattoos as well, Suzanne. The post office seems to be taking longer than usual. I hope they're not back to pony express, but things seem to be taking longer these days.

      Delete
  13. Thanks for doing this giveaway, Joanne!
    I really enjoyed reading part 2 of this interview. I also have to write late at night when I'm coming up with new words, so I found that really encouraging!

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    1. Hi, Jenni!
      I'm convinced that I need my internal editor to call it quits before I can get any editing done. That means writing late at night.

      Delete
  14. I was looking forward to finding out more after last week's interview with Dianne and it was great to learn more about her and her writing. I like to write late at night too! :) Dianne sounds super busy, but she also sounds very organized. Wishing her the best of luck and I can't wait to read her books. :)

    Thanks so much for the giveaway. I am an old follower (GFC Jess Haight) and I Google +'d it and tweeted. https://twitter.com/dmsfiles/status/438146361540612097

    ~Jess

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    1. Jess, I enjoy the late night writing, although I don't feel particularly organized this week. I tempted fate by suggesting to Michael and Joanne the copy-editing for Bk 2 was going to take awhile longer -- and landed myself with a new deadline. Eek.

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    2. Thanks, Jess. Extra chances duly noted!

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  15. I heart Dianne... she is quite the inspiration, just look at all her awesomeness!!!

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    1. Thanks, Tammy! Not feeling awesome right now -- just stressed. The awesome part comes when you finally hold the book in your hands and know weeks like THIS one are worth it!

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  16. hi

    thx for the give and best of luck!!


    https://twitter.com/Barendius/status/439226331197214720
    https://www.facebook.com/tiago.rosado.104/posts/824070297619565

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Thanks for entering. Extra chances duly noted.

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    2. Thanks for entering! Joanne, are their extra, secret entries if you tweet on Grunsday? Oh wait ... no internet on the eighth day ...

      Delete
  17. Thanks for lovely giveaway :) wish to read this book. Followed blog via GFC: Riffat Saeed

    FB Share: https://www.facebook.com/riffatsaeed4/posts/290195361134376?stream_ref=1
    Tweet: https://twitter.com/riffatsaeed4/status/439269624790536192

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for entering and for sharing on facebook and Twitter.

      Delete
  18. Thank you for the giveaway.

    Rejection is hard, but can bring out the best in us.

    Yay for more books from Dianne.

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    1. Hi, Medeia! Nice of you to stop by. And yay you! Three books coming out this year alone!

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    2. Medeia, if you want to be a writer, you have to learn to accept rejection. Even after you get published, not all the books you write will get sold. Some get shelved, and that's hard ... but part of the game.As you know!

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  19. Bright Blessings Joanne! Thank you very much for this opportunity and interview. It's always nice to see what's inside a person's vision. I have shared this giveaway on my twitter and facebook accounts (faeladybug), and I've also joined your blog and twitter. Fingers crossed!

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    1. Welcome, Gale. Thanks for entering and sharing.

      Delete
    2. Hi, Gale! Thanks for entering the giveaway and good luck!

      Delete
  20. Weee, new book. thanks for the giveaway

    Kimberly Camille Tiu
    purple_kimy37@yahoo.com

    https://twitter.com/kimtiu37/status/439631503727665153

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  21. Really would like to read this book! followed Networkedblogs and email. Shared on google!

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  23. "Imagination is more important than knowledge." - Albert Einstein
    I shared on Facebook and Twitter.

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  24. "Believe nothing you hear, and only half of what you say." - Mark Twain
    I shared on Facebook and Twitter.

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  25. Hey, sounds like a great book (and the sequel sounds awesome too!) Maybe I'll win this time! (Of course, just finding out about great books is a win in my world. ;) ) aippersbach at shaw dot ca

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    1. Hi Kim! Yes, it's a terrific read. And I love your philosophy. :)

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