Delcroix Academy: The Giveaway!

We welcome debut author Inara Scott today, who I got the chance to meet at the Romance Writers of America conference last month, and whose bright smile and positive attitude was very infectious. And she has every reason to be glowing right now, with August 24th launch of her young adult series, Delcroix Academy: The Candidates.

Hello, Inara! Could you tell us a bit about your writing background and how you made your first sale.

I started writing in high school, but never took any creative writing classes. I was always WAY too intimidated by creative writing types -- they seemed much more intellectual and angsty than me, and I suspected they wouldn't be impressed by my genre of choice (romance novels!). I was also way too practical to consider trying to make a living as a writer. I ended up going to law school so I could write all day long and actually get paid for it. But scholarly essays and legal briefs didn't capture my attention the same way gentlemen pirates and supernatural powers did. I got back into writing in 2005, after being stuck in a hotel in Anchorage for two weeks for an incredibly boring trial. Over the next couple of years I wrote two adult novels and then after hearing Meg Cabot speak at a conference, decided to try YA. I submitted Delcroix Academy to 50 agents. 49 said "pass". One took me on, and we sold Delcroix in a pre-empt to Disney-Hyperion in a two-book deal. It was an incredible shock.

Defying the odds--I love it! Now, please tell us about your novel, Delcroix Academy: The Candidates, and what we can expect from your characters.

Dancia Lewis is a girl with a dangerous paranormal gift -- she can make things happen just by imaging them. The problem is, when she uses her gift, people always end up getting hurt. Dancia tries to make herself invisible, hiding from the world in an effort to avoid using her powers, but when she's recruited to attend Delcroix Academy, an exclusive boarding school, all bets are off. Suddenly, she's got the hottest guy on campus and a dark, troublemaking best friend vying for her attention. But why has the most invisible girl in the ninth grade suddenly become so popular? What's really going on behind the gates of Delcroix Academy?

What’s up next? Do you have another project in the works? If so, please tell us about it.

I am currently working on edits for the next book in the series (Delcroix Academy: The Watchers) which will be released in August 2011.

Sounds great! Care to close with a writing tip?

I run into a lot of people who tell me they'd love to write but don't have time. I usually smile and nod, and it's true, time is a precious commodity. But the truth is, you can always find time for the things that are most important to you. If writing is REALLY what you want to do, take a hard look at how your spend your days. Ask yourself what you're willing to give up, and then put your butt in the chair. You'll be amazed at what you can do.

Thanks, Inara. And thank you, too, for offering up an Advanced Reader Copy of your book to one of our lucky commenters!

So to all of those interested in wining the ARC of Delcroix Academy: The Candidates, simply tell us...if you could have a super power, what would it be?

And check back on Monday morning, when we announce the winner!