What's Fresh with Iva-Marie Palmer!

We welcome Iva-Marie Palmer to YA Fresh today, to talk to us about writing and her young adult novel, The End of the World As We Know It.  

Hi, Iva-Marie!  Tell us about your novel!

The End of the World As We Know It is the story of four teenagers – not friends – who get locked in a basement together during the biggest party of the year. As if that’s not already ripe territory for a disastrous, anxiety-ridden evening, aliens attack their Midwestern suburb and they are the party’s only survivors – and the only people around for miles. They take it on themselves to find out what’s going on and maybe save the world.

Sounds great!  Now, please share your typical writing day schedule.

Nothing is as typical as I want it to be, because I’m balancing writing with a day job and a toddler and all the other fun facts of grown-up life.

But when I’m really cranking on a project, or am working toward a tight deadline, I have to make time in whatever parcels of the day are available to me. My most reliable habit is that I get up early, around 5:30 a.m. most days to write.  I love writing in the early morning, because everything is quiet. Not just the house and the world, but my mind. If I don’t get the morning writing in, then I go to work or go about my day and, by evening, there’s a good chance all of the day’s stressors and anxieties have worn me down or are crowding up the creative parts of my brain. So, I like getting something down at dawn.

Tell us about another project in the works.

I have a few things spinning in my crazy brain, and I know I need to pick one soon. I think what’s calling to me most is another humorous YA, in which a ‘90s-obsessed music store clerk has to fend off a corporate takeover of her beloved but dilapidated mall. I have a lot written but I’m reworking some aspects. Does “All’s fair in love and retail” work as a tagline?

Sure does!  In closing could you please share a writing tip?

Being a writer is writing. So write, already! I think there are some great things about the internet for writers, like so much research at your fingertips, not to mention all the book blogs (and being featured on them. Thank you, YA Fresh!), plus Facebook and Twitter, etc., for connecting with fans or potential readers. But I also think all this technology has made it harder to just write. 

Thanks for visiting with us, Iva-Marie, and we wish you wonderful things with your book!

Shout Out Your E-Published YA Titles!

It's Black Friday at YA Fresh!  To celebrate all weekend, we’d like to encourage our author friends to share with us in the comments the title (and perhaps brief description and links) of young adult novels that they have had exclusively e-published, either through self-publishing or small, independent publishers.  

And for those of our readers doing some book shopping on-line this weekend, well, check them out! 

I will start...

For those of you who don’t know, I have a new release:  THE STARTER BOYFRIEND is about a 17 year-old girl who turns her attentions towards a tuxedo mannequin when real life--friends, family and a surfer boy--become too much to handle. 

It is available through Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook and Smashwords.

Okay, so who's next?

This Time of Year

It's nearly Thanksgiving in the US, and I can admit the fall and winter holidays are my favorite time of the year. The holidays brings up memories of family get-togethers, lots of good food, and tasty treats as a child.

Families change and grow in different ways. As of a couple of years ago, Thanksgiving has fallen upon me to host!

It does add a little pressure to make everything just right since I'm still pretty fresh in the hosting department! However, I've learned to take that extra breath when things get stressful and believing everything will turn out just fine. Maybe not perfect, but being together with your family, and enjoying the special day, and truly being thankful for all that you have are what matters most.

I hope for those of you who celebrate Thanksgiving that you have someone to share it with and are able to express what you are thankful for on Thursday's special day. And a special shout out to the families on the East Coast who are struggling with their loss of homes and more due to Sandy, YA Fresh is sending our best to you and your families.

~Kelly

New Release: The Starter Boyfriend

I am excited to announce my new young adult contemporary release in e-book!  

The Starter Boyfriend

a young adult contemporary

by Tina Ferraro

17 year-old Courtney is completely stressed. 

There's the rift with her softball teammates, homework, housework, 

her part-time job at the tux shop, her dad’s upcoming wedding...enough! 

Would it be too much to ask for someone special in her life, 

a boyfriend she could talk to, count on, even lean on a little?

The best she’s got is a blue-eyed surfer boy who seems to save his 

biggest moves for his board, 

and a “friend date” to Homecoming with a guy still in love with his ex. 

Oh, and then there’s the tuxedo mannequin in the shop window, 

who happens to be reliable and an amazing listener.

When the mannequin gets stolen in a senior prank, 

Courtney finds herself in a midnight pursuit along beach boulevards, 

trying to save more than the mannequin, but the job she’s come to love. 

After turning to the unlikeliest of people for help, and finding that surfer boy is 

as resourceful as he is good-looking, her load begins to lighten. 

In fact, she soon might find not only what she needs, 

but what she wants, too.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this happen, including the critiquing "fairy dust" of our own Kelly Parra!  And special thanks to the readers who kept asking me when I'd have something new out! 

Check it out here at Amazon Kindle, and here at Smashwords. Also available at Barnes and Noble Nook.

 

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