Basically, my novel is a modern Notting Hill, told from the celebrity point of view. Instead of following the struggles of the commoner, dating the celebrity, we follow the celebrity, worried about the commoner. Mikayla is a cute Canadian college girl who, almost overnight, becomes a celebrity with almost as many screaming fans as Justin Bieber. She is thrown into the Hollywood scene and is struggling with life. She misses who she was, worries about what she is becoming, and has to deal with a cheating ex-boyfriend who she can't get over, a psychotic manager and the simple fact that she is homesick. Then she meets Jordan, the man of her dreams with just one slight problem. He doesn't know she's famous. And he wouldn't be too thrilled if he knew the truth, so she keeps it a secret.
I can see the potential for a lot of fun misunderstanding already. TTATFI is available on Amazon and sounds like a fun read, perfect for the beach or on the commute to work. Tell me about your daily writing schedule. Is it hectic, or a happy place to retreat?
Writing is a place of retreat. It's just like escaping into a great book, except I get to choose how things happen. I absolutely adore writing. My daily schedule, however, is all over the place. When I was working full time, I would write in the evenings to de-stress. Now I'm at home with a ten-week-old baby, whose full time job is demanding attention. So when I write now, it's juggling him on my lap, so things are alot slower these days. I usually grab a few minutes whenever I have the time, but it's definitely sporadic now.
Love your your sweet baby's job description! Your favorite part(s) of being a writer?
The best part is, as I mentioned in the above question, getting to manipulate the book the way I want it. I've read a ton of books where the girl ends up with the wrong guy (at least in my opinion). Like in the Hunger Games, for example, I much prefered Gale to Peeta. I wanted them to be together. Gale was such a man's man, so tough. And, since he had dark hair, I pictured him looking like my husband. When Katniss picked Peeta, I wanted it to change. So when writing my own books, I am able to make things happen the way I see it.
That's exactly why I write. I want my own way!!! *pounds spoon on high-chair tray table* What was your favorite book growing up? Currently?
Growing up I devoured books. I am a very fast reader, and so I could go through several books a day. I loved Lucy Maud Montgomery (but not the Anne books, I preferred Emily of New Moon), Gordon Korman (who is absolutely hilarious), Lois Duncan (The Gift of Magic was my favourite), Caroline Cooney (with her Janie books especially), and Carolyn Keene with all the Nancy Drew books.
If I had to pick a favourite, though, my number one book would probably have been Harry Potter (which isn't one book... it's seven... but I'm sure it counts as one. Right? RIGHT?) I read them all dozens of time and still love them.
My favourite book now, though, is The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella. Such a feel good book. Oh wait, I also love Gone With The Wind. Gah. I can't pick. Way too many favourites.
PS- This question made me think of George W. Bush, when asked this, replied 'The Very Hungry Caterpiller'. Ironically, the book wasn't written until he was an adult. Way to read, George. :)
Ha, ha, funny. At least he can chew gum and read at the same time. (Oops, that joke is probably too old for you). On your blog you mention having lived in both Canada and America. Have you had any trouble promoting in duel markets?
It is tricky in several ways. My publisher is American, and the distributor they use is American. Therefore, several of the local bookstores up here have trouble getting the book without special orders, so we're still waiting for it to hit the Canadian shelves. Alot of people in Canada have mentioned wanting the book, but don't want to order it online, so it is definitely a problem. Then there is the American market, where my book is in stores etc, but I can't do book signings or alot of promotion because of where I live. So the majority of what I can do is online. Which, is great, because social media is so prominent these days, but I just wish I could do more. My book is one that alot of women would enjoy as a fast, fun summer read, but the hard part is getting it out there for people to hear about.
Well, I hope I can help somewhat with letting people know about it. Do you have any writing quirks that you’d be embarrassed to admit to?
I'm addicted to google and wikipedia. They are my fact checkers. What time does the post office close in Kissimmee, Florida? Let's check google. How many Grammy awards did Justin Bieber win? Wikipedia will know. I'm a total addict, and I hope my university profs never find out because they would be ashamed of me. (Academia hates Wikipedia... go figure...)
I also bite my nails when I concentrate, so after a writing session, I have nothing left but nubbins. I've been trying to break the habit for years.... and I can do it until the next time I sit down to write. And then they are gone again. Sigh.
Ha, ha, one of my characters bites her nails. At least we can tell that you don't have writer's block. What’s your favorite indulgence?
Eating chocolate while in the bath. It sounds wrong, but it is so, so right.
Don't get discouraged by rejection. You hear it all the time, but just keep trying. And write alot. Write every day, even if you're just writing in a blog or your journal or whatever. Write different books. I had written two books before my third book was accepted for publication. Looking back, my first two were kind of crappy, at least now I think they are. But they were the things that got me going, got me thinking and gave me practice on putting a story together, which is actually quite difficult. So just write. And write and write and never stop. :)
Thanks for talking to us, Whitney, and I wish you lots of luck and success with Tanned, Toned and Totally Faking It
You can get your copy at: Amazon
Visit Whitney at her Blog and Facebook Page
and Follow her at Twitter: @MsWhitneyBoyd
Hey Whitney! thanks for being on my blog. I wish you all the best on Tanned, Tone, and Totally Faking it.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! :) Have a great day!
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