Dude, you know you have.
Click here for more inspiration: Lisa and Laura Roecker, Beth Revis, Leah Clifford, Victoria Schwab, Kirsten Hubbard, Susan Adrian, Dawn Metcalf, Kim Harrington, Carrie Harris, Amy Holder, Kathy McCullough, Suzette Saxton and Bethany Wiggins, Gretchen McNeil and Tiffany Schmidt.
I will be featured on Lisa and Laura Roecker's blog today! Please go check out mine--and all the posts--because you never know who's going to say exactly what you need to hear to keep moving forward.
LIAR SOCIETY in a tweet: When Kate gets an e-mail from her dead best friend she decides to channel Nancy Drew. A hotter, bitchier Nancy Drew, but you get the idea.
Was there ever a time you felt like giving up? Why didn't you?
Our first attempt at a novel was pretty wretched, but there were a handful of agents who found our voice intriguing enough to give us real feedback. When we finally laid that craptastic manuscript to rest (RIP The North Shore) we were so, so tempted just to throw in the towel, but we loved writing together too much. So, we gave it another shot and finished our next project within a few months. That project turned into LIAR SOCIETY. [Elana interrupts to say they only had to query for like, a day--so not fair. And they got three offers, and are repped by Catherine Drayton at Inkwell Management.]
What has been the hardest part of your road to publication so far? And why?
The hardest by far was being on submission to editors. It was hell. We basically spent 5 months living on pins and needles. We suck at waiting and that’s pretty much all there is to do while you’re out on submission. That and obsessively check Stat Counter. [Elana interrupts--ooooh! Stat Counter! Shiny...]
What's your best advice to aspiring authors?
Keep writing, keep reading, spend time getting to know other writers, find an amazing beta reader and never say die.
Super Secret: If you could meet anyone, alive or dead, who would it be?
This is such a hard question and we always over think it because let’s face it if you go with a famous author or historical figure or whatever, chances are it’s going to be totally awkward, you know? I mean what the hell would we have in common with Marie Antoinette aside from a shared love of cake?
So, you know what? We’re going to say Libba Bray because we’ve already met her and we think she’s AWESOME and maybe if we start stalking her, we’ll all magically become besties.
Find Lisa and Laura online:
Lisa & Laura's blog
Lisa & Laura's website
Lisa & Laura tweet!
Add LIAR SOCIETY to your Goodreads list! Forthcoming from Sourcebooks in Spring 2011.
Read Lisa & Laura's journey--and their query letter--on QT.
72 comments:
Liar Society sounds like such fun! Love the pitch line!
I'm adding it to Goodreads! Great interview and story of just trying again.
Great interview. Good luck Lisa and Laura. Liar Society sounds like a fantastic read!!!
I agree - love the interview, though I'm sooo jealous about the one day of querying!
LOVE ME SOME LILA!!! Another great interview!!!
Two authors for a book sounds challenging.
Thanks Elana, Lisa and Laura, I just have to say: Sisters that can work closely enough together for as long as it takes to write a novel? Dude, that's awesome.
Best of luck in all your future endeavors!
Shameless promotion:
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She is a wonderfully lady, always willing to help another writer and I would really like her to get the recognition she deserves.
Thanks!
Great interview. So upbeat. I love it. Thank you for sharing it.
Thanks for the fun week of interviews!
Have a great weekend!
Who wouldn't love a mystery with a hotter and bitchier Nancy Drew!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I've been on submission for five months and it's driving me crazy. I keep thinking I'm the only one who's ever gone through this (although I know I'm not). You just don't often hear about authors with agents who are stuck in this limbo of waiting for things to happen. Authors are either looking for an agent or already published. Waiting sucks!
Lisa and Laure are 15 kinds of awesome and so are you Elana!
This idea has been wonderful!
Man. I love that we can attain the mythical one-day query process - but then be stuck for five months waiting while it's out on sub. What a ride, right? What's the best way to deal with those out-on-submission doldrums? I guess just dive right in to the next novel!
Congrats to Lisa and Laura. You guys are so inspiring.
Congrats on only having to query for a day. That totally rocks!!!
Like the idea of a bitchy Nancy Drew too. Sounds like a fun read!
Hm. So far, Elana, you interject to say these authors got multiple interest from their queries. That's all fabulous, of course, but it makes someone like me say 'well, if they queried and got lots of interest simultaneously, and I've been querying the same work for two months and have zero interest... towel time.' It seems clear that agents have similar preferences, and mine's not on the list. Or maybe I'm just cranky and pre-caffeined.
The pitch line is perfect - makes me laugh and want to know more right off the bat!
Can't wait unitl Liar Society is in print!! :)
Hey Lisa and Laura,
You guys rock! And Liar Society sounds awesome...
YAY LiLa-- you already know I lurve you!
Can't wait for your moment in the SUN!
Although you shine pretty brightly already, without any help!
That tweet about the story is awesome!
Thanks so much for having us Elana! And for anyone who wants to be REALLY inspired, come check out our interview with Elana. She might be the most inspiring writer we've met in our entire life. Not to mention crazy talented, and an amazing friend. We love you, E!
Great interview and great advice! You gals rock!
How about calling yourselves;
THE DEVILISHLY-DELECTABLE DREW-LIKE SISTERS...?
Loved it - popping over to become a follower of your blog sisters!
Thanks Elana!
Great interview Elana and I really enjoyed reading yours, too, on Lisa and Laura's site.
Thanks!
Great interview ladies - Love it!
Thanks for the interview, ladies. Liar's Society will be a must for my DD.
And I might I add, I love your spunk. If this carries over to your novel, I'm all over that like an ant on Miss 'Toinette's cake.
Great interview, Elana, LiLa! Except for the shocking lack of mention of how many Twizzlers y'all consumed during submission. ;)
Great interview. I loved their query in your book.
The idea of joint novels is so intriguing. I'd love to try it someday.
Great interview!
a hotter and bitchier Nancy Drew? I'm sold.
I think it's so cool that you guys can work together like this! Congrats on you success. :)
Elana, I've loved this whole inspirational week. Thanks again to you and everyone who participated.
Elana, I knew combining you, Lisa, and Laura into one post was going to be awesome. You totally didn't disappoint!
I wouldn't mind meeting Libba Bray either- her books are great!
Elana I love your interruptions!
And another great post, never say die!! Huzzah!
Love.Love.Love LiLa - awesome writers and bloggers. Great job on the interview to all three of you!! Okay, off to read yours on LiLa's blog ;o)
Have a great weekend!
I love these two. They seem like really fun, nice, smart and talented writers. I love reading about them.
*squeal* I'm so excited for LiLa's book to come out! They are so amazing! Great interview Elana! =)
What a great interview, thanks for another great one ladies! LIAR SOCIETY sounds like such a fun read, can't wait! Congrats on the success. :-) I hope I won't have to wait 5 months on submission, but if I do, I guess I'll know who to talk with to get me through it! ;p
Thanks for another great interview!
Another splendid interview. All this paying it forward HAS to go somewhere for you. Hoping, hoping.
Thanks for another great interview. I'll head over to their place now to see yours.
Those girls are such ROCKSTARS! ;) Awesome story! :)
Love this Elana!! I've seen you two girls hanging around one site or another, wondering what was up with these witty girls. Nice to be informed now. Thanks for sharing, Lisa & Laura. You have a great story to share!!
Great interview. It's been a fabulous week. Very inspiring. Thanks for setting this up.
Also, I just noticed you passed the 1000 follower mark. Wow!
Happy Easter.
First comes Elana Johnson and then come LiLa on the coolness scale - how do you NOT adore those two?! Love 'em! :-)
Thanks for sharing your road to pub story.
I agree with Emily's comment... "15 kinds of awesome."
Hope is a good thing, don't stop spreading it. We newbies need all we can get. It's a tough road.
Elana this was such a great idea! I loved all the interviews and everyone who participated it was amazing!!!
Lisa & Laura rock!
My favorite part about Lisa and Laura is that in my mind they are the SAME person :)
LOVE the interview and can't wait to read the book!!!
What an exciting year! Congrats!
Great interview! You two are so funny and entertaining, I have no doubt that I'll be in love with LIAR SOCIETY! Can't wait to read it!
Can't WAIT for the LIAR SOCIETY!!!!! Woo hoo!
Thanks for such a fun idea Elana - and a great interview Lila!
Now I'm going to have to backtrack and read all of these! Awesome and completely fun interview. What a great week I've missed!
Yay for LiLa. It's only a matter of time before they take over the world. Here's hoping they remember us little people when they do. ;)
Great week Elana. So many inspiring stories to read. You rock!
I can't wait to meet this hotter, bitchier Nancy Drew. Just please tell me she doesn't have titian hair. That used to drive me nuts!
Yay for LiLa!
Such a great interview! I can't wait to buy their book -- hell, every book the sell!
Thanks for the awesome week!!
Thanks for posting this ... you're keeping my dream alive ;)
Thanks for posting this ... you're keeping my dream alive ;)
Great interview and look forward to reading their books. Thanks Elana - you rock for setting this up. Learned much and will persevere.
Can't wait to read Liar Society (but kind of missing the old title...) I just stand in awe of LiLa's ability to write together. My sister and I would literally scratch each others' eyeballs out if we ever attempted such a venture.
'never say die' couldn't have said it any better!
Just catching up on your posts, Elana.
Great reads, thanks.
Oh man, I just adore these guys. Great interview, Elana. Liar Society sounds fantastic. I'm a bit jealous of their quick success...but they did have a rough go of it to start, and they persevered--so all is right with the world. :P
Thank you guys for all of the fabulous comments. I can't tell you how much they mean to us! Thanks for letting us play on your blog Elana! You've got a great group of followers/commenters over here!
Greetings from Blogging From A to Z April Challenge
Thanks for your support!
Lee
Love the interview! (And at least you guys had each other while waiting on pins and needles. And your Twizzlers.)
Thanks, Elana, as always!
The duel voices must be their secret weapon. It doesn't look like they had that long of a wait. Or, maybe, when two are together the motivation and support keep it alive so much easier. Bravo!
Yay! Love the power sisters and love to hear about people who have 'made it'. Thanks for these inspiring posts. :-)
ONE day of querying? You've got to be kidding me. You gals are good, very good (but I think I already knew that).
Thanks for the great interview, ladies!
'Maybe if we start stalking her, we’ll all magically become besties.' - LOL!
Enjoyed the interview, Lisa, Laura and Elana. A great thing for me to stumble upon after a tough writing day.
Love LiLa! Can't wait to read Liar Society.
Love LiLa! Can't wait to read Liar Society.
I think if I could meet anyone dead or alive, today my choice would be the Roecker sisters :)
Great interview. Good luck Lisa and Laura. Liar Society sounds like a fantastic read!!!
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