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*An in-depth interview on collaborating for a novel with Amy Daws and Sarah J. Pepper*

How did the two of you meet? Sarah: At Barnes and Noble of course! Kinda cliché, I know but where else would two coffee addicts/book nerds go? Amy: Yep. Good ‘ol B&N. Sarah and I live in the same town and I was in the process of writing a memoir about my struggles through multiple miscarriages. I was in dire need of publishing help so I basically Facebook stalked her until she agreed to meet up and help me!

Would you say it was Insta-Love? Sarah: LMAO! Well, let's just say that secrets were spilled and I left crying like a baby. Amy: She was quite moved by my story. But that doesn’t take much. Pepper is a bawl baby. I would say it was definitely “insta-respect” on both sides. She was impressed that I knew as much as I did about publishing and I was impressed she’d written 12 books and knew basically EVERYTHING! It wasn’t long before we became great friends. Having another author in town to bounce ideas and frustrations off of over a cold cocktail is amaze-balls. How did the idea for a collaboration come up? Amy: It’s all Pepper’s fault! I blame her entirely. J Actually, it was just before the release of the 3^rd book in my London Lovers Series and just after the release of her Snow White Lies. I was resistant at first because I couldn’t wrap my brain around breaking away from my London Lovers. But she sent me her first chapter and dang it…I was inspired. That’s all it took. Sarah: Daws and I were at our lovely biweekly writer block session (aka drinks on some random night)(akaaka babbling about books because our husbands were so sick of hearing about this chapter or that). Anyways, earlier that day I watched the Take Me to Church ballet YouTube vid (on repeat) and fell freaking IN LOVE with the love, angst and torment. I wanted to do something a little different than my usual fantasy romances, so I pitched it to Daws... and so we fell into a world of tutus, pointe shoes and hot college boys ;-) Was the process of collaborating easier or harder than writing solo? Sarah: Oh there was a give and take. Immediately after Daws agreed to do a collaboration with me, I was like OMG! WHAT ARE WE DOING?!?! WE ARE BOTH CONTROL FREAKS (I say with the utmost respect Daws) lol so I write the first chappy and email it to Daws, secretly hoping she doesn’t scower her email like I do lol. I panicked and feared the demise of our friendship even though she hadn't written a word. Lol, so to say I got cold feet was an understatement.... I was all prepared to give her the "maybe we shouldn't do this together speech" when she sent me her follow up chappy.... I was like... Omg, this is PURE GOLD! I fell in love... it was instant. Lol, so I called Daws up and told her I was going to be a pain in the ass to work with. I am pretty sure she rolled her eyes like that wasn't a secret lol. And the rest of the book followed a similar process. Amy: It’s fun to have someone just as emotionally invested as you are in your story. So that was a positive. But overall, I’d say it’s a harder process. I’m used to an editor ripping my stuff apart, but it took a bit for me to be able to accept that from a peer. Working through creative differences was difficult. I remember telling her once when we were butting heads… “If you want this idea, you gotta sell me on it. Sell me on it and then we can do it!” That’s a lot of what our creative process was. Selling each other on our ideas. But that was exciting too! Can we expect more collaborations between the two of you? Amy: I don’t know! There’s a secondary character in our book that has peaked both of our interests. And Pepper and I live in the same town making collaborating really accessible. So who knows! Sarah: Lol I am game but that all depends on our readers :-D What can we expect from Pointe of Breaking: When Ivy League & Tutus Collide? Amy: Angst. That’s the biggest thing I’d say. It’s an emotional, rollercoaster, angsty read. But there’s some humor peppered (see what I did there?) in to breathe lightness to the story. And it’s definitely got some sexy bits to it! It’s just a really deep love story about finding someone and pushing through the barriers that make relationships hard. Sarah: Plus, we went back and forth with the chapters... so if any one chapter ends on a cliffhanger, I want you to imagine either Daws or I getting ready to affectionately strangle each other whilst thinking, "how am I going to fix this mess!" Hehe, it was FUN! What was the best part of collaborating with a friend? Amy: I feel like working together and critiquing each other’s chapters enabled this amazing quality control for both of us. Pepper pushed my writing abilities for sure. Even more than my editor has in the past. My sister beta read and she said she could see a definite improvement in my writing. So that’s exciting to take and apply into my London Lovers Series! Sarah: Knowing that Daws knows me—the real me. And since we are tight, we aren’t afraid to call each other out if we weren’t writing our best. Knowing that we each are committed to the story 100% helped a lot. Any embarrassing stories to share from working together? Sarah: Lol the sex scenes hahaha. I don't think Daws realized how dirty I got! Amy: Yes, the sex scenes were super weird at first!!! And we would talk to each other inside the word doc that we passed back and forth with comments in the margins that are definitely not fit for this interview! It was hilarious. Lastly, because I have a thing about quotes…can you tell me the favorite quote that the other person wrote? Amy: I made the comment: “Best thing you’ve written so far!” several times throughout the book. Pepper has a great lyrical quality to her writing that I envy. So there were many…but here’s just one: “I thought I was enough. The happiness that had once tingled through me like it was awakening my soul was now shredding it. Hopelessness replaced the hopeful.” Sarah: "I f**king hate the ballet.” This line, this sole comment sold me on the collaboration. It was just soooo different from the chapter I previously wrote—such a completely different standpoint. It was perfect.

Amy Daws lives in South Dakota with her husband, Kevin, and their miracle daughter, Lorelei. The long-awaited birth of Lorelei is what inspired Amy's first book, Chasing Hope, and her passion for writing. On most nights, you can find Amy and her family dancing to Strawberry Shortcake's theme song or stuffing themselves inside children's-sized playhouses because there is nothing they wouldn't do for their little miracle. For more of Amy's work, visit: www.amydawsauthor.com

Sarah J. Pepper specializes in dark, paranormal romance - think "happy ever after" but with a twisted, dark chocolate center. Real-life romance isn't only filled with hugs, kisses, bunnies, and rainbows. True-love can be more thoroughly described in times of darkness and tribulation. It's in those harsh moments where you see what a person is truly capable of - both the good and bad. Sometimes prince-charming isn't always on time, and the glass slipper is a little snug. However, it doesn't mean Charming is not Mr. Right, and who says every shoe is the perfect fit? Get a glimpse inside her head at www.sarahjpepper.com

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About the Book

Title: Bubbles: Big Stink in Frog Pond | Author: Ben Woodard | Illustrator: Fran Riddell | Publication Date: June 15, 2015 | Publisher: Miller-Martin Press | Pages: 32 | Recommended Ages: 3 to 7 Book Description: Bubbles is causing a stink. And the other frogs are not happy. They tell him to stop bubbling the water or he'll have to leave Frog Pond. But he can't help it. He's been bubbling since he was a little tadpole. Will Bubbles have to leave Frog Pond? Where will he go? And what happens when danger comes? Find out in this fun picture book about friendship and self-respect for preschoolers and all ages.

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About the Author: Ben Woodard

A spellbinding storyteller of high adventure, Ben Woodard has walked the Great Wall of China, hiked in Tibet, and climbed to 18,000 feet on Mt. Everest. And recently learned to surf in Hawaii. Ben is active in SCBWI and a member of a local children's writing critique group. He is a former Marketing Manager for a major corporation and ran his own marketing consulting business. He started writing children's stories in 2008 and has written picture books, middle grade and young adult. Stories of adventure and wonder. Stories that inspire and educate, and, most of all, entertain. Ben lives in Kentucky with his wife Lynda.

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About the Book

Title: Frankie Dupont and The Lemon Festival Fiasco | Author: Julie Anne Grasso | Illustrator: Alexander Avellino | Publication Date: March 29, 2015 | Publisher: Independent | Pages: 100 | Recommended Ages: 8 to 12 Summary: Hot off cracking his first official case, Frankie Dupont is on the scene when his new teacher takes ill. The pint-sized detective suspects a classic case of sour grapes, but the evidence leads him to the one place he wouldn’t mind avoiding for the rest of his natural life. Enderby Manor has a few more secrets up her sleeve, and as Frankie begins to unravel them, he uncovers a plot stinkier than a sardine sandwich. In Book 2 of the Frankie Dupont Mysteries, Frankie will make some new friends, upset some old ones, and of course, there will be lemon meringue pie.

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Haven't read Book 1 yet? Click on the cover below to grab a copy of "Frankie Dupont and the Mystery of Enderby Manor".

 

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Early Buzz About the Book

"This is a wonderful book 2 in the Frankie Dupont series. Just be forewarned that you will want lemon pie and lemonade after reading! The Lemon Festival Fiasco has multiple suspects and red herring clues to follow and solve while reading. Twists and turns will keep young readers engaged and thinking. This would be a perfect read for gifted education classes. Characters to love, and plenty of action! " ~ 5 Star, Carolyn W., Amazon

 

* FREE * Printable by Wise Owl Factory

We are pleased to share with you a FREE Educational Supplement for Frankie Dupont and the Lemon Festival Fiasco created by Carolyn Wilhelm from the Wise Owl Factory. These supplements are appropriate for grades 3 and higher and are recommended for a mystery unit and/or gifted education classes to help children develop higher level thinking skills. Please visit the Wise Owl Factory where you can download the FREE Educational Supplement for Frankie Dupont and the Lemon Festival Fiasco as well as for Julie Grasso’s other books (or click on the image below to take you there).