GUEST AUTHOR || Julie Anne Lindsey On Phobias and Writing in Different Genres + ARC Giveaway of DECEIVED

JulieAnnLindseyWe are pleased to welcome Julie Anne Lindsey as our guest today. Julie is a self-proclaimed word nerd who would rather read than almost anything else. She started writing to make people smile. Someday she plans to change the world. Most days you’ll find her online, amped up on caffeine and wielding a book. Julie’s newest novel, DECEIVED, is available September 18th on Amazon Barnes & Noble Book Depository and more.

About DECEIVED: Ever since she could remember, Elle has had to hop from town to town to keep up with her dad’s DECEIVEDdemanding career as a corporate insurance agent. Each time, a reoccurring nightmare followed her wherever she went–until the day that the frightening figures haunting her at night became all too real. When news of a serial killer spreads throughout her new school, Elle worries that the Reaper has been leaving her his calling card in the form of cigarette butts on her doormat and an unusual ribbon in her locker. With the help of Brian, a boy she meets at a flea market, she discovers that this isn’t her first encounter with the murderer and that her father has been concealing her true identity for the past twelve years. But despite her father’s desperate attempts to protect her, Elle still comes face to face with the darkness she has been running from her whole life. Trapped in the woods and with help hundreds of miles away, will Elle be able to confront the Reaper and reclaim the life she lost?

Welcome, Julie, and thank you for answering our questions!

Do you have any phobias?

Yes. I am afraid of everything. Let me list a few things that freak me out. Are you ready? *clears throat* My shadow. Not a joke. Abduction. I also hate bugs, especially things that fly, and spiders. All spiders. I don’t like the dark. I avoid stranger danger and new experiences in general. I dislike crowds; they make me panicky and insecure. I am terrified to the point of tears of monkeys. They can be on television or in photos, doesn’t matter, and I will not go anywhere near them at a zoo. I believe with all my soul they want to kill me in grotesque and animalistic ways. Moving on … I also fear horses. Have you seen how fast they run? Have you seen the size of their teeth?? They kick, like really hard. They can kill you. I don’t like stray dogs or random loose animals because they want to bite me. I’m not a fan of driving, and I detest highway travel. When I’m at the wheel, I will go thirty minutes out of my way to take back roads. I never watch or read scary stories, and I hate when they show previews for scary things during the Today Show — my only non-recorded television viewing — because then I have to cover my eyes and listen for it to be over. I fear Oompa Loompas, rightly so, because earlier this year there was an Oompa Loompa attack in London. I’m not joking. After twenty years of telling my mom they were dangerous, I had my proof. The dentist freaks me out too, and I sing old jingles in my head during every checkup and cleaning. I worry I will get lice in a theater or bed bugs in hotels. I bring my own bowling shoes and roller skates. Rent shoes? Um, no. Attics and unfinished basements bother me. I don’t answer the door for deliveries. You will need to leave that junk on the doormat. I watch television. I know things. I also worry about killers posing as policemen, and something evil lurking at fairs, festivals and inside funhouses. Are you wondering how I survive? So am I.

I think I’ve been writing more suspense and mystery lately as an outlet for my multiple anxieties. It’s nice to see my characters survive. It gives me hope.

What is the best perk of your job?

The best part about being an author is that I get to stay at home. I’m available for my family in a way I couldn’t be if I needed to be someplace else. This is hands down the best part. Second to that perk is the fact I’m not tied to a schedule. Deadlines, yes. Schedule, no. Another great part: I do something I adore and my kids see how happy it makes me. I hope it inspires them to pursue the things they love in life. And the final perk that makes me kind of giddy: travel. I don’t particularly like the travel part, but I do love that my husband goes with me to conferences, book festivals, and conventions. The kids stay with grandparents, and I have entire weekends alone with my husband many times a year. It’s brilliant. I’m madly blessed.

Share something that’s always guaranteed to make you laugh.

This is a fun question. My first inclination was to just write the word “boobs,” but I think that’s not what you’re looking for. Instead, I will say I laugh frequently. I love humor and I find it everywhere. Things make me happy. I’m very geeky that way. I laugh out loud during every episode of “New Girl.” I read Janet Evanovich and laugh until my sides ache. I giggle at my kids when they make up songs about what they’re doing. I will laugh shamelessly if someone trips or falls down. It’s actually embarrassing to be my friend. It is. I laugh at myself quite a bit too, but that’s because I have no choice. Day drinking isn’t really an option, so I learned to enjoy the innately fallible human existence. Laughing is fun and heart healthy, and I hear it burns calories, so, you know…Winning!

What is your advice for aspiring writers?

I think the best advice for aspiring writers is to keep going. Don’t worry about failing or getting rejected. That’s part of the experience. Being a writer isn’t easy, and it’s not for everyone, but if it’s for you, then embrace it. All of it. Good and bad. Claim it. Get out of the closet and tell people you’re a writer. Keep your chin up when you do. And don’t believe for a second there’s only one way to accomplish your goal. Do it your way. Take your own path, just get there. This is your dream, so go get it, and I don’t mean chase it, I mean hunt it down by whatever means necessary and mount that novel on your bookcase right beside your first royalty statement and a list of people who said you couldn’t do it. Email me if you start to wimp out. I’ll be your cheerleader. You can do this. I am serious.

Have you ever tried writing in a different genre? How did that turn out?

I started writing five years ago. I’ve since written sweet romances, young adult novels, cozy mysteries, and short stories. I’m a wanderer. It’s awful. I know. Everyone in the industry will agree genre-jumping is a no-no, a brander’s nightmare and “amateurish,” but I don’t know where I fit in. I’m seeking my best voice and looking for my place in this industry and it’s hard. I don’t mean to be flaky. That comes naturally, I guess. I want to write the stories that keep me up at night, so until I find a readership that says, “Hey, Julie! You rocked this story! Write some more like this one!” I will probably continue to wander the desert of publishing, alone and sunburnt.

To give you an idea of how random, shameless and confused I am as an author, let me tell you about what I have published. My first novel was an artsy, non-mainstream, parody of sorts titled, Death by Chocolate, wherein a fed up housewife kills her husband with chocolate mousse and then follows that up by killing anyone she thinks might suspect her. Right? It’s ridiculous. That small publisher has since gone out of business. I’m not saying it was my fault, I just think it’s noteworthy.

Next, I submitted to Turquoise Morning Press and started a relationship with them that has been going strong for three years. I have short stories in two of their anthologies, and I write sweet romances for their Honey Creek Books line. I have written three novellas and two novels for Honey Creek. Both novels release in 2013. I also published my first young adult novel with Turquoise Morning Press this year. It’s a contemporary YA mystery, Reinventing Chloe, and it released in April.

This week, my YA suspense, DECEIVED, releases from Merit Press. Merit is a division of F+W Media run by acclaimed author, Jacquelyn Mitchard, and I am in awe that someone of her caliber took a second look at anything I put together. She’s brilliant and I’m face-to-the-floor humbled.

But wait, there’s more!

In a few weeks, my debut cozy mystery, Murder by the Seaside, releases from Carina Press. It was inspired by my love of all things Stephanie Plum. Murder by the Seaside is the first in my three book, Patience Price, Counselor at Large, series.

I also have a YA fantasy romance with my agent now. We’re making it shiny so it can go on subs soon.

It’s messy in my head. Very messy and a little MPD. So, yeah. I have written in other genres. Please. Someone stop me and point me in one direction soon. *begs*

Readers, do you have any phobias? If so, what do you do to lessen your anxieties? What kind of messy do you have going on in your head? Tell us, we like messy!

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Julie Anne Lindsey is a multi-genre author who writes the stories that keep her up at night. In 2013, Julie welcomes five new releases in three genres including her newest title, DECEIVED, a YA suspense from Merit Press, and her first cozy mystery, MURDER BY THE SEASIDE, book one in the Patience Price, Counselor at Large series from Carina Press. Julie is a member of the International Thriller Writers, Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, Sisters in Crime, and the Canton Writer’s Guild. You can find her online …

Tweeting her crazy @JulieALindsey
Soothing her book obsession on GoodReads
Pinning the pretty on Pinterest
Tumbling lamely on Tumblr
Blogging about books and writing at Musings from the Slush Pile
Facebook‘ing

Author: Natalia Sylvester

Natalia Sylvester is the author of the novel CHASING THE SUN (Lake Union/New Harvest, June 2014), about a frail marriage tested to the extreme by the wife's kidnapping in Lima, Peru. A former magazine editor, she now works as a freelance writer in Texas. Visit her online at nataliasylvester.com

7 Replies to “GUEST AUTHOR || Julie Anne Lindsey On Phobias and Writing in Different Genres + ARC Giveaway of DECEIVED

  1. I have Achluophobia- Fear of darkness. I have to always have some kind of light on, no matter what! I hate when “people” turn the lights out ’cause they think it’s funny. (thank goodness for the light that comes off my cell phone)…lol

  2. Welcome, Julie! I’m awed by how you have to face down your phobias every day. Wow. Writing is probably the best therapy ever! I don’t have any phobias except the typical: heights (no jumping out of planes for me!) and public speaking (which I’m slowly getting a grip on).

    I wonder if most novelists have messy minds — does it come with the territory? 🙂 I’m looking forward to reading DECEIVED, not to mention the upcoming cozy!

  3. Goodness gracious, Julie, how do you find time to write so many novels so quickly?? I am in awe! I’m slooooooooow compared to you. 🙂

    Thank you for joining us today and I’m dying to read this book! The trailer was so cool.

  4. So happy to have you here, Julie! I have to agree with you that the best perk of being a writer is the freedom that comes with it. I’ve always been a homebody so I love getting working from home and having deadlines, but not schedules. I think creativity needs breathing room and flexibility, and we’re very lucky to have that.

  5. Thank you so much for having me! And for all the fun comments!

    GirlfromWVA – I hate the dark so much….and the light from my celly actually makes everything look like I’m about to die in a scary movie! LOL I can’t win!

    Lisa, Heather, Susan & Natalia….just wow. thank you so much for opening your blog to me. I am humbled and excited to be here. Lisa, I believe writers should have their own spoke on the DSM-IV LOL, Heather, I don’t write as much as it seems. It just took me forever to get that first sell. Susa, I LOVE twitter!!! Natalia, I am a total homebody and writing makes me so very happy 🙂
    Thank you, ladies!!!

  6. When I encounter a fear, I can usually ask myself, “Does this make sense?” and work through it. One instance where that doesn’t work is heights! It really hit home when I was crossing the Continental Divide in Colorado with some friends. I knew my fear was irrational so I finally had to shut my eyes and think of other things!

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