Falling For YA: Summer of Swoon Seattle Tour Recap + Giveaway

On Friday May 15th (ya this recap is a few days late, don't judge) the wonderful Swoon Reads authors visited Seattle!

I've been to signings before but this was the first time I've had the opportunity to interview authors in person and, honestly, I'm glad these were my first live in-person authors because they were warm, welcoming, and all around awesome!

We sat at the back of the UW Bookstore in Bellevue and they let me ask some questions.

Interview

How do you combat writers block?

Sandy Hall: I ask myself what happens next and if that dosen't work I ask myself what couldn't happen next. I also leave myself on a cliffhanger so that I always want to start the next part of the project!

Katie Van Ark- I re-read stuff I've loved before or I jump from my current project to another project.

Temple West- Ditto. I most often get writer's block when I have other stuff on my mind so I take care of business and then get to work!

Kim Karalius- I watch inspirational material that's relevant to the project I'm working on. For Love Fortunes I watched Pushing Daisies.

If you weren't an author what would you be doing?

Sandy- I was a youth librarian so I would probably be doing that. I love that!

Temple- My dayjob is screenwriting so I'm always doing something writing related.

Kim- I think I would want to be a cartoonist. When I was a kid that was what I really wanted to do and it still sounds awesome.

Katie- I come from a writing family so I would probably be teaching writing. I was a teacher in my past life.

Sandy Hall, Me, Kim Karalius

What has been the biggest challenge/reward of being a debut author?

Temple- The biggest challenge and reward is getting public reviews. It is both awesome and kind of hard.

If you novel had a theme song what would it be?

Sandy: Bleeker and Sixth by Jesse Rubens

Kim: Heart That's Pounding by Sally Saltman

Katie: I listened to the characters music that they were skating to. So my playlist was a lot of actual skating music.

What was the last book you read and loved?

Sandy and Katie: Kim's Book (Love Fortunes and Other Disasters)

Temple: I've been reading and enjoyed An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir.

Sandy: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli is also really good.

Thanks ladies for taking the time and letting me interview you!

Signing

After the interview the authors did a panel with author Carly Anne West ( The Murmurings) who moderated. Following the Q&A the authors opened it up for questions, had a signing, and posed for photos!

Katie Van Ark, Me, Temple West

I was also able to get this awesome group shot with all the authors and fellow blogger Rachel from Beauty and the Bookshelf! It was my first time meeting her even though we've known each other on the interwebs for ages.