Breathless Reads Tour

by Nora
February 16, 2013; RJ Julia Booksellers, Madison, Connecticut
Authors: Beth Revis (Across the Universe), Fiona Paul (Venom), Jessica Spotswood (Born Wicked), Elizabeth Richards (Black City), and Morgan Rhodes (Falling Kingdoms)
(with surprise audience member Lauren DeStefano!)
2013 Breathless Reads Tour

I just want to start off by saying I love RJ Julia. It's so cozy and comfortable (and the café makes an amazing cupcake ;D) and I could spend hours in there browsing the enormous YA selection.

Anyway, the five fabulous authors started with a question they've all probably answered a hundred times.

Why write YA?

• Jessica Spotswood loved Gone with the Wind. It is one of her greatest inspirations. 
• Elizabeth Richards decided that young adulthood is an "interesting path of life."
• Beth Revis simply decided that adult books are boring.
• Morgan Rhodes declared that being a young adult is a time for self-discovery. It really is. In middle and high school, we're just beginning to realize what kinds of people we are, what kinds of things we truly enjoy doing, and who we would like to be. 

What were the authors currently reading?

• Jessica Spotswood- Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
• Elizabeth Richards- Cruel
• Beth Revis- Wither by Lauren DeStefano
• Fiona Paul- Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
• Morgan Rhodes- Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

How do you deal with Writer's Block?

• Jessica Spotswood uses a program called Write or Die. This program realizes if you don't write anything for a while, it eats away at your words and makes a terrible noise. I should try it. Also, she awards herself with stickers for every 1,000 words she writes. Another awesome strategy. She recognizes two types of Writer's Block:
• If you take a wrong turn in your story.
• If you're scared

• Elizabeth Richards says to write out of order. The only problem with writing out of order for me is the fact that I won't be able to put the pieces together. I won't beable to link the settings, the charcaters, the ordering of the plot, etc. 
• Beth Revis either kills off a character or blows up everything. Sounds like me.
• Fiona Paul and Morgan Rhodes say to PLOT OUT EVERYTHING. Fiona writes two books at one time. I feel like I'd mix up the two books. My brain would melt into mush. Not the kind of mush people eat, but...yucky mush (Sorry. That didn't make any sense.). And, of course, the thing that didn't even cross my mind, Morgan Rhodes says to eat lots and lots of ice cream. Off to the grocery store!

Favorite Books?

• Morgan Rhodes- Anna and the French Kiss (Stephanie Perkins), Vampire Academy, and any Stephen King.
• Fiona Paul- Along for the Ride (Sarah Dessen)
• Beth Revis- Narnia (C. S. Lewis), and Harry Potter (J.K. Rowling)
• Elizabeth Richards- Harry Potter, The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins), and Divergent (Veronica Roth). I was falling in more in love with her as the event went on!
• Jessica Spotswood- Gone With the Wind (Margaret Mitchell), Graceling (Kristen Cashore), and Guilt.

Writing Tips

• Fiona Paul says to read all you can and don't get discouraged by criticism.
• Beth Revis says not to give up.
• Elizabeth Richards says use a separate e-mail when talking with your editor. You could accidentally send them a party invitation.
• Jessica Spotswood tells the crowd not to be in a hurry or rush your writing.
• Morgan Rhodes advises to trust your gut.

(Left to Right) Morgan Rhodes, Fiona Paul, Nora, Beth Revis, Elizabeth Richards, and Jessica Spotswood. (Sorry for the bad quality!)

-Nora