Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an unrepentant nerd. I love all things Star Wars. I’m raising a super army (my three kids) with advanced nerding powers, all specializing in their own nerdable areas. Some people mistake us for geeks.
I’ve written one picture book, four middle grade books (Liar Lindly Brandt Series and Hero Club), and two Young Adult novels (including Cheat Code).
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
CHEAT CODE.
This is going to sound lame, I had a dream about acid rain wiping out humanity and it was super gory in my dream. When I woke up, I was terrified to go back to sleep without a solution if I found myself dreaming about the acid rain violence again, so I told myself that if that happened again, to treat it like a game and be recoded onto a new level.
For some reason that worked! I was able to get back to sleep again. <3
I wrote out a basic premise for living inside a game world and CHEAT CODE unfolded.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I work full time and like spending evenings after work with my kids and husband, so I write after everyone else goes to bed. Usually from 10-12pm (or later). It’s rough because I’m not a morning person and have to be up at 6 or earlier. So most of my habits revolve around trying to stay awake all day so I can write at night. (I’m a night person, so staying awake after 10pm isn’t that big of a deal).
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Recently the Scythe series (Neal Shusterman) has influenced me. So well written.
I also love Josi Kilpack (Culinary Mysteries particularly) and Ruta Sepetys (historic fiction at its best).
When I find a writer I admire, I often try to learn what they do, their habits and techniques, so that I can try to apply some aspect of their influential powers to my own toolbox. I have yet to master the revision phase of going through each syllable for meter and flow like Ruta Sepetys does. I mean, she’s not only a genius, but she puts everything into her work.
What are you working on now?
I’m revising the second book in the Cheat Code series and working on a different work as well.
I have a few works in progress, most of them Young Adult (YA).
I’d love to revise my Middle Grade horror series, but haven’t gotten around to it yet.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have my own website www.aftenbrook.com
I like interacting with readers through social media and making posts about my work fun and engaging and not salesperson-y. I’m not a salesperson. I am fun though. 😉
I create quizzes sometimes, which I probably enjoy more than anything.
I have a publicist who is a genius and comes with plans and skills to help me be more effective on how, when, and why I promote. I’ve loved having someone to work with on marketing intentions and follow through.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be honest with yourself about the areas you’re not strong in, evaluate if there is an avenue available to you to strengthen those areas (possibly attending a writing conference could help with this).
Be honest about your time available, and what you can do with that time. I used to have more time before working full time, My goals were larger. I’ve fit my writing goals to my writing time.
Be honest about your strengths. You have strengths, find them, celebrate them, build them.
Find support for your writing–support at your level. Grow together. Support each other as you advance.
Be gentle with yourself as you travel through the writing world. It’s hard. But the nice thing is that most writers have ‘been there, done that’ and understand the feelings of writer roller coasters.
Honestly, keep learning. Keep finding ways to research your craft.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Trust no advice.
What are you reading now?
Just finished ‘People like us’, which is awesome! I was gifted several YA books, which I’m super excited to dig into. ‘Grit’ and ‘The upside of unrequited’.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep writing. Keep learning, Keep improving.
I need to finish revising book 2 for Cheat Code and get that to the publisher then finish revising my other secret project 😀
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Princess Bride–it’s always funny no matter how many times you read it.
You said books not 3 or 4 whole series?… Awww now I can’t include any series because I can’t have one book of seven, of one book of five. *sad face*
Where the Sidewalk Ends (or some other Shel Silverstien book of poems)
Survival guide
One would be a notebook so I could write my own stories
Author Websites and Profiles
Aften Brook Szymanski Website
Aften Brook Szymanski Amazon Profile
Aften Brook Szymanski’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account