Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in New Jersey with my husband, two kids & one over-indulged cat. I’ve always love to read. When I was young, I might imagine a story had a different ending or plot twist. Eventually, I started creating my own stories, but always thought the idea of publishing a book was just a dream. Over the years, I read voraciously and found that I enjoyed the young adult genre. The idea for Not Every Girl developed and I finally decided the time had come to give the “dream” a shot.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Not Every Girl is my debut novel. It is a young adult adventure/romance with a feisty heroine, a standoffish prince and a few crafty outlaws for good measure. The two main characters are thrown together on an unexpected quest to save their fathers with plenty of action along the way. Stories about knights, castles and adventure were always favorites of mine, so that was the jumping off point. First, I had the idea of this strong female protagonist and what her experience would be in a world full of men. I wanted her to be strong, but have enough self-doubt to resonate with readers as authentic. Of course, both character and plot evolved in different ways as I wrote, and not always in the manner I expected. But, the end result is more or less what I originally imagined.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to freehand write my manuscripts in notebooks before typing them into a computer. This makes me feel like a dinosaur sometimes, like I should be more tech savvy with my writing. For some reason, writing with a pen and paper makes my creative juices flow more freely. My first round of edits occurs when I finally type the work into a computer.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am a big fan of the classics. I remember reading Jane Eyre when I was younger and suffering from a broken-heart. It amazed me that someone, who had lived over 100 years ago, could so precisely capture every ounce of emotion I was feeling in the present day. Other than the classics, I am a big reader of YA. Of course, JK Rowling had a big influence on me (and everyone else in the world too!).
What are you working on now?
Right now I am working on the sequel to Not Every Girl. Now that she has proved herself in battle, Olivia has some new troubles to work through with Liam. It is exciting to be able to continue their story and I look forward to sharing it with everyone
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Although I am on several social media sites, I have found Instagram particularly helpful with promotion. Since my book is in the Young Adult genre, this is the platform my base readers are most likely to be on. I have connected with a number of bloggers, who have given me an honest review in exchange for a copy of my book.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
First, read a lot, especially in your chosen genre so you will know what publishers are looking for in a work. Second, don’t forget that publishing is a business, so make sure you learn about it while you are writing. It will help you immensely when it comes time to submit your work. Finally, be persistent and believe in your work don’t give up on your dream.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I read a quote that I believe was attributed to Nora Roberts. It basically said: “Write. You can edit a bad page, but you can’t edit a blank one.” This advice inspires me to write, even on days when the ideas are not coming easily.
What are you reading now?
Right now, I am reading Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas. It is the second book in the Throne of Glass series. I write YA, but I also genuinely enjoy reading YA. And, I love all the fandoms that have sprung up from different series.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I spend a good deal of time promoting Not Every Girl. I hope to get it into print form someday. And, as I mentioned before, I am working on the sequel to Not Every Girl.
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?
This is such an unfair question – it is like asking me to pick between my children. I suppose it would be Lord of the Rings, Pride & Prejudice and 100 Years of Solitude.
Author Websites and Profiles
Jane McGarry Website
Jane McGarry Amazon Profile
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