"Where do your ideas come from?"

So I'm always getting asked where I come up with story ideas. I have such a hard time finding a way to answer this question. I mean my ideas come from everywhere but people tend to be underwhelmed with that response. Well, today I'm offering a glimpse into a writer's mind ... Brace yourself.

 

So in my neck of the woods it's harvest season. Today we gathered apples for cider. Yum! While spending half the day bent over picking windfalls my big, curious, goofy Great Dane stumbled on an underground bee's nest.

I look over and he's engulfed in a swarm. I immediately start running with him and swatting the bees off. One extra zealous bee even dive bombed me square in the eyeball. After all was said and done, all I wanted to do was get to my keyboard because I had the perfect scenario for my hero to get our heroine out of her clothes ...

And that's how it works.
So my answer is obviously bees.
My ideas come from bees. ;)

11 tips for aspiring authors

Recently I've been asked (frequently) for my professional advice. It's still strange to think of myself as accomplished enough to warrant giving others advice on writing and publishing but here I go anyway.

Advice from one writer to another.

11.) Be blindly optimistic.

It's the only way you're going to survive. There are so many storytellers in the world. There are so many of them who are better skilled with weaving a tale, they are smarter, and just deserve it more. You have to believe without a shadow of a doubt that you are worthy of being published too. You are worthy. Never ever lose this. It is your ticket. It's the only key. If you don't believe you are worthy, you'll never be able to withstand the beatings you'll take before you reach that first finish line. It's a tough ride but it's so worth it. Please believe that. It's worth it and so are you and so is your writing. Don't give up - no matter how hard it seems. Believe. Believe. Please believe.  

 

10.) Grow your characters.
Know your characters, inside and out. Get in their heads. You aren't just writing about things that happen to them you're building people - make them whole. No one is perfect, give them faults, give them a past, give them details that we may never - ever learn about. These are important steps because without knowing your character, you can't possibly know how they would react to whatever it is you're going to make them go through. If you're having trouble finding a plot - finding the conflict, then you don't know your characters well enough yet - keep on digging. Keep on building.

 

9.) Know the rules.

Beef up on your genre, know the rules for the genre, know the rules for writing, understand story arcs, and characterization. Know your grammar. Use the knowledge.

 

8.) Forget the rules.

Everything you just learned - forget. Give us some junk writing. Grab our attention. Illiterate! Fragment some sentences. Make your manuscript exciting to read but don't overdo it. A well paced, fluent, perfectly toned book with some tasty junkfood-type writing is not the same thing as a messy and riddled manuscript. Break the rules for a reason, not just for the sake of breaking the rules.

 

7.)Complete the R&R.

 If you get an R&R (Revise and Resubmit) do it. Revise it and resubmit it. You've got one foot in the door. They're handing you a map to your destination. An R&R is not a no it's a YES ... with stipulations. What's so great about this is that they are telling you upfront what it is they'd like to tweak about your manuscript. It's a heads up and most importantly a giant blinking sign that they are interested! Rejoice in it.

 

6.) Shop around.
Just because you are offered a contract doesn't mean that is the contract you deserve. Please, please, please read your contracts and take them to a professional and have them read your contract. Do not sign anything that makes you nervous. Talk to them about things that concern you, sometimes they will change the part you're having issue with, or at the very least explain to you why it's in your contract in the first place. If it seems fishy, get out, do not sign it. If you're being offered a contract by one publishing house, chances are another publishing house would be just as willing to publish you. Turning down a contract, even the very first one ever offered to you, is better than being locked (possibly indefinitely) into a bad contract - hands down.  

 

5.) Tighten your writing.

Your passion is a muscle and it must be exercised. Edit yourself and edit yourself and edit yourself until you are sick of reading your own manuscript and then stop. No one likes stiff writing and no matter how many times you go through that manuscript on your own you're never going to negate the need for someone else's eyes. You will need an editor. The most skilled and most honed author on the planet would still benefit from someone else's eyes, so long as that someone else has the manuscript's best interest at heart.

 

4.) Let go.

Yes, your manuscript is your baby. You created it, you birthed it, it is yours and no one will ever understand it or love it quite the same way, or with the same intensity that you do. You have the right and the responsibility to protect it but for it to reach it's full potential you'll have to make some tough decisions, and to do this you have to step away from it. Love your manuscript, woo it, treasure it, bask in it while you write and then put it away and pull it out again once you can look at it objectively - objectively enough that you can take a knife to it and start slicing away the pieces that (while probably wonderful and gorgeously written) may not be necessary to the story.

3.) Share only with people you most trust.
This is maybe not only important with your work but with everything in life. Create a vibrant, wonderful, safe environment with the people around you. Let go of negativity and the people who tend to brew it. Protect your work (and yourself) from people who only want to taint it and bring you down. You work hard, you poured your heart into your manuscript, it came from your mind. It's a piece of you. It deserves honesty and constructive criticism - what it and you don't deserve is cynicism and jealousy.  

 

2.) Write.
It's that simple and that hard. Write everyday. Write all the time. Write in your mind even when you can't physically be writing. Write. Write. Write. Write. Especially write when you don't want to. Force it when it doesn't want to come naturally and eventually you'll have it mastered - it'll be tapped and ready for you whenever you need it. Write. That's the most important part of being a writer. Write.

 

 1.) Step away from the keyboard.
I completely understand the allure of that thing. I understand what it feels like to be married to the story. I get it. I really do. But the best thing you can do for you and for your writing is to get away from it every once in awhile. Do not turn down that party invite, I don't care what your inner recluse writer wants or that the tiny quiet introvert voice is whispering for you to stay in, finish the book. No. Get up. Get dressed. Go out. That's where the living are and after all that's what and who we write about. You can't possibly write about anything interesting if you never experience anything interesting. Take chances. Say yes. LIVE! It feels good and your work can only benefit from it. 

 

Good luck! I'm rooting for you!

“Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you.” - Dr. Seuss

As an authority on love (go with me on this one...) As another woman and a romance author I feel I can speak openly to you on this matter.

We are inundated with the idea that to be desirable we must change who we are. Whether it be your interests, your ideas, your likes or dislikes, your looks, your make-up, your weight, your shape, your hair color...
We get it coming at us millions of times a day, at work, from family, from friends, from flyers in the store window, in your mailbox tucked under your windshield wiper. We're bombarded at the checkout lane at the grocery store, we're reminded at home via the radio, internet, the television...

8 Steps To Get Him To Notice you 
Catch Him With Ten Simple Steps
11 1/2 Things You Never Knew He Liked

7 Ways To Be Sexier
22 Moves To Rock His World
How To Keep Him Interested
How To Fake Interests In His Interests

Belly Blast Your Way To Dates
Lose Weight To Gain A Man (in just 6 weeks)
Make Up Tricks To Make Him Lose His Shit

 

Okay so I made these up but we've all seen articles titled like this. Headlines on our favorite magazines and once we break it down that's all the magazine is, an instruction manual on how to be anyone but yourself.

 

 Enough.

We've got to stop this. You want to know how to keep him interested?

Do you, because I'll tell you.
The answer is not really a secret.
You've got to stay interesting.
Want me to tell you how to do that?
Stop exhausting yourself with unrealistic goals. Stop wasting your precious energy and time worrying about being perfect, losing those last three and half pounds, squeezing into those jeans from middle school. It's time to give it up. It's time to stop looking at each other and gauging our worth in a once-over comparison.

Once we give this up imagine all the time we'll have to do the things that actually matter. To take that yoga class you've been wanting to take because it interests you - not because some magazine told you that doing yoga would instantly increase your sex appeal.

You'll have more time to peruse the library, reading whatever it is you want to read -- not whatever you think he might have read, what will make you seem intellectual, or whichever book screams SEXY to a man if he catches you reading it in the break room.

You'll have more time and energy to spend on truly getting to know yourself, time to fall in love with yourself, date you. Discover your likes and dislikes on your own. Who are you? Not who do you think you should be but who are you really?

& if the upside to this is that men find a woman who knows herself, appreciates herself, and takes care of her needs, and spends time doing things that honest to goodness actually interest her, to be incredibly sexy ... well, hell - look at that. A cherry on top.

 

Our worth is not skin deep, it is not measured in the number of dates we have, or catcalls we get walking down the sidewalk - it's really not. We should really try to stop dragging each other down because that doesn't actually build any of us up.

 

We all have strengths, we all have things that make us different, interesting, extraordinary. We all hurt, we all worry, we all have our insecurities - stop playing in to them. We all love, we all hope, we all have dreams. Let's stop clawing each other's eyes out to reach those dreams and goals, and most importantly let's stop beating ourselves up trying to get there.

 

 

 

Try loving you  -- I already do <3   

So this happened ...

A couple weekends ago I stood up in my cousin's wedding and I'm very good friends with the bride. The ceremony was beautiful and perfect, the reception was a blast. I gave a fantastic speech :)
and then later in the evening I was approached by one of the bride's cousins, but she didn't approach me as the bride's friend, Matron of Honor, or even as a cousin of the Groom. She approached me as Kelli Evans.
As in the author version of me!
"Kelli Evans?" she asked, "As in the author Kelli Evans?"
Shocked, I nodded. "Yep, that's me."
This has never happened before... and I don't know when it will happen again but it made me feel as if I'd finally arrived which was a much needed reaffirmation during a time when Chasing Dreams, my latest release is collecting polarizing reviews -- which incidentally also makes me feel as if I've arrived.
It was strange and wonderful being recognized as an author. It definitely blew up my ego a little ;)

What about you? Have you ever been recognized for what you do versus who you are?  

Chasing Dreams - Available August 1st

Legend says Niagara Falls has magical powers…

Selina LeClézio is no stranger to making mistakes. Sometimes she even seeks them out and makes them knowing full well what they are. But dating a tourist has never been on her list of mistakes to make. Even working on a boat tour of Niagara Falls and therefore seeing her fair share of prospects, none have ever seemed worth the risk … none, that is, until Nathan Lawson stepped onboard.

            Nathan Lawson is only in Niagara with his two best friends on vacation. He planned for a carefree time enjoying local brews, fishing, and—of course—a tour of The Falls. What he couldn’t have foreseen was meeting Selina and instantly growing close to her.  
          The two of them fall into a hot easy fling. Neither of them are bothered by knowing it can’t last, until the moment tragedy strikes and they are torn apart much too soon.
          Nathan is forced to return to the states just as Selina is thrust into her own personal struggles. Yet neither can forget the connection made between them.
          But even if they can overcome their own individual misfortunes, will they decide to chase their dream of being together? Or will it be left to the magic of The Falls to show them their destiny?



Excerpt: 
Nathan stared at the bottle in his hand and grew quiet for a moment. “People are trapped in history, and history is trapped in them.” 
 Selina stared at him for a moment before nodding. “Poetic.”
“Thank you.” Nathan finished his beer.
“I read the book though.”
Nathan’s eyes went wide. He was slow to bring his empty bottle down from his mouth. “Notes of a Native Son?” 
 Nathan winced, but followed it with a smirk he couldn’t keep hidden, though he appeared to be trying.
“James Baldwin,” Selina confirmed.
“It was a good one. I read it for my Classic Literature course.”
“Does that little routine usually work?” She couldn’t help the lilt in her voice. She was amused by this. It was obscure really. She’d bought a box of aged books at a garage sale for two dollars. She loved old books and that book just happened to be in the box.
That line had struck her when she’d read it. If it had been any other line from any other book she might not have been able to catch him in this, but that line spoke to her. Obviously it had spoken to him as well or he would never have thought to quote it and try to claim it as his own.
“What routine?” Nathan played dumb.
“Plagiarizing for the sake of getting into a girl’s panties?”
Nathan looked as if he was nearly ready to spit out his drink he was so surprised. Selina was quite pleased with his reaction.
“I must say,” Nathan began once he recovered. “You’re the first one to ever call me on it.”
Selina tried desperately to hide how much that delighted her. “Well, let me also be the first to tell you, that with me, you do not have to try so hard. I’ve already made my mind up about you.”

Michigan Author Spotlight with Robin Nadler

Today we’re spotlighting Robin Nadler! Hey Robin why don’t you tell us a little about yourself?

Well, I am full time high school English teacher and writer. I love the classics and teaching Shakespeare is a passion. I spend a lot of my time with my little zoo at home. I have a dog (Moochie), a parrot (Tony) and three bearded dragons (Gherkie, Relish and Dill).

Sounds like fun!
So tell us where you’re published? I am independently published

Are you available in print? In eBook?

Yes! I am everywhere. I am available in every e-form, on iTunes, Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, whatever is out there, I think I’m there. I’m also available in print through Amazon.

 

Sounds great. What genre do you write?
 Women’s fiction, contemporary romance.

 

Oh that’s my number… I’m a contemporary romance girl too.
Are you originally from Michigan or just residing here now?
Born and raised in the mitten!

We know you are a Michigan Author but do you consider yourself a “Michigan Author”? Do your stories take place in Michigan?

I do. My stories take place in and around Ann Arbor. I write a series and it surrounds 3 couples, 2 of which are doctors at the University of Michigan hospital.

One of my characters heads up the Mott Children’s hospital surgical wing.

 

Tell us a bit more about your work.
I write a series called “Family by Choice” and there are nine books out as of June. It is a series that revolves around 3 couples: Jack and Stephanie, Tommy and Brittany, and Bill and Julie. The first three books in the series heavily focus on one couple and after that, they are all intertwined. If you are just starting the series, I recommend starting with “If Only” which introduces my heroine, Brittany. She is a fiery redhead with a secret past that is about to come back and threaten everything she holds dear. She is determined never to let anyone into her heart and as much as she tries, she can’t help the feelings she has when Tommy is near. He makes her feel safe and desirable and those are things she never thought she would feel again. She just doesn’t want to be alone anymore. The following is an excerpt that comes after Tommy has rescued Brittany from a tense situation. She wants to spare him, but a small glimpse into his heart causes her to reconsider.

 

Excerpt from If Only:

 

She looked at him, her chin quivering. “Just because you say the right things, doesn’t make them true. You don’t know what he is capable of, Tommy. You don’t know what he could do to you, just to hurt me.”

He knelt on the floor facing her and took her face in his hands. “Just because you think the worst things doesn’t mean they will happen, either. What will it take for you to trust me and let me in?”

She looked down and was silent for a minute before meeting his gaze. “I can’t.  I don’t know how.” She said softly. 

“Then I’ll help you. First we need to clean you up and get some food in your stomach. Then we’ll go from there.” He stood up and picked her up in his arms. She offered no resistance and he walked into the bedroom and placed her on the bed. He went to gather some supplies. He looked in the mirror and sighed at his reflection. He didn’t know how to help her and he was beginning to wonder if he could. He picked up everything he needed and walked to the bedroom only to see saw she was gone. He ran through the rooms and called for her, but heard nothing. “Fuck,” He swore and grabbed his keys before running out of the house where he saw her sitting on the steps in the cold. He took her arm and she let him help her back inside. They sat down on the couch and he looked at her. “Please don’t do this,” he said to her. “It’s like you want to die.” He smoothed her hair and wiped her tears. “Do you?”

She shivered and shook her head. “I used to think so. I used to wonder what my purpose was, but now I think I might know.” She looked at him. “Maybe there is more to life than pain and loneliness for me. You have shown me nothing but compassion and I have shut you off at every turn. I am a coward, Tommy. I don’t know how to let anyone into my life without thinking about pain.” She took his hand in hers and smiled a tiny smile. “I don’t think that of you at all in my heart, but I don’t know how to change what’s in my head. I am so scared of hurting you and I am so scared of being alone. I don’t know how to figure it out.”

He smiled. “That’s the problem with you, Red, you think way too much about everything.” He leaned in to her and traced a line around her forehead. “Does that hurt?” He asked.

“No,” she said softly.

He traced the line to her cheek. “That?”

She shook her head.

He leaned in closer to her and traced his finger across her lips. He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. He kissed the back of her hand and she felt her tears fall again. “Did I hurt you?” He asked her, concerned at her tears.

“No,” she said. “Not at all.”

“Good. How about I help you get warm and cleaned up.” He said. He took her into the bathroom and she sat on the closed toilet seat. “You should take your clothes off and put this towel on.” He turned to leave, but she stopped him.

“If you just hand me that towel, I would like you to stay. I am not feeling very steady.” She said.

He nodded and handed her the towel. Her hands shook as she tried to unbutton her top. He put his hands on hers and looked at her. “Let me help you.” He unbuttoned her top and let her put the towel in front of her before he pulled the material off her shoulders. He sucked in his breath as he looked at her back. “I think we should check your platelets. You are bruised worse than before on your back.” He helped her wrap the towel around her back and tucked it into the front.

“I fell into the table before I got away and I’m sure that’s what it’s from. I always bruise easily, I have fair skin and it seems when I bump into something it turns black and blue. We can check, but don’t worry.” She said.

He helped her stand up while she stepped out of her yoga pants. The towel was long enough to cover her to her knees and she sat back down. Tommy looked at her foot and put on his gloves. “What happened to your foot? Do you remember?” He worked on cleaning around the cuts and swelling. He was as gentle as he could be, but her foot was a mess.

“It was how I got away.” She said and he looked up at her. “He wanted me to wear that dress for him, but I put it on over my clothes. I didn’t want to take my clothes off, you know? I didn’t want,” she stopped as the memory came out. Tommy listened with a lump in his throat but let her talk.

“When he came back in, he was really mad that I didn’t take my clothes off, so I told him that I wanted to put on a show for him, take my clothes off while he watched,” she felt fresh tears fall as she closed her eyes, remembering. “I didn’t know what else to do, I was so scared. There was nothing I could find to use, so I had pulled my shoe off, hoping I could hit him with the heel. I had it behind me.” Tommy stopped what he was doing and looked at her, wanting her to know she was safe and he didn’t feel any pity for her, just admiration. “He seemed really pleased at that and came over to me and held me to him, starting to touch me again.” She wrapped her arms around her middle as if to protect herself instinctively. “I grabbed my shoe and hit him with all my might in the head with the heel.” She looked at him, her horror mirrored in his face. “He threw me into the table and that’s how I cut my abdomen and hurt my back. I just got up and ran as fast as I could. I knew my foot was getting cut up but I couldn’t stop, you know? I had to get away from him. I had to get away. I couldn’t let him touch me again.” She said and looked at him as her tears fell.

Tommy didn’t think, he just put his arms around her and held her. She was frozen for a moment, not remembering the last time a man held her. He was strong and protective and she didn’t want to stop him. After a few moments she sat back.  “Sorry you asked?” She smiled.

He shook his head. “Not in the least. I would just like the chance to kill that son of a bitch.” He stood up and grabbed some bandage materials.

“You know, that’s why it would be best if I went home tomorrow.” She said and he turned again to protest. “It’s not that I don’t want to be here, but because I am, you are under a lot of stress and you are also in danger. You have a good life here, Tommy. Your sister and brother in law are moving closer and you have a niece or nephew on the way. Your sister was given a clean bill of health and your best friends are going to be parents. I am a complication that isn’t necessary.” She stood up and gingerly stepped on her newly bandaged foot. She almost lost her footing and when she went to grab the counter her towel fell off. Tommy caught her before she fell, his strong arms supporting her. He helped her sit back down and put the towel back on her.

“Everything you said is true. I have all of those things going for me. But one thing you didn’t mention was that none of those things are mine. I don’t want to live my life vicariously through everyone else. I deserve more and so do you. I love my sister and I couldn’t be happier for her. I adore Stephanie and Jack is like my brother, so I am ecstatic for them, but at the end of the day, I am alone in this world and up until now, I didn’t care. Now I do, and you leaving won’t take that away.” He knelt down and looked at her. “Please let me into your world.”

She listened to his words and for a small moment, a tiny piece of her resolve cracked. She leaned in and gently kissed him on the cheek. She leaned her cheek on his and held his face with her hand. She sat back and looked into his emerald eyes. “Okay,” she said softly. “Okay.”

 

 

You set your books in Michigan, is it because of that old adage “Write what you know” or is it something else?

I think a little of both. I love Michigan and the seasonal changes make writing such fun. I think our State is beautiful and clean and I can’t think of a better backdrop :)

 

What is your favorite thing about Michigan?
The weather changing so often (although I realize it can get annoying when it’s the same day).

Okay now some just for fun questions …

Salt Water Taffy or Mackinaw Island Fudge: Taffy! I don’t like fudge.
You are the very first person to choose Taffy :) Which I love.
The Island or the city:  City
Trolls VS. Yoopers – your vote: Trolls
Your favorite Michigan Season:  Fall
Michigan or Michigan State: I know I set my stories at U of M, but State all the way. (don’t ask)
Haha! Okay.
Football or Hockey: Both
Your favorite Michigan City: Traverse City Your favorite Michigan Lake: Lake Michigan
Your favorite Michigan Hideaway: Any bed and breakfast on the way up North
Paradise or Hell: Hell- builds character.
What’s your favorite Michigan Highway: M14
Favorite Michigan tourist activity: Apple Picking

And finally what’s next for you? Book 10 (yet to be named) comes out in September.

How can we keep up with you? Give us your social media stats ;)
Facebook page: facebook.com/robin.nadler.56
Twitter: @buka163090
Blog/webpage: www.nadlersnovels.com
Thank you so much for coming out today Robin and hanging with me. It’s been fun!
And if any of you have any questions for Robin or I, as always you can leave them in the comments below.  

Michigan Author Spotlight With J.L. Hickey

Our Michigan Author Spotlight series is nearing a close here at the end of the week with J.L. Hickey.
J.L. It's great to have you here. Why don't we start this whole thing off by having you introduce yourself.

 

I began writing short stories back in first grade, terrible stick figures included. Writing has always been a part of my life. In high school I spent many days in my room writing for different websites for fun. After a few years of changing my major in college, I finally decided to follow my heart and graduate from Saginaw Valley State University with a Bachelor’s in creative writing. During my college years I managed to get a short published in Delta’s literary magazine Fuzion. Beyond that, I never wrote for publication. It was all for fun, and I never really thought I would ever make money from it. Fast forward to now, two novels self published and a novella as well. My newest YA novel, Secret Seekers Society is receiving rave reviews all over the world.

 

And are these books available in print? In eBook?
My first novel the Deity Chronicles is available in print. As for the rest of my works, I find it at this stage in my career that the digital format is the most profitable and affordable for myself and my fans.

 

What genre do you write in?
My novels are YA fantasy/paranormal. Outside of my published works, I do dabble in literary fiction.

And are you originally from Michigan or just residing here now?

Born and raised in the mitten!
Me too :)

We know you are a Michigan Author but do you consider yourself a “Michigan Author”? Do your stories take place in Michigan generally?
Some do, some don’t. I often make references to Michigan, and unless you’re Pure MI, you may or may not pick up on them.

 

Tell us a bit about your latest work.

Since Secret Seekers Society’s release on 12/31/12, it is averaging a 4.6 out of a five star review system on goodreads as well as a solid five star review from amazon.com.

 

I was also able to raise over 1200$ for funding the books editing, formatting, and book cover through a successful kickstarter campaign. Gaining pledges from over three countries based off a first chapter sample. 

 

Secret Seekers Society and the Beast of Bladenboro follows the young protagonists Hunter Glenn, and Elly Ann through an adventure ripe with adversity, paranormal monsters, secret societies, and most haunting of all, a life without their parents.

 

The book follows both, the sibling’s emotional struggle from their parent’s sudden loss, as well as their physical journey into a new and strange “home”, an ancient and creepy mansion known only as the Belmonte Estate.

 

It is here where they first learn of their new guardian, an eccentric old man named Professor Clandestine and the rest of the mansion's caretakers. Tossed into their bedroom, and locked away under the pretense of “safety concerns” it does not take long for the children to hatch an escape plan.

 

Follow the children as they slowly unravel the secrets of their parent’s true identities, the origin of the strange Mansion, and their inheritance into an ancient secret society of monster hunters known as Seekers.

 

for more info on my book:

www.SecretSeekersSociety.com

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17202596-secret-seekers-society-and-the-beast-of-bladenboro

 amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Seekers-Society-Bladenboro-ebook/dp/B00B8W2JZS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371498344&sr=8-1&keywords=secret+seekers

 Sounds great! I actually can't wait to get my hands on these.

Now back to our state - What is your favorite thing about Michigan? Summer nights up north in Petosky, Mi. Talk about a writer’s haven! There is something about northern Michigan that really gets my creative juices flowing. Staying up late by the lake with my lap top and a beer is what life is all about. Yeah that does sound pretty good.

Okay now some just for fun questions …

Salt Water Taffy or Mackinaw Island Fudge:  Fudge, duh. The Island or the city: City Trolls VS. Yoopers – your vote: Trolls for life! Your favorite Michigan Season: Fall Michigan or Michigan State: State, only because I am a huge fan of Jason Richardson. Football or Hockey: Hockey
Your favorite Michigan City: PetoskyYour favorite Michigan Lake: Crooked Lake. Your favorite Michigan Hideaway: Posniewaing, Mi Paradise or Hell: Paradise, who choses hell?Haha - you'd be surprised ;) What’s your favorite Michigan Highway: US 10??? Your favorite book that showcases Michigan: Michigan Ghost Stories, or something to that extent. That book gave me nightmares when I was a kid! The grass man!
And finally what’s next for you?

With the huge success of Secret Seekers Society and the Beast of Bladenboro, I am hard at work on book two of the series. With that being said, I am trying to balance time between writing, promoting, querying for agents, and all that falls in-between. Also, as I near closer to the finished version of the second book, I am slowing putting together a new Kickstarter campaign in order to fund everything that comes with the debut. Secret Seekers Society and Solomon’s Seal is set for a December 19^th 2013 release date!
How can we keep up with you? Give us your social media stats ;)
 www.facebook.com/josephlaurencehickey
 @jlhickey81www.secretseekerssociety.com
 www.booksie.com/jlhickey

Thanks so much for stopping by today J.L. Hickey and as always leave a comment or question and one of us will respond to it.

Oh! And for those of you who don't already know The Secret Seekers Society will be free to download tomorrow and Sunday! So I for one will certainly be taking advantage of that.
Thanks again J.L. Great to have you!