Today, the lovely and talented Coleen Patrick has stopped by to talk about her fabulous debut YA novel, Come Back to Me. I’ve been following Coleen’s blog for a while now and I love her uplifting take on writing and life. Last week’s post to Give Yourself the Stamp of Approval really resonated with me and I’m delighted to have her here on my blog!
1) Challenge time…in just a sentence or two can you summarize what your book is about?
At the heart of the story, Come Back to Me is about hope, friendship, and love—and discovering the choice we have in terms of our own happiness.
2) Why did you choose to indie publish?
About two years ago, I’d been hearing a lot of buzz about blogging, author platforms, and indie publishing. I had two “finished” manuscripts at that time, but wanted a break from the query process. So, I decided to start blogging, figuring I’d give myself a year to decide on how I wanted to move forward.
In the meantime, I edited, wrote two more stories, connected with writers online, and learned so much more about the publishing business. I also started to become comfortable with the idea of the indie route. The more I researched it, the more I became interested. Maybe it’s because I’m the oldest of four siblings, but I loved the idea of being in charge!
3) What has been the hardest/most time-consuming part of the process?
The hardest part for me is the promotional aspect of the business. I’m not a natural salesperson! I’m working on finding strategies that work with my introverted personality, as well as pushing myself a little out of my comfort zone. I know it’s possible! I once thought starting a blog and interacting on social media was a huge stretch. I hope I will eventually find a rhythm for the promo side too.
4) What has been the most rewarding moment of your journey to date?
Connecting with readers! I always imagined what it would feel like to see (and hold) my book in print, but I completely underestimated the moment of meeting someone new and having them talk to me about my story and characters. Really awesome.
5) What’s next?
I’m working on a YA series—the first book will be out late fall. The story is about friendship, family, and how the main character, Grace, deals with falling in love with her best friend. The great thing about writing Grace’s story is that she’s funny.
BACK COVER BLURB
Whitney Denison can’t wait to start over. She thought she had everything under control, that her future would always include her best friend Katie… Until everything changed. Now her life in Bloom is one big morning after hangover, filled with regret, grief, and tiny pinpricks of reminders that she was once happy. A happy she ruined. A happy she can’t fix. So, she is counting down the days until she leaves home for Colson University, cramming her summer with busywork she didn’t finish her senior year, and taking on new hobbies that involve glue and glitter, and dodging anyone who reminds her of her old life.
When she runs into the stranger who drove her home on graduation night, after she’d passed out next to a ditch, she feels herself sinking again. The key to surviving the summer in Bloom is unraveling whatever good memories she can from that night. But in searching for answers, she’ll have to ask for help and that means turning to Evan, the stranger, and Kyle, Katie’s ex-boyfriend. Suddenly, life flips again, and Whitney finds herself on not only the precipice of happy but love, too, causing her to question whether she can trust her feelings, or if she is falling into her old patterns of extremes. As she uncovers the truth about her memories, Whitney sees that life isn’t all or nothing, and that happy isn’t something to wait for, that instead, happy might just be a choice.
AUTHOR BIO
Coleen Patrick grew up in New Jersey, Virginia, Michigan, Louisiana, and Indiana. Always being the new kid, she learned that books and friends are precious–and dessert. She never met a dessert she didn’t like (except for flan).
When she’s not writing, reading (or avoiding flan), she enjoys TV, arts and crafts, quoting movies, and trying to take cool photos.
She lives in Virginia with her husband and two kids.
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SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
Website/blog http://coleenpatrick.com/
Twitter @coleenpatrick https://twitter.com/ColeenPatrick
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/coleenpatrick
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/coleenpatrick/
Instagram http://instagram.com/coleenpatrick
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6980394.Coleen_Patrick
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PURCHASE LINKS (alternatively, all purchase links are also on my book page http://coleenpatrick.com/my-books/ )
Amazon (ebook or paperback) http://www.amazon.com/Come-Back-to-Me-ebook/dp/B00BPK0H4S/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1362580213&sr=1-2&keywords=come+back+to+me#reader_B00BPK0H4S
Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/292193
Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/come-back-to-me-coleen-patrick/1114821506?ean=2940044359246
Apple iBookstore https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/come-back-to-me/id617214528?mt=11
Sony https://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/coleen-patrick/come-back-to-me/_/R-400000000000000988203
