Marcy Collier

All of the posts under the "Marcy Collier" category.

First Friday – Five Favorite Things – Debut Novel Day

We want to thank author Jill Hathaway for participating in our First Friday – Five Favorite Things – Debut Novel Day. We asked Jill to answer five questions about her novel Slide. On Friday, January 4, 2013 post, David Amaditz and Marcy Collier answered the same five questions about Jill’s debut novel.

1) What is your favorite line or paragraph from the novel as it relates to the main character’s development and/or growth?
Jill –  Toward the end of SLIDE, Vee and her father have a falling out. The fact that she’s able to move past his mistake is huge to me. Here are her thoughts on the matter:
“I look back at him, and I see my father for what he is. A man. He is just a man. One night, he drank a little too much and did something stupid. He made a mistake. But he is more than that mistake. He is the man who makes a lasagna, the man who holds my mother’s picture and cries when he thinks no one is looking, the man who makes broken babies whole. He is just a man. But he is a good man.”
2) What is your favorite chapter ending or cliffhanger?
Jill – Aaagh, this is so hard without spoiling the story! One of my favorite parts is at the end of chapter 20, but I can’t tell you why! It is just so satisfying. (At least to me.)
3) Who is your favorite secondary character and why?

Jill – Rollins is my favorite secondary character. He has a lot going on at home, and I really feel for him.
4) What is your favorite line or paragraph of description?

Jill – My favorite line is probably this: Yeah, maybe a little morbid, but true.
“It’s wrong that death is a loss. It’s something you gain. Death is always there, whispering in your ear. It’s in the spaces between your fingers. In your memories. In everything you think and say and feel and wish. It’s always there.“
5) What is your favorite line of dialogue?
Jill – Rollins tells Vee, “You’re about as delicate as an AK-47.” Hee.
We want to thank Jill Hathaway for participating in First Friday – Five Favorite Things – Debut Novel Day. 
You can find Jill at: 
Twitter – @jillscribbles
Amazon – Slide
Congratulations Jill on your debut novel Slide, and we look forward to reading the sequel, Imposter, coming out on March 26, 2013.

Dave Amaditz January 7, 2013 Leave A Comment Permalink

First Friday – Five Favorite Things – Debut Novel Day

by Dave Amaditz & Marcy Collier

SLIDE

Marcy and I are excited and proud to unveil the premier post for our new feature – First Friday – Five Favorite Things – Debut Novel Day. In this monthly series, we ask five simple questions about a debut novel that will hopefully entice anyone reading this post to pick up the novel and read it themselves. We also want to give our readers some insight into the author’s writing style and voice as well as how some of the characters might think or act. We do this by presenting, first, answers to our Five Favorite Things, followed by the author’s answers in a follow-up post.


This month we’re pleased to highlight debut author, Jill Hathaway’s, novel Slide.


1) What is your favorite line or paragraph from the novel as it relates to the main character’s development and/or growth?


Dave – This passage comes from fairly early in the novel, but gives me so much insight into what the main character is thinking and feeling.

 “My left hand hovers over my sister’s shoulder. I feel like I should rub her back the way Sophie’s mother rubbed hers when she was upset, but I can’t quite bring myself to do it. Something in the gesture would be false. I can’t offer her the comfort she needs right now. In order to give something, you need to have it inside of you to give. And right now there’s nothing inside me at all.”


Marcy – Vee treasures her mom’s CD collection, but right now she knows that her sister needs the music more. Vee understands that her sister doesn’t remember as much about their mom, and she gives up this treasured keepsake to help her sister.

 “When I’ve loaded the CDs all back into the box, I push the flaps closed and carry it to my sister’s room. She hasn’t returned from breakfast yet, so I place the box on her unmade bed and leave the room. I’ve attached a pink Post-it note. It says: This is who she was. Love, V.”


2) What is your favorite chapter ending or cliffhanger?


Dave – There were many great chapter endings, but I chose this one from early in the novel.

“I hear the man set the phone down. A second passes, stretching out into forever. Another second. Another.

And then the screaming begins.”


Marcy – This ending kept me up at night. I had to see what happened next!

“But she won’t wake up, no matter how hard I shake her. I grab her arms and drag her off the couch. I can barely see my way to the door. Gasping, I take in a mouthful of blackness. The smoke invades my lungs, and I feel myself choking. Everything goes black.”


3) Who is your favorite secondary character and why?


Dave – Rollins is my favorite secondary character because he is so strong and confident at times, yet so vulnerable at others to being hurt by the ones he loves. He’s just like one of us.


Marcy – Rollins is my favorite secondary character. He is this quirky, eclectic guy who has a heart of gold and can be quite a rebel. He has a unique style and shows Vee how much he cares about her through his thoughts, words and actions like finding vintage t-shirts for her or making sure she’s okay after she blacks out. We see he has an even bigger heart when we learn about his home situation, but I won’t spoil it for those of you who haven’t read the novel yet!


4) What is your favorite line or paragraph of description?


Dave – There were so many to choose from, but in the end, I picked this passage, as it gives me a snapshot of the main character’s life.

“I scoop the pancakes onto a plate. I spend a long time standing in front of the refrigerator, looking at a picture of my mom when she was in college, tan and skinny and smiling, with blond hair and a white tank top. Below it, there’s a picture of my sister at her eighth-grade graduation. Dad and I stand on either side of her, giving her double bunny ears. On any other fridge, this would look like a happy collage of memories, but on our fridge it’s a mockery of what once was, what could have been. A happy family.”


Marcy – I loved this line – it painted such a clear picture for me of the two girls.

“The girl is Mattie. She is my sister and my exact opposite in every way. If she’s the pink glitter on your valentine, I’m the black Sharpie you use to draw mustaches on the teachers in your yearbook.”


5) What is your favorite line of dialogue?


Dave – This is spoken by the main character Vee.

“It’s just a really weird time for me,” I say finally. “With this whole Sophie thing and my sister freaking out. I feel like I’m stuck in this nightmare and everyone’s insane but me. Or maybe I’m the one who’s insane. I don’t know.”


Marcy – Need I say more? Who wouldn’ t be intrigued by this line.

“Really? Conjoined twins?”

Look for Slideauthor Jill Hathaway’s responses for First Friday – Five Favorite Things – Debut Novel Day on Monday, January 7, 2013!

You can find Jill at:

Twitter – @jillscribbles

Amazon – Slide

Dave Amaditz January 4, 2013 Leave A Comment Permalink

Literary Rambles: Agent Spotlight… Part Two

by
Dave Amaditz and Marcy Collier



Casey McCormick
We hope that all of you had a nice holiday with friends and family.
This past Friday, December 23, 2011, we posted part one of a two-part interview with Casey McCormick, from Literary Rambles. The first part mainly focused on her blog, the history and what is required to maintain the site. Today, we’ll talk mainly about how creating this site has affected her writing career. Let’s get to the interview questions.
So grab a cup of coffee and what’s left of your holiday cookies and enjoy the interview.


Dave and Marcy: How long have you been writing for children?

Casey: I’ve been writing for children for four years.
Dave and Marcy: When reading your blog I have noticed that you have not yet submitted your work to agents because you feel your writing is not ready to submit. You’ve obviously read enough comments from agents to know that that is a wise choice. Do you feel you’ll have something ready to submit soon? Do you have a pitch ready? How do you feel about the importance of a one line pitch?

Casey: I don’t expect to have anything ready to submit anytime soon, no. The truth is, I’m extremely insecure and self-critical and it gets in the way of my writing hugely. Until I can find some self-confidence and a process that really works for me, I don’t think I’ll be ready for a professional career in writing. 
I’m beginning to think I belong on the other side of the desk, to be honest. The time I’ve spent helping other writers compared to the time I’ve spent actually writing suggests I enjoy the former more than the latter!
Dave and Marcy: I used to be able to pick up a book and read from beginning to end no matter what flaws were contained within. Now, as a writer who values a good critique of my own work, my critiquing skills are always on high alert, and I find it impossible to simply read a book or manuscript and accept what has been laid out in front of me without thinking it would have been better had something been written differently. Has this happened to you? Do you wish for a time when you were able to pick up any book and read from beginning to end without thinking about what could have been changed? Or, does your ability to critique a manuscript make you appreciate that much more for those manuscripts and books that are really done well?

Casey: I am definitely a far more critical reader than I used to be, but it really depends on the book. There are books throughout which my inner editor screams and screams, but there are books that are so good I struggle to be critical of them at all. Overall, I’d say it makes me appreciate good books more. I like being a mindful reader.
Dave and Marcy: How has your new blog partner, Natalie Aguirre helped develop the blog?

Casey: Natalie not only helps me with much needed updates, but she does amazing interviews and giveaways each week. She also started the “Ask the Expert” series, where she interviews teens about their reading habits. Best of all, having her as a partner has allowed me to step back and give my family more of my time, and I’m extremely thankful for that. Literary Rambles would be really quiet right now without her!
Dave and Marcy: How has interning for an agent helped further your writing and editing skills?

Casey: Interning has been an incredible experience. I’m exposed to a wide range of writing ability and it’s helped me develop a better sense of what works, what doesn’t, and what really stands out. It also forces me to be critical, so I’d like to think I’m constantly developing new editorial skills as well.
Dave and Marcy: What is the most important tip you could give to a writer seeking representation?

Casey: Don’t forget that the main reason you need an agent is to SELL your project and future projects. If an agent (however nice and legit) doesn’t have strong connections with editors in NY, they’re probably going to be a waste of your time and writing. If not initially, down the road.
Check agency websites for deal news, subscribe to Publisher’s Marketplace (even for just a month), research clients (who they are, what they’ve pubbed, how long they’ve been with the agent, if available), and make knowing a priority. If the information simply isn’t available, make a note to ask during “the call” in the event you get an offer.
You want an agent who is actively making deals with the kind of publishers you hope to publish with (big six? specialty?), and the more deals they make in the genre you write, the better. 

Marcy and I would like to thank Casey for taking the time to answer all of our questions. If you haven’t checked out Literary Rambles  (http://caseylmccormick.blogspot.com/), please do. It’s a terrific blog! 

Dave Amaditz December 26, 2011 6 Comments Permalink

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