with Stephanie Morrill

Patterings


Welcome to Patterings, Stephanie!
Tell us about your epiphany moment when you decided you were going to seriously pursue writing and eventually publication.
My elementary school really emphasized writing. Every day we had “writing time” for 15 or so minutes. We could write about whatever we wanted, and I thought it was the best part of the day. When you finished a story, you took it down to the “publishing house” which was a tiny room at the school. You picked out your cover and binding, then someone typed up the story and returned it to you. After you illustrated it, you read it to the class. I loved every single part of it except the illustrating, and from my first “book” on, I always told people I wanted to be a writer.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Time. I received my 3-book deal for the Skylar books when my daughter was six months old. Let me tell you, she did NOT care that mommy suddenly had lots of work she needed to do. I had to get very disciplined about my time. I felt God had called me to be both a mom and writer, so I tried to limit my activities to include only mommy-stuff and writer-stuff. In short, I had to learn how to say no.

Which of your books (published or upcoming) has been the most fun for you to write and which character is your favorite?
Out with the In Crowd felt like so much fun because it was new and I had a better idea about what I was doing. I rewrote the first book in the Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series, Me, Just Different, about five times over the period of 4 years. Being able to work on a fresh storyline with characters I already knew and loved felt like vacation.

Which character in your new release most interested you while you wrote?
Abbie.

Abbie is Skylar’s 15-year-old sister, and she’s incredibly pregnant. There was so much conflict surrounding Abbie that scenes with her came so easily.

What is your strangest habit?
Well, I don’t know if it’s my STRANGEST habit, but when I’m getting a soda, I tap the top three times with my nail before opening it. Every time. When I was a kid, someone told me if you did that, the soda wouldn’t fizz all over you, and apparently the habit stuck. I didn’t even know I did it until about a year ago when my husband was like, “Are you aware…?”

Are there things you put off doing because you dread them?
Mopping and dusting. With dusting, my husband usually just ends up doing it.

What would a perfect day for you look like?
Sleeping in. Amazing coffee and breakfast out. My 2-year-old daughter being in a fabulous mood and doing fun things like playing tea party and having her fix my hair. Lunch out with my husband and daughter, followed by my daughter taking a really long nap while I write. Cooking a really good, complicated dinner. Someone else doing the dishes.Then reading and having a popcorn date with my husband before going to bed early.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
Everything—if it’s good.
A year ago, I would have said, “Vampires? Ick! I don’t want to read about vampires!” And now I’m having intense conversations with friends who are “Team Edward,” and being given Twilight birthday cards because of how obsessed I am. I find any good story enjoyable.

Are there certain foods or snacks keeps the words flowing for you?
Pike Place Roast coffee from Starbucks.

Are there spiritual themes you like to write about?
I find myself talking a lot about God seeing you for who you are. I think that’s one of the reasons I love writing YA fiction so much. Especially as a teenager, I loved it when someone understood me.

What lesson is the Lord teaching you right now or recently taught you?
That I’m not in control.
After my little girl was born, I learned that I have major control issues. (When I voiced this to my husband, he said, “You didn’t know that?”) Day by day, I’m learning to turn more over to Him.

When is your next book due out and can you tell us about it?
Out with the In Crowd released this month. Skylar Hoyt may have vowed to change her partying ways, but it’s not so easy to change her friends. She’s trying hard to live a new life, but her old one is constantly staring her in the face. Add to that two parents battling for her loyalty, a younger sister struggling with a crisis pregnancy, and a new boyfriend wishing for more of her time, and Skylar feels like she can’t win.

Thanks for being us, Stephanie! It was fun getting to know you a litte! =)

You can find Stephanie online at www.StephanieMorrillBooks.com
and on her blog and you can purchase Out With the In Crowd from CBD and Amazon:

Stephanie is giving away a copy of Out With the In Crowd. To be entered in the book giveaway, leave a comment and check back on Sunday, Janurary 17th to see if you've won. You can enter twice--once on each post in this spotlight. If you want to guarantee that you're notified if you win, then leave your email address in the comment, otherwise, you can just check back and email me through the button in my sidebar.
**Annoying little disclaimer: This giveaway is open only to U.S. addresses. By clicking on the Amazon link above or in the sidebar, and purchasing, I will receive a very small percentage of the sale.

6 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:27 AM

    thanks for the opportunity to read this wonderful book :)

    karenk
    kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Enjoyed the interview! Stephanie sounds like someone I would enjoy hanging out with.

    cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for posting this nice interview. I enjoyed reading it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Interesting interview. Please enter me in the drawing. JoAnn

    joann4us(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'd love a chance to win this book. Please enter me, Thanks! Esther
    faith4u7(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  6. The interview was great!! :) Please enter me in the drawing. ~Abby

    ReplyDelete

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