Aspiring Author Thursday: Introducing Madeline Bartos

I was so excited to interview this particular author. She is so sweet, hilarious, has an amazing blog and she's a teenager! How freaking cool is that? So, let's get on to the interview! :D

When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

Being the intelligent being that I am, I knew straight from the moment I was conceived. Alright. . . That’s totally a lie. I started out by writing poetry. Then Brooke (brookerbusse.blogspot.com) my poet/novelist/short story hybrid friend inspired and pushed me to write my first novel during NaNoWriMo. Then I got into blogging at the beginning of the year, and I realized being a writer was epic - and epic was what I wanted to be.

 It really is epic. And you're an awesome blogger. Just sayin'. ;)

Do you have a writing schedule, or do you just sit down whenever you get a spare moment?

Right now it’s summer, which translates to “the season where I have no responsibilities.” So right now I shun schedules. During the school year, I write as soon as I get home until I complete my set goal for the day. Writing usually comes before homework. (How many moms did I just shock?) I'm sure when the new school year rolls around I'll be much more organized as a writer. I never was organized before, but I recently tried it, and now I'm a bit compulsive.

It's nice being organized. I wish I were better...

Can you tell us a little about yourself? Random facts? Hidden talents.

I’m Madeline, almost Prudence. (My dad is a Beatles fan. My mom. . . Not so much.) I’m fourteen and love science, dance, golf, music, piano, writing, reading, blogging, and watching hockey. (Go Penguins!) I probably sound like a really disoriented person. Don’t worry - I am. I work as a soccer referee during spring and fall. In the summer, I unload vegetables from the back of shirtless boy’s trucks. (How lucky am I?) I’m extremely flexible and can put both feet behind my head. I’m destined to be a cat lady and wished that I lived in Quebec.

I heart soccer. How fun would that be to be a referee? :D And you ARE lucky working with shirtless boys! LOL

If you were stranded on a desert island, what is one thing you couldn’t live without? (Besides your family and a laptop of course.)

Bear Grylls. I’ll soak up the sun, and he can build the fire, get me some shelter, and find some coconuts.

Hopefully you don't have to drink any bodily fluids... Love that show, but it grosses me right out!

What is one book you could read over and over and over?

The Harry potter series. . . oh wait. . . "one book". Well, we'll just pretend the question said "What are some books you could read over and over and over." All seven books are lined up on my desk. My brother has recently become sort of an HP addict, I'm so proud! I love the world JK created - so inspiring!

Great choice! :D

What book are you dying to read this year?

This year I’m excited to read Darkspell, Wither, and The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. If I’m allowed to get ahead of myself, I’m excited for the 2012 releases of Slide, Incarnate, and Under the Never Sky.

Those all sound so amazing. I've never heard of Incarnate. Looking it up now ...

What genre do you write and why?

I guess the closest genre I can tie my writing to is dystopian. It’s just that it’s not the setting or tradition of most dystopians. I like writing with corrupt settings as sort of a message as in “do you know this could be what happens?” or “do you know this terrible stuff is happening - and you don’t know about it?”

Awesome! :)

Do you have any writing rituals? Music, silence, eating, ect.

I go through phases where I have to have a certain font in a strange (usually blinding) color. During first drafts, I have to write with loud music and my eyes closed. When focus is required, I need the music off. . . And my eyes open. Oh, and I recently became superstitious of the super brain powers pickles give.

I've never heard of anyone writing with their eyes closed. How on earth can you do that? I'll have to try it now. :)

Where do you come up with your ideas? Dreams, while driving, ect?

I’ve gotten all of my ideas in my bedroom, which is where my writing space is located. I recently moved my writing cove to an actual desk, so hopefully that doesn’t stop the creativity. I love reading the news, so many ideas come from there and the 1,265 songs my dad and I are hoarding away on my hard drive. I got an idea while riding in the car once and it was a completely different form of idea. A different setting, a different idea. Curious, huh?

The news is a great place to get ideas. I've gotten quite a few from there.

Any advice for other aspiring authors?

Push yourself. You need to be ambitious, and you need to be determined. Go big or go home. When you set a big goal and realize that it can’t be done, don’t give up on it, just modify it. Whatever you do, don’t give up on any goal you set. You may fail, but failure doesn't mean you just abandon the idea completely. You modify it. It's extremely helpful if you can have someone to punish you when you don't meet your goals. I heard of a guy fresh from college who paid $50 to his friend every time his goal wasn't met. He now has six published books.

Ha! I'd be broke if I paid someone when I didn't make a goal! LOL :) Great advice, Madeline.

Random Writing Question:Your MC has the power to change into any supernatural creature he/she wants. What would they choose and why?

A banshee. When someone is about to be killed, wailing would sure stop the hunters dead in their tracks and scare them out of their pants. She'd enjoy it, for sure.

Banshee's are awesome. I agree. :D

Thank you SO much, Madeline!! :D