Aspiring Author Thursday: Introducing Erin Summerill

Today I'm excited to have Erin with me! She is one of my newer writer friends, but she is the nicest person ever! And did I mention she's hilarious? Check out her blog, here. :) You will NOT be disappointed! :D

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

Growing up, I loved writing short stories. But it wasn't until my second year of teaching high school English that I decided to write a book. That year I made a goal to read every book that the kids read. Well, there were a lot of books that I fell in love with, and a lot that didn't thrill me. So I figured writing couldn't be that hard, right? Ha. So very wrong. Still plugging away on that goal.

You taught high school English? I totally wanted to do that. And then I thought of all the papers and essays I'd have to grade...

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

I write something every day. Even if it's just a line. My kid's nap time works best, or late at night. I don't do early. Not at all.

I didn't do early until this year. And I still have a hard time getting up. Oh well. Maybe I'll get used to it someday. Or not.

Could you tell us a little about yourself? 

I started teaching aerobics fourteen years ago because I HATED working out. I figured I'd stick with it till I learned to love it. Now I love it and I can't stop. The only time I hate it is after I've stayed up till three in the morning reading. Like last night. Ugh. Today's class blew.
I like to take pictures, and sometimes people pay me for it. Which, frankly, is pretty cool. Mostly I like to shoot people kissing. That's not weird. Is it?

FYI, her pictures are AMAZING. Seriously.

Random facts? 

I don't wear deodorant. Ever.

Ha! I wish I could get away with that! ;)

Hidden talents?

Nada.


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.)

Books. I buy books as often as I buy shoes. So I guess shoes too! Add an icy Coke Zero and a bag of M&Ms, and I'd be sitting pretty.

Okay. I heart you even more now. M&M's are pretty much the best thing ever.

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

I can't. For some reason I really can't re-read books. It makes me feel anxious.

He he. :)

What book are you dying to read this year? 

I just read these three after waiting all year for them:
The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa (Perfect final book. Great hero's journey.)
Tiger's Voyage by Colleen Hueck (Now I'm dying for the next installment.)
Prized by Caragh O'Brien (LOVED THIS! And hated one part. sigh.)

I'm dying to read The Iron Knight. I gotta get on that. And Prized. I've been looking forward to that one since I read Birthmarked last year. Too bad you hated one part though. Which means, I'll probably hate it too I'm guessing.

What genre do you write and why?

I write YA. My current WIP is a contemporary spy novel with a killer romance. I mostly read YA, so it makes sense to write YA. And I'm a geek all the time, so it's easy to get into my young adult character's mind.

Yay for spys! Another yay for romance, and a double yay for geeks! :D

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

Coke Zero and M&Ms - Always.

I'm curious. Are you a plain girl or peanut girl?

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

Daydreaming during really boring meetings for my other jobs. Shh, don't tell.

Ha! My lips are sealed.

Any advice for other aspiring authors? 

Keep at it. I once took a class from Brandon Sanderson. And the number one tip I took away from all his awesomeness was that writing is a skill of time. The more time you invest the better you get.

Great advice. I still have to read one of his books...

Random Writing Question: If you could rewrite a main character in any book, who would it be and why? It doesn't have to be because you hate the character either. ;)

Katsa from Graceling.
She's pretty much a kick-A protag, that rocks. But I couldn't get past her commitment issues. I don't want to give away the ending of the book for those that haven't read it. But I would've arched her character to learn and grow in that area so the ending was, well, better.

I AGREE!! Thank you so much for being here today, Erin! 

*Also, I'm taking Thanksgiving and all of December off from interviews. Too much craziness to keep on top of things. If you'd like to be featured on my blog in January, shoot me an e-mail anytime! :)