SIDELINED by Kendra C. Highley (Interview/Giveaway)

I’m excited to have Kendra C. Highley here today for an interview as part of the SIDELINED Blog Tour! Check out the book below and my Q & A with Kendra, then be sure to enter the giveaway in the Rafflecopter below.

SIDELINED 
by Kendra C. Highley
September 23, 2013 / Entangled TEEN

What inspired you to want to become a writer?

I’ve always loved books. My dad taught me to read before Kindergarten by spending time going over the Richard Scary books. By the time I was in grade school, I was reading everything I could get my hands on, and making up stories of my own. It never dawned on me, though, that writing was my true passion, until my mom made an off-hand comment after reading a short story I wrote in tenth grade. “You should write a book!” she said. I blew it off, but loved reading so much I majored in English Lit at the University of Oklahoma.

After my mom passed away (I was eighteen), a seed grew in my mind…maybe I should write a book. Then, life happened. I got married, started a career and had two precocious kiddos. It wasn’t until my youngest started Kindergarten that the words finally found a way out. And I realized, then, that my mom must’ve been nudging me all along.

If you could have any superpower what would you choose?

I used to think I’d want to be able to fly, but that takes too long. Instead, I want to be able to teleport myself anywhere I feel like going – like apparating in Harry Potter. Instant commute!

Is there a song you could list as the theme song for your book or any of your characters?

“Paradise” from Coldplay’s Mylo Xyloto album is totally Genna’s song. The first time I heard it, when I was working on the draft of Sidelined, I felt like the band had written it about her, it fit so beautifully.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

I was really lucky to meet Laurie Halse Anderson at an event in Dallas three years ago. When she signed my couple of Forge, she told me she was going to give me the most important piece of advice any writer could hear. At the bottom of the page in my book, she wrote: “P.S. Don’t Quit!” I’ve lived by that advice since. There have been some rough roads getting to this point, and it’s only by staying focused, keeping positive and honing my craft that I made it this far. My favorite analogy is about how coal becomes a diamond: time and pressure. Writing is a lot like that.

What’s your favorite quote?

“Hope can be a powerful force. Maybe there’s no actual magic in it, but when you know what you hope for most and hold it like a light within you, you can make things happen, almost like magic.” –Laini Taylor, Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Do you have a hidden talent?

I played the violin from third grade through my freshman year in college. I quit after that because I was doing it for fun (sitting last chair) and the music majors didn’t seem to like me mucking up Don Giovanni. Plus, I was in the marching band, as part of the colorguard, through high school and college.

What is your guilty pleasure?

I’d have to say dark chocolate M&Ms and Haribo gummi bears. I eat some nearly every day and it’s my “fuel” for writing.

Thanks to Kendra for answering my questions, and Rockstar Book Tours for having me as part of blog tour! Readers, be sure to enter the giveaway in the Rafflecopter below.

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule

Week 1

9/23/2013- Curling Up With A Good Book– Review

9/24/2013- A Book and a Latte– Interview

9/25/2013- Emilie’s Book World– Review

9/26/2013- I’ll tumble for YA– Guest Post

9/27/2013- Sweet Southern Home– Interview

Week 2

9/30/2013- Bookish Things & More– Guest Post

10/1/2013- Sarah Elizabeth’s Bookshelf– Review

10/2/2013- Avery’s Book Nook– Guest Post

10/3/2013- Once Upon a Twilight– Review

10/4/2013- BookHounds YA– Interview