Interview with Laura Toeskoetter (Lala)

Writer Interviews are interviews conducted by me with other writers in the blogging community.  From these interviews you can learn more about the writers you're following and the writers you should follow.  Interviewees are never asked personal questions.  You can sign up to be interviewed by leaving a comment and stating that you'd be interested.

Writer Interviews August 16th with Laura Toeskoetter (Lala)
Before I begin and Lala join us, I thought first I should kind of introduce her.  Lala is a writer who blogs on Lala Land and a team blog, Write Here's blog.  She is a member of Write Here, Inkpop, and many other writing sites.  Please welcome her!

* When did you first start writing?
    Eighth grade. I remember it really well. I'd bought this little green notebook at Target. And I was in Science and we were watching a movie and I just pulled it out of my backpack and wrote this murder scene that was a page. After a lot of editing and revisions, it's the basis of The Assassin prologue. 
    * What would you say is the main goal you are trying to reach with your projects and was this goal always evident from the start?
    I think now, at the moment, especially for The Assassin, I want to get into the Top Five on inkpop. I want that yellow star! I know people who've gotten it and throwing it into a query letter works wonders... or so I'm told.
    But, that wasn't always the case. When I first started, I just hand wrote, and I had some pretty pathetic handwriting. It took a long time before I actually started to type it on the computer. And even then, I didn't actually think about having people read it. 
    * There been a lot of talk on your book The Assassin lately.  Could you tell us about the book and its background?  (By background I mean what inspired the story or what got you involved in it).
    Oh there has been? I hope it's good talk. Well, the book is about this teenage girl who has an alter ego, the Assassin, who kills people. No body knows that the Assassin is this teenage girl; everyone thinks the Assassin is this twenty year old guy. Her dad is in jail for the murder of her mom, and he escapes to come kill her, because he thinks he knows her secret. He kidnaps Cassie's adoptive dad, and Cassie has to save her adoptive dad, and stop her real dad. That's just it in a nutshell, there's also a bad boy, a rape victim, a physic, and a pop star. 
    As far as inspiration for the initial story? Oh geez. I think part of it was the movie, Electra, with Jenifer Garner. Electra is an assassin just like Cassie, and it was the first PG-13 movie I've ever seen. 
    * When you finished The Assassin how did you feel?  Was it good to finally come to an end with the book or did you think that it would be sad that you're leaving the characters and moving on?
    When I finished The Assassin, I wasn't really finished with it. I'm still working on it three, four years later. But, it didn't really sink in. It was "oh, the bad guy lost, now what?" So, I started writing a new one. There wasn't even a moment when I was sad, it was more, "okay, he's dead, let's do it all again!" So, I wasn't really sad to be over with it. 
    * We've talked a lot about The Assassin so let's move on to something else...  You're currently working on a new book, correct?  Could you tell us some about it and the progress you've made with it so far?
    Yeah, right now the project is called "Just Perfect." It's about this girl who's step-dad is the President and she hates his guts. When she was little he destroyed her parents' marriage by having an affair with her mom. They got her dad sent to jail for something he didn't do and a bunch of other stuff and she basically paid the way for him to get into jail. Well, the MC, Bree, has finally had enough of it after she finds out her dad is out of jail, and she decides to let the world know just how bad her step-dad is. So, she starts working with a cute guy, Jason, who's mom is having an affair (I'm obsessed with affairs and I don't know why) the president. So they basically have to convince the world that Mr. Perfect President is anything but. I'm not very far, I've got maybe 200 words plus a teaser, most of it is still in my head in the planning stages but I'm totally excited about it.
    I just have to find time to write it.
    * Of all your projects, which ones would you say you most enjoyed writing or are the most attached to?
    Oh, that's a tough one. I'd probably have to say the whole Assassin Saga, because Cassie and I go through ten books of murder, mystery, love and mayhem, so I think the series as a whole.
    * This should have been asked earlier, but have you ever gotten any of your work published?
    I wish....
    * What is your advice to other writers who are seeking to get their stories published?
    Well, I wouldn't say I'm the person to ask, but I guess, just keep trying. Don't quit. Wow, now I sound cliche. 
    * Is there anything in the future we can expect from you --such as a new story or etc?
    Well, yeah, besides Just Perfect, I really want to write a kidnapping/hostage book. I'm into crime stuff.
    * If you could pick one character from any of your book sot actually be real, who would it be and why?    
    Um.... probably none since most of them kill people, and then there's Seth, but I don't particuarly like Seth.
    * Which one of your projects would you say gets the most attention and are you at all surprised by this?
    The Assassin, and no it doesn't really surprise me because I work my butt off to make sure people notice it. 
    * Who has kept you writing through all the good and bad times?
    No one really, I mean, me mostly. Writing is something that nobody in my life really gets about me, so it's me just saying "WRITE, LAURA, WRITE!"
    * Anything else you would like to add as an ending to this interview?
    Thanks for having me!



And that was Lala for you.  Thanks for joining us on the blog today and hopefully like me other people have learned more about you as a writer.  I wish you the best of luck with your projects; you know I'm keeping my hopes up for your book.  If people aren't reading your book or haven't read it yet, they really don't know what they are missing!
More interviews to come soon....

Chapter sixteen has been UPLOADED

Quite honestly it's hard to believe that I managed to get through chapter sixteen.  Some of you who are interested in whatever I happen to blog may ask, "Why?"  Well, when I first began this chapter I wasn't sure where to go with it.  I mean, at the beginning I knew what was going to happen but then after I finished with that I stared at the page on Word and thought, "What's next?"
While I have the ending outlined --and what leads to the ending--it's just not time for the story to end yet.  Obviously at 16 chapters there is more that needs to go into the book.  So what did I do?  Well, I thought about it and thought about it.  And then, my fellow followers, writers, viewers, and whatnot, I came up with a crazy and dare I say fantastic idea.  Unfortunately I cannot give you the details because that would give something away!

Chapter 16: Lost, Not Forgotten..........................
In this chapter Celestria comes to make a vital decision; one that not only affects her life, but also another's.  After having made this decision, Celestria is haunted by memories and also new images she's never seen before.... How? Why? Is it really possible?  Take a step into the river and find out... Read the story here.

Coming next.....................................
Celestria next must decide if what she has experienced was real or imaginary.  Would someone pull such a dirty trick on her?  And if so, how could they have done it?
As the ending comes closer and closer.... more gets added in!


The author's excited about...........................
I'm looking forward to adding in more supernatural kind of events into the story that will make both the reader and Celestria question what is really happening.


Hopefully you'll consider taking the time to read the story if you have the chance to; if not, you may just have to be happy with what little I let you in on.  And I promise that soon Lala's interview will be up.  I've been working so much on Cursed with Power that I just haven't found the time to post it up yet.  (Sorry)!

Writer Interviews: JULIE MUSIL

Writer Interviews are usually a weekly thing on the blog in which I get in contact with other writers on blogger through email and I interview them about their writing and such related topics.  Writers of various genres and so forth are interviewed and you of course are encouraged to ask about being interviewed.  From these interviews it is likely that we can all start knowing other writers such as ourselves better.
If you are a writer and would like to be interviewed just leave me a comment and I'll add you to the list.

Writer Interviews August 10 with Julie Musil
Julie Musil, a fictional and nonfictional writer, has joined us today.  You can follow her on her own blog, Julie Musil or you can read more about her on her website. If you have any further questions following what was mentioned in this interview you yourself will have to contact her.  Let's begin...

• When did you first begin writing?

I've been writing since I was a child, but I didn't start taking it seriously until two years ago.  Since then I've been writing just about everyday and pursuing publication.

• You've stated on Blogger that you write both fiction and nonfiction... What got you interested in both formats, seeing as they are so different?

I took a course at the Institute of Children's Literature, which focused on magazine writing for children.  One of my assignments was to write an article, and that was the beginning of my love for nonfiction.

• Have you ever gotten anything published?

I've had several pieces published in ezines.  I'm excited that two of my articles are scheduled to be published in print magazines: one in a fall issue of Scholastic Math magazine, and another in Fun for Kidz magazine.

• What is something of fiction and something of nonfiction that you have worked on or have been working on that you are most proud of?

I'm most proud that I finished a novel.  I never thought I'd do something like that.

• Who do you find helps you the most when it comes to writing?  Do you have someone who inspires you, someone you go to advice for, etc?

My husband and three sons.  They not only inspire me with ideas, but they're also patient when I need to write "one more thing".

• Is there anywhere you show off your work --such as somewhere on online if your work is not published?

I've linked my ezine publications on my website.  I don't post my unpublished work online.

• As a writer, what is your number one piece of advice to other writers like us who are trying to get our work noticed?

How about four pieces of advice? Some of the things I've learned are:

1. We must sit and write!  Talking about writing or reading about it won't produce a finished manuscript, nor get us published.
2. We should polish our manuscripts, then send it out. Yes, it might get rejected, but we won't get it published if we don't get our work out there.
3. We should move on to the next project. If we fret over every submission, we'll go crazy.  Writing the next story or article is the best anecdote for impatience.
4. We must keep learning! There are plenty of writers and agents who blog, and are willing to share their advice. I tis up to us to absorb the information and put it into practice.

• What is something you love about writing and something you hate?

I love almost everything about writing.  The research, the first draft, the revision.  The only thing I don't like? Rejections. But even those have a purpose, and I try to use them as a learning tool.

• If you could thank one person right ow for how far you've come, who would it be and why?

My husband, John.  He's a constant source of encouragement.  Plus, he works hard to support our family --and my writing habit.

• Is there any particular writer you know online who is not yet published that you like the work of?

My writing buddy, Lisa Green. She's had stories published online, but doesn't have a book deal --yet.  You can check out her fun blog here.

• What kind of people would like the stories you write?

I think middle grade boys would enjoy my novel, SPECIAL FORCES. The main character's father is a member of a special forces unit.  The boys I know think that's cool.

Most children would probably enjoy my articles about geocaching, the health benefits of laughter, dirt bike riding, and viewing the international space station.  Links to these articles can be found on my website.

• Do you have a favorite character or scene from one of your books (it can be either fiction or nonfiction)?

My favorite character would have to be Jake, from my novel SPECIAL FORCES.  This kid has courage and loyalty running through his veins  What's not to love?

• On those days when you're really down and finding it hard to write anything good, what do you do?  What do you advise others to do in this situation?

Keep writing.  I remind myself that this is a journey, and I'm thankful to be in the game.

• Since writing is never easy and simply done, what or who keeps you going?

I'm self-motivated. I know that if I don't write a story or an article and submit it, it won't get published.  That's enough to keep my going.  There's a lot of fierce competition out there, and I need to keep learning, creating, and submitting.

• And lastly, is there anything else you would like to add?

Thanks for the fun interview!  This writng and blogging community  is amazing,and I'm grateful to be in such good company.

Thus ends the first Writer Interviews with Julie Musil.  I hope you found thins interview interesting and learned a few things about one of your fellow writers.  Thanks for joining us today, Julie, and I believe I speak for anyone when I say I wish you the best of luck and I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.