Unless you’ve been living in a cave since Xmas (and there’s nothing wrong with that – I’m not judging. OK, maybe I am, but what the hell are you doing living in a cave, anyway?) you have by now heard about the meteoric rise of indie author Colleen Hoover, whose latest novel Hopeless is selling faster than tequila in Tijuana, breaking records all over the place, and has occupied the #1 spot on Amazon most of the time since Christmas. That’s many thousands of books a day, folks. Some days, tens of thousands. And as if that wasn’t enough, she just inked a deal with Simon & Schuster for the paperback rights to Hopeless – retaining all ebook rights, which is only the third time I’ve heard of that happening (Bella Andre with Harlequin, and Hugh Howey with Wool). Remarkable for a seasoned veteran, to be sure, but how about for someone who released her first book on Amazon a year ago?
So who is this masked woman with the strength of ten indie authors? Where did she come from? Whose shirts does she wear (when she wears anything at all)? What’s her secret? How does she do that crazy thing she does? It was with these and other burning questions in mind that I hunted her down and forced her to respond to my interrogatives by pretending to be from The New Yorker, or at least from New York or some place over on that coast with an accent. I think she was so dazed from her recent Nightline appearance (see all the details at her blog) that she answered before checking to see what that release she signed actually said, and thus my latest Author Spotlight, and the first of 2013, was born.
So without any further ado, ladies and gentlemen, a remarkable success story and a very nice, down to earth lady…Colleen Hoover!
RB: Your first two novels since beginning to self-publish in 2012 were hits, and your latest, Hopeless, is a blockbuster – a huge sensation. To what do you attribute its success, and what was your journey as a writer?
CH: Obviously, the success of the books lies in the people who have read it. Word of mouth was a huge proponent in the sales of the books. I never paid for advertising, so I believe it’s a combination of finding your market. And a lot of luck.
RB: How did Slammed and Point of Retreat break out and hit so big? What do you think, if there was any one thing, that pushed them past the tipping point? Or was it more of an organic build?
CH: I saw a very small increase on a weekly basis the first couple of months. By the third month, readers were recommending the book to bloggers. Once the bloggers began releasing reviews on it, I saw a huge increase in sales. Especially when a blogger with a large following would review it. I think it helps that the books are contemporary romance, which has a huge fan-base. It also helps that before writing my first book, I had never read a contemporary romance, so SLAMMED doesn’t fit the mold. I think it was just different enough that people were recommending it because it was different.
RB: You’ve been selling a gazillion books a week ever since Hopeless started booking orders in December. Besides just being slathered in awesome sauce, can you put your finger on why this one took off like it did? Word of mouth? Big pent up demand from your last ones? Something special with marketing?
CH: I wasn’t sure how this book would do. I was very nervous about it. When I wrote my first two books, I didn’t think anyone would read them, so I didn’t feel the pressure I felt writing Hopeless. I eventually just had to tell myself that I didn’t have to publish this one if I didn’t like it, so it became fun to write. I didn’t release the title or the cover of the book while writing, because again, I didn’t want to feel pressure to put it out there. I also didn’t tell anyone when it would be released, so the day I announced that it was available there was a huge rush of buyers. It broke Amazon rankings a few hours later at #6, which was a complete shock. I wasn’t sure if it would stick or not. I think the cover has a lot to do with the initial success.
So as far as marketing, I did absolutely zero marketing of this book before it was completed. Readers knew I was working on a book, they just didn’t know what it was about. So, again…I really can’t put my finger on what has made this book do as well as it has. It could have gone either way, really.
RB: If you had to summarize what you do as a writer to a reader new to your work, how would you present it? What’s the Colleen Hoover difference?
CH: I love plot twists and shockers. It is really difficult to explain what my books are about to new readers, because until you dive into it, I don’t really WANT people to know what they’re about. The fact that we are required to write a blurb is my least favorite part of books. If it were up to me, the reader would go into my books not knowing a single thing about them. I think they’re more fun that way.
And that’s essentially how I write them. I can’t do outlines, they never work out. I sit down and begin writing, not knowing what to expect from the characters or how the book is going to end. It’s a lot more fun that way.
RB: Let’s talk process. Do you outline, plot and structure, or do you just sit down and write? How long between when a book idea comes to you, and when it’s ready to be written?
CH: It’s different with every book. With Slammed, I had ZERO idea what that book would be about. It unfolded with each sentence. With HOPELESS, I had an idea and even wrote an outline, but every page of that outline was thrown out once the characters started veering away from it.
I have a few books I’ve started that didn’t pan out, so it doesn’t happen every time. I just know once I get to a certain point in my writing when the characters actions start pissing me off, that’s when I know it will be a book that will be finished.
RB: Do you have a set schedule for writing? What’s your typical writer’s day like?
CH: I have absolutely no schedule. I write when I’m inspired. Sometimes I write fourteen hours straight for days in a row. With Hopeless, I hit a huge block after the first few chapters and actually went an entire three months without writing. Then when I passed the roadblock, I picked it up and wrote every day until it was finished. I am extremely disorganized and cannot go by a schedule for anything, especially writing. This is why I don’t give myself deadlines or tell readers what I’m publishing next.
RB: Do you have monthly or annual word goals? How is your discipline?
CH: I have no goals. The only goal I have is to continue to enjoy what I do. If I put three books out a year or one book out in the next ten years, I want it to be because I chose to do so. Not because I’m on a publisher deadline or a personal deadline. Otherwise, it would feel like work.
RB: How long have you been writing? And what prompted you to go indie versus trad pub in 2012?
CH: I have always loved to write, but I’ve never attempted a novel until I started writing SLAMMED. I had no intentions of publishing a book because I didn’t think I had the talent, to be honest. Or the patience. So I put it on Amazon so people I know could read it. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that book would turn into a career for me. I think if I had any idea that so many people would be reading it, I would have chickened out and never finished it.
RB: How do you come up with your characters? Based on real people, pure invention, or a combo?
CH: I don’t use real people. I just write until they are fleshed out.
RB: Do you ever have issues with motivation? Writer’s block? If so, how do you move past it?
CH: I do. I try not to think about it too much when it happens. I just wait until I get a new idea that inspires me. As long as I never give myself a deadline, I don’t feel the pressure once writer’s block occurs.
RB: Describe your work environment. Quiet? Music? A special space? What is it like?
CH: Quiet. I need absolute quiet. I have a small building that is detached from my house so that I can’t hear children. I also make it a point not to bring negative energy out there. I don’t pay bills or do “work” where I write, because I want it to remain an inspiring place to go.
RB: How many times do you polish before your manuscript is ready for edit – how many drafts?
CH: Several. I mostly edit as I go. I can’t continue on to another chapter until I’ve re-read and edited the previous chapters several times.
RB: You just did a deal with Simon and Schuster where you held your e-book rights. That’s the second deal like it, both with S&S, I’ve heard of. I see it as tremendously positive for authors. What can you tell us about it?
CH: I was very happy with my choice to self-publish HOPELESS. However, I also have been very happy with the deal I made through S&S with my first two novels. I had turned down a trad offer for Hopeless before its release, but once I self-published and it began doing well, I accepted the offer for print rights. I did this because I did not want to give up e-book rights, but trad publishers have the ability to do things with print rights that a self-published author is unable to do on their own. To me, it’s a win-win.
RB: I am convinced there has never been a better time to be an author. Stories like yours reinforce that conviction. Movie deals, landmark book deals…how does it all feel for you? Have you changed in any way that you feel is significant?
CH: It has been incredible. I honestly believe that 99.9% of my success has been timing and luck. If this had been two years ago, my manuscript would have collected dust and I never would have submitted it to anyone other than my mother. So yes, this is definitely the time to be an author. And I like to think I haven’t changed in any way. I’m much busier, that’s for sure. Other than that, I still wear my pajama pants to Wal-Mart when I run out of milk.
RB: What counsel would you offer a newbie who was interested in pursuing the author’s path? Is there anything you feel you have done that is primarily responsible for your remarkable success?
CH: I get this question a lot and I hate that I don’t have a good answer. I have NO idea why my books have done as well as they have. I don’t have any secrets or magic potions to share. I write because I love to write and I hope it will remain that way. Everything that has happened since publishing my first book has been incredible, but I have no idea what sets one book apart from another.
RB: What’s your biggest writing regret? The one thing you wish you could do over, or differently?
CH: I don’t believe in regrets. In fact, when I sign SLAMMED, the one thing I write in every book is, “Never Regret.” J
RB: Whose work most influenced you, and why?
CH: I don’t know that I was influenced by one particular author. I’ve just always loved to read and feel that’s where my love for writing began.
RB: Are you working on anything you can talk about?
CH: I am always working on something. But I’ll never talk about it before it’s ready to be released. 😉
RB: You’ve been extremely gracious sharing your time and views. What advice would you leave budding authors with, if you only had thirty seconds to impart it?
CH: Don’t set out to write the next bestseller. Write because you love to write. Readers can tell the difference.
Colleen, thanks so much for stopping in and giving the world a peek into your process and your thinking. Every author is different, although I’m glad to see I’m not the only one who holes up for 14 hours a day when writing, or wears PJs to WalMart – and yes, there’s a long restraining order story in that, but one which I’ll save for another day.
Everyone, go check out Hopeless and see why it’s taking America by storm, and while you’re at it, check out JET, which is free right now, and which has been associated with miraculous healing episodes all over the world, and which I will also soon be redoing with a picture of a fluffy kitty on the cover, or a puppy wearing a bandit mask – not that I would ever pander, but still…
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Hi Colleen,
I’ve seen the cover of Hopeless in my recomendations from Amazon, but haven’t checked it out. Nor did I realize the book was doing so well (possibly I’ve been in that cave Russell mentioned…working on my own novel). Congrats!
Your philosphy about writing for love and enjoying the process equals a lot of idy authors and creative folks I know. And having worked in the freelance art, and entertainment community, I know well how deadlines and the politics of business can take the wind out of one’s creative sales.
That being said, we can certainly learn a few things from diving in and seeing how the business end of things work in the traditional publishing world. So I am very glad to hear you got a book deal on your own terms. My hope is that we will begin to see more of this type of thing, and that more authors can experience their creative freedom while allowing the gears of the trad. biz to grind for them as well.
I think that as time goes by, you will begin to see patterns that shape your routine–either for better, or worse–and will be able to more clearly define what makes those good days, or not so good ones. The wheels of writing, as a craft, have been around longer than many forms of art…possibly falling in line right after crude cave art. And I’ve learned we all find similarities that vary little, or not at all, in each of our developemental paths. However, if you never lose that sense of love and wonder along the road, the discoveries can be as numerous, or as deep, as you want them to be…for nothing (in my opinion) can take us as deeply as writing. Words have power, and weilding them to create a world of your own is the ultimate high.
Best of luck, and continued success 🙂
Great interview!! As an aspiring fiction author I always feel so encouraged when I read interviews and success stories like Colleen’s, especially from an indie standpoint (which I never thought about until recently). Congrats Colleen! I devoured all of your books in one sitting. I honestly didn’t think anything could top Slammed but Hopeless took me to a different level. I love them both for different reasons. Blessings to you on your journey!
Love Colleen Hoover. I love the way she was able to weave poetry and lyrics into slammed and point of retreat. Her writing is beautiful and unique. Great parental advice as well.
Colleen,
We have watched you on the KDP Forum blossom into your own. Congrats. This interview validates my methods which are right in line with yours. I feel better now. Sir Russell, thanks for getting the interview with Colleen. We all should be proud. One of ours has done exceptionally well.
Conrad Powell
Attorney-at-Law
http://www.conradpowell.tk
Congratulations, Russell, for an inspiring interview with Colleen Hoover.
And, of course, congratulations to Colleen for her fabulous success. That it stemmed from the ‘love of writing” rather than an if-they-can-do-it-so-can-I mentality will hopefully inspire many of us Indies to bring better quality to market.
Best wishes to both of you for continued success,
Inge H. Borg
Thank you so much. Yes, it’s inspiring to meet authors who value the integrity of their work. I’ve noticed that’s something that most of the successful ones share – a love of the craft and a very high personal bar for standards. I’m honored to be fortunate enough to be able to chat with so many talents. One of my favorite parts of the job.
Congrats, Colleen! Great interview, Russell!
I just stood around and looked pretty. Colleen did all the heavy lifting.
Great interview!
I love all Colleens’s books!!
Congrats
I absolutely loved this book! 🙂
Colleen Hoover has become one of my very favorite authors. I will read any book she writes. She has given me 3 books that I just cannot get over! Slammed, Point of Retreat, and Hopeless all touched me.
Seriously, what a phenomenal writer!
Great interview..Thanks for the chance to win her book!!!
Russell, an amazing interview… But umm please be nice to our miss Colleen… lol not, give her hell 🙂
Love you Colleen <3
Great interview 🙂 Well done Colleen.
Colleen,
I was never really much of a reader growing up but recently…well since May I have read over 30 books & your books that I read in less then a week are by far my most favorite books of all times!!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH for making me LOVE books!!!
Joyce (Michigan)
Congratulations, Colleen. I wish you all the best in your writing endeavors 🙂
Thanks for sharing this interview, Russell. I always find it inspiring when indie authors reach such a great level of success.
I absolutely adore Colleen and I have loved all of her books. Great interview. It’s good to know she still wears her pajamas to Wal-Mart when she needs milk. Haha.
What a wonderful interview, and with such a fantastic author! Colleen truly deserves all of her success!!
Congrats to u both! Great interview! Colleens stories are straight from the heart and touch you beautifully!
LOVE the interview Russell! And a huge congrats to Colleen on all her MUCH deserved success!
Hopeless by far an amazing book! My gym club/bookclub gave in and said its next must read in the group.
Great interview! Colleen is definitely one of my most favorite authors! I cannot wait to read what she writes next!
I love Colleen’s writing but Hopeless. Well I just have no words that I can express how much I love this story. It has to be one of my all time favorites. It touched me like no other story has. Her characters are so vivid in my mind and the story itself was so bittersweet. I read it so fast because it just kept me all the way through. I have shared this with so many people since I have read it as I wanted everyone to know this story. Of course I have read all of Colleen’s books and love them all!
I agree with the others, what an inspiration! I fell so in love with “Hopeless”, I can’t stop reading it over and over again!
I love this interview. Colleen has been such an inspiration to me. I loved Slammed and Point of Retreat when I read them over the summer and was so excited to read Hopeless and it did not disappoint. The way she is able to tell stories is incredible. One of my favorite authors.
This interview is great, i’m glad I got a chance to read it!
I LOVE that Colleen is working on something else! That makes me so happy! Fourteen hours a day sometimes is CRAZY! I can’t even stay awake that long! Well, with school, I can, but it’s very difficult! And then, when I do get to sleep, if about half that amount! I feel like writing for that long would be difficult, because my attention span cannot take that – fourteen hours is some crazy discipline. Anyway. Great interview, Russell! Those questions led to some very informative answers 😉
I just saw Colleen at a Q&A and book signing in Fairview, TX.. Loved listening to her!! Although she never talked about wearing PJ pants to Walmart!
Great interview!!! I can tell you that in my city and circle of friends, word of mouth was what got us reading Colleen’s books but her incredible characters and a writing style that makes it impossible to put her novels down is what fuels the talk. I will read anything she puts out!
Loved your first two books and just downloaded Hopeless today. Thank you for your books!
Congrats Colleen and thank you for the wonderful interview! I absolutely loved Hopeless!
Excellent interview! I love Colleen. Every book she has written has left me in awe.
Great interview! I love each one of Colleen’s books. Such an amazing author!
Awesome spotlight on a truly deserving author, Colleen has an incredible talent, her first two books Slammed and Point of Retreat changed my habits of reading, coming from hating books and reading in general to having only read twilight saga Harry potter and 50 shades series since high school some 15 years ago I have since Slammed read upwards of 70 books, everyone I know has read Hopeless and not one person has said anything negative,.. We have all been living and breathing these books now and I can’t it to read the many more in her future.
I’ve heard so many amazing reviews on Hopeless. I have notread it yet and is dying for a copy of it, even better a signed copy. I’m always in serach for new authors, books to read.
Great interview! It seems crazy to me why she can’t understand why her books did so great?!?! She writes with so much emotion and its impossible not to feel connected to every character. I am very disappointed she didn’t mention what she’s working on because I’m beyond ready for her next book!
Absolutely LOVE Colleen and her books!! Hopeless affected me far beyond what I could ever explain…
Love the interview, Russell! Love Colleen Hoover and her wonderful works if art! Thank you for posting. Congrats to her and you on your success thus far!
What a wonderful author spotlight! Colleen, I’m sure you are an inspiration to many others in your line of work! i happen to be a loyal reader and fan! Thank you for your beautiful words!
I love Colleen Hoover’s books whatever she might have out in the future can’t wait for it! I love being surprised by her books!
Congrats Colleen! Great interview 🙂
Love the interview!! Loved Hopeless. Congrats Colleen 🙂
Wonderful interview!! I love Colleen Hoover and got so much out of this. I wish you both the best!
Love Slammed, Point of Retreat, Hopeless, and love Colleen! Great interview!
Thanks so much for such an insightful interview with Colleen Hoover!
I read all three books in less than a week and it’s wonderful to get a little background on her writing process and see it from her perspective. I wish her continued success!
Great interview. And congrats to Colleen on her success. I’ve been wanting to read Hopeless for awhile now. It looks great!
I read all three books in 3 days. Could not put them down. Loved that I didn’t know much about them. And they are now 3 of my most favorite books. Can’t wait to read more from this author. Guarantee that the day the next book is released, I will put down whatever I am reading to start her next book. Thanks Colleen Hoover! Keep on writing!
Congrats colleen. You are an amazing author. Keep them coming please.
Great interview! I’ve only had the pleasure of reading Slammed, but I loved it and can’t wait to read the rest of Colleen’s books. It’s great to see all the new authors making waves out there.
I’ve read all 3 books! Each pretty much in one sitting…very hard to put down. I especially loved how the story slowly revealed itself in Hopeless. Awesome books!
Congrats Colleen!!! Great interview!!!!!!
Congratulations on your success Colleen! I picked up Slammed on a recommendation from a friend, it was the first kindle book I ever paid for, and about 3 or 4 chapters in, I immediatley went and bought Point of Retreat. Of course, as soon as Hopeless was out, I bought that! Hope you keep writing!
Really enjoyed the interview! Colleen is an inspiration and she deserves every ounce if success that is coming her way. Write on, Colleen!!
Ive been a fan of Colleens ever since I read Slammed. It was unique and like nothing I’d read before. Its refreshing to see so many indie others today be themselves. I love how shes so thankful to her fans and we’re able to interact with her. Hopefully one day I’ll get to meet such an awesome inspiring lady, aka Colleen Hoover.
Wonderful interview!! I love Colleen Hoover and her books, and I got so much out of the questions you asked her. I wish you both the best 🙂
What a great interview! I love the idea of a detached building away from the kids!!
Wow what a great interview. Very inspiring for hopeful writers like myelf. Colleens answering are so honest and hopefilling (is that a word?). Very well done Mr. Blake!
I really shouldn’t comment late at night when I’m so tired. Hopefilling? Really? It should say: Colleens answers* are so honest and full of hope. There thats better.
Really good interview and she’s such a wonderful person, so likeable and down to earth. I love her and I love all her work. She’s amazing with words. I read Hopeless the day it came out and what a nice surprise it was that it was released early. I wish you much success with your web page and all the very best to Colleen!
What a great interview! Colleen has become one of my favorite authors! I can’t wait to see what else she has in store for all of us!! Hopeless and the Slammed series (come on Book #3) are definitely on the top of my list for best books I’ve read! Congratulations on all of your success Colleen! You are amazing and deserve only the best!!!!
I absolutely loved all three of your books. Hopeless is amazing. I could not put it down! I can’t wait to see what you come up with next!
Soo sad I didn’t get to meet Mrs. Hoover when she did a book signing so close to my home. I think her writings are wonderful and I absolutely love all 3 of them. Great interview and I enjoyed reading it. I wish I had the priviledge of meeting such talented writers. Don’t let the pressures get to you and keep on writing I will gladly wait for the next book you publish. Best wishes and good luck.
Congrats! I’ve been a fan of Colleen’s for a while…. Since I found slammed last year! I’m so happy for her success and wish many more best sellers!
Great interview with an inspiring author. I love to hear about her personal success, and her
down-to-Earth personality.
I love your books and have gotten everybody at my work reading your books. I tell everyone I know to read Hopeless. Can’t wait for more to come from you.
Colleen is such a fresh breath of clean air after a dust storm! The reason her books have been such a success is that she is an amazing writer, unlike anyone else. After reading all three of her books, I just want to climb into her head and see where those magical ideas form. Not only is her writing unique, but she herself is too! I believe we will be in awe of this lady’s writing for many years to come!
Great interview! Colleen is such an amazing writer!! I loved all her books and spread the word to all my friends!
Congrats to you both! Awesome interview!
I just read “hopeless” over the weekend and LOVED it!! I am inspired to hopefully one day write my own novel!
Tracy : )
Thank you for this awesome and inspiring interview! Colleen you work is powerful and thank you for sharing I tell everyone that they should check out your books. And Russell thanks for asking the questions and giving the readers a chance to learn more about Colleen!
P.S. Russell check out Rebecca Donovan 😉
Thank you Russel for doing this interview with Colleen. Thank you Colleen for being an amazing writer and creating these amazing stories for us all to read. Keep it up because I’m ready for more! 🙂
Russell-thanks for the great interview. Colleen- thanks for sharing your butterflying amazing talent with us. After reading Slammed you easily became my favorite author& after reading Hopeless it is now my favorite book. I can’t wait to read whatever you publish next!
Great Interview!!!!
Great interview! 🙂 also, congratulations, Colleen!
I have always been one of your book’s biggest fans! And yours too~
Hi Colleen
Congratulations on an amazing book and interview.I so enjoyed Hopeless… Continue with all the success…Kuddos to you Russell for having interview a great author in my book….
What a great interview! I read this novel & connected with it so much, for so many reasons. It has been in my thoughts ever since. Some parts of the story truly felt like it was reflecting my life and because of that I took something extra special away from it. As the tattoo on my wrist says there is always HOPE and that’s what I felt this novel gave.
Great interview 🙂
So happy that she decided to write and get her books out there !
Love all three of them
Great interview!! I must say I read all 3 of Colleen’s books cover to cover in single sittings and I loved them all 🙂 Keep ’em coming Colleen!!
Great interview! I am utterly envious, Russell!
I am a huge fan of Colleen Hoover. I stumbled upon Slammed on goodreads.com and finished that and Point of Retreat in two days. I was very excited for the release of Hopeless and read it just has quickly.
It must be a dream to interview great authors! I love reading them and getting insight into the people who wrote the stories that are branded onto my heart.
I am always looking for something new to read. I just happened to stumble upon Hopeless and instantly fell in love. Life can be so hectic and overwhelming and to find this book was a blessing! It gave me the opportunity to escape and get lost while reading. Colleen has captivated me with each story she has written… I anxiously await her next publication.
This was an excellent interview! I adored Slammed, Point of Retreat, and Hopeless. All three excellent books in their own right. Hopeless had one of the most romantic first “kisses” I have ever read (and I have read a lot!) Congratulations on the well-deserved success.
I loved the book Hopeless, i bought it right away but put off reading it since i heard it had a heavy plot and to be honest some night when i crawl into bed at the end of a long day i want something fluffy and sweet! i finally read it this weekend and it was great. totally lived up to the Colleen Hoover writing standards. I loved your comment about wanting readers to go into a book blind, because that is how i prefer to read. so many books follow the same recipe and if you read the blub you can figure out the whole story within the 1st couple of chapters! if a friend says a book is good i will read it blind or if i find an author i like, like colleen hoover, i will continue to read them without reading the blurb until they start following the same pattern in every book, then i get board and move on! here is to your continued success and keeping readers on their toes!
Great interview! I absolutely loved this book!
What a wonderful interview!! I have read all 3 if Colleen’s books and live everyone if them!! In fact, I loved them so much I told all of my girlfriends to read them and then when they had finished, we all loved them so much, we went to a slam poetry event!! Now we’re all hooked!! Thank you for sharing these amazing stories with us Colleen and please keep the twists and turns in plots coming, because I too love surprises!! Thank you for doing this amazing interview with such a talented writer! It is always intriguing to learn more about the people and their thought processes that are behind the wonderful books we read!!!
Congrats Colleen on your amazing success. I’ve read all of your books and LOVED them! Hopeless was amazing. I couldn’t put it down and I’m already finding myself wanting to re-read it.
Great interview! 🙂
Great interview… I cannot wait for study questions to be released. I totally respect Mrs. Colleen and her decision to remain without deadlines and publisher commitments. However as a HUGE fan, it makes me feel like a stalker waiting for her next blog post hinting about the next book in the works or release date.. Slammed and Point of Retreat were amazing and then Hopeless was released and blew me away… I cannot wait! !!!! Hurry Hurry… Write faster!! We love you Colleen.
Awesome interview!
I’m crazy in love with this book. I think I finished it in 36 hours. I so obsessed to have a signed copy to honor on my favorite shelf.
I think it’s my most recommended read for 2013 and years to come.
Some books for us readers just stick in our minds for life. This will be one of those books for me!
Hi Colleen,
Just wanted to say how much I adored “Hopeless”. Thanks so much for writing it. I laughed, I cried and I cried some more. I read it in a day, I just couldn’t put it down. It was an intense book with such a strong story line. I’ve recommended to all my friends. I’m looking forward to reading it again.
Great interview Russell!!
Great Interview..
Awesome interview with the amazing Colleen Hoover. Thanks for sharing. Love her books. L
What a nice, honest interview! I admire Ms. Hoover’s candor about her writing and the inspiration behind it. It is refreshing to read her views and advice on writing in general. Thanks for putting her in the “spotlight”! 🙂
Fantastic interview!!!..Thank you Russell for giving us a closer look into the woderful Colleen Hoover’s mind. Congratulations Colleen on your success!!!… Love your books, Hopeless is my favorite one :).
Great interview! Way to go Colleen! You deserve all the success in the world!!
I read the first book of Colleen’s awhile back. I got it on Amazon and was totally amazed. I read it in less then a day and then found her next book. I devoured it. I kept scouring the web looking for more books then I found Hopeless and wasn’t disappointed. She is an amazing author and it doesn’t surprise me at all that she has sky rocketed in the book world. She truly deserves it and once more people hear about her books she is going to be even more popular. It takes just one book and you are hopelessly hooked on Colleen’s writing. You were very fortunate to meet such a stunning writer. She grips her readers and pulls them in. Not many authors can do that.
How can you not love her?? But the real reason for all her crazy success is because her books are downright amazing! What a fantastic interview, Russell!
Hopeless hands down is my favorite book that I have read. I immediately fell in love with the characters from the beginning. My best friend and I read it at the same time. We had so much fun calling each other with “oh my gosh can you believe what just happened. ” I recommend Hopeless to everyone I know that reads. I can’t wait until it comes out in paperback so my friends that don’t have ereaders can enjoy it as much as I did.
No. I haven’t been living in a cave. Waiting for the release of Hopeless was a nail biting experience. Collen Hoover knows how to make words turn into incredible stories.
Nice interview Russell.
I want more Colleen Hoover books! When can we expect another?
That was a fabulous interview!
I, for one, have not been hiding under a rock. I have read Hopeless and thought it was amazing. The story brought tears to my eyes, and I am not surprised by the following Colleen has received. She is a very talented writer and I am eagerly looking forward to the next book.
This was a great interview with Colleen. I’ve read Slammed, Point if Retreat and Hopeless. All of them are fantastic.
Great Interview…. Colleen Hoover is an amazing author! Hopeless is one of my favorite books! Thank you Russell for sharing this post with all of us!
Great interview Russell! Thank you so much! And of course, congrats to the VERY LOVELY Colleen! Muah!
Great Questions!!
I really think Colleen is an amazing writer. After reading Hopeless, I was in shock at how much I related to her characters (minus the drama of course, considering how boring my life is.)
When I was younger, I devoted my time to writing. After reading Colleen’s writing, for some reason, I started writing again. In high school, I went through a really rough patch and began to write monologues and join slam poetry and a touring theatre. I think that being an author can really help you learn more about not just the characters you create, but yourself!
I love Colleen so much for the fact that her books are so real, the characters so alive, jumping through every page. I love the fact that she communicates with her fans, that she reads and replies. This is one thing that amazes me.
Best of luck to you and your future in writing, Colleen! (I know you’ll do great!) 🙂
This was an excellent interview. I loved that Collen is so humble, yet so true to herself and her audience. It’s been a great pleasure to read her work. Thank you for sharing this wonderful exchange with us!
Congats Colleen! I have recently read all your books and i absolutely fell in love with each and every one of them! Continue the great work! I definitely look forward to reading your next one! Thank you Russell Blake for this Awesome interview of Colleen!!
Wonderful interview. Both of you guys are an inspiration to indie authors everywhere.
And looking forward to the new JET kitten cover …!
I have to admit that Colleen is a wonderful writer and I’ve really enjoyed her three books and I hope that she continues to write and Russell Blake great interview. You asked some great questions. Congrats to both of you.
LOVE Colleen Hoovers 3 new books! Can’t wait for her next book. Keep writing Colleen. I will buy all your books.
Only one word: wonderful:)
Thanks for asking the questions I had myself! I love the humility CH has, it has been one of favorite qualities about her since I read Slammed and sent her an email telling her how much I loved it. Her story is pretty awesome and while what she has experienced doesn’t happen to most people, I’m glad it happened to someone as honest and real as she seems to be!
I stumbled on Colleen Hoover while searching Amazon for Ebooks. I always read other reviews before purchasing and Slammed was getting 5 stars which is really rare so I gave it a shot. I love her writing, she has a way of pulling you into the story unlike any other author that I’ve read! Now I don’t read the reviews if written by Colleen Hover I just purchase!! Please keep writing!
Oh, I love this author!
I’ve read SLAMMED and Point of Retreat. I’m yet to read this one, but I already know it will be amazing. I love her style of writing, it sucks you right in and before you know it… you’re immersed in a wonderful story.
Great interview Russell, and just because you have great taste… I’ll check out JET 😉
Hi Colleen!
You are an amzing author and you write with so much passion. I can not tell you how many times i cried and laughed in your books. They were truly captivating!
Your love for writing is inspiring and it shows in your books that you put your heart and soul into what you write. You are being true to yourself and not out for the best seller, though you accomplished so much more then that! I can not wait to read more of what is to come and to share with friends and family that you are indeed an amazing author. Keep up the good work and as you write in all your books, “Never Regret”
Russell, your interview with this amzing author shined so much light on her and brought out what we all knew she was. You did an awesome job and I commend you for showing everyone what an amzing women and author that Colleen Hoover is!
Hopeless is an amazing book that everyone needs to read. It broke my heart,lifted me up,and helped me get past a lot of things. Thank you Colleen Hoover!!
Russell, great interview 🙂 I am glad I’m not the only disorganized person. Congrats as well to Colleen, the books are fantastic!
I am so glad I discovered Colleen Hoover. I first read Hopeless and was hooked from the first page. I then continued to look for anything else I could find written by her. Within 3 days Slammed and Point of Retreat were also finished. I couldn’t get enough. I even found the bonus scene for the “best first kiss without a kiss” and felt like I hit the jackpot! I can’t say enough how good these books are.
Thank you, Colleen, for putting your writing out there and sharing it with the world. I know my world is a better place with your stories in it. I can’t wait to read whatever you decide to put out next.
Great interview Russell!!! Corky and fun! :)…Colleen Hoover’s writing is total awesome-sauce!!!
Great interview! I love Colleen and how honest she is. She is definitely an inspiration and Hopeless will forever be a favorite of mine.
Colleen’s books are addictive. I just hope we don’t have to wait another 10 months for the next one!
What a lovely little interview! I’m currently reading POINT OF RETREAT and can’t put it down. I read SLAMMED about a week ago in one night. I purchased it from B & N after reading EASY bt Tammara Webber and loved it and and saw she gave SLAMMED such a positive review. Man was she right. It’s also inspired me to check out The Avett Brothers and theyre AMAZING. Thanks so much, Colleen for sharing these characters with us. Also, the Chuck Norris jokes made me laugh so hard LOL. I hope u write more with Lake ans Will. Oh, and I almost bought HOPELESS a week or so ago- it was
Russel and Colleen, I truly enjoyed your interview. It is so nice to hear that you, Colleen, are not putting yourself on a deadline. I think that it helps to show the up and coming authors that it isn’t a race to the finish, it is dedication to your characters and story that will help you get to the end. After I read “Hopeless” I announced it from the rooftops that this is a book that had to be read. It was moving, so real, vivid, and beautiful. You wrote an astonishing story! Now for “Slammed” and “Point of Retreat,” those two stories are a whole different ball game. They are butterflyingly wonderful. You have written three amazing books Colleen, I am so proud of your successes and the many more that are coming your way. Congratulations goes to you for all of your hard work, dedication, and devotion that you not only put into your work, but the love you show your fans!
I butterflying LOVE Colleen Hoover books!! I am such a big fan and have recommended her books more times than I can count!
What a lovely little interview! I’m currently reading POINT OF RETREAT and can’t put it down. I read SLAMMED about a week ago in one night. I purchased it from B & N after reading EASY by Tammara Webber and loved it and saw she gave SLAMMED such a positive review. Man, was she right. You’ve also inspired me to check out The Avett Brothers and theyre AMAZING. Thanks so much, Colleen for sharing these characters with us. Also, the Chuck Norris jokes made me laugh so hard LOL. I hope u write more with Lake and Will. Oh, and I almost bought HOPELESS a week or so ago- it was in my Amazon cart, then when i went to buy it, it was now hundreds of dollars! I am very much looking forward to it being relaeased in paperback soon. Thanks again 🙂
What a wonderful interview! I am in love with your books! You are an amazing author and I cant wait to read more of your books! Keep up the ood work!
Great interview! I really enjoyed reading it! I love your books and can’t wait for more!
I read Slammed and Point of Retreat both in the same day I couldn’t put them down they are amazing! I read Hopeless a couple of weeks later I fell in love with the story it was incredible, I was not expecting the challenges Sky and Holder had to overcome it was jaw dropping! I just finished Slammed for the second time and going to start on Point of Retreat again I can’t wait for the 3rd book to come out (hurry please lol). Your amazing and hands down one of my favorite authors I will be buying ANYTHING you come out with in the future!
Thank you for this interview. I actually did not know much about Colleen Hoover (regretfully) and this was very insightful. Colleen has amazing talent and i hope she never doubts that again. I love her thoughts on plot twists. Holy cow did Hopeless have a huge one, I didnt see that coming at all!! I also didn’t know she was self published. That is fantastic thing what word of mouth can do! I look forward to reading Slammed and Point of Retreat.
I only stumbled upon Hopeless because I was wanting to venture into the New Adult Genre. and I am SO glad that Hopeless was my first New Adult read. I stayed up till 4 am reading it and just wow. I have never had a book make me laugh, sob, leave me heartbroken and uplifted all in one story. This book will stay with me for a very long time.
Thank you!
p.s. I am so glad Colleen ended up liking her story and shared it with us! 🙂
I love Colleen Hoover’s books. When I first read Slammed I thought what amazing writing and the story was so unique. I had to read Point of Retreat the second I was done with Slammed, and quiet honestly I wanted more of Colleen’s books. I had to tell all my friends that they HAD to butterflying read these books. Then when Hopeless came out, I was blown away. I can’t wait for more of Colleen’s books!!
This is such an amazing story! Fabulous interview!! I butterflying love every word Colleen Hoover has written. She is one special author, for sure!!
Congrats Colleen, you are butterflying amazing!!! Russell, I love that you compared the pace in which Hopeless has sold to “how fast tequila sells in Tijuana!” funny stuff:)
Laura
Colleen, love your books and can’t wait until This Girl is finally out. Russell, thanks for the free copy of JET, will be reading it soon 🙂 More power to you both!
Love her books! If you haven’t checked them out, go get ’em and start reading, already.
Great interview of an amazing author!!
I stumbled on Slammed and was truly blown away! And ten read Point of Retreat and all I have too say is the tenderness was so beautiful! I got everyone to read both books at work and all loved them as well. And now you have truly written a most wonderful very heartfelt story!!!!!
I love, love, love Colleen Hoover and every one of her amazing books! She is by far my favorite author of all time! This interview shows what a extremely talented, humble, and inspiring person she is:)
This was a wonderful article about Ms Colleen Hoover, an awesome author. Her books, all 3 of them have touched me deeply. I feel her passion and her characters represent that. Thank you! Thanks for the interview too!
Great interview! Enjoyed getting to learn more about one of my favorite authors. Really hope I get to meet her sometime this year at one of the indie author events 🙂
This was a very well written interview, Russell. I love Colleen’s work and after reading interviews with her I love her even more as a person. She’s so real and down to earth. So thank you Colleen & Russell for giving me the chance to know more about one of my favorite authors.
I don’t agree with Colleen saying that it was just timing and luck. I think the way the Colleen approaches her novels reflects good writing and that definitely goes a long way!:) Congratulations to your success Colleen! Looking forward to read more books from you:)
Great interview. Just got into reading this last year and love Colleen’s books. Hoping she continues to be inspired writing these fabulous stories. Good luck to both of you.
Colleen Hoover is an amazing talent. For an indie author to retain the ebook rights… Awesome!
Great interview! Congratulations to Ms. Hoover for her amazing and well deserved success. I thought Hopeless was fantastic. I started out laughing and was weeping by the end. Her storytelling is inspiring and it’s great to get a glimpse at that process.
Thank you for scoring the interview so we could get backstage passes!
What an awesome interview!! I love Colleen Hoover ‘s books 😀
Colleen Hoover is my all-time favorite author now. All of her books are keepers and can be read countless times. Her writing is smart and relatable. I know My daughter’s in college and I may be pressuring her to stop textbook reading and squeeze in Slammed, Point of Retreat and now Hopeless. Does that make me a bad parent? I want to share this exceptional author with anyone who will listen to my recommendation. I love you Colleen. Please, never stop writing these exquisite tales.
Just finished Hopeless tonight and WOW… Colleen Hoover is truly a tremendous writer! This book will surely be with me for days to come as was Slammed and Point of Retreat.
I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us next Colleen!
Wow I loved this interview, and I absolutely love Hopeless! !
“I am Always working on something” – THIS means more books!!! Can’t butterflyng wait :)))
Great interview! I heard about Hopeless on a blog, but I don’t remember which one. However, their review made me want to pick up this book as soon as possible!
What a wonderful interview you had Russell. I wish I can interview her hahaha LOL. and you Colleen 🙂 a wonderful writer. You inspired every person out there.
Excellent interview!!
Looking forward to reading this book!!
Loved your questions! Fabulous interview to each of you. A good, informative interview leads me to respect the author’s work that much more. Needless to say, it speaks mountains as to the interviewer as well. An opportunity to win is icing on the cake. Thank you!
I love Colleen Hoover and her books.
Hopeless was such a fantastic book!! Colleen Hoover is one of my favorite authors. I always recommend her books to my friends looking for that next great read. I usually finish a few books a week so the list of books I’ve read is pretty long, but Colleen’s remain on my all time favorites list!
I love all of Colleen’s books. She is my new favorite author!
Great interview. Love Hopeless like an old friend. Thanks for your contribution Colleen.
LOVE this interview. And HOPELESS is just pure awesome.
I absolutely adored this book and I cannot wait for Colleen’s next release!
Congrats on all your success, Colleen! I absolutely ADORED Slammed and Point of Retreat and I am so excited to begin Hopeless. Really great interview, too!
I love that this interview was obtained through sneakiness. That’s awesome. I love all 3 of Colleen Hoover’s books. Slammed & Point of Retreat were probably 2 of my all time favorite books from last year… and I read quite a few books. They were definitely ones I recommended to other people because, unlike my traditional favorites (insert yada yada fantasy genre), these books speak to everyone. I follow a few great authors closely, Colleen being one of them, and I’m inspired regularly to write my own book one day. Even if no one is allowed to read said book, it will be crossed off of my bucket list!
Hopeless is such a treasure that will stay with me for a very long time. What a masterpiece!!
This is a great interview! And congrats on the success of hopeless. It was truly an amazing book!
Great Interview with a Great Writer. Looking forward to seeing what Colleen writes next! 🙂
Great interview….great author!
What an amazing author. She is truly captivating. She stays true to herself and is not seeking best seller though she has achieved so much more. I fell in love with her writing on the first page of Hopeless and I had to read all the others. I can not wait to see what she has in store for us next.
Thank you Colleen for bringing us such wonderful works of art.
Russell, This interview was inspiring and you showed us the women we all have come to love.
What a wonderful interview! I have read all of Colleen Hoover’s books and I have to say it must be pure God given talent. She deserves all the recognition and success that comes her way.
After reading Hopeless,the strangest thing happened to me:I have a hard time liking other books.I mean I’ve always been a passionate reader,but know I compare everything I read to Hopeless and nothing ever comes close…..so GET WRITING,PLEASE!!!I need my Coleen Hoover fix!
Thanks Russell and Colleen for this great interview! I smiled whilst reading it and enjoyed the great sense of humor from both of you! My command of the language is not that good but reading helps me to improve and Colleen’s books are not only enjoyable, they made me fall in love with reading and inspired me to read more! I really enjoyed Slammed, Point of Retreat and Hopeless so much! I will read anything Colleen writes and I look forward to her next book release! I love her “never regret” motto and live by it too! Congrats Colleen on your success – it’s so well-deserved and I’m happy for you! Not forgetting Russell who sneakily tricked and hunted Colleen down for this interview – thank you, it was fun! 😉
I love your interviewing style. It is great that you are recognizing authors like Colleen. She is incredible!!! I couldn’t stop thinking of Hopeless for days ever since I read it in December and it still pops up in my head from time to time!!
Great interview! Colleen Hoover is definitely my most favorite author! 🙂
The interview was awesome. Colleen is such a wonderful person and was very lucky to be able to mee her at the book signing event in Texas. I got to read Hopeless the other day and it was a really good book. I recommended it to all my friends and few of them read it and loved it.
I love Colleen Hoover!!!! I ordered a signed copy of Hopeless,but I really want to win one for my friend Michelle @Novelsontherun!!!
Great interview! Colleen Hoover’s books never disappoint!
A wonderful interview! It’s awesome to know more things about your favorite authors 🙂 Colleen’s books are amazing. You will succeed in everything you do Colleen.
Colleen’s right, you are funny! Great interview that answered a lot of questions I had myself. Hopeless was the first book I had read from Colleen and I loved it!!! I loved it so much that I looked to see what else she had written and that was when I came across Slammed and then Point of Retreat. Love them all!!
Loved the interview, almost as much as the books! Continued success-I will read anything you write!
Great interview! I adored all of Colleen books!
Congrats to Colleen and thanks to Russell for the great interview! To correct one little error: Hugh Howey was not the first to ink a paperback only deal. That crown goes to Bella Andre who did her deal with Harlequin first. 🙂 Hoo-rah to all the indies breaking boundaries!
Colleen~ You are Fabulous as always! I happen to have a copy of Slammed, signed ‘No Regrets’, and I eagerly await your next signing in Chicago! I figure you’ll be up here again someday!
Russell- Loved the interview!
Amazing review. I am so inspired by Colleen’s words, “Never regret.”
You have time to shop in jammies in Walmart Colleen??? Dont you realize that your fans are waiting for your next book!!!!! Get back to work and have everything you need delivered 😉 We love your stuff….thx for taking the time to inspire…
I have to admit to avoiding reading ‘Hopeless’ at first as I dismissed it as YA and being a not-so YA didn’t think it would hold any interest for me. I eventually downloaded it after reading a recommendation by another author I enjoy and boy was I glad I did.
The book is amazing and affected me deeply. I sobbed my heart out and laughed my head off. It was a true emotional rollercoaster with all the twists and turns along the way.
I have recommended it and I even wrote a blog about it. As a new author myself I have to say that it inspires me to know that someone has achieved success by doing things organically. Letting the characters grow and plans going out the window is so familiar to me.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this interview. Great questions.
All I can say is that Colleen is a truly talented writer. I read all three of her books on my nook in 3 days. Yes, I could not put them down. I went back and re-read them all twice. I cannot wait for her next book. Hopeless and the other books will be around for a long time. Thank you Colleen for sharing your talent with us.
Thank you for a wonderful interview! Hopeless is one of the best books I’ve read in a long while.
Loved this book! One of my favourites!
I LOVE Colleen Hoover!!!! ??
Great Interview! Colleen is amazeballs! Love your books. Can’t wait to see her in Orlando!
Colleen is amazingly talented and yet so humble. It’s refreshing. I read a lot of contemporary romance and no other author even comes close to Colleen’s level of writing. I have recommended her books to numerous others and everyone has come back to me saying they loved them. I hope to have a new book to read from her soon!
great interview, love Colleen Hoover books 🙂
I am an avid reader and I thought I had already read the Best Book. Then I read Hopeless, It’s been well over a week since I finished it and I am still thinking and talking about it. It is a book that you just become a part of, it puts you right in the middle, you laugh, cry and hurt with the characters. It was just friggin amazing!! Thank you Colleen!
I’ve read and loved all of Colleen Hoover’s books. This post just makes me love them all even more.
Hi Colleen 🙂 Must say, I read “Hopeless” and was absolutely enthralled from the beginning to the end. LOVED IT!!! I’ve also just read “Slammed” and “Point of Retreat” which I also absolutely loved. Your characters and the situations they are put into are so real, and that’s what I love about your books. Can’t wait to read more from you, you’re so talented and congrats on your success! 🙂
Colleen, I just want to say thank you for an absolutely amazing story. You are the first author that I decided to read more of your books. Of course I started with Hopeless and LOVED it, now I am reading Slammed and I am loving this story as well. Looking forward to reading Point of Retreat and many more of your creations. Thank you again.
I LOVE Colleen and all of her books! Its amazing to see how well she is doing! She deserves it! Awesome interview 🙂
Russell thank you for the wonderful interview. It is so nice to learn something new and special about the authors we have come to love. Knowing the are just like the rest of us is so enjoyable except of course for her wonderful written talent. 🙂
Collen, I have read all three of your books. I read Slammed first and to be very honest I had never heard of a slam before. I so thoroughly enjoyed reading all the poetry throughout the book. The gifts that were given from the mother after she was gone and the advice that was written on them were so touching, I loved them. They were a great addition the story.
Hopeless was truly my favorite of the three, I’m sure as so many other people. You are right about the twists and turns in your book. I really didn’t see some of them coming and I loved that about this book. The characters were so lovable I didn’t want the story to end. I can’t wait to hear that you have a new book out I hope it will be sooner than later. You have a wonder talent. We are so glad you took a chance on us to enjoy your work.
Congratulations on your success and all your success to come!
Wonderful interview. Congratulations on your continued success, Colleen. Hopeless is amazing. Thank you for being brave to put your books up on Amazon so we could have the pleasure of reading your words.
Wow, this interview has brought in a ton of people. Congrats, Russell. I hope they all give Jet a try as well. I just finished reading it and it is definitely some of your best writing to date.
I lost count of the times I stopped and admired a nice line, or turn of a phrase. Right from the prologue you get caught up in the wording and visuals.
You are well on your way, man–keep flying!
Thanks so much, Robert. Hopefully a few will read it, and enjoy it. One lives between hope and despair.
Great interview of an amazing author!
One of my favorite authors. Colleen never disappoints, and treats her fans so well with her giveaways. I can’t wait for this book to be released. Great interview. Thanks!
The book was released the beginning of January.
Excellent interview. I’m a HUGE fan of Colleen Hoover and I love each character she’s created. I hope you both continue to have great success!
Your books sound amazing even though I never read any 🙁
Colleen Hoover has become one of my favorite authors. Great interview! We will be reading Hopeless in April for my book club.
I haven’t read this book yet. Now that I know it’s indie I will rush to pick it up.
Russell..when are you going to write a contemporary romance for us? Seriously, I’m not kidding. 🙂
I’m not sure the world is ready for my contemporary romance stylings. It might cause a general abandonment of reading by an entire generation of readers, and I don’t want to be responsible for that. Besides, given that my idea of romance involves a half bottle of tequila, the indian knife game and a restraining order, it might not do as well as I would hope, so best to just wait for the world to catch up.
Okay. You’re right. That wouldn’t do. How about a historical romance with Jett going back in time and interacting with Mr. Darcy or something. She could be a knife-wielding governess.
Believe me, if I thought it would make a buck…
What a thoughtful, inspiring interview. Colleen’s love for writing is so clear and palpable, and I don’t doubt that it’s been key to her extraordinary success. Thank you both for a wonderful post!
Colleen, you’re a genuine inspiration, because I write in a similar fashion (when I want to, and without an outline). I love what I do, and want that passion to come across in what’s written. I like to let the story and the characters keep me interested and enthusiastic as they show me how the tale unfolds.
Thank you for such an honest and fabulous interview; you’ve honestly made my day. ‘Hopeless’ is now on my Kindle. 🙂
Russell, thanks for the interview – I’ve just downloaded ‘Jet’, so it looks like you have a new reader, too. 😉
Hope you enjoy it. Be sure to let me know, unless you think it completely bites, in which case, lying would be appropriate.
Awesome interview, awesome lady! Extremely disorganized, no schedule, no outline… I can so relate to that, & so glad I am not alone! Thank you Russell… I will check out her books!
Great interview! I hadn’t heard about Colleen Hoover before, but that’s maybe because I don’t usually read romance (plus, I’m pretty sure I was caved in, with being sick and writing). It’s definitely inspiring to read stories like yours, Colleen. Also, congrats on your book deal on your own terms!!! I recently signed a contract for a special edition of one of my children’s books with a small German publisher under my terms (of course, not comparable to your deal), and even wrote the contract–my publisher just signed. It’s great that the publishing landscape is changing to more of a cooperation between publisher and author, instead of the “powerful” publishers dictating their terms. I’m actually looking forward to my new edition of Miro (a bilingual edition), and working together with my publisher so far has been really relaxed and nice. Kudos to him 🙂
Love,
Saoirse
I will certainly check her work out!! Sounds very interesting!! I am glad I read this it was very helpful 🙂