It’s
never a good thing to show up to one of your booksignings and see a poster of
another author greeting you by the front door.
never a good thing to show up to one of your booksignings and see a poster of
another author greeting you by the front door.
This
happened to me in Greenville, South Carolina the summer of 2008. I had
scheduled a booksigning at a store I’d visited numerous times. I knew the lady
who set the signings up well. I didn’t happen to double check with her right
before the signing, something I always do. I just didn’t want to bother her.
happened to me in Greenville, South Carolina the summer of 2008. I had
scheduled a booksigning at a store I’d visited numerous times. I knew the lady
who set the signings up well. I didn’t happen to double check with her right
before the signing, something I always do. I just didn’t want to bother her.
Turns
out I probably should have. My aunt dropped me off at the store and seconds
after her car left the parking lot, I noticed an Author Booksigning poster.
Except the author pictured looked twice my age. And his name wasn’t Travis
Thrasher.
out I probably should have. My aunt dropped me off at the store and seconds
after her car left the parking lot, I noticed an Author Booksigning poster.
Except the author pictured looked twice my age. And his name wasn’t Travis
Thrasher.
I
sighed and then chuckled. Stuff like this usually happens to me.
sighed and then chuckled. Stuff like this usually happens to me.
After
I made sure that I wasn’t signing (and discovering the woman who set it up had
left the bookstore a month ago), I politely excused myself feeling like a
complete loser. I usually brace for feeling like this during signings, but this
was a travesty. Travesty . . . hmmm, that makes me think of a particular
author.
I made sure that I wasn’t signing (and discovering the woman who set it up had
left the bookstore a month ago), I politely excused myself feeling like a
complete loser. I usually brace for feeling like this during signings, but this
was a travesty. Travesty . . . hmmm, that makes me think of a particular
author.
Next
door to this bookstore sits a great Mexican restaurant, so I went over there to
have some chips and salsa and a margarita. Or ten. As I sat there in the
afternoon sun, my mind wandered to the setting of Greenville and then to story
ideas.
door to this bookstore sits a great Mexican restaurant, so I went over there to
have some chips and salsa and a margarita. Or ten. As I sat there in the
afternoon sun, my mind wandered to the setting of Greenville and then to story
ideas.
This
was the place and the moment I came up with the idea for The Solitary Tales.
was the place and the moment I came up with the idea for The Solitary Tales.
I
thought it would be fun to do a combination of my first novel (teen love) and
one of my latest (horror). So the ideas began to turn around and around. I had
my writing notebook with me so I jotted down the idea. Just one of a thousand
ideas I’ve had.
thought it would be fun to do a combination of my first novel (teen love) and
one of my latest (horror). So the ideas began to turn around and around. I had
my writing notebook with me so I jotted down the idea. Just one of a thousand
ideas I’ve had.
Some
ideas stick, however. And this one certainly stayed with me.
ideas stick, however. And this one certainly stayed with me.
Now,
four and a half years later, the final book of that series is officially out.
No, this hasn’t turned out to be Twilight or
The Hunger Games. But I think
these four books are the best thing I’ve done to date. The clearest picture of
my true voice and my style. And I’ve created something far bigger and far deeper
than I ever could have imagined sitting in the patio of that Mexican restaurant
feeling like a real winner.
four and a half years later, the final book of that series is officially out.
No, this hasn’t turned out to be Twilight or
The Hunger Games. But I think
these four books are the best thing I’ve done to date. The clearest picture of
my true voice and my style. And I’ve created something far bigger and far deeper
than I ever could have imagined sitting in the patio of that Mexican restaurant
feeling like a real winner.
After
having twenty books in print (and more published as eBook only releases), I
know one thing by now. There’s no way I can convince you to buy my latest book.
I like to remind people Stephen King gave The Hunger Games a huge endorsement to help give it a nice little push
upon publication. Authors can’t convince readers to buy their books. Well, I
take that back. When they’re in bookstores, some authors have a knack for
convincing strangers to buy books. I’m one of them. When, of course, they
actually have me scheduled to do
the signing.
having twenty books in print (and more published as eBook only releases), I
know one thing by now. There’s no way I can convince you to buy my latest book.
I like to remind people Stephen King gave The Hunger Games a huge endorsement to help give it a nice little push
upon publication. Authors can’t convince readers to buy their books. Well, I
take that back. When they’re in bookstores, some authors have a knack for
convincing strangers to buy books. I’m one of them. When, of course, they
actually have me scheduled to do
the signing.
If
you’re a fan of YA/teen fiction, then check these books out if you haven’t
already. The first book in the series is called Solitary and will be free on all eReaders this Thursday and
Friday, January 3 and 4. Download it and read some chapters. Hopefully you’ll
find something interesting about the tone and the style and the storyline.
you’re a fan of YA/teen fiction, then check these books out if you haven’t
already. The first book in the series is called Solitary and will be free on all eReaders this Thursday and
Friday, January 3 and 4. Download it and read some chapters. Hopefully you’ll
find something interesting about the tone and the style and the storyline.
For
those fans of The Solitary Tales, all I can say is I’m just getting warmed up.
The story of Solitary has been finished. But a bigger story exists. And I don’t
need an afternoon in a Mexican restaurant to figure out the rest of the
storyline.
those fans of The Solitary Tales, all I can say is I’m just getting warmed up.
The story of Solitary has been finished. But a bigger story exists. And I don’t
need an afternoon in a Mexican restaurant to figure out the rest of the
storyline.
I’ve
had four and a half years to work on it.
had four and a half years to work on it.
I'm going to buy Hurt today. I'm so excited will probably read it in less then three hours and then reread it over again. Thank you so much for this series and to be honest I don't know If I'll ever find another series to top it. I picked up the first book when I was sixteen and have had one in my hand through the three,toughest years of my life so far. Can't wait to see how Chris's story ends. Oh and I was going to ask are you okay with getting fan art. I draw and have been think of doing some Solitary themed drawings.
Hi, Skye! Thanks for sharing this. Glad the books have meant a lot to you. Hope HURT is the best one you read. And yes, would love to see any art you ever do. How fun. All the best. Hope your 2013 is a great one. God bless.
Perhaps one of Travis' biggest addicts. Read each in less than two days each and struggled waiting a year for each to be printed…and not even embarrassed to admit I graduated the same year as Travis. But I inspire many young readers to own their set of four books. Looking forward to what will come next…in a new series!
Travis, just received your newsletter today. Great to hear from you, and Happy New Year! Really appreciate the free electronic copy of Solitary. I just downloaded it for my 13 year-old daughter, and also forwarded your newsletter to another friend with a teenage daughter and a Kindle. Blessings for the new year!