Interview with YA author Betsy Love

Today my guest is the very talented and fun Betsy Love, Author of Identity, her new novel. One lucky commenter will receive a pair of Identity style sunglasses.  Welcome, Betsy. How long have you been writing?  

Betsy: Since I could hold a pen/pencil in my hands. I used to watch my mother writing and knew that I wanted to do that, too. Her loopty-loops fascinated me. I learned that these meant words and words are power. When I started school I couldn’t wait to write my own stories.
Donna: What was it like when you first got “the call?”.


Betsy: It was actually an email. And I cried, I danced around the house and couldn’t wait to tell anyone who would listen. Next to having a baby, it’s the most exhilarating experience.

Donna: Mine, too. I love the comparison to having a baby—it’s almost as much work and certainly takes all my heart and soul! So tell me, what do you find fulfilling about writing your genre?

Betsy: My problem is I don’t write in just one genre. When I started writing Identity I just wanted to tell a story. I love to read in so many genres, and I’ve tried my hand at most of them. The most fulfilling part of writing is when you get a card or email and your reader tells you how much your story meant to them.

Donna: I have the same problem. So, what motivated you to write your current book?

Betsy: My mother started reading a story to me that had a similar plot. She never finished it. One day I was talking to my eleven-year old daughter and telling her about that story. I was bemoaning the fact that my mother never finished it. In her amazing wisdom my daughter said to me, “So write your own ending.” And I did.

Donna: Good for you! What is more difficult--writing the book or promoting the book? Any tips for success?

Betsy: Both are difficult! But I’d have to say promoting. Making sure your book is in the public eye, keep your name out there, those are all things that need to be done every day. I’m not great at it, yet.

Donna: Me, either. So tell us what you are working on now.

Betsy: I have a sequel to Identity that I worked on during NaNoWriMo. As the deadline loomed closer and I still had 28,000 words left to go in two days (call me crazy!) I decided I was going to push through. The first day I managed over 12,000 words. The second day I pushed even harder and got almost 16,000. I’ve never done that before, and I’ll NEVER do that again. I ended up writing about silly things that may or may not make it into the final version. For instance, when I made a plot shout out to my Facebook friends, one of my dear respondents suggested writing about a three-legged dog. Another person suggested I name the dog Cheetos (I had a craving for them during that time). When I was writing that ridiculous scene, I thought, “Yeah that’s gonna go!” But the more I thought about it, the more I realized I could actually incorporate it into the plot.  I have several other works in progress across as many genres.

Donna: What’s the craziest, bravest, or stupidest thing you’ve ever done?

Betsy: The stupidest would have to be the time I was on a three-way call with my ANWA presidency having an important meeting. Stupid me left my two youngest boys 2 and 3 years old alone in the other room watching television. I should be safe in my bedroom, right? WRONG! While I was discussing our upcoming writer’s conference, my two little darlings were dive-bombing the kitchen floor with the five dozen eggs I’d just gotten from Costco. Luckily I have pictures somewhere.

Donna: Oh, the woes of mother hood. Okay now here's the power round:
Favorite food? Mexican (especially fish tacos or sea food enchiladas)
Favorite dessert? Brownies or cheese cake
Jeans and T-shirt, or designer clothes? I can afford Jeans and t-shirts, but I’d rather wear designer clothes
Guilty pleasure? Sh…don’t tell, I love to play World of Warcraft. I have a level 82 druid.
One word that describes you? Sweet
Favorite flower? Stock—they smell AmAzInG!!!
Favorite sport? Whatever my boys are playing at the time

Donna: Tell us about your new book, Identity.

Betsy: While vacationing in Mexico, two similar-looking young women find themselves caught in a chain reaction of mistaken identities. Amelia is a wealthy heiress and business owner, and Savannah is a sweet Mormon girl deciding whether or not to serve a mission. When they end up on the same flight to Phoenix, Savannah and Amelia unravel the sequence of events that wreaked havoc on their trips, and they make plans to resolve the subsequent misunderstandings. But their flight is cut short when the plane crashes, killing one of the young women and plunging the other into a world of intrigue and deceit where identity means everything.

Donna: Sounds so exciting! I can’t wait to read it. I expect an autographed copy :-) Thanks so much for being my guest today. Betsy's great new novel is available in both paperback and ebook--both for Kindle and Nook on Amazon. It was great getting to know you better.

Here’s Betsy’s Author bio: I’m a mom, a grandmother and wife (not necessarily in that order). I have 8 children who have given me 14 grandchildren to date. I’m married to my biggest fan and support. I graduated with a Magna Cum Laude in Secondary Education and English. Currently I get to be a full time writer. I substitute teach from time to time and love being with teens.


Website: http://betsyloveldsauthor.blogspot.com

http://identitynovel.blogspot.com

 Now, for the giveaway, leave a thoughtful comment (more thoughtful than "great interview" please) and you'll be entered in a drawing to win a cool pair of Identity-style sunglasses.
Drawing will take place on Monday, 19 December.