YA and a new kind of Time travel? Yes! Meet Carly Jordynn

 Meet Carly Jordynn, author of Sasha Bishop, Retired Slayer and the YA Forest Mist series. At the end of this post, you'll have a chance to win one of her books.
Carly, lease tell us a little about yourself. 

I was born and raised in Northern Kentucky. I have lived in three houses within a three mile radius my entire life. Following my divorce, I graduated from college, started tinkering with writing, and adopted my daughter. I wrote my first book in longhand because I didn’t own a computer at the time. That book is safely tucked away until it gets a major rewrite. I work full-time in the import/export business. When I’m not reading or writing, I enjoy dinner with friends, hanging out with my daughter, planning parties, travel, shopping, and walking.
I love firsts, so tell me about the moment when a publisher told you they wanted to publish your book. 

 I remember that day clearly. I had so many close calls with Forest of the Mist: Travelers. Editors and Agents loved the story, but couldn’t figure out where to place it. I stumbled upon Debby Gilbert and Soul Mate Publishing about a year before I was offered a contract. Like the others, Debby loved the story, but Soul Mate didn’t have young adult or time travel at the time. Almost a year later, I contacted Debby again to see if they would be representing young adult or time travel anytime soon. The answer was yes! She remembered me and my book, which I thought was very flattering. I sent it back to her and was offered a contract within a few days. It was a couple of days after Christmas 2013, when I signed that first contract.

Blurb:

Lily Lavery never dreamed her homecoming night would turn out like this. She never expected to become orphaned, in a coma, and enter an alternate reality, all in one evening. She thought she would arrive at the dance to the cheers of her classmates after being crowned homecoming princess at the big game, dance the night away with her handsome boyfriend, Alex McGuire, and maybe end the night in his arms. Her heart betrayed her when she met and fell in love with Connor O’Brien in the alternate realm known as Paradise Valley. Now she must battle foes in the Dark Land and her own feelings as she struggles to return to reality

I love the cover. I read Travelers and I can't wait to read the sequel. I want to know what happens to . . . (Nope I am not going to do spoilers.)

If it isn’t too nosy. How about the first time you kissed your true love? 

Wow, there have been so many, LOL! I don’t think I’ve met my true love yet, or if I have, I totally missed him. So instead, I’ll tell you about my last kiss. In middle school, I had a crush on the most handsome boy. He had blond hair, blue eyes, nice build, a great smile, fantastic legs, and was an all around nice guy. Everybody had a crush on him. We never dated. Fast forward to late last year when I learned that this man was dying. I made arrangements to go visit, but had to revise those plans when he was moved to hospice. When I did go see him, I was unsure of the reception I would get. I mean, he was only forty-nine years old and dying. We talked and talked and talked some more. I confessed my schoolgirl crush on him. He was very nice about it. While we were talking, he took my hand in his and ZING! the same old butterflies went winging through my body. He kissed me that day. It was the perfect kiss. . . everything I ever imagined kissing him would be like. When I left that night, he said, “I enjoyed our first kiss.” To which I responded, “I’ll be back tomorrow for more.” I’m grateful for the time we got to spend together and the kisses shared before he passed away.
Wow. Thank you for telling us. This is another book. You know that, right? Alternate time line where he doesn't die and you get together.

Other than your own, who are your favorite (heroes/heroines/writers) in your genre? 

I have lots of these too! One of my favorite heroes is Jace Herondale from the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. That cat was just too cool. He was brave, strong, vulnerable, and sexy as all get out. One of my favorite heroines is from Meg Cabot’s Vanishing series. Her name was Jessica Mastrianni. She rode a Harley, did the right thing even if it would get her in trouble later, and loved the good guy that everyone else perceived as the bad boy. As for the writers, there are many. Meg Cabot, Cassandra Clare, David Eddings, and J.K. Rowling to name a few.

Carly and Meg Cabot

I loved Jessica too. Meg Cabot's 1-800 Where Are You and her Mediator series are on my Keeper Shelf.

What is the most exciting moment, so far, in your writing career? 

That’s a tough one. I guess it would be when I met Meg Cabot, Nora Roberts, and Brenda Novak at a writer’s conference a few years ago.

That sounds wonderful to me. I am going to RWA this year. I hope to meet some of my idols.

What is your favorite pastime, other than writing? 

I love to read. I also enjoy researching my family history.

How do you motivate yourself when inspiration takes a vacation? 

I have journals for each of my books that I keep complete backstory on every character. I read through these and sometimes an idea for a twist in the storyline will be the result. I also come up with ideas while on the treadmill or going for a walk.Got a recipe you want to share? 

That would require me to cook. So. Not. My. Thing. Thank goodness for microwaves. I tell my daughter she should hangout with my mom, who is an excellent cook, and learn from her so we don’t starve in the future.
Any advice for new writers just starting out? 

I cannot stress editing enough. Also, grow a thick skin for rejection. Never give up on your dream. Learn from the reject and move on. It only takes one editor, agent, or publisher to get your books on shelves.
What genre or genres do you write? I write young adult fantasy romance and paranormal. I also have a couple of adult romances I am working on.
Tell us about Awakening

My newest book is due to release in August from Soul Mate Publishing. Awakening, book two of the Forest of the Mist series. 

Jennifer Burke Kyle has been in a coma. Upon waking, she discovered her infant son was half-grown, has some rather unique powers, and she has been ordered by her dead husband to marry a complete stranger, Alex McGuire. As if that wasn’t enough to make her want to go back to sleep, she, along with her friends from the alternate realm Paradise Valley, must escape the government research group, PRI, and it’s agents, in order to protect the still comatose, Colin O’Brien.

What’s your current WIP? I have a few WIP’s I’m working on. The first is Sasha Bishop: Shifter. This is book two in the Sasha Bishop series. In this book, a shifter vampire has the ability to change into Sasha, making it seem that it is she who is systematically killing off her classmates. Another one is The Last Girlfriend. This is an adult romance about three friends who find love ten years after high school. The last is Guardians, book three in the Forest of the Mist series. In this book, Davy has grown up, taken over as ruler of Paradise Valley and the Dark Land, and has kidnapped the girl who will grow up to be his co-ruler.

They all sound intriguing.  The first Sasha book is Sasha Bishop, Retired Slayer. Such a great title! 

Blurb:

An impending war and ineffectual Slayer has seventeen-year-old Sasha, coming out of retirement. With her 167 year old vampire boyfriend, his great-great-grandson, her Watcher, and a select group of vamps, Sasha faces the monster behind the war, as well as, the battle for her heart.

Love this premise!

And finally, where can we find you? 

I can be found on my website, Facebook, Twitter, my blog, and Pinterest.
www.carlyjordynn.com
www.facebook.com/carlyjordynn777
www.twitter.com/CarlyJordynn
http://carlyjordynn.blogspot.com
www.pinterest.com/CarlyJordynn

Thank you for being here, Carly. Carly is giving away one ebook. Winner gets to choose from her titles.

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