Happy New Year my readers! It is with great pleasure that I announce our featured author for the year of 2018!
One of the best things about being able to host this contest is finding new, up and coming authors to feature from month to month; but one thing I will never forget is finding out about Misty Hayes in late September of 2017. The second I saw this incredible author, I knew she was destined for great things. Her novel The Outcasts - The Blood Dagger: Volume 1 had me hooked from the first chapter.
Later on after her feature in October, I found out she had decided to publish her very first book. Hearing that she had already jumped so far in her writing career since the time of her feature was both astounding, and something to be expected. From what I've learned about Misty, she's not one to go into things unprepared (though self publishing for the first time has to be one heck of a ride!). She had worked countless hours to make this novel one to catch eyes from all over the web, and seeing as she takes her first steps into the world of publishing has been an honor if nothing else.
As I had stated in her earlier feature, I know Misty Hayes will be seeing herself on the NYT bestseller's list in no time!
If anyone would like to purchase a copy of her sensational book, click here for Barnes&Noble or here for Amazon.
Check out the exclusive interview I had with her prior to her winning the contest, and if you'd like to know more, check out the first interview I had with her when she won Featured Author for the month of October!
SS: How did publishing your first book (On Wattpad or otherwise) change you as an author?
MGH: Ohmygosh, I owe pretty much all of my sudden progression into the self-publishing world to Wattpad. I had tried to go the traditional route of publishing and kept getting told no one (agent wise) was looking for “Vampire” stories anymore; to not even send them.
I eventually found an agent who asked for my full manuscript - which was a huge deal to me because maybe that meant my writing was good enough... as a writer you’re always gonna be critical of your work (at least I am). Six months later the agent ended up passing, but told me to fix some things and she would take another look at it. That was the first inkling I got to keep going.
I don’t remember how I found Wattpad... but I signed up and couldn’t believe I could read people’s novels for free. And these were some talented folks. I got inspired to slowly put my own story up: The Outcasts, and from there I started gaining interest and people were actually reading it and commenting... I worked furiously after that to get it in print and on B&N, Amazon, Kobo..
SS: If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
MGH: I would probably NOT tell myself anything! If I’d known what a painful, harrowing process this was gonna be beforehand I’d never have signed up for it! I’m joking, sort of ... It hasn’t been all bad, just one of the hardest things I’ve done. This brainchild of mine has been in the works for over five years.
SS: What was your hardest scene to write? How did you work through it?
MGH: I think the beginning for sure, I mean we’re talking chapter 1. The opening chapters where Larna is getting relentlessly teased was kinda like rubbing an open wound with sandpaper. And going over and over those chapters was equally as difficult. I had many hair-pulling episodes that didn’t end up helping; but eventually my best friend (who is a brilliant writer) had to help me remember those high school days again. To dig into my past and hers as well. I used a few instances from her past and mine that really happened to me as a teen.
SS: What do you think writing on Wattpad has done for you?
MGH: Definitely opened me up to the experience of strangers reading my work and me being okay with it. Wattpad has been a very safe environment for me. Everyone is so nice and encouraging about writing/writers.
SS: Has winning Featured Author changed you or your writing process? Would you do it again if you had the chance?
MGH: Featured Author has been a huge game changer! I feel so very honored to have even been selected in the process. It helps keep me writing and plodding forward. YES! I would do it again in a heartbeat.
SS: What advice would you give to other authors entering this contest?
MGH: Have faith in your work. Keep writing and learning and growing. Be open to constructive criticism... even though that’s one of the toughest things to do. We all want to see each other succeed. Remember that your first draft is as bad as your work will get. You can polish anything with enough work.
I am so thrilled to have Misty featured for the entire year of 2018! Follow the blog or either of our Wattpad profiles for updates on her upcoming journey!