As most of you are well aware I am a greedy reader. I will read most things and my reading happily crosses genre and target age groups on a regular basis.
Finding new books and authors in the blogosphere has been a HUGE boon.
C. Lee McKenzie has a new book out. Which I devoured when I was sent an ARC.
I really, really enjoyed it (as I have every one of her books I have read) so I happily signed up for the blog tour.
Publication Date: October 25, 2019
Genre: Young Adult
And, the very generous author, is giving away 5 digital copies and a $10 Amazon gift certificate, which (until midnight on Tuesday November 5) you can enter the draw to win a Rafflecopter giveaway
I asked Lee two questions:
Thank you Lee. I am always grateful to authors who share parts of their writing journey. Finding new books and authors in the blogosphere has been a HUGE boon.
C. Lee McKenzie has a new book out. Which I devoured when I was sent an ARC.
I really, really enjoyed it (as I have every one of her books I have read) so I happily signed up for the blog tour.
Publication Date: October 25, 2019
Genre: Young Adult
A blood-smeared knife. One young man’s word against another. A lifetime dream crushed.
The evidence points to Devon Carlyle. He was there when it happened. Everyone knows he had it in for Renzo Costa. And Costa says Devon was the one. In the judge’s rap of a gavel, Devon’s found guilty of assault. The star of the Oceanside High’s basketball team loses his shot at the one thing he’s worked so hard for—the championship game where college scouts could see how good he is.
Now he makes his great shots in Juvenile Hall with kids far different from those that have always been in his life.
Angry? Hell, yes.
He’s bent on finding who did the crime. He’s bent on making them pay because he’s Not Guilty.
But can he prove it?
***
It is available now, and can be purchased from:
And, the very generous author, is giving away 5 digital copies and a $10 Amazon gift certificate, which (until midnight on Tuesday November 5) you can enter the draw to win a Rafflecopter giveaway
I asked Lee two questions:
It seems to me (and correct me if I am wrong) that it must get crowded and noisy in your head as characters clamor to be heard. Do any of them surprise you and demand bigger roles than you had planned?
Ah, yes. The clamor. While I was writing Not Guilty I had four major voices in my head almost every night. Ice needed to be heard. He was so special. Damaged by life’s circumstances, so talented, so vulnerable. My heart ached for this kid, and I had to see him safe somehow.
And Tats--that rascal was a pain in the arse, but I loved him and his get to the point attitude. He knew what Ice had to get out of his belly before he could move on with his life, and he said it. I gave him a big brother to set him on the right path. I know he’s still walking it.
Chewy was another one that tugged at me. He had a good heart; he just needed some guidance and a break from this world.
As to Devon, that boy grew up, and in my mind, he’s already on that college basketball team doing his school proud. He’ll be a good man.
The book I’m in the middle of writing now had a small character who suddenly took on a major role in the story. In fact, I’ve had to work at not letting her steal the show with her take-charge attitude. I’m beginning to think she’s my alter-ego, the person I’d really like to be. I’m enjoying writing all my wishful thinking into this character even if she does keep me awake a lot. I’m at 50K right now, so I figure I have another few weeks before she’ll be fully-fleshed out. Then I hope she’ll kick back and let me be during the editing process.
I have always loved your character building. Your characters learn and grow.
Editing. Some writers love it, some hate it. Which camp do you fall in and do you or your characters call the shots?
Editing. Some writers love it, some hate it. Which camp do you fall in and do you or your characters call the shots?
When it comes to editing, I love it. This is where I dig in as deep as my understanding of the craft and of my work will let me. It’s exciting to find the layers that my earlier drafts have skimmed over. I keep thinking there’s gold here somewhere. Please let me find it. I’m in charge during this part of the writing process. I tell my characters to step aside. "I’ve got this, guys. You had your say during the creative part, now let the author take over and tidy things up, okay?”
I like to read but don't always have the time or make the time. Its' a toss up between the computer or books.
ReplyDeleteI will explore your list of books. Thanks.
nothoughtsnoprayernonothing: Thank you. Reading is an addiction with me, and I frequently neglect other things to indulge myself.
DeleteNo Thoughts, yes, it is about making time and I do so rarely.
DeleteThe computer does take a lot of time, and I have to struggle with the same issue as you do. I've found that by carrying around a book or my Kindle everywhere I go, I gobble up a lot of stories.
DeleteThank goodness for Kindle. The book was just delivered and I will start reading it in between Trick or Treaters tonight.
ReplyDeleteAnne in the kitchen: I hope you enjoy it as much as I did - and look forward to hearing what you think of it.
DeleteHope your Trick or Treat night was fun and that you enjoy Not Guilty. Thank you for ordering my book.
DeleteWhat an exceptional treat to be able to interview the author, Sue. You must have been thrilled, and I think your questions were well thought out and designed to elicit an in-depth response from Lee. Well done!
ReplyDeleteDavid M. Gascoigne: Thank you. I have been blown away by the generosity of authors who blog - not only in that they frequently give away books, but also in their willingness to interact with others.
DeleteSue's the best when it comes to asking the right questions. I always appreciate her, and I love her blog.
DeleteLike you, Sue, I have stacks of books around and at my chair. It is good reading.
ReplyDeleteSusan Kane: I am so very grateful to be able to read, and thank my parents, my teachers, and authors - whether I have yet got to their work or not.
DeleteI can't imagine not being able to read, but I've been a literacy advocate ever since I found the stats on illiteracy in the US alone were staggering.
DeleteSounds like a great book.
ReplyDeleteJamie Ghione: It is.
DeleteI'm hoping the reviews continue to be positive. Fingers crossed.
DeleteSue, loved your questions. It's always enjoyable to find out facts behind the stories. Thanks for being a part of Lee's tour.
ReplyDeleteMason Canyon: Thank you for inviting me to join the fun - and huge thanks to Lee for making time in her very busy schedule to answer my questions.
DeleteSue's place is always at the top of my list of places to visit, so being here today is very special. Thank you both for helping me through this launch.
DeleteThanks for this heads up, EC. Very interesting!
ReplyDeleteLee: It is an excellent book, and I devoured it.
DeleteHi Lee. Lee here! Thanks for the comment.
DeleteInteresting post EC - I'm often curious as to what an author had in mind for their characters when they began 'their stories' and the reasons they developed them the way they did.
ReplyDeleteThe naming of some of the characters- especially YA ones - must cause a headache or two at times as well
Cathy: Thank you. I often wonder those things myself. Naming (books OR characters) always strikes me as a challenge. One of the many.
DeleteThe names either come right away, or I struggle with them. My MC's name was a challenge this time. I wrote XXX every time I typed it until I got Devon Carlyle. It had to be British sounding, with a middle class flavor. Hope I got it right because it plays into the story almost from the beginning.
Deletelaurie: I am so grateful that you can continue to read through the magic of audio books. And yes, reading is an essential here too. I don't know whether any of Lee's books are available in audio form and will check.
ReplyDeleteit looks like an interesting read, but I'll have to pass it up, my kindle has 200+ unread stories and I have a stack about 3 dozen high on my bedside table. I'm also still wondering how to further develop my "Tom" story.
ReplyDeleteRiver, you are going to have to live to be very old to read them all, and that would be a good thing.
DeleteRiver: I hear you. There are multitudes of unread books in the house and on the PC. I too am going to have to live to be very old indeed.
DeleteI know what you're saying. "Not another book!" My Kindle is getting heavier and heavier, if only in my head. :-)
DeleteIf I didn't have a backlog, although nothing like River has, I think it would be a good read. I find paper books increasingly annoying to read, and you have ebooks forever.
ReplyDeleteAndrew: It is a good read, and I am sorry that yours and River's backlog prevents you succumbing. I still like paper books - I like the weight and the smell. I do however have rather a lot of ebooks demanding my attention too.
DeleteWhen I'm home, I choose paper. When I'm traveling, the only way I can make it through my time away is by packing my Kindle.
DeleteWriting, and reading, are beautiful addictions. Thanks for sharing these interesting questions and answers.
ReplyDeleteKim: I am endlessly grateful to writers for feeding my reading addiction.
DeleteI'm so glad to find people who those addictions and add them to my group of friends.
DeleteDear EC
ReplyDeleteBen Aaronovitch said something similar about characters taking over and minor characters insinuating themselves into the plots. It's so interesting to hear about the process. The book is on my wish list.
Best wishes
Ellie
Ellie Foster: I wonder how common it is. I suspect the characters who demand a bigger voice are often the most memorable. Lee will be very glad to hear that her book is on your wish list.
DeleteThank you, Ellie. You can enter to win one of the 5 digital copies I'm giving away.
DeleteI still have a bunch of as-yet unread books on my Kindle, too, as well as a stack of library books waiting for my attention, but that didn't stop me from just now ordering this book. When it comes to books, resistance is futile, at least for me. (And you, too, Sue, I believe...)
ReplyDeleteSusan: How right you are. Definitely futile, and I no longer struggle hard.
DeleteI think there's a support group called Resistance is Futile. I'm going to join. Thanks so much for ordering my book. I look forward to your opinion any time.
Delete:) yoohoo, Lee
ReplyDeleteAuthor R. Mac Wheeler: And you are another of the authors I am grateful to...
DeleteLove the yoohoo! Thanks so much, and if Sue says she likes your books, I'm checking them out!
DeleteSounds like a great book.
ReplyDeleteBuon inizio novembre.
Giancarlo: It is a great book. It is a little before dawn on the second of November here - have a great month.
DeleteGrazie mille. Here's to November and to a beautiful winter ahead.
DeleteI'd love to read this book. I'm a fan of YA and the plot sounds very interesting. Voracious reader too here.
ReplyDeleteI love the comments by the author on the editing process, something I need to knuckle down and do with my own work.
XO
WWW
Wisewebwoman: I really hope you can get to this latest book of Lee's - and note she is already well into the next.
DeleteGood luck with your own editing.
That editing is a challenge, but such a great opportunity. Good luck with your writing.
DeleteI especially love what she said about editing. I think its the most important part of writing, and its true, there is "gold in there" and just needs to be brought to the surface.
ReplyDeleteJ C: I suspect sometimes the gold is fool's gold, but an insufficiently edited book is a huge turnoff for me.
DeleteFinding those nuggets is better than finding the so called "read gold." When I see where I can take a character or a plot twist, I do a little dance. And that's good for the old ticker! :-)
DeleteI could never write fiction. I write a blog and have self published 3 memoirs. I admire writers who can explore fictitious characters and end up with a plot with a satisfying ending.
ReplyDeletegigihawaii: I really admire all writers, whatever their genre. Three memoirs? Wow. Are you willing to share their titles?
DeleteIt's like I tell my Sudoko addicted friends, writing stories is like a giant puzzle. All you have to do is put the pieces together in the right way.
DeleteI like audio books for those long trips. They make the hours pass very quickly.
ReplyDeletenatalia20041989 has left a new comment on your post "C. Lee McKenzie - Guest Post":
ReplyDeleteSounds so interesting ☺
For some unknown reason blogger ate Natalia's comment which I have reproduced here. She is right - it is interesting.
I really like your questions and Lee's answers. I *think* I like editing more than first draft.
ReplyDeleteTeresa
T. Powell Coltrin: Thank you. As a dabbler rather than a writer I have no problems with editing. As a reader I really appreciate the authors who put in the hard yards.
DeleteYour questions and Lee's responses fascinate me as much as the story. Congrats, Lee. Sounds like you published another winner!
ReplyDeleteRawknrobyn: I am so grateful that Lee was happy to answer my questions. Questions which have occurred to me about many, many books. I hope you are right on the 'winner' front too.
DeleteGood to read this … thank-you.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Lowcarb team member ~Jan: Thank you.
DeleteC. Lee has outdone herself. This was an amazing read. I highly recommend it.
ReplyDeleteSandra Cox: It was excellent wasn't it?
DeleteWhat a wonderful post! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteCloudia: Thank you. She, like you, is someone I found in the blogosphere who has become very dear to me.
DeleteNice to support writers, EC, and give them some publicity to sell their wares. There is nothing better in my life than nights, dark, with stars shining through the window, in bed, cats atop me, purring, and me reading a good book by the glow of my small reading light.
ReplyDeleteStrayer: I hear you. I read before bed every night (and at other times too). A post for the authors in the blogosphere is a small payment for the way they have expanded my horizons.
DeleteHi EC - I feel sure Lee's book is an excellent YA read ... I love her story line and there's much to learn from it ... thanks for helping her ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHilary Melton-Butcher: Thank you. I have met with so much kindness and generosity here in the blogosphere it would be churlish (in the extreme) not to follow suit.
DeleteThank you for sharing this! It's always lovely to hear someone sing the praises of an author whose work they've enjoyed. :-)
ReplyDeleteDiane Henders: Authors are my heroes. They enrich my world and I would be very, very ungrateful if I DIDN'T sing their praises.
Delete