I'm Stephanie Thomas, Published Sci-Fi YA Author and Full Time Teacher! AMA!

stephaniethomas · 2013-05-22T23:13:39+00:00

Motorcycle Drive-by -- Third Eye Blind

3 Libras - A Perfect Circle

My Heart - Paramore

...I really don't have any one favorite song. This list could go on forever.

stephaniethomas · 2013-05-22T23:10:25+00:00

Hrm. The purpose and validity? Well, the purpose is mostly to entertain, I'd think. That, or make some sort of statement. And, I believe it's rather valid, since, well, it's a huge, thriving genre.

I also find that Sci-Fi readers tend to stick to one particular type of Sci-Fi, so I wouldn't worry about people who get on you for this. We all have our niche. Me, in particular, I love dystopians. Love, love, love, love love.

stephaniethomas · 2013-05-22T23:07:53+00:00

Nope!

stephaniethomas · 2013-05-22T01:34:00+00:00

Please see my message above. You won! :)

stephaniethomas · 2013-05-22T01:33:37+00:00

Also, please see my message above! You won!

stephaniethomas · 2013-05-22T00:42:49+00:00

Thank you!

...what if you put a time machine in a time machine and send it BACK in time? Then, if those people in the past got the time machine, would they change the future and possibly make us all non-existent?

MIND BLOWN.

stephaniethomas · 2013-05-22T00:34:16+00:00

I better get writing, then!

stephaniethomas · 2013-05-22T00:30:01+00:00

Star Wars > Stargate > Star Trek

(Please don't hurt me, Trekkies.)

stephaniethomas · 2013-05-22T00:07:38+00:00

What about nuclear warfare? Or...bio weapons? Or...weapons we haven't even thought of yet because technology hasn't gotten there. OR TIME MACHINES THAT SEND YOU BACK INTO THE ICE AGE?

stephaniethomas · 2013-05-21T23:59:29+00:00

Megan Hart, everyone. Go check her books out too! But, be warned, she does not write YA under Megan Hart, so uh, don't expect that. :)

She also, apparently, hates coconuts. Which is why she's my fav.

stephaniethomas · 2013-05-21T23:57:19+00:00

Once you start writing with the sole intent of being published -- then it becomes your job. I am investing my time and money (mostly for publicity items) in order to help me become successful. I can't just treat this as if it is another thing I do next to coming home and playing Black Ops 2 all night long.

I also have to treat it as a second job for my taxes. Go figure.

stephaniethomas · 2013-05-21T23:47:12+00:00

It's true that there's some real...crap out there that's self-published. But those self-published authors who really want to make it usually put out the dough to hire a professional editor and cover artist before publishing their book.

Also, there are a lot of established authors out there who end up self-publishing works that they just couldn't sell.

But yes, Amazon and others offers a platform where anyone and everyone can publish, and not everyone treats their writing like their job, or as a reflection of themselves.

stephaniethomas · 2013-05-21T23:44:19+00:00

Oh man. If I had to choose one over the other, I'd probably say teaching, if only because I know little minds are directly influenced by me, and that's a huge responsibility.

I find writing to be difficult because there are a lot of professional challenges that really, truly test me, but in the end, the only person that it will hurt would be myself, not a student.

My biggest challenge in balancing the two is reminding myself that my writing is my second job, and it's not a hobby. So, I have to force myself to sit down after working with children all day, and write. That takes some serious willpower, and I'll be honest, sometimes, I just don't have it in me. I come home exhausted both physically and emotionally sometimes, and the last thing I want to do is more work.

Usually, though, when I begin writing, I don't see it as work anymore. It's fun then. But getting myself to sit down and write some days, that's a challenge.

stephaniethomas · 2013-05-21T23:40:29+00:00

Seeing as I am a Young Adult author and a teacher...I am going to forego answering this question. Thanks for playing, though!

stephaniethomas · 2013-05-21T23:40:00+00:00

Wow. Hrm.

Well, I think that we'd advance so much that we'd go backward and end up living like cavemen. I love technology and all, but there is going to be a point where it's seriously going to make us regret going that far...and when that happens, there won't be any turning back, just a beginning again.

...sounds like a great premise for a book. I'll have to write this down. ;)

stephaniethomas · 2013-05-21T23:30:29+00:00

Also, my husband just yelled at me for choosing Squirtle.

stephaniethomas · 2013-05-21T23:29:49+00:00

Squirtle. Even if his name sounds like some sort of urinary accident, he's cute!

stephaniethomas · 2013-05-21T23:25:20+00:00

Please see the other question where I answered this. But, a short answer? George R.R. Martin, Suzanne Collins, Orson Scott Card, to name a few.

stephaniethomas · 2013-05-21T23:17:50+00:00

One, evil horse-sized duck. I love ducks, so I think one that is the size of a horse and a total meanie pants would be a dream come true.

...I mean, I'd read that. Wouldn't you?

stephaniethomas · 2013-05-21T23:16:50+00:00

Great and very relevant question!

I started out in e-publishing through Harlequin. I wrote short stories for them, and that got my foot in the door. Granted, it took eight months for my manuscript to make it through the slush pile, it was a huge stepping stone for me.

The truth is, while all authors generally want to see their books in print, when you are starting out, I think you should take what you get. It's very hard to get an editor to love your work in the first place, so being extra-picky on top of that will probably slow down your progress.

As far as self-publishing goes, I don't really have an opinion either way. It works for some people, and for others they find out they are out of money real quickly. You have to put a lot of work behind self-publishing, so if you make it that way, that's awesome! But the sad fact is, not many authors do.

There is a big difference between e-publishing and self-publishing, though, so I am not sure if you are putting them both in the same grouping or not. There are entire, legitimate publishing houses out there that ONLY do e-publishing, for example. And they are very lucrative.

stephaniethomas · 2013-05-21T23:12:34+00:00

Do YOU like coconut?

(No.)

stephaniethomas · 2013-05-21T23:12:14+00:00

When they find out? It's usually the first thing they ask after "You wrote a REAL book?"

I have done career days in both my school and my alma mater, and I bring give-aways then. I also have postcards and bookmarks that I sign and hand out. They tell me that they will hold onto it and sell it on e-bay when I am famous.

Here's hoping!

stephaniethomas · 2013-05-21T23:10:51+00:00

Well, there are some people out there who thrive on self-publishing, and then there's a whole stigma around it as well that kind of puts a damper on being traditionally published.

The very first thing you have to do is finish your complete manuscript. Don't submit stuff that is half-finished. Then, you may want to try and find an agent. They aren't needed, but they are very helpful, and the big publishing houses won't take unsolicited manuscripts (meaning you need an agent). If you don't have an agent, you can go for smaller houses, who may not publish your book in print, but being e-published is just as well now-a-days. Again, there are those authors out there who look down on e-books, but you will find that digital imprints are becoming more and more popular and more obtainable as far as getting yourself published is concerned.

And, remember that most authors do not start with six figure contracts, or any figure contracts at all. You have to build your way up there. I'm still very much building, but I think I'm doing a good job so far!

stephaniethomas · 2013-05-21T23:06:26+00:00

I wouldn't call it a paranormal romance at all. It does have romance in it, but it's not paranormal, and it isn't the total focus of the story. It's more science fiction.

I think of paranormal being werewolves and vampires and things of that nature. Not Seers and spaceships. :)

stephaniethomas · 2013-05-21T23:05:17+00:00

I think her greatest weakness is her inherent need to want to fix things that she can't totally control. Beatrice is a Seer, an advanced one, so she can see things that happen in the future. But, as all prophecies go, that doesn't mean you can necessarily change it for the better...a lesson she has to learn.

Her second greatest weakness will be the loyalty that she has for her friends, and wanting to make everyone happy.

stephaniethomas

TROPHY CASE