Can you give us a brief overview of
your latest book? Is it part of a series?
Competing with the Star is about a high school girl named
Hadley who just starting dating this amazingly sweet guy named Nick—he’s
thoughtful and caring and spends time with his grandpa in a nursing home. He’s
her first love and her best friend, but then she finds out he used to have a
crush on her friend, Simone, who happens to be a former TV star. That wouldn’t
be so bad if Simone and Nick didn’t kiss after school. Both of them swear the
other one made the first move and now Hadley has to determine who is telling
the truth and who she can trust. The book can be read as a standalone, but
there is also a previous book called Next
Door to a Star where we see how Hadley moves to her current town and meets
everyone. But you can read this book first if you’re more into romances.
Do you have a favorite character?
I love how
the star, Simone Hendrickson, is the girl the others want to be like, but for
as much as she has going for her, she is the most insecure one of the group.
Hadley, the main character, is a favorite because of the way she is just
finding herself and dealing with her insecurities and Pilar’s transformation
from mean girl to loyal friend is amazing. But I have to say Nick Jenkins,
Hadley’s boyfriend is probably my favorite because he is such a thoughtful guy
whether he’s out with Hadley or going to the nursing home to spend time with
his grandfather. He and Hadley spend time with his grandpa and it just shows
what a sweet guy he is—the perfect boyfriend.
Have you ever had a minor character
evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?
When I was
writing Competing with the Star, all
of a sudden the mean girl character, Pilar Ito, showed a different side to her.
You saw what was behind her defensive nature and why she came across the way
she did. She went from a mean girl who went along with whatever the most
popular girls told her to do to becoming Hadley’s friend who truly had her
back. I loved the character transformation (Pilar is so different in Next Door with a Star) and I get a lot
of messages from readers saying that she became they’re favorite character.
If you used a graphic
designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative
process for your cover?
Ashley
Byland from Redbird Designs was the artist. She sent me photos of the model
that was on the cover for next Door to a Star and I got to pick the picture I
liked the best. I wanted a beach scene and a pier in the backdrop to show that
the book is set in a beach town (Grand Haven, Michigan.)
What is your writing process? Do you
listen to music or do you like silence?
I listen to
music before I start to write and certain songs really inspire some scenes.
Clark Manson’s “Track 9” song was on repeat when I was writing. I don’t put
music on as I write though. I almost always write late at night. I used to only
write at my desk, but I recently moved and I’m having issues writing fiction in
my office. I have no clue why, but I’ve been taking my laptop into the living
room to get inspired. I’ve never written like that before, but it’s working for
me!
Do you outline your story or just go
where your muse takes you?
I tend to
let the story and characters take me where they want to go. I did both an
independent study and a creative writing class with author Thomas Foster who
wrote, How to Read Literature Like a Professor, and he told me to let my
characters tell me what they wanted to do instead of directing them. Great
advice.
What kinds of marketing [twitter,
facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?
Instagram
is one of my favorite sites to share photos and interact with readers. https://www.instagram.com/krystenlindsay/
I also love
blogging and putting stuff up about my books on my website. I think every
writer needs to invest in a website and not just a blog: http://www.krystenlindsay.com/
Besides writing, do you have any
other passions?
I love
reading and learning new things—I’m really into watching documentaries and when
I take an interest in someone like a writer, artist, or actor, I want to learn
everything about them. Sometimes some of the little facts I pick up end up as
story inspirations. Right now I’m also passionate about bringing awareness to
Lewy Body Parkinson’s with dementia, which is the disease Nick’s grandfather
has in the book. It’s based on my own experience having a family member with it
and it’s not very well known so I want to help bring some light to it so other
people won’t feel as alone as my family did.
Some fun facts about you, which do
you prefer – dogs or cats? Chocolate or vanilla? Coffee or Tea? Talk or Text?
Day or Night?
Definitely
chocolate. I actually prefer to talk over texting because there’s always that
weirdness over who stops texting first. Plus people seem to assume you’re
available to answer a text 24/7, but with the phone you can just not pick up if
you’re busy and no one gets upset.
What’s next for you?
I’m working
on another YA book called, Dating the It
Guy, as well as more YA projects, a new adult book, and I’m also working on
the fourth book in my Landry’s True Colors Series.
Krysten Lindsay Hager
(The Star Series, #2)
Published by: Limitless Publishing
Publication date: March 22nd 2016
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Hadley Daniels’s life seems perfect…
Before the beginning of sophomore year of high school, Hadley and her family move to a beautiful beach town, where she makes amazing new friends and lands the boyfriend of her dreams-Nick Jenkins. He’s the kind of guy every girl swoons over, and it isn’t long until Hadley discovers some are still swooning.
A famous ex-girlfriend makes matters more complicated…
After some time dating, Hadley and Nick form a deep bond. But insecurity sets in when Hadley discovers her boyfriend once had a huge crush on her friend-who just happens to be the beautiful former teen TV star, Simone Hendrickson.
The past is the past-or so they say…
Hadley confronts Nick, who confesses about his history with Simone. Though he claims to only have eyes for Hadley now, it’s hard to believe-especially when she’s blindsided with the news that Nick and Simone kissed after school.
Now Hadley must determine who is telling the truth. Love, betrayal, friendship…who needs soap opera drama when you’re busy competing with a star?
Author Bio:
Krysten Lindsay Hager is a book addict who has worked as a journalist and humor essayist. She is the author of the LANDRY’s TRUE COLORS SERIES and the STAR SERIES. TRUE COLORS was her debut novel and the first book in the LANDRY’S TRUE COLORS series. BEST FRIENDS…FOREVER? (Book 2) was #1 in Amazon’s hot new releases in teen & young adult values and virtues fiction and #1 in Amazon’s hot new release in children’s books on values. Landry in Like (Book 3) was #3 in Amazon’s Hot New Releases for Girls & Women. Her work has been featured in USA Today, The Flint Journal, the Grand Haven Tribune, the Bellbrook Times, and on the talk show Living Dayton. Check out her YA novel, NEXT DOOR TO A STAR (book 1 in the STAR SERIES) and COMPETING WITH THE STAR: Book 2 in the STAR SERIES.
You can follow her at: http://www.krystenlindsay.com
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