INTERVIEW WITH DYLAN NEWTON

Jennifer: Good morning, Dylan! Thanks so much for joining me today.

Dylan Newton was born and raised in a small town in Upstate New York where the local library was her favorite hang-out. Despite earning a degree in English Literature, Dylan spent more than a decade sidetracked by an executive position in corporate America where she swears she contracted testosterone poisoning. After leaving, she dedicated herself to more estrogen-rich passions, like motherhood, writing romance novels and her never-ending quest for the perfect date night.

Dylan married her high-school sweetheart and they are busy living out their own happily ever after in sunny Florida with their two incredible daughters.

Visit Dylan at http://www.DylanNewton.com or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DylanNewtonAuthor

Dylan:  Very happy to be here, Jennifer!

Jennifer: October is a big month for you, isn’t it? Why is that?

Dylan: Ooh, I adore October because it’s the month of my favorite holiday: Halloween! My family goes a little overboard for Halloween. We decorate the entire house with skulls, zombies, and all things horror–including the bathroom. If you’ve never peed in a room where the bathroom mirror is streaked with the faux blood words, “Help Me!” then you haven’t lived! I love being spooked and I think that’s why writing paranormal novels comes so easy for me.

Jennifer: Sounds like a blast. I really enjoy your paranormal novels—I’ve read them all! Tell us about the moment when you knew you had to write paranormals.

Dylan: I’m not sure there was one particular ‘moment’ when I knew I had to write paranormal books, but when I sat down to write during my first NaNoWriMo challenge (where you write 50k words in 30 days), what came out of me was a story about a psychic being pestered by a ghost to solve the mystery surrounding his murder. It was a wild ride, considering I hadn’t plotted a THING—just pantsed my way through the entire process. It was fun during NaNoWriMo…but let me tell you, editing afterwards was horrible!

Jennifer: You are well known in the area for mentoring young girls, through your work with Girl Scouts. You also spearhead the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) for young people in the area. What inspires you to volunteer,  and how does that impact your writing?

Dylan: Well, first of all, I think teens are literally the best things on the planet. Where else do you find such boundless enthusiasm in such a focused, naïve package? So my choice to volunteer with girls is really a selfish one—they are so energizing to be around! As for the Young Writers Program, I love being the coordinator for that in our county because I was one of those teen writers—I wish I’d have had someone to mentor me when I was in high school, and to encourage my dream to be a writer. As it was, when I was writing, it was a secretive, closet thing—and I want to do my part in helping today’s closet writers achieve their dreams!

Jennifer: Your first love (book genre-wise!) has always been young adult. Would you share your exciting news with us?

Dylan: Yes! You’re right—my first book (before that fateful NaNoWriMo year where I wrote my paranormal romance) was for teens, or the Young Adult genre. It’s a hard market to break into as a writer, and without an agent, you’re destined for the slush pile. At the RWA conference in NYC last year, I pitched to Cori Deyoe at 3 Seas Literary Agency, and we had an immediate connection. I’m thrilled to say I’m now a client at their agency—a dream of mine—and Cori is busy pitching my YA series about destructive teen labels to YA publishers!

Jennifer: Congratulations! I’ve read an excerpt of the book DELINQUENT on your website:  http://dylannewtonwrites.blogspot.com/

I was blown away. Great writing, and very powerful. I cannot wait to read it! You’re one of the hardest working writers around, and have been very generous with sharing your knowledge and time with other romance writers, myself included. What drives you?

Dylan: Wow—what a lovely compliment, Jennifer!  I guess I have always believed in paying it forward. A published writer (Loretta Rogers) once took two hours out of her life to help me before I was published, and I’ve never forgotten my gratitude. While I’ve thanked Loretta a billion times, I feel the best way to repay such a kindness as a writer is to help another author on her path.

Jennifer: Now for some fun questions: What’s your pet peeve?

Dylan: People who are late! I despise waiting.

Jennifer:  What’s your favorite way to relax?

Dylan: A book, an icy margarita and a hot bath.

Jennifer: If you could meet any person in history, who would it be, and why?

Dylan: That’s easy—it would be Queen Elizabeth I. She was a female leader at a time when women didn’t lead, and she held onto her status as a single monarch, leading her country through wars, a tricky religious conflict, and trade negotiations, often using herself as bait to gain the advantage for her country. I’m a huge fan Elizabethan literature, history and furniture!

Jennifer: Good choice! Thanks so much for joining me today, Dylan. I hear you might have a giveaway??

Dylan: Thanks for having me, Jennifer, and yes! I do have a giveaway today. I believe that ALL of your blog readers deserve a little something, and I have a bunch of goody packages with bookmarks, recipe cards and more—ready to send to EVERY ONE OF YOUR READERS! All you’ll need to do is comment below and include your name and address, or send me a message via my author page on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/DylanNewtonAuthor) with that information and YOU WIN! I’ll cover the postage for this prize package as long as you message me by Halloween. Just my way of giving you a treat for Halloween!

Jennifer: Wow, how generous of you. Did you hear that, guys? Dylan Newton, generous and lovely as always! Thanks for tuning in.