Hi Stephanie! Would you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Sure. My name is Stephanie Keyes. I write YA for YA readers and for those of us who will eternally be YA. I’m a mom, a wife, a book addict, a gadget freak, and love of breakfast foods.

Do you have anything you would like to say to your readers?

I’ve been fortunate enough to meet and interact with quite a few readers and potential readers in the promo stage for The Star Child and it’s been great. There’s something about the YA audience in general, that makes it wonderful to interact with. If you’re new to my work and The Star Child, then I hope you’ll check it out.

When did you realize that you would like to write and publish a book?

I’ve always had this in the back of my mind, on an informal bucket list so to speak. However, I never took it seriously until I got the idea for the book. Then there was this little voice in the back of my mind saying “Hey, this could be what we were thinking about…”. I just rant with it and whenever; I decide to do something, it’s important to me to follow through.

Can you tell us a little bit about your book The Star Child?

Definitely! It’s about Kellen St. James, who turns eighteen years old on the day of his graduation from Yale. He’s on the field for graduation and gets pulled through a portal into a dream that he’s had every night since he was six years old. That was the year that he met Calienta, the beautiful little girl that he thought might be his only friend.

Now, eleven years later, she shows up, telling Kellen that he’s part of a prophecy that involves saving the world from darkness. In no time at all, Kellen finds himself on the run and involved with Calienta in a way that he never has before. Will they make it in time? Will they end up in love? Read and see!

Which came first for you, the characters or the plot?

In this case, Calienta was the first character that I thought of. After that I sat down to write her story and the first thing that came out was a prologue with Kellen meeting her when he was six years old.

Where can we purchase The Star Child?

It’s available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and through the Inkspell Publishing website.

Can we expect more novels from you in 2012?

I just finished book two in The Star Child trilogy and am working on editing it now. It continues the story of Kellen, Calienta, and Gabe. It’s entitled The Fallen Stars.

Are you reading anything interesting at the moment? If so, what is it?

The Nine Lives of Chloe King by Liz Braswell.

Why this genre(s)?

Because I love the idea, that magic could exist in the real world. I just keep searching for it.

Can you tell us a few do’s and don’ts for aspiring authors?

Sure! Here are a few that I try to live by:

• Be nice to everyone, even if they don’t deserve it. This has always been my approach to life. I wrote and taught Customer Service training in the corporate world long before I started writing and I carried this over. Treat everyone with respect and kindness and you’d be surprised at how people respond to this. Not a new concept, I know!
• Don’t trash authors, publishing houses, peers, anyone. Here’s why: Twitter, Facebook, Blogs… those messages have a way of getting around. People remember how you interact and see that as a reflection of how you’ll interact with them. Beyond that, it’s not professional.
• Be professional. If you want to submit to publishing house or agent, don’t ask them what you should submit. Go to their website and do the research. Act like a professional and people may just enjoy working with you!

What is your take on editing your work (pre-edits I suppose before it gets passed to an editor)—do you hate it? Is it a strong point for you?

I do hate it, but it makes a good book a great book. Ironically, I think that it is a strong point for me. I’ve always been very open to feedback and whenever I get a kernel of feedback, I take it and try to apply it.

About the Book

The world is about to be cloaked in darkness. 
Only one can stop the night.

Kellen St. James has spent his entire life being overlooked as an unwanted, ordinary, slightly geeky kid. That is until a beautiful girl, one who has haunted his dreams for the past eleven years of his life, shows up spinning tales of a prophecy. Not just any old prophecy either, but one in which Kellen plays a key role.

Suddenly, Kellen finds himself on the run through a Celtic underworld of faeries and demons, angels and gods, not to mention a really ticked off pack of hellhounds, all in order to save the world from darkness. But will they make it in time?

About the Author

Stephanie Keyes holds an undergraduate degree in Management Information Systems as well as a Master’s in Education. A seasoned, facilitator, Mrs. Keyes worked in Training and Development for an international telecommunications corporation for twelve years; spending the first eight years of her career as a Software Trainer and Technical Writer and the last four working in Human Resources and Employee Development.

In May of 2012, Mrs. Keyes left the corporate world to focus on her family and her writing full-time. She also operates a freelance graphic and instructional design business, Sycamore Road Design.

Inkspell Publishing will release her first novel, The Star Child, on September 21, 2012. She is now currently at work on the second book in The Star Child Trilogy, The Fallen Stars.

Keyes lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two children, and Riley the dog.

Contact Stephanie
Website: www.stephaniekeyes.com
Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Keyes/150860604966160
Twitter: www.twitter.com/StephanieKeyes

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