Why did you choose to write a young adult novel?
I've always enjoyed writing, but it wasn't until a friend pointed it out that I realized I was writing YA. At the time, I was surprised to look back and see the connections between all my stories and novel ideas; my characters were mostly adolescents and young adults, and my themes were very much rooted in the coming-of-age realm. This was many years ago, before I even knew that YA was a category. So, I was writing a YA novel before I realized I was writing a YA novel.
"Camper Girl" was born out of a chance encounter in the Adirondack Mountains. The whole novel was born out of this single image of a young person behind the wheel of an RV at an intersection. That snapshot in time seemed to sum up a young person's challenges: they are in the driver's seat (or will be soon) and are faced with a plethora of life choices that are both overwhelming and exciting. As I worked on Camper Girl, I came to realize that I was writing a kind of letter--to myself, to my kids, and to my students--one stressing the importance of choosing your own path, especially when it conflicts with the expectations of society, family, and/or self.
What interests you about the genre/age group?
As a long-time teacher and counselor, I'm sympathetic to the experiences of young people as they make that incredibly trying transition from childhood to adulthood. The challenges they face at that age have a powerful and long-lasting effect. Capturing this unique journey in fiction started, I suppose, as a way to come to terms with some of the awful things I've seen teenagers have to endure. For a writer, YA experiences are ripe with tales of identity, empowerment, redemption, and more. There is so much drama in that stage of life, and that is appealing to a story-teller who, like me, tends to be averse to conflict in real life. For an individual who has struggled with big life decisions that demand a big shift in thinking, YA also offers me an outlet for sorting out some of those adolescent insecurities that have followed me into my 50's.

What aspect of the publishing industry has been the hardest to navigate?
The biggest challenge has been marketing my own work. I'm uncomfortable with the process of selling and advertising. Plus, I'm not a fan of social media. I make an attempt, but I'm always worried about annoying people or coming across as arrogant. My upbringing in a large, Catholic family stressed humility. Also, spending time on social media apps too long isn't good for my psyche.
For Camper Girl, I entered a number of contests and sent out press releases and ARCs, but since the book came out during the pandemic, I had to wait to set up anything in-person. I'm an introvert, so in a way, I was kind of relieved that I was unable to make a big marketing push in the first few weeks. It was more of a slow roll-out over several months and well into the second year of publication. This included interviews, a book trailer, in-person author events, and contacting book bloggers for reviews. I reached out to schools about visits/workshops, but despite some initial interest, nothing materialized.
What advice would you give to your past self now that you’re more knowledgeable about the industry?
I’d remind myself that the key to successful publishing is persistence. The most talented authors don’t always get their books out there. It’s the ones who stick with it year after year, rejection after rejection, who will find their names on a book cover some day. Persistence in learning the writing craft means not placing too much importance on a single story or scene; you’ll write more. Onward! Persistence in the submission process requires a different way of thinking. You have to steel yourself against the inevitable rejections. In speaking with other authors who have published many more books than I have, it’s clear that rejection is so “normal.”
So, you have to love the craft enough to keep learning despite all of your crappy drafts. You also have to shift gears to the business-like slog of submitting your work. Through it all, it’s important to just keep swimming. If you let it, this industry can lead to a lot of emotional deflation and a cycle of stops/starts.
How do you handle personal marketing as an author? What have you found to be successful or unsuccessful?
The publisher of Camper Girl encourages authors to find what they’re comfortable with in terms of marketing. If you love meeting people and traveling, set up a book tour. If you love social media, build a following and join several communities. If you’re an introvert and find marketing exhausting, stick to a few platforms to avoid getting burnt out.
It’s hard to say what works and what doesn’t. I’ve truly enjoyed talking to readers and other authors at in-person events, even though the turn-out can be small. I haven’t enjoyed being online. That’s where you can reach more people, and I’ve paid for Facebook and Instagram ads. But building an author platform takes a lot of effort, and I would rather spend my energy writing more books.
Knowing that competition would be stiff, I entered Camper Girl into several contests. I’ve been extremely happy with the positive results. However, I don't know how much those awards have translated into sales. They look good on Amazon, I suppose, and the recognition has certainly boosted my confidence.
I wouldn’t pay a lot of money for a publicist like some authors do, but I want to be more open to getting some help with contacting media and/or event venues. For my new self-published book of poetry, I’m looking to use a press release distribution service to save myself time and cast a wide net. Camper Girl was featured in a few newspapers and a regional magazine, Adirondack Life. Though it’s been nice to see the book in these publications, it’s again hard to know what impact it has. In the end, variety is likely important--you have to do what you think will work and hope for the best.
How have you had to adapt as the media landscape changes and the publishing industry evolves? How has it impacted your writing?
I’m a bit self-conscious about being a middle-aged male who wrote a YA book in the voice of an 18-year-old girl. A book with a similarly-aged female narrator that was written by a male friend of mine has recently received some negative reviews. Some readers questioned the validity and authenticity of his point of view. I haven’t gotten the same response with Camper Girl, but I understand the general concern: is it acceptable for white males to write from the pov of a female or minority?
Though it’s only been three years since my book came out, I’d be more wary today about using first-person. And I’d likely take a close look at making my narrator male. This isn’t a complaint; I wholly support the publishing world’s encouragement of diverse and own voices. If that means that people of societal privilege such as myself have to temper our expectations and evolve our thinking, so be it. There is so much room and so much need for diverse voices in literature.
Is there anything you would like to add about why you love to write/advice for young writers?
The more I write, the more I fall in love with writing. I am increasingly amazed by and enamored with words and language. I find myself desiring for more of those moments when a creator enters that ‘zone’ where time and place recedes. I love those moments. All the other stuff—marketing, industry trends, elevator pitches—become so unimportant.
Though I’d had poems and stories published in small journals, I’ve put a lot of emotional weight on authoring a full-length, traditionally published book. Now that I’ve reached my goal and have seen my name on the spine of a few titles, with a few more coming soon, I’ve felt both relief and freedom. I prefer, as many writers do, the quietness of the creative process to the noise of marketing, but I realize that, more than ever, they go hand-in-hand. Finding the balance that works for you is the most important thing.
One of my graduate school teachers told me that, because writing is such a solitary pursuit, it’s important to seek out community. I completely agree. After many years of feeling isolated, I’ve been blessed to be a part of a few wonderfully supportive critique groups. I’ve found temporary writing ‘buddies’ and mentors. I’ve also found a lot of big egos, cliques, and selfishness. Like dating, it takes trial and error to find people who give as much as they take and who you like being around, but it’s essential to our well-being to keep looking.
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