Today, I'm happy to interview Myra Lee Glass, a high school student, about her publication journey for her debut novel A DAUGHTER'S JOURNEY a young adult historical fiction, which was written originally for a high school project. This interview was made possible through iRead Book Tours. Check out Myra's interview and be sure to enter the giveaway.
Thank you Myra for joining us today and for a copy of your book!
1. Tell us about yourself and how you became a writer.
My whole life I’ve had a very vivid imagination, and it would show through lots and lots of daydreams. Whether I am in class or driving alone in my car, I always get stuck in my mind. I love the idea of a story in general, how you can live through another person, in another world, with a different perspective. To me, stories are an escape from something bad, but can also be a fun little vacation for when I am bored. Being only sixteen years old, I think writing helps me to let go of all of the many ideas, characters, and storylines that get bottled-up in my mind. To me, being a writer is very enjoyable but also very therapeutic.
2. Where did you get the idea for your book?
In school, history is my all-time favorite subject. I always take extra notes in history class, and have watched many, many documentaries that span many different historical eras. If I could have any superpower, I would choose time travel because I think all of the places and people that have existed before me are so extremely interesting and captivating. I knew that for my first book, it would have to be historical fiction, and the 1930’s is a decade that I already had previous knowledge of. The perspective being a fifteen year old girl was almost unintentionally based on myself, as I was fifteen when creating and writing my book. I created the entire original storyline in one night, sitting in my bed, and listening to music. I just kept thinking and thinking, and it just came to me!
Your Writing Process
3. How long did it take you to write and edit your book?
I created my original storyline in May of 2022, and because my book was for a long-term project at school, I had a very short deadline. From June to September 2022, I planned through each chapter and made sure there weren't any holes in the story. From October 2022 to January 2023, I physically wrote the entire book. From keeping up with chapter deadlines from my editor, and staying on top of my heavy school load, it was a little bit stressful. The editing process lasted the last two weeks of January, and forced me to type up the last chapter of my book, the acknowledgment, and the dedication pages during my first period Economics class.
4. What were the challenges you faced in writing your book? How did you overcome it?
My main challenge during the writing process was definitely time management. I had tight deadlines to create each chapter, and I often had to ask for an extension from the deadline. I didn’t have a solid time management plan, so some chapters I wrote during lunch at school with my friends, some I wrote on plane flights, and others I wrote at 4 a.m. in my bedroom. My main distraction was my own mind, and I would begin to freak out whenever anything was late. I would spiral in my anxiety, which in turn caused me to take extra time from writing to allow myself to calm down.
Your Road to Publication
5. So are you Self-Published, Hybrid Published or Traditionally Published? Why did you choose this route of publication?
I self-published my book, as it was the easiest and the only route I really knew how to take. Because I’m a young author, and only had a few months to create a physical book, self-publishing was the best option for me. It allowed me to voice my opinions on my book more freely, and was less stressful in the end.
6. What tips, tricks, or secrets can you give a person about the type of publishing (self, hybrid, traditional) you did? For instance, for traditionally published, did you get an agent first or did you query the publisher directly?
I think communication is the biggest thing someone needs to have when self-publishing a book. I am very new at this, and I had to ask a lot of questions during the process. What is an ISBN? How do I create a cover? How will people find and buy my book? I had so many questions on how to even print my book, so I made sure to always try to effectively communicate them with my editor.
Marketing
9. How do you market your book? Did you have a marketing plan? If so, what is it?
Did you have a publicist? Tell us the route you took in marketing your book and series.
Currently, the only sales I have are in person at my school and on Amazon. So far, most of my sales have been my word of mouth from family and friends. I hope to be able to market my book a lot further, and I want to build a following online. I have started an Instagram and TikTok page, both are @myraleesdiary and I hope to post about my books online!
Just Wanting to Know…
7. I have several writers who follow my blog and are looking for inspiration and publication. What advice or inspiration could you give these writers?
I would say to never limit yourself to what you want to write about or accomplish! If you think something won’t fit into your story, find a way to make it fit. If you don’t think there is a community of people that will be interested in reading your book, go out and find one!
Thank you for inspiring other young writers like yourself to pursue their dreams. I wrote many pieces and stories at your age but was too afraid to share them with the world until I got older. I admire your bravery and am so happy you are sharing your story with us. Please find out more about A DAUGHTER'S JOURNEY below, and enter the giveaway.