Today I am super pleased to be part of the blog tour for Cindy Dorminy's novel Tuned Into You! The book is OUT NOW, so go buy it, and here is my interview with the lady herself!
Hi Cindy! Welcome to the site! Can you tell us about Tuned Into You?Thanks Leah for sharing in my special day. I am amazed at the outpouring of support I’ve received over the last few months getting Tuned ready for the world.
Tuned is about Abe and Lydia, both who have been saddled with reputations that couldn’t be farther than the truth. Lydia Flowers is a preacher’s kid who has college talent scouts looking at her amazing softball pitching skills. Abe Fischer is the Nashville Teen Idol winner and has spent the last year on the road, living the dream. Or so it appears. He’s come home to take a break from touring and to ‘lay low’ when his best friend West, throws a party on the Fischer farm that gets way out of hand. Abe and Lydia are arrested at the party for destruction of property. Lydia can either take the punishment of helping Abe repair the damage to the farm or the arrest will go on her record and kiss her scholarship chances goodbye. Secrets are revealed about Abe’s family that can only put him more in the spotlight instead of laying low. He has to decide if he wants Lydia’s name dragged through the mud along with him and she has to decide what she wants more – Abe or a scholarship.
Tuned Into You is the story of their summer together and how they realize that first impressions may not always be correct and love will always guide you to make the right choices.
Tuned Into You is your first novel, what's it like being a debut author?
The feeling that I’m actually able to say I’m a published author in incredible. I never really thought this day would come and can’t begin to thank the folks at BookFish enough for believing in me. I’m still in shock, to tell you the truth. It’s been a lot of work getting to this point, but I’ve enjoyed every step of the way, even the edits (which were intense)!
What made you want to write Young Adult novels?
Tuned is my first attempt at writing Young Adult. Originally, I was writing adult contemporary romance, which I still love to write, but I wasn’t getting anywhere. I received a good number of partial and full requests, but no offers of representation or publishing contracts. Last spring, I attended the Kentucky Writer’s conference. Bowling Green, Kentucky is only an hour away from Nashville and the conference was free, so it was a no-brainer. One of the workshops was a first page critique. I was bummed that I didn’t sign up in time to have a slot, so my choices were either go home early or attend a ‘how to write YA’ workshop. I love reading YA. I’m here already. The worse that can happen is that I get stuck in traffic going home.
The presenter used various John Hughes movies as examples. I LOVE his movies (The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, etc). I had what us Southerners call a “Come to Jesus” moment. Maybe my voice (which I kept getting positive comments about) was more suited for YA. I spoke with the presenter after the workshop and she encouraged me to give a try. I’m so glad I listened to her, because that fall, I submitted my manuscript to BookFish and they loved it.
On a side note, I attended the conference again this spring and was able to share my good news with the group that planted the seed in the first place.
Can you tell us a bit about your writing process? Are you a pantser or a plotter?
I am a panster all the way. Sometimes I will write out on notecards how I want the story to go, but if I do too much outlining, I get bored with a story and will abandon it. For the most part, I write in notebooks first, then transcribe them into Scrivener. Since I do a lot of writing on my lunch break at work, carrying a notebook with me is easier than dragging a laptop around. It allows me to sit on a park bench and let the words flow. (and I don’t get distracted checking emails!!) There are times on weekends where I will write some chapters on my laptop first, but I have a tendency to type too fast. I find if I write freehand first, my brain has a chance to catch up with my hand. Also, there’s something about seeing my story in my scribbly handwriting that makes it feel authentic.
I’ve kept all my notebooks and it’s really fun to compare how the story started to the final product.
You're published by the wonderful folks at BookFish Books, what's it like to go through the publishing process with them?
I don’t have anything to compare them to, but it has been awesome working with all the BookFish staff. The editors were thorough, the marketing team excellent, and I can’t say enough about the cover artist. The BookFish covers are some of the most beautiful I’ve seen in a really long time.
Finally, are you working on a new book? Can you tell us anything about it?I’m actually working on three manuscripts at one time. AGH! What am I thinking?
Thanks Cindy, and thank you Erin for passing these on! :)
Thanks for the interview!
www.cindydwrites.com
@cindydorminy
https://www.amazon.com/Tuned-Into-You-Cindy-Dorminy-ebook/dp/B01DOLG8UC?ie=UTF8&keywords=cindy%20dorminy&qid=1460157150&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tuned-into-you-cindy-dorminy/1123718218?ean=9780996801393
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29570488-tuned-into-yo
Tuned is about Abe and Lydia, both who have been saddled with reputations that couldn’t be farther than the truth. Lydia Flowers is a preacher’s kid who has college talent scouts looking at her amazing softball pitching skills. Abe Fischer is the Nashville Teen Idol winner and has spent the last year on the road, living the dream. Or so it appears. He’s come home to take a break from touring and to ‘lay low’ when his best friend West, throws a party on the Fischer farm that gets way out of hand. Abe and Lydia are arrested at the party for destruction of property. Lydia can either take the punishment of helping Abe repair the damage to the farm or the arrest will go on her record and kiss her scholarship chances goodbye. Secrets are revealed about Abe’s family that can only put him more in the spotlight instead of laying low. He has to decide if he wants Lydia’s name dragged through the mud along with him and she has to decide what she wants more – Abe or a scholarship.
Tuned Into You is the story of their summer together and how they realize that first impressions may not always be correct and love will always guide you to make the right choices.
Tuned Into You is your first novel, what's it like being a debut author?
The feeling that I’m actually able to say I’m a published author in incredible. I never really thought this day would come and can’t begin to thank the folks at BookFish enough for believing in me. I’m still in shock, to tell you the truth. It’s been a lot of work getting to this point, but I’ve enjoyed every step of the way, even the edits (which were intense)!
What made you want to write Young Adult novels?
Tuned is my first attempt at writing Young Adult. Originally, I was writing adult contemporary romance, which I still love to write, but I wasn’t getting anywhere. I received a good number of partial and full requests, but no offers of representation or publishing contracts. Last spring, I attended the Kentucky Writer’s conference. Bowling Green, Kentucky is only an hour away from Nashville and the conference was free, so it was a no-brainer. One of the workshops was a first page critique. I was bummed that I didn’t sign up in time to have a slot, so my choices were either go home early or attend a ‘how to write YA’ workshop. I love reading YA. I’m here already. The worse that can happen is that I get stuck in traffic going home.
The presenter used various John Hughes movies as examples. I LOVE his movies (The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, etc). I had what us Southerners call a “Come to Jesus” moment. Maybe my voice (which I kept getting positive comments about) was more suited for YA. I spoke with the presenter after the workshop and she encouraged me to give a try. I’m so glad I listened to her, because that fall, I submitted my manuscript to BookFish and they loved it.
On a side note, I attended the conference again this spring and was able to share my good news with the group that planted the seed in the first place.
Can you tell us a bit about your writing process? Are you a pantser or a plotter?
I am a panster all the way. Sometimes I will write out on notecards how I want the story to go, but if I do too much outlining, I get bored with a story and will abandon it. For the most part, I write in notebooks first, then transcribe them into Scrivener. Since I do a lot of writing on my lunch break at work, carrying a notebook with me is easier than dragging a laptop around. It allows me to sit on a park bench and let the words flow. (and I don’t get distracted checking emails!!) There are times on weekends where I will write some chapters on my laptop first, but I have a tendency to type too fast. I find if I write freehand first, my brain has a chance to catch up with my hand. Also, there’s something about seeing my story in my scribbly handwriting that makes it feel authentic.
I’ve kept all my notebooks and it’s really fun to compare how the story started to the final product.
You're published by the wonderful folks at BookFish Books, what's it like to go through the publishing process with them?
I don’t have anything to compare them to, but it has been awesome working with all the BookFish staff. The editors were thorough, the marketing team excellent, and I can’t say enough about the cover artist. The BookFish covers are some of the most beautiful I’ve seen in a really long time.
Finally, are you working on a new book? Can you tell us anything about it?I’m actually working on three manuscripts at one time. AGH! What am I thinking?
- YA – working title Exponentially Into You – It’s a continuation of the Tuned story, focusing on West and Camille. First draft completed.
- YA – working title Friday Lights Fading – If I stay / It’s Wonderful Life meets The Breakfast Club (see, John Hughes!!) 2nd draft completed.
- Adult Romantic Comedy – Champagne Jam. It’s a fish out of water story of a northern girl having to work in her Granny’s coffee shop in South Georgia in order to inherit her grandmother’s lottery winnings. I’m almost finished with the first draft. I wrote this as a screenplay many years ago, so the basic story was already in place.
Thanks Cindy, and thank you Erin for passing these on! :)
Thanks for the interview!
www.cindydwrites.com
@cindydorminy
https://www.amazon.com/Tuned-Into-You-Cindy-Dorminy-ebook/dp/B01DOLG8UC?ie=UTF8&keywords=cindy%20dorminy&qid=1460157150&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tuned-into-you-cindy-dorminy/1123718218?ean=9780996801393
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29570488-tuned-into-yo