Come Above Water and meet aspiring author, ABBY MINARD!

Over at Abby's blog, Above Water, you'll find a picture that looks like this...

And this description to go with it...

Mother to my awesome 'only', wife to my incredible husband, part-time librarian, housekeeper (sort of), and budding YA fantasy novelist.

Since that description wasn't enough for me, I jumped over to her about me page and took a little more.

Writing is my passion (well, and sleeping...but I can't really make a living doing that), and I try to find time for it in between ignoring my child, staring blankly at my husband while he speaks "video game", and goofing off at work.  I pretty much exclusively read YA fantasy, so naturally, I write adult mysteries.  No, just kidding.  I dream about the day my YA fantasies will get published and speak to teens (and adults!) as my favorite books did (and still do) to me. 

Actually, if you head over to her blog right now, which you shouldn't do quite yet, you'll find that she is also interviewing an aspiring author.  Great minds think alike ;)  Enough about that interview, though, let's get on with this one.

Abby, how long have you been writing?

I've always loved to write, ever since I was little.  I wrote stories all the time.  But as far as whole novels, I only started that sometime in 2009.  My husband told me if we bought me a laptop, I HAD to write the book I had been imagining for a while.  So we bought one, and I wrote!

(That's awesome!  Way to have the hubs support and a great incentive to get your own computer :))

So, what made you want to write?

I've loved YA fantasy for as long as I can remember.  Reading my favorite fantasies made me want to make teens feel the way I did about those books.  Those characters were my best friends- I laughed and cried with them.  I want to impact a teen the way those books impacted me.  I didn't realize I could maybe possibly do it, until I started talking to my husband about my idea.  He encouraged me, and so I started writing.  I love it, and dream of doing it full time some day.

(I love that you did it for the impact.  Teens definitely need more positive impacts these days!  And what could be better than reading?  Well, maybe writing, but they can discover that after they learn to love reading.)

Do you have any pet peeves while writing?  Is there anything that you must have for concentration?

I need complete silence.  I can't listen to music, and Little Monster has to be either a) asleep or b) in school.  I just can't concentrate with other distractions around. 

What are your favorite genre's to write?  

YA Fantasy- it's the only genre I picture myself writing.

If you could sit down and reread any book, which would it be?

Sabriel by Garth Nix.  My favorite- I just bought the box set, so I may just do that!

(I'm putting that on my to-read list right now!  You are the second person who's raved about it and I've never even heard of it.  Man, am I behind!)

Quick, you have five minutes to check out one, maybe two, writing blogs this morning.  Which ones are you going to choose?

Colene Murphy at The Journey- she is my crit partner and totally awesome.

Kristen Nelson- she has a great blog with great info.

If you could meet any author, dead or alive, who would it be?

I can't just choose one!  It'd have to be Sharon Shinn, Garth Nix, Meg Cabot or Kristin Cashore.

(I'll just call that person Sharthegin Shixotore.  That would be an epic get together!)

And last, but not least, do you prefer fruity candy or chocolate?

Fruity.  I love chocolate but it makes me sick.  So give me some gobstoppers, sour patch kids or swedish fish any day and I'm happy.  Oh, and red vines...and this australian licorice that my hubs sells at his store...oh and of course jelly beans.  Okay, just give me some Mr Bulky's and I'm happy.

(Yes, another fruity lover.  I used to buy chewy gobstoppers almost every day in Junior High and when I'm pregnant, sour patch kids are the only way to go!  Awesome.  Let's have a fruity candy party...I just bought a bad of sour gummy bears!)

Thanks a ton Abby.  It was fun to have you on my blog!  

Now it's time to head over to Abby's blog.  And if her current post isn't to your liking, just skip it.  I try not to taint too many people, but she insisted :)  No really, Abby's blog is worth visiting on a regular basis, don't let my interview scare you away.  

I want to thank Abby for being the first to interview me.  I had a blast answering the questions.  I may or may not have answered them in the wee hours of the night so, ya know, don't judge too harsh :)

Have a great weekend!