My prize donation is an eCopy of my debut novel, Therian ( The Bloody Crescent #1)
Because I love scavenger hunts and blog hops so much, I have invited a very special guest to my blog for an interview. She is responsible for making all my dreams come true and I am so honored to have her here today.
Who am I talking about??
The amazing Juanita Samborski, publisher and founder of 48fourteen.
Hi, Juanita. It's so wonderful to have you with us today. Thank you for joining us.
1. Tell us a
little more about yourself.
We are off to a nail-biting start. This, for
starters, is my first official interview. This question is perhaps the most
dreaded. Personally, you know who you are, what moves you, pulls you, brings
you up or takes you down. But how do you summarize all of you in a few words?
It's nearly impossible, but I'll do my best.
So who am I? A thinker, over-analytical, thrive
on drama, passionate, a believer, a dreamer, a doer. I'm incapable of sitting
down for a span of more than two hours without doing more than just watching a
movie. There is so much to life, why do one thing at a time? Do two, even
three, get stimulated.
2. Have you
always had a passion for books?
Yes. Although I admit there was a period of time
when I did not indulge as frequently as I do now. The advent of eBooks have
allowed for the reading of novels on multiple devices, including cell phones.
Now, I find myself living in two worlds simultaneously - reading while I wait
on the check-out line in the grocery store, waiting for maintenance on my car
to be completed, while a passenger on a long ride, and even while cooking as I
wait for the rice to come to a boil… okay, perhaps I'm a bit obsessed.
3. Have you
ever tried your hand at writing?
Yes. My writing has taken a back seat since I
decided to take on the publishing world - it is only fair to the 48fourteen
authors. It is in no way a regrettable decision. There is a safe-box in a
corner of my closet stuffed with eight notebooks filled with the words of my
story - words that have not yet made it into digital form. I find that I think
better on paper, the words flow seamlessly from my mind and moves my mechanical
pencil across the page. One day, when the enthusiasm strikes, I will sit down
for several hours, maybe days or weeks, and type up my first novel.
4. What genre
do you love to read? And who is your favorite author?
I go through phases. Prior to 48fourteen, I
mostly enjoyed comedy and romance - including "chick-lit", paranormal
romance and historical romance. Recently, thanks to the 48fourteen authors, I
also enjoy thrillers, literary fiction, and science fiction.
Favorite authors: Philippa Gregory, author of
historical fiction novels; Chelsea Handler, a comedian who authored several
laugh-til-it-hurts novels; and Karen Moning, author of the Fever Series.
5. If you
could be a character from any book, who would you be? Why?
I don't think I would want to be a character from
any book. I read to escape to another world. If I were a character from any
book, I would most likely want to escape from that characters world into
another.
6. How did
you get started in the publishing industry?
Sean Samborski began as an editor for small
publishing companies. While editing, he was not particularly thrilled with the
quality of books he was receiving to edit and decided he would launch a
publishing company and print novels that rivaled the books in the market. After
browsing through author websites, he came across a few chapters of a novel and
said to me "you have to read this". In front of me was Notes on an Orange Burial. After the
second or third page my vision became blurred as tears welled up in my eyes
from laughing. The novel was daring, witty, unique, well-written, a literary
work of art, and… hysterical. My response was "you have to publish this
novel". From that point on, putting my education in English and Psychology
to good use, I joined Elixirist as an editor. Because the cost of print is very
high, the company had to be excruciatingly selective. Several rejections later,
I thought "some of these novels deserve a chance", and 48fourteen was
born… then I took over Elixirst.
7. Tell us a
bit more about 48fourteen.
Our novels, each and every one, are carefully
selected and given personal attention. From the moment a manuscript is
accepted, the author and I work together with editors and cover designers. Our
covers feature original work and are unlike any other; manuscripts undergo
several rounds of meticulous editing. We are committed to offering our readers
the highest quality writing and an unforgettable reading experience.
In addition, 48fourteen is a social community for
readers and authors. Our website allows for authors to interact with their
readers, answer questions, and blog about their writing experience, their
current ventures, and even post excerpts of their novel(s).
8. What most
excites you about being a publisher?
The authors. The stories. Having the opportunity
to breathe life into an incredible novel, and be a part of the creative process,
through the editing and cover design, is the driving force behind 48fourteen.
When an author tells me they are doing a "happy dance" because
someone finally gave them the attention they deserve, well, that puts a smile
on my face and is most rewarding for me, personally. It keeps me and 48fourteen
going.
9. What do
you look for in a manuscript?
A sleepless night. There is no formula to my
selection process. There is a general outline of what I will accept, but the
ultimate decision rests on whether or not I feel passionate about a novel. If I
devour a manuscript in a few hours, or if I find myself so immersed within the
words that putting my eReader down, for even a second, becomes a feat, and
after the last words are read I find myself wondering what the characters will
do next, then the moment I complete the novel, I jump up, open my computer, and
e-mail an acceptance letter to the author. Some novels may be good but I am
looking for novels that will hold my attention throughout and will not allow me
to become distracted with other things. The choice is a personal decision and
is intended to give our readers the same experience. The 48fourteen collection
is pretty eclectic but all of the novels have forced me to stay awake until the
wee hours of the morning.
10. If you
weren't a publisher, what would you be?
A lawyer. As I mentioned before, I thrive on
drama. Reading offers you the opportunity to experience various emotions within
a span of mere hours. Emotions, whether good or bad, makes your heart pump
faster, fills your veins with adrenaline. I suspect being a family law
attorney would give me the same
experience. Instead of reading about human experiences, I would hear about them
first-hand, and have the opportunity to engage and offer legal assistance.
11. Is there any exciting news you'd like to
share with us?
Yes! We are
releasing three much anticipated novels - Dead
Heart, Chemical Attraction, and Born
in Flames. Notes on an Orange Burial will be released in eBook format. And Rose's Will by Denise DeSio and The
Debutante Detective by Lisa McDivitt will soon be available in print. We
will continue to hold contests and giveaways for our readers and we will be
returning to submissions to find new additions to 48fourteen! For more information,
visit www.48fourteen. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/48fourteen and
follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/48fourteen.
Thank you to
the fabulous and talented Roxanne Kade, author of Therian: The Bloody Crescent Book I for giving me this
opportunity. Therian was one of the
first novels I read on an author site that I had to have. It captured my
attention, and pulled me into Amberlyn Darksky's world and through her
emotional journey as she finds herself, learns the truth, and comes to
understand her gift.
Juanita has been fantastic throughout my entire publishing journey. She puts her heart and soul into every book 48fourteen releases into the world, and I will be forever grateful for her guidance, support and for truly believing in me.
Thank you, Juanita!
If you'd like to know more about 48fourteen check out their website, follow them on Twitter and like their Facebook page.
So are you ready to hunt??? Well then, let me give you a little something that will help you with the question for my blog, which is...
Who created 48fourteen?
HINT: She is my special guest today.
Just enter the answer in the rafflecopter below, and hop along to the next blog on the linky list :)
(The great thing about Rafflecopter is that it remembers you once you sign in, so you won't have to do it at every stop!!)
Jen McLaughlin is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy New Adult books. Under her pen name Diane Alberts, she is a multi-published, bestselling author of Contemporary Romance with Entangled Publishing. Her first release as Jen McLaughlin, Out of Line, released September 6 2013, and hit the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal lists. She was mentioned in Forbes alongside E. L. James as one of the breakout independent authors to dominate the bestselling lists. She is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.
Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal-clear water. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal-clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, and a cat. Her goal is to write so many well-crafted romance books that even a non-romance reader will know her name.
