Friday Feature: Journeys Toward Publication and Beyond: Larissa Hardesty

Welcome, everyone, to another Friday Feature!  I so love finding out more about the writers behind the blog, and the writing inside the writers!  And Larissa has a rockin' blog.  I first bumped into Larissa at Verla's blue boards.  She is genuinely honest and kind, and gives great feedback.  Everyone make sure to leave her a question or comment here, before checking out her blog on the way out!


Welcome, Larissa!  Thanks so much for being here!  Why don't you start by telling us a bit about yourself.

Thanks so much, Heather!  This is lots of fun! :)  I was born in South Dakota and raised in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, which explains why I now live in Florida. LOL.  I moved here to attend Rollins College, where I received my BA in music and elementary education.  I taught first grade for four years, then left teaching to stay home with my babies.  I have three children, now 7, 5, and almost 3.  Four years ago, I became a Creative Memories Consultant (a home-based scrapbooking business), and was asked to direct the children's handbell choir at my church.  The following year, we added an adult handbell choir.  Last year, I went back to teaching at the preschool level, and this year, I was asked to teach Sunday School, as well.  Oh, yeah!  And I write!  

So, my life is pretty boring. NOT.

Fun fact: I met my husband at Disney World while on a family vacation during my senior year of high school.  He was working for his dad at the silversmith booth in the Marketplace.  I spent the whole vacation with him, and he was part of the reason I decided to come to Florida for college.  We got married two weeks after I graduated, and our ten-year anniversary is coming up.

Larissa--what an interesting life!  What are you currently working on in your writing life?

I'm as eclectic in my writing as I am in life (did you see my bio?).  I have a MG Paranormal mostly complete, a YA paranormal started, a MG fantasy partially done, and a few picture book manuscripts to round it out.  Not to mention my idea file...

The one I'm working hardest on right now is the MG Paranormal.  LURE is about a thirteen-year-old boy who hates to read, and what happens when a book starts literally taking over his town.  It just needs a few more tweaks, and I'm going to start sending it out.  I recently won a local writing competition with it, too!  Yay, validation!

Very cool, Larissa!  I think I saw you float a query at Verla's for LURE.  It looked awesome!  What made you start to write seriously?

I had an idea for a picture book, and I decided if I was going to do this, I would do it right.  I joined SCBWI and went to my first conference that same week.  (That picture book will probably never see the light of day, by the way).

What stage are you at, currently, in your journey toward publication? And--how is that going for you?  Has anything surprised you about this stage?

I am currently finishing up revisions in order to start my agent search.  I think what surprises me most is that you always think you're done revising before you really are.  ;-)

I'm right there with you on the hugeness of revision--it's such a long haul!  Thank goodness for the instant gratification of blogging, right?  If you had to pick one favorite blog, what would it be?

Oh, that's not fair!  I refuse to pick one, but I will narrow it down to five, not counting this one.  Except for #3, these are authors in various stages of publishing, but they are all extremely funny, supportive, and offer great advice and encouragement on their blogs.

1) Kiersten White - funny, nice, and awesome.

2) Carrie Harris - because she's snarfalicious.

3) DGLM - informative and interesting.

4) Lisa and Laura - Hilarious and super nice.  Also pretty.

5) Mike Jung - Who doesn't love Mike?

What online resource have you found most helpful?

Without question, Verla Kay's Blueboards.  Everyone there is so supportive and kind.  It's really amazing.

What has been your biggest trial in writing?

Aside from finding time to write (see bio), I think the subjectivity has been the most frustrating.  In the same week that I found out I won that contest I mentioned above, I got a query +10 critique that basically said I suck.  I'll get one person saying, "This is great!  I love x, y and z." and then another saying, "Hmm, I'm not really feeling x, y, and z."  It's enough to make you CRAZY.

Happily, I am finally in a place where I feel confident enough to take what I agree with and ignore the rest.  Not everyone is going to "get" or like my stories, and that's okay. :)

So far, what has been the best part of your writing experience?

Realizing that I really enjoy writing.  I had a sixth grade teacher who turned me off to writing.  She never had one nice thing to say about my writing, and it really affected me -- it took me 20 years to try writing for fun again. 

If you could create the perfect place for you to write in, what would it look like?

Ooh!  A smallish room with a window, the rest of the walls lined with bookshelves.  A very comfortable chair at a desk, and a couch, so I can go wherever I feel most comfortable.  Of course, this room would have to be soundproofed, and come with a lock on the door (three children are loud and love to burst in asking for stuff about every five seconds).

If you could be a character in a book, and live within their world, what character would you be?

I can't choose a character, but I would love to live in Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar.  I would be a Herald, of course, with the gift of Fetching, and my Companion would be named Krista. :)

What other distractions are in your life?

Uh, I refer you again to my bio.  

Fun fact: I was distracted from completing this interview three times for a total of about 40 minutes.  First, 7yo son had a breakdown because his pants were all in the wash, and he just COULDN'T wear shorts to his Boy Scout event.  After 20 minutes of crying and realizing the event had already started and he was still sitting there moaning about pants, he finally (reluctantly and still crying) put on shorts.  Then, almost3yo daughter walked up with her hands covered in lipstick.  Yep, she'd gotten into my makeup bag.  I cleaned her up and wept a little at the mess she'd left on the bed (anyone know how to get lipstick off of a mattress?).  Third, I got both daughters a snack.  Whoops, there was  a fourth, just now.  Almost3yo daughter decided to make another mess with her snack.  I will now be washing the tablecloth.  Again.

What was the question?

LOL!  I'm no stranger to kid distractions.  And, just because I’m curious, coffee or tea?

Oh, coffee.  Lots and lots of coffee.  And then more coffee.  With splenda and milk, in case you were wondering (no cream).


Thanks so much Larissa--I loved what you said about subjectivity.  It's great to remember that it's ultimately about them and not you.  It's so hard not to take rejection personally!  


Everyone welcome Larissa with a comment or question in the comment section.  She's planning on stopping by after work--in the afternoon--to answer anything you throw her way.  So go on, throw something!!