Friday Feature: Journeys Toward Publication and Beyond: Jeff Hirsch and THE ELEVENTH PLAGUE

Hello, everyone! It's been a while since we met here to enjoy an interview and discussion with a writer. That's my fault, obviously. I've been writing. :) I hope you have been too! Anyway, I'm pleased as punch to introduce our author today.

I first interviewed Jeff before his book, THE ELEVENTH PLAGUE, was published, and so he has a good bit to fill us in on today. I'm always very curious about the publication process! Jeff is one of those writers whom I enjoyed the second I found his blog, and then more and more as I 'met' him through the interview process, and even more when I read his book. He's thoughtful, kind, intelligent, entertaining, and we're lucky to have him writing for kids (and us). 

Please pop over to his website, and, if you want insider scoop on his previous Friday Feature interview, then click here. 

Seriously, feel free to click. We'll wait!

Here's a little about Jeff: 

Jeff Hirsch grew up in Richmond, VA and received an MFA in Dramatic Writing from UC San Diego. He now lives in Queens, NY and works at a non-profit in the ad industry. Besides writing, Jeff enjoys cooking, fire eating, escaping from a straitjacket (while standing up or hanging from the ceiling by his ankles), and trying not to get obsessive about politics. You can reach him through his website at www.jeff-hirsch.com or twitter.com/Jeff_Hirsch

Welcome, Jeff, thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions, and to converse in the comment section!

The last time we checked in, your YA was entitled THE LONG WALK HOME. Fill us in. What happened between THE LONG WALK HOME, and THE ELEVENTH PLAGUE? (Love that title, by the way.)

Wow, was it really that long ago since we talked last? Crazy. Well what came between the Long Walk Home and 11th Plague was editing, editing and more editing. That experience was great. My editors David and Cassandra did an incalculable amount of work helping me tighten and clarify and expand. The book is a thousand times better for their involvement.

The title change was Scholastic's idea and I couldn't be happier about it. This was always a hard book to find the right title for and it was great to have some assistance with that.

How was the book's launch? What did you do to celebrate?

My launch day was fairly low key actually. Me and the wife went for dinner at Craft (for you Top Chef fans that's Tom Colicchio's flagship restaurant in NYC) which was unbelievably good, then went to see the book at the Union Square Barnes and Noble and got into a bit of a tiff with the employees when trying to take a picture of my own book!

Juicy. Brawl in the Barnes! That was probably a good bit of marketing. Did you handle other strategies for your book, or did the publisher handle most of the marketing?

Everything that happened marketing-wise was about 98% Scholastic's doing. They kept me on a crazy touring schedule, doing most of the big conferences as well as book festivals all over and lots of school and store appearances. It has been an absolutely wild and intense ride. I am, obviously, eternally grateful for everything they did and count myself super lucky. On my own I did keep doing blog interviews and posts and trying to blog and tweet as much as humanly possible.

It sounds like that did a great job getting your book off the shelves, and you in front of possible buyers. That's so wonderful! What surprised you the most about (or since) having a book released?

Well, beyond the fact that it was actually happening I suppose the biggest surprise was the reaction from readers. We're told over and over that kids want TV and movies and video games, not books. So getting emails from kids, and letters from kids and meeting kids in person who are still super excited about reading and writing was incredibly gratifying.

Definitely gratifying! Do you go about writing any differently now?

I definitely do way more planning now. 11th Plague was written more or less by the seat of my pants. Now that deadlines are tighter, and I aspire to do a book a year, that's not really possible anymore. The good thing is that while I once thought planning things out would put a crimp in creativity that hasn't been the case at all. Knowing more about the road you're heading down helps a lot.

That's great for a self-proclaimed pantser to know! How has your social media habits changed since publication?

I used to be a semi-regular blogger but, like a lot of writers, I'm having more and more trouble making that happen. I'm relying on twitter and Facebook way more now. I sometimes miss the depth of conversation you can have on a blog but if the choice is spend an hour writing a blog post or spend an hour making my book better (or, you know, actually talking to my wife) then I'm going with the book (or my wife).

I'm sure your wife appreciates that! What's next for you? What are you working on?

I've got a new book coming out in September that's a good bit different from 11th Plague. It's more of a sci-fi/fantasy adventure. We're not releasing the title of it for another month or so but I can say I'm really excited about it! Galleys aren't far off!

I love that your next book is so different--that gives us all hope to follow our muses, into whatever genre they take us.

Highest high? Lowest low?

Highest high has definitely been interacting with kids. The school visits I made and the emails I get from young readers have been amazing and humbling. The lowest low? Nothing big really. There are always going to be reviews that aren't quite what you want but that just goes with the territory.

Sounds like your skin is just the right thickness. :) Jeff, what is the biggest thing which you have learned since your book was released?

The importance of the galley. These are the copies that go out to bloggers, reviewers and other influential folks about 6 months prior to the release. I made changes to 11th plague that are small but significant (to me anyway) between the galley and the final book and I wish I had made them earlier. I now think of my deadline as the draft that will become the galley, not the one that will become the finished book.

That's really interesting, and something I haven't heard other writers talking about--also I have a few galleys, and just assumed that they were equivalent to the actual book. Maybe I should pick up the finished copies! 

Do you have any trade secrets you can let us in on?

I wish. If there are trade secrets out there I look forward to the day when someone will reveal them to me.

Hear that everyone? If you know a trade secret, definitely let us know in the comments! (I think the galley point was a great trade secret, Jeff.) 

And, just because I'm curious, dogs or cats?

I have two cats (Pip and Henry) who are awesome but I grew up having dogs so I long for the day when I can get one of my own, ideally one of the large and lumbering variety.

Very cool. I have a Pip cat too. Maybe next time we check in, you'll have a new book, and a new puppy. Not sure which one takes more work. :)

Thanks, Jeff, for the enlightening interview!

Everyone, give Jeff a warm welcome in the comment section, leave him a question, and be sure to check out his website, book, and twitter before you go. I'm sure you'll want to keep tabs on Jeff and his upcoming book release. And if we ask very nicely, maybe he'll tell us the name of that new book!

Oh, and leave the BEST COMMENT or QUESTION, and I will GIVE you a COPY of THE ELEVENTH PLAGUE! Yup, because that's how I roll. Comment away, friendly followers!   

The Blog Post That Doesn't Suck

This is not a how-to, but a has-been.

I've been struggling this morning with writing a blog post which doesn't suck.

It hasn't gone well. :)

I normally think that a good blog post has a little something for everything. A sprinkle of real life, a touch of writing talk, a bit of humor or voice, an optimistic view of the immediate writing future, and perhaps a kitten.

However, it is vacation week for my kids, and that is sucking all the life out of me (in a good way, of course), and my writing time.

SUCK SUCK SUCK. :)

Meanwhile, my mouth is writing checks that my time can't cash.

I challenged This One to a duel. A finish-the-revision duel. Yup. On a week when she is going GREAT GUNS, and I can't find time to write a decent blog post, let alone revise a novel! If you click over, make sure to tell her that she rocks. :)

On another note, I proclaim that Laura Pauling wins my WANTED: POSTER contest. Check out these awesome posters and blurbs she created! I think she should go professional on creating blurbs--she's awesome!

I am struggling with my writing goals this week, as I focus on vacation stuff with the kids. I'm hoping that I'll be back on the ROW 80 goals come Monday. I hope all the other ROWers are doing better than me!

On Friday, make sure to stop by here since I am hosting the awesome Jeff Hirsch on the blog. Loved his book, The Eleventh Plague.

I hope you'll join me, and I hope that I can get my creativity back in gear soon!

How do you balance writing on a difficult week? How are your ROW goals? What, in your opinion, makes a blog post not suck? Are you revising--do you want to join in our challenge? We'd love to include you in the competition to finish first! Have a great rest of the week, and good luck with your writing!

Friday Feature: Journeys Toward Publication and Beyond: Jeff Hirsch

Welcome, everyone, to another addition of the Friday Feature.  This morning, we're talking with Jeff Hirsch.  I honestly can't remember what link clicked me through to Jeff, but once I landed at his blog, I immediately wanted to know more about him and his path towards greatness.  So, I backtracked through his blog.  I especially love this haunted post (which fits in so nicely with our Halloween weekend), and this post about his journey.  Go ahead, click through.  We'll wait. *twiddling thumbs*

You're back? And properly inspired? Great. Clearly, I went all fan-girl on Jeff, and invited him over here.  And, here he is!  Help me give Jeff a warm welcome by leaving him a question or high five in the comment section here, as he'll be stopping by to hang out with us. 

Jeff Hirsch grew up in Richmond, VA and received an MFA in Dramatic Writing from UC San Diego. He now lives in Queens, NY and works at a non-profit in the ad industry. Besides writing, Jeff enjoys cooking, fire eating, escaping from a straitjacket (while standing up or hanging from the ceiling by his ankles), and trying not to get obsessive about politics. Jeff's first novel The Long Walk Home, will be released in the fall of 2011 by Scholastic. You can follow his journey to publication at www.jeff-hirsch.com or twitter.com/Jeff_Hirsch 

Spoiler alert--do NOT click through that twitter link unless you did NOT fall asleep on the couch last night halfway through Project Runway! *quietly sobbing* *collecting self for rest of the interview*

Jeff, your book, THE LONG WALK HOME, will be published by Scholastic in the Fall of 2011. How exciting!! Tell us a bit about the book.

Well, one thing is that it almost certainly won't be called The Long Walk Home for very much longer. We're working on a new title now and I hope to let everyone know what it is soon. Heck, I hope to know what it is soon.
The book follows a scavenger named Stephen and his father twenty years after The Collapse, when America was wiped away by a nearly apocalyptic war with China. When their decision to risk it all to save the lives of two strangers leaves his Dad dreadfully injured, Stephen must lead them to safety in a lost remnant of the Pre-Collapse world. There, Stephen falls in with Jenny Tan, the wild child town outcast, bringing him into violent conflict with a group that is determined to remake the world that was, no matter the cost.

What has been the highest high, and lowest low while working on this book toward publication?

The highest was definitely the day of the auction. I don't know that I'm a good enough writer to adequately describe how exciting and strange a day that was. The lowest? I think it was when I finished the 2nd (or was it the 3rd?) draft then realizing I needed to delete the last 100-150 pages of the book and start over.


What made you start writing seriously?

Way back when, I was an actor. I studied acting in college then moved up to NY to throw myself into that life. I went out on lots of auditions and there was of course a lot of rejection. I remember one night in particular. It was a couple years into my time in NY and I had just gotten home after slogging through torrential rains and cold after a lackluster 8 hours at my day job. I didn't feel all that well and I had an audition later that evening. Sitting there in my dreary little apartment, I knew there was no way I was going back out there to that audition. That's when it occurred to me that if I loved acting, really loved it, a little rain and cold wouldn't get in my way. I thought about what I did love that much and the answer was writing. Soon after that I quit acting and got to writing.

How great that you had a self-aware moment like that! How did you connect with your agent, and get that first book into the publisher’s hands? Has it been smooth sailing from there?

I got to Sara (The delightful Sara Crowe of Harvey Klinger) through a run of the mill query. I read about her on Publisher's Marketplace, liked that she was very highly rated and seemed to represent my kind of stuff. Once I hooked up with Sara things have been, knock on wood, pretty smooth.

I love hearing when agents picked up writers through the slush pile!  Yay! Jeff, what has surprised you most on your journey toward publication?

Beyond that it actually happened? I guess that things happen very very slowly until something happens (like signing with Sara) and then they happen very very fast. The switch was extremely disorienting and extremely exciting.

What are you currently working on?

Well, it's currently called Magisterium though, again, that will almost certainly change. Maybe to The Queen of Birds. Maybe to The Air is a River Too. Who knows? It's a genre-bending story about a girl named Glenn who just wants to get back home but the world has other plans for her.

Ooo, genre-bending.  Not sure exactly what that means, but it sounds AWESOME! What are your writing habits? Do you have a set schedule or time of day that you set aside for writing? What do you do when you get stuck?

I write every morning before work from 5:51-8:01AM. I know that sounds totally bizarre, but I swear it's true. I have a tendency to be extremely rigid about schedules and for some reason those times stuck and now that's my window of writing almost without fail every day. Sometimes inspiration strikes or I have a deadline and I'll work outside of that time but it more or less stays in that box.

When I get stuck I try to at least write badly. Just keep typing at all costs. I think a lot of times the reason I get stuck is an aversion to writing something I know isn't good. I try to remember that, especially when writing a rough draft, it's all bad. The only thing you can do is keep moving forward. You'll make it good later.

What has been your biggest trial in writing?

Hanging in there. Honestly, that's the toughest thing. I wrote for 6 or 7 years after grad school and no one was interested in my work. No one. I can't tell you how many times I wondered if I should just bail and, I don't know, get a job at a bank or something. Whew! That's one seriously weird life change narrowly avoided.

How has the blogging and on-line community changed your connections with other writers?

Yes. I, uh, have them now. Before I was writing YA I was a playwright so most of my writer friends are from that world. Twitter and blogs helped me come in touch with a lot of great people in the kid's books world, especially the mighty ladies of the League of Extraordinary Writers blog, which I count myself lucky to be a part of.

What is a favorite blog post that you have written?

Probably this one.

It's my take on the reasons for the proliferation of dystopian books for kids.

Wow Jeff--I love this line in that post:

"I think that idea, the idea of being able to hit the reset button on a too complicated world, is what drew me to writing a book like this." 

That resonates with me.  Now, tell us about a book that has impacted your writing life.

Two really. Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising made me an obsessive reader as a kid. MT Anderson's Feed made me want to write YA.

What is your practical goal with your writing? Do you have a reach-for-the-stars goal that you would like to share?

Well, when I'm not suffering from one of my frequent delusions of grandeur (Printz awards! Giant advances! A pony!) I think I'd just like to be the kind of writer you can count on seeing one good book a year from. If more than that happens that'd be great, but that's what I'm shooting for.

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

I actually like my writing space a lot. I write sitting on our couch with a computer on my lap, a cat at my feet begging for attention and my wife sleeping peacefully in the room behind me. It's all very still and quiet.


And, just because I’m curious, coffee or tea?

Both actually. One large cup of coffee in the morning and then I move to tea during the day.

Oh, and do you NaNo?

Nope, never have. Is it fun?

I think it's fun.  I think others might think it torture.  Thanks, Jeff, for the fantastic interview!  

Everyone remember to leave a comment here, before heading over to Jeff's blog to give him some love.