Good
friends have your back, but some go behind it.
Today's guest is Krysten Lindsay Hager, a Clean Indie Reads author who calls herself a book addict who's never met a bookstore she didn’t like. She’s worked as a journalist and writes middle grade, YA, humor essays, and adult fiction. She's originally from Michigan and has lived in Portugal, South Dakota, and currently resides in southern Ohio where you can find her reading and writing when she’s not catching up on her favorite shows. She received her master’s degree from the University of Michigan-Flint. Welcome to Adventures in Publishing Krysten! Please tell us about your new book and what motivated you to revisit middle school, a time most of us would prefer to forget.
KLH: Hi everyone and thanks for inviting me to visit your readers, Marianne. I've always loved reading books that use humor and have
realistic (and relatable) characters. I decided to write the book I wanted to
read when I was reading YA and I’m overjoyed it’s now a series where people can
follow along on Landry’s journey through dealing with friendships, the ups and
downs of school, crushes, and insecurities. Sure, going back to that time in my
own life was a little crazy, but lucky for me there weren’t camera phones to
capture me dancing in the school talent show…while wearing jean shorts. If
you’re not cringing yet, let’s just say I also had a moment of “genius” where I
thought my super dark brown hair would look amazing with “Sun-In” highlights
that actually turned my hair a lovely shade of copper. Sigh...
The Landry’s True Colors Series is a clean reads young adult series about friendship, self-esteem, fitting in, middle school and high school, frenemies, modeling, crushes, values, and self-image. Best Friends…Forever? was ranked at #1 on Amazon’s Hot New Releases in Teen & Young Adult Values & Virtues Fiction and #1 on Amazon’s Hot New Releases in Children's Books on Values. True Colors is an international bestselling book.
MS: Best Friends...Forever? was a trip back in time, dragging me back to the halls of South Junior High School where I encountered so many of the issues Landry faces. I thought it was a great read that portrays the early teen years with painful accuracy. Kids today have a lot to deal with and live their lives much more publicly than my generation ever did. Can you tell us more about Landry and her story?
KLH: Landry Albright hopes the new year will start
off in an amazing way—instead she has to deal with more frenemy issues, boy
drama, and having most of her best friends make the cheerleading squad without
her. Suddenly, it seems like all anyone can talk about is starting high school
next year—something she finds terrifying. Landry
gets her first boyfriend, but he dumps her just as things come to a head
with her friends. She feels lost and left out, but finds good advice about
dealing with frenemies from what she considers an unlikely source. Landry faces
having to speak up for what’s right, tell the truth (even when it hurts), and
how to get past the fear of failure as she gets another shot at competing in
the American Ingénue modeling competition.
MS: How about an Excerpt?
MS: How about an Excerpt?
“Landry, it’s gotta be so awkward for you to be going to Vladi’s school next year,” Tori said. “I mean, what if you run into him during the tour?"
"It’s a huge place,ʺ
Ashanti said. “People break up all the time. It’s not a big deal.ʺ
Tori raised her eyebrows as if to say, “Yeah, right,” and
went back to her sandwich. Meanwhile my delicious homemade soup was no longer
sitting well. It never occurred to me Vladi might be around during the first
pre‑freshman
tour. I would be mortified if I ran into him and he was with a girl. Or worse
yet, running into him, and he was with Yasmin. Plus, I hadn’t told my mom about
the breakup, so if she saw him, she’d probably go over to talk to him. I could
already imagine it: “Landry, Vladi’s here! Hon? Why are you hiding behind the
garbage can? Your boyfriend, Vladi, is here. Come say, ‘hello.’ Stop trying to
run away. Why is everyone laughing and pointing at you and calling you a ‘loser
dumpee?’ What does that mean?”
Well, maybe the world would end and I wouldn’t have to deal
with high school or Vladi and my mother running into each other.
Sadly, the world did not end, and on Thursday, we all had to go to the high school for a freshman information night from 6 to 9 p.m.
What people are
saying about True Colors (Landry’s True Colors Series Book One):
From Teenage Book
Recommendations in the UK: "This is a fantastically relatable and real
book which I feel captures all of the insecurities and troubles which haunt the
modern teenage girl. It is about a young model who has to go through tough
times when she is torn between a life as a model and managing her friendships.
You learn which friends she can most trust and which will create the drama
typical of teenage life. Follow the life of Landry and try to see if you can
find out which are her true friends before their true colours are revealed.
This book is all about relationships, hopes and truth. I loved this book!"
From Books &
Authors Spot: “This book is such an inspiration for those who just care
about their looks and are tensed about them. This thing is looks aren't
everything. This book is related to every teen's problem. Hager has written a
very inspiring novel.”
Buy Links:
Connect with Krysten:
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Subscribe here and receive a free PDF of my Kindle short story "Ino's Love."
2 comments:
Thanks for having me on today!
Thank you for having me (and Landry) on!
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