Today I have author of Saving Elizabeth, a new YA paranormal, Amy Machelle to share with us 10 things you didn’t know about her book. Thank you so much for joining us Amy!
Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Saving Elizabeth
1. Saving Elizabeth was originally written for the girls in my husband’s youth group. They were obsessed with all things Twilight, and I wanted to give them an alternative that reinforced what my husband was teaching them.
2. I found Kalispell, Montana, the setting of Saving Elizabeth, online during a google search before ever writing the first word of the manuscript. I knew I wanted a rich setting to the story, and Kalispell was perfect. There really is an Ashley Lake, and it’s absolutely gorgeous. Elizabeth’s new house was modeled after an actual house I found for sale on a real-estate website. Glacier High exists as well. Let’s just hope there aren’t any demons roaming the halls there.
3. I can only write when it’s quiet. That means, Saving Elizabeth was written, for the most part, in the wee hours of the morning when my husband and daughter were asleep. *yawn* See revelation four for the one exception to that statement.
4. The first couple of chapters of Saving Elizabeth were written on a bus on the way home from a concert with my husband’s youth group. Except for the glow of my laptop, it was dark. Everyone was asleep, so it was also very quiet. That almost NEVER happens with those guys, so of course I had to take advantage of it!
5. I’m a complete pantster when I write. I’d like to say I have elaborate outlines that I follow, but I’d be lying.
6. Elizabeth shares the same middle name as my daughter – Grace. I love that name and felt it fitting for Elizabeth considering her spiritual journey in this novel.
7. Melissa, Elizabeth’s mom, was originally named Samantha. Her name changed when it became apparent that her new love interest would be Sam. No matter how hard I tried, Sam refused to let me change his name. He’s just stubborn like that. The names Sam and Samantha were so close that Samantha, eventually, had to go.
8. The original ending of Saving Elizabeth is completely different than the ending you’ll read if you purchase the book. It went through a total overhaul during the first round of content edits. I was sad to see it go, but in this case, change was good.
9. I received 13 rejection letters before finding a home for Saving Elizabeth, which leads me to revelation number ten.
10. A week before Saving Elizabeth’s release, I received a rejection letter from an agency I queried almost a year ago. What did they say? “My sincerest apologies for the delayed response.” Please tell me there’s someone else out there who finds that funny! lol Moral of the story? Don’t give up! Rejections will come. Just keep pushing forward toward your dream.
Blaming God for the death of her father, sixteen year old Elizabeth Bridges denounces her faith and vows never to utter His name again. She tries to distance herself from anything spiritual, but the events that occur after an unwanted move make that difficult.
First, the dreams come – dreams of evil creatures, and rendezvous with the gorgeous stranger she thinks her mind created to escape her miserable life. But her first day at Glacier High proves there’s more to it than that.
Elizabeth meets Riel, the boy from her dreams, and he knows more about her than is humanly possible. He says she possesses a coveted gift that all of Hell is clamoring to seize. The monsters she dreams of are real, and they’re battling for her soul. Soon, Elizabeth is thrust into a spiritual realm where she doesn’t know friend from foe. She battles demons in the storage closets of her high school, with Riel, her only protection.
Will Elizabeth be able to trust Riel and help him save what matters most, or will they both join forces with darkness and turn their backs forever on the only One who can offer them the love and peace they so deeply desire?
Go here for the complete tour schedule to see all the stops. http://www.amymachelle.com/#!tour-dates
Patricia
LOL! My sincerest gratitude for the tardy publishing house’s delayed response!
Christy (Love of Books)
This sounds good.
Haha wow, I feel bad when it takes me more that 2 days to get back to people.. sheesh.