Trish is Here!!!!

I mean, she's HERE, in San Antonio, but she's also HERE on my blog today! I know I said I'd have pictures from our big adventure but we actually didn't take that many (they wouldn't let us take cameras into the rodeo) and, well, I'll give you a recap later. Today is all about Trish's new release as Tricia Mills, HEARTBREAK RIVER. Remember, a commenter gets a chance to win an autographed copy. You have until Monday at, say, 10 PM CST, how's that?

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Tricia’s first Young Adult title released this month, an emotional story of a girl who’s trying to find her way forward after losing her dad on the river she’s always loved.

1) Tricia, you write for two publishing houses and you have an incredibly demanding schedule. How do you manage? Do you work on one thing at a time?

I’m fortunate that this is my full-time job now. Granted, I’ve not yet made what I did when I worked full-time, but hopefully someday. I’m pretty organized, so that helps. I don’t tend to write two things at the same time, and so far my deadlines haven’t forced me to do this. I do, however, seem to be writing one, revising another, doing promo for something else -- different stages on different books.

2) Do you find it difficult to switch between YA and romance?

No, actually. I really like switching back and forth. Sure, there are differences such as the style and point of view, but you’re really writing about the same basic things – people’s reactions and emotions to finding love, dealing with external problems, relationships with friends and family members, etc.

3) What drew you to writing YA books? What’s the hardest thing about it? The most rewarding?

I’ve always been a fan of books, TV shows and movies targeted toward teens. I keep saying I have an inner teenager still living inside me. J Hardest thing is probably making sure the books read as authentic to today’s teenagers, not people who were teens when I was in the late ‘80s. Pretty sure today’s teens don’t listen to Duran Duran. Most rewarding – so far, it’s been when I read blogs run by teens who say they love my book. It makes me smile ear to ear!

4) Who are some of your favorite YA authors?

So many! J.K. Rowling, Meg Cabot, Stephenie Meyer, Rachel Caine, Libba Bray, Suzanne Collins, P.C. and Kristin Cast. I could keep going, but I won’t.

5) You attribute a lot of inspiration to TV. Was there anything on TV that inspired you to write this book? What about music? Did you have a “soundtrack” for this book?

Strangely enough, TV didn’t really influence this book. Rather, it was a train trip aboard Amtrak’s California Zephyr. For about 200 miles in western Colorado, it runs along the Colorado River. During the warmer months, lots of people go on rafting trips along this stretch of river, and I wondered what it would be like to run one of those rafting companies, what it would be like if you were a teen whose family did this. I love the landscape out West, so I combined those two things (plus my own very real fear of the water) and Heartbreak River sprang from that. I honestly don’t usually come up with soundtracks for my books, which is ironic since I am such a HUGE fan of soundtracks. Most of my CD collection is made up of movie and TV show soundtracks. I do, however, do some shout-outs to some of my favorite bands in my YA books.

6) What are you working on now? What’s after that? When is your next Harlequin American Romance (under Trish Milburn) coming out?

I just turned in revisions on my second YA novel, Winter Longing, which is due out in the summer of 2010. Next up is working on a rodeo book for Harlequin American, which I also think is coming out in 2010. My second Harlequin American is coming out here in a couple of weeks. It’s a May release titled Her Very Own Family.

7) And finally, (since you’re staying at my house) which of my cats is your favorite?

Oh, I wasn’t expecting this question! Hmm, probably YaYa and Skippy, though I like them all.

Who doesn't love YaYa? :)

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Or Skippy.

Skippy

Thanks for the insight, Trish! I hope this book finds tons of success!

13 comments:

kris said...

Trish, you're going like gangbusters! I always knew that you would have a bazillion sales once it all fell into place, and look - I was right. It's SO cool to see your name popping up on all these fabulous stories. YAY YOU!

MicheleKS said...

Trish, glad you and Mary are having a great time and also congrats on your new book.

Charity Tahmaseb said...

Great interview and great cat pics. Sounds like you guys are having a blast!

Mary Curry said...

Trish, it's so nice to see you having such well-deserved success!

Regarding the YA books - as a teacher it interests me to see you talk about holding kids' interest with timely stories. I think many of the themes are still relevant and if it's a good book it will resonate long after it's written. For example, kids today are every bit as enamored of the S. E Hinton books as I was when I read them coughmanycough years ago. I was discussing this today with an 8th grade boy I tutor and he told me that The Outsiders is his favorite book of all time.


Best of luck to you!

Mary Curry said...

Oh - and I meant to vote for Skippy! sooooo cute. Reminds me a bit of my Bart.

Elisabeth Naughton said...

MaryC...LOVE the Outsiders!! (Just had to comment on that!)

Hey Trish...congrats on the YA release! That's so exciting. I'm in awe of adult writers who can channel teens so well. I taught junior high science for years, and I know that influenced my decision to write romance (you can't be around THAT many hormones without it affecting you in some way), but I don't think I could write teens and do them justice. Kudos to you for doing so! I can't wait to read the new book!!!

Trish Milburn said...

Kris! So good to see your comment here. Hey, e-mail me so we can catch up, okay?

Michele, thanks so much for the congrats.

Hey, Charity. We are having a great time. Can't wait to be able to buy your book next month. It's getting close!

Trish Milburn said...

MaryC, I think you're right about making stories timeless so that that appeal to several generations.

Hey, Elisabeth! Thanks for popping by. And LOL on the teen hormones. :)

L M Gonzalez said...

Hi Mary and Trish,

Mary, thanks for such an amusing blog.

Trish, can't wait to read your next Harl Amer.

Lupe

Kelly Boyce said...

Sound like a great read!

Trish Milburn said...

Hi, Lupe and Kelly. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting. And Lupe, thanks for the comment about my upcoming American. I certainly hope you like it.

jo robertson said...

Hi, Trish, popping over from Romance Bandits to give a big wave and hearty recommendation for Heartbreak River. Having ridden that California Zephyr, I love that your trip inspired the book.

Can you tell us something about your next YA book, Winter Longing?

Debbie Pfeiffer said...

Hey Trish and Mary! Sounds like you're having a blast. So excited about Trish's YA release. Love the cover. And love the storyline. As someone who had a scary incident with a rafting trip myself in WV one time, I can identify. I know this book will do well!

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I'm a mom, a wife, a teacher and a writer. I have five cats and a dog to keep me company. I love bookstores and libraries and Netflix - movies are my greatest weakness.
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