Author Interview: Chris Ledbetter, YA Author of Drawn

Can you tell us a little bit about Drawn?

Drawn hits different buttons for different readers, I think. Some will find stimulation at the intersection of romance and horror. Some are attracted to the artistic angle. Some enjoy the paranormal perspective. Like most stories, at it’s core, Drawn is the exploration of what if? The story concept began when I asked… what happens to sketches on a page when the book is closed? From there, characters were born, and the story blossomed and took on a life of its own.

Drawn also treads on several themes and issues that I think are important. One is dealing with the death of a family member while also dealing with one’s own mortality. The other big concern was interracial romance. I simply hadn’t seen many, if any, young adult interracial romances and I wasn’t sure how it would be accepted in the general public. But I think that both of these are great, open-minded topics for young adults to explore.

Do you remember the title of the first story you wrote?

Yes. In eighth grade, I wrote a short story called, “Breaking Away,” in which a group of break dancers got into a confrontation with a rival group, but decided to take the high road and walk away from conflict instead of engaging it.

What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?

Absolute CHAOS! I try to write whenever I get a moment of peace. But therein lies the dilemma. Finding peace and quiet is a constant challenge. Between a full time job and parenting… I typically have to get up at ungodly times of the morning to get writing and editing done. So, if you see me pop up on social media at 4:30 or 5 in the morning… that’s why. #BreakfastWritingClub #WritingWarriorsAssemble

Where do you find inspiration?

My inspiration comes from observing everything around me.

What have you learned about publishing that you didn’t know about when you first started writing?

Oh my goodness! How long do you have? How long can this post be? There is so much that I’ve learned… from the writing and crafting end to the business side to the marketing side. It’s a tough business. Success must be defined on an individual basis. Don’t compare yourself to others. If you want a thing, nothing takes the place of persistence. One of my favorite quotes is, “Never give up on a dream because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” ~ Earl Nightingale

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Coaching my daughter to be a better soccer player and transferring those lessons to life. Believe it or not, there are many life lessons that can be transferred from training for and playing sports.

Can you tell us about your future projects?

I have the sequel to Drawn, currently untitled, coming from Evernight Teen in mid- 2016.

I have The Sky Throne coming from Month9Books in spring 2017.

And I have a YA romance called Breakaway on submission right now. I’m hoping to hear something soon.