Casey Griffin, author of SECRETS OF A RELUCTANT PRINCESS, on the difference between writing a book and being a writer

by Jocelyn Rish

We are excited to have the chance to chat with Casey Griffin about her debut novel SECRETS OF A RELUCTANT PRINCESS.

Casey, what was your inspiration for writing SECRETS OF A RELUCTANT PRINCESS?

It all began with a toilet. No, really. An aspiring inventor I knew half-jokingly decided that what the world really needs is a toilet bowl that glows in the dark, preventing the midnight visitor from having to turn on the light.

Apparently something like this already existed, but it got me thinking. What if someone made a fortune off a product like this? We’re talking big toilet money and fame: TV, radio, billboards. Now how embarrassing would it be for their teenage daughter? Embarrassing to her, but hilarious to everyone else. Now have it take over her life, and the Porcelain Princess was born.

How long or hard was your road to publication? How many books did you write before this one, and how many never got published?

My very first novel was a learn-as-you-go project. While that version will never be seen by human eyes again, I’d love to rewrite it some day. My second novel, Dreamcatchers, sent my career down the right path after I entered it into the ABNA Contest and made it to the finals. While I didn’t win, a contest and placing of that significance got me the attention of my agent, Pooja Menon.

Unfortunately, Dreamcatchers came at a time when there was a shift in YA and publishers were being very selective with their fantasy books, so it never got picked up. Call me stubborn, but I wrote two more fantasy / sci-fi based novels. Ironically, just as I was finishing one of them, my agent heard tell that a publisher had bought a book with the exact same premise. What were the chances?

It was then that my agent encouraged me to give contemporary a shot, and I finally found my ‘voice.’ Secrets of a Reluctant Princess was that novel. It was my way of writing contemporary, while still being true to my geeky personality. When it came across an editor’s desk, they loved the ‘voice’ so much that they invited me to write a romance series for them. At that point, I’d been writing for about seven years. Thankfully, Entangled loved SECRETS OF A RELUCTANT PRINCESS, too, and picked it up. And here we are today. The road wasn’t easy, but I knew that the only way I wouldn’t get published was if I gave up.

Was there an AHA! moment along your road to publication where something suddenly sank in and you felt you had the key to writing a novel? What was it?

I think there are a lot of AHA moments on any writer’s path. I don’t think they ever stop because you’re always growing and learning as an artist, but there have definitely been moments that made me stop and take stock of how far I’ve come. Moments like getting that “yes” from my agent, getting my first contract, and it keeps happening with each new book that I complete.

But the first was when I heard that I was a finalist in the ABNA contest. I never would have thought in a million years that I’d advance as far as I did out of five thousand other potential novels.

It was then that I started calling myself a writer. Before then, I just wrote books. Seems like a subtle distinction, but it made all the difference. I began to own the title “writer.” It gave me more confidence, and I think all writers should own it. You aren’t an aspiring writer. If you write, you are a writer. Allow yourself to say it. It’s an empowering thing.

What’s your writing ritual like? Do you listen to music? Work at home or at a coffee shop or the library, etc?

Rituals tend to be steeped in routine, and there’s nothing routine about my life, so the same has to go for my writing. I have a “day” job that keeps me in a remote camp for ten days at a time, working thirteen-hour days. Then I go home to my busy family for ten days.

I have to use every spare moment I can, whether it’s in my room at camp, on the bus to work, or on the plane home. When I get home, my super supportive and understanding partner lets me hide away in my office for hours at a time. If I need a change of scenery, I head to Starbucks or the library.

When I’m getting close to a deadline and it’s crunch time, I become a night owl and work through the night when it’s the most quiet, going to bed when everyone else is waking up. My creativity and focus has always been best at night. And music works great when first conceptualizing a story, but when I’m actually writing, I need silence or else my ears pick up on words in the song and I begin to lose my own.

What are you working on now?

There’s just not enough time to work on all the projects I’m excited about exploring. There are about twelve novels that I’m desperate to get down on paper right now, both YA and adult. I need to get my hands on Hermione Granger’s time turner. Now that I’ve just finished up the third novel in my Rescue Dog Romance series, I’m writing a proposal for another contemporary teen romance novel (geek couture related, of course). And eventually I’d like to self-publish my Dreamcatcher series, but it all depends on the opportunities that arise in the next couple of years. One thing’s for sure: I’ll be sticking around.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Secrets of a Reluctant Princess
by Casey Griffin
Paperback
Entangled: Teen
Released 3/7/2017

At Beverly Hills High, you have to be ruthless to survive…

Adrianna Bottom always wanted to be liked. But this wasn’t exactly what she had in mind. Now, she’s in the spotlight…and out of her geeky comfort zone. She’ll do whatever it takes to turn the rumor mill in her favor—even if it means keeping secrets. So far, it’s working.

Wear the right clothes. Say the right things. Be seen with the right people.

Kevin, the adorable sketch artist who shares her love of all things nerd, isn’t exactly the right people. But that doesn’t stop Adrianna from crushing on him. The only way she can spend time with him is in disguise, as Princess Andy, the masked girl he’s been LARPing with. If he found out who she really was, though, he’d hate her.

The rules have been set. The teams have their players. Game on.

Purchase Secrets of a Reluctant Princess at Amazon
Purchase Secrets of a Reluctant Princess at IndieBound
View Secrets of a Reluctant Princess on Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Casey Griffin can often be found at comic conventions on her days off from her day job, driving 400 ton dump trucks in Northern Alberta, Canada. As a jack of all trades with a resume boasting registered nurse, English teacher, and photographer, books are her true passion. Casey is a 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel finalist, and is currently busy writing every moment she can.

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Have you had a chance to read SECRETS OF A RELUCTANT PRINCESS yet? Do you still refer to yourself as an “aspiring writer”? Have you entered ABNA before? What other contests have you entered that you would encourage others to enter? Share your thoughts about the interview in the comments!

Happy reading,

Emily, Jocelyn, Anisaa, Sam, Martina, Erin, Susan, Shelly, Kelly, Laura, and Lori Ann

Jocelyn Rish

Jocelyn Rish is a writer and filmmaker who loves researching weird and wonderful animals and sharing what she learns. Her debut was BATTLE OF THE BUTTS, about ten animals that do weird things with their butts. Her latest book is BATTLE OF THE BRAINS, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection about ten animals with mind-blowing brain abilities. When she’s not writing, she tutors kids to help them discover the magic of reading. Jocelyn has won numerous awards for her short stories, screenplays, films, and novels and lives in South Carolina with her adorable dog. Find out more at www.jocelynrish.com.

Post @ Jocelyn Rish and/or Adventures in YA Publishing. All rights reserved.

Posted: Mar 11, 2017

Category: Imported from AYAP

Tags: YA Author Interviews

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The first slide is an animation of a science/magic room in a castle. A cartoon character of a mad-scientist looking man in in the foreground says: “Hello! Dr. Frankenstein here to say, Well Done on kid lit zombie week! I’m an expert at reviving the dead, and let me assure you, with a little spark, you can bring dead projects to life. Especially if you dig up parts from other dead things. I’ll even let you have a sneak peek at my laboratory’s store room to consider potential parts for your dead project. If you see something with a yellow glow, that means you should click it. Have fun!”

He points to the right side of the screen and a new scene slides in of a castle science/magic storage room. There are various cartoon Frankenstein body parts scattered around. Some of them have a yellow glow. If you click on them, the images below appear (I’ve added alt text to them, so I hope it works).

The Heart of your story is the main character. The protagonist is the beating core that truly brings your story to life. If your MC doesn't make kids (and their grown-ups) care within the first few pages, your story will flatline. </p>
<p>Your main character needs to be:<br />
• Relatable enough for kids to see themselves<br />
• Unique enough to stand out in the slush pile<br />
• Active enough to drive the story<br />
• Memorable enough to survive multiple readings at bedtime</p>
<p>Where do you find this amazing donor heart? It might be the very thing you loved so much about the manuscript you want to revive. It might be the younger sister from your shelved YA novel. Or maybe it’s the hilarious kid you blogged about meeting at a school visit. Find a character beating with potential and place it in the center of your story.<br />

The Brain of your story is the theme or central message. The theme is the big idea that controls everything else. Picture books are more than stories - they're tiny life lessons disguised with humor and heart.</p>
<p>But your theme needs to be:<br />
• Subtle enough not to trigger the dreaded "didactic" rejection<br />
• Clear enough for a four-year-old to grasp<br />
• Universal enough to speak to both kids and adults<br />
• Fresh enough to prevent agents and editors from responding with "Not another sharing/bedtime/first-day story!"</p>
<p>Check your other dead manuscripts to see if there is a recurring theme, something that really seems to be speaking to you. Find the bit of poetry you scribbled on the back of a receipt to see what theme inspired it. Reread the pep talk you texted your critique partner at 1am. Pick the theme that will drive your story, giving it purpose, direction, and deeper meaning.<br />

The Legs of your story is the plot. Not to be confused with a grave plot.🤪 The plot is what keeps everything upright and moving, as well as providing support for all the other elements. You have very few words to use in a picture book, so you need to do a lot with each plot point.</p>
<p>In general, your plot should:<br />
• Hook readers fast<br />
• Build tension that a child can follow<br />
• Create page turns that feel natural<br />
• Wrap up in a way that satisfies</p>
<p>You can borrow a plot twist (a leg) from one manuscript and the opening (the other leg) from a different manuscript. Consider if the subplot of the middle grade novel you trunked would work better as a picture book. Or maybe your Facebook post about a disastrous camping trip could become a story for kids. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other until you have your storyline.

The Arms of your story are the side characters.

The Torso of your story is the setting. Setting helps a story breathe and connects all the elements of the story. It isn't just where your story lives, it's what makes your story ALIVE. It's the difference between "this happened in a park" and "this happened in that park, the one with the twisty slide that burns your legs and the creaky swing that sounds like a baby crying.”</p>
<p>Your setting should:<br />
• Make your character's world feel real<br />
• Contain your story in a way that makes sense to young readers<br />
• Connect different scenes and moments organically<br />
• Give your illustrator enough room to add visual subplots</p>
<p>Half-finished manuscripts are a great place to dig up settings, since you worked out the place details before the plot petered out. Or maybe you had to cut a second fantastic location from your chapter book. You can also revisit the detailed caption from your Instagram carousel documenting your tour of that delish candy shop. Disinter a robust setting that can house all of your story's vital organs.

After you press the Click When Done circle button, the lights flash with the sound of electricity buzzing. Then the screen goes black and lightning zaps across the screen with the sound of thunder.

The screen then lights up to show the storage room, and all the Frankenstein pieces have been assembled into the whole monster. An upbeat song plays in the background. Then a speech bubble pops up with the words, “I’m alive! I’M ALIVE!” Then the screen goes to black.

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