Crystal Cestari, author of THE SWEETEST KIND OF FATE, on being creative under the clock

by Jocelyn Rish

THE SWEETEST KIND OF FATE is the second book in the Windy City Magic series, and we’re excited to have Crystal Cestari with us to share more about it.

Crystal, what is your favorite thing about THE SWEETEST KIND OF FATE?

In this follow up to The Best Kind of Magic, I really like how The Sweetest Kind of Fate pushes Amber to grow and find new depths within her worldviews. She is not a perfect person; she makes snap judgments and mistakes just like anyone else, but she’s also not afraid to admit when she’s wrong, and I like when characters are able to stand up and change when challenged. I was happy with her evolution and how she comes out even stronger by the end.

Also, mermaids! From the very start, I had a visual of two mermaids swimming together in love, and I was so excited to incorporate this lovely couple into the heart of this story.

What was your inspiration for writing THE SWEETEST KIND OF FATE?

This story is the sequel to my first book, The Best Kind of Magic, and I was inspired to continue my matchmaker heroine’s story! Amber has a very special place in my heart, and I was so happy to spend more time with her unique voice and worldview.

What did this book teach you about writing or about yourself?

This was the first book I wrote under contract, so the experience taught me I could write on a deadline! It was a new kind of pressure—having to be creative under the clock—but it pushed me to trust my instincts and not give up.

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

I’ve been writing all my life, but The Best Kind of Magic was my first book that truly lit a fire under me and inspired me to go for publication. It took a lot of research and time to figure out what I needed to do, probably just as long as it took me to write the book. The experience is definitely not for the faint of heart, but I was so excited about my story, I knew I had to try.

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

I’m kind of all over the place when it comes to my writing time: sometimes I’m in public listening to music on my headphones, other times I’m at home in complete silence. I’ve written while on buses, trains, or even the checkout line at Target! Probably my biggest writing quirk is that I hand write all my first drafts in notebooks; it takes forever, and is super inefficient, but putting pen to paper before I bust out my laptop always nets better results for some reason.

What advice would you most like to pass along to other writers?

Be gentle to yourself when you’re writing a first draft. There isn’t a single book in publication that got it perfect on the first try. Editing is normal and necessary, and will make your story stronger as you go. The important thing is to keep writing and know you can always make changes!

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Sweetest Kind of Fate
by Crystal Cestari
Hardcover
Disney-Hyperion
Released 3/6/2018

GREAT. I’ve somehow found myself tangled up with a siren, a mermaid, and a homicidal wicked witch who once tried to strangle me to death. Way to go, Amber!

Amber Sand, legendary matchmaker, couldn’t be more surprised when her archnemesis, Ivy, asks for her help. Ivy’s sister, Iris, is getting married, and Ivy wants to prove her sister is making a huge mistake. But as Amber looks into Iris’s eyes, there doesn’t seem to be a problem-Iris has clearly found her match.

It seems happily-ever-after is in the cards, but when Iris seeks out a dangerous, life-altering spell, it’s up to Amber and Ivy to set aside their rivalry and save the day.

As Iris puts everything on the line for love, Amber continues to wrestle with her own romantic future. Her boyfriend, Charlie, is still destined for another, and no matter how hard she clings to him, fear over their inevitable breakup shakes her belief system to the core.

Because the Fates are never wrong-right?

Purchase The Sweetest Kind of Fate at Amazon
Purchase The Sweetest Kind of Fate at IndieBound
View The Sweetest Kind of Fate on Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Crystal Cestari lives just outside Chicago with her daughter. Her hobbies include avoiding broccoli and wandering the aisles at Target. She holds a master’s degree in mass communication, and writes all her stories longhand. She is also the author of the first book in the Windy City Magic series, The Best Kind of Magic. Visit Crystal at www.crystalcestari.com and on Twitter @crystalcestari.

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Have you had a chance to read THE SWEETEST KIND OF FATE yet? What’s the strangest place you’ve ever written? Are you gentle with yourself while writing a first draft? Share your thoughts about the interview in the comments!

Happy Reading,

Jocelyn, Halli, Martina, Charlotte, Anisaa, Erin, Susan, Shelly, Kelly, Laura, Emily, 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 22, 2018

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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