Jus Accardo, author of ALPHA, on there always being something new to learn about writing

by Jocelyn Rish

ALPHA is the latest novel in the Infinity Division series, and we’re thrilled to have Jus Accardo here to share more about it.

Jus, what was your inspiration for writing ALPHA?

Really, one of the biggest inspirations behind the entire series is possibility. I love the idea of multidimension stories. There are infinite possibilities. The same character can be a million different things depending on the world I’m writing about.

What scene was really hard for you to write and why, and is that the one of which you are most proud? Or is there another scene you particularly love?

I think I’m most proud of the flashback scenes that show the reader how Sera and G came to feel the way they do about each other. When ALPHA opens, their relationship is already established. We know a little bit about them from the previous book in the series, but they have this intense thing between them. How they arrived at where they were needed to be shown.

I’ve never been a huge fan of flashbacks. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to sell it. I’m so thrilled with the way they came out, though. The scenes run from funny to raw to tender to soul crushing, and really made their relationship feel real.

How long did you work on ALPHA?

Probably 8 or 9 months (give or take) including the editing process.

What do you hope readers will take away from ALPHA?

These characters all went through quite a bit of hell and survived. They beat the odds and made it to the other side because they had had each other’s backs. I think everyone can benefit from that level of loyalty and support.

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 think I wrote 5 and officially queried one book before writing, querying and selling my first published book, TOUCH. Really though, that first book I queried (one that should have never been queried because it was nowhere near ready) was the first I’d thought of doing this for a living. I think it was less than a year from the start of querying that first book, to writing and selling my first published book. Everyone’s road to publication is so different. I happened to get lucky. The right person saw my book at the right time. Those first five books will probably never see the light of day. I’ve toyed with the idea of going back, but my schedule never seems to allow it. Someday, maybe!

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 I’m always having AHA moments. There’s always going to be something new to learn. About writing, about the way I approach writing… My view is, the only key to writing a book is getting it out on paper (computer). The editing, the tweaking, craft… The more words you log, the better you get.

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

I generally work from home. I do listen to music while I work. I have playlists for all my books, most of my characters, and even some specific scenes.

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

Don’t give up. Write. Write even if you think it’s crap. Every single word gets you closer to where you want to be.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on something super-secret at the moment. I can’t say much other than I am crazy in love with it—and its unlike anything I’ve ever done.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Alpha
by Jus Accardo
Paperback
Entangled: Teen
Released 7/3/2018

Sera has no memory of her life before. Before captivity, before experiments, before the only lifeline she had was the voice of a boy in the cell next to hers. Before G.

G wishes he could forget everything before Sera brought him back to life. Forget his memories as a ruthless mercenary on an alternate version of Earth. Forget that he was part of an experiment simply known as Alpha.

Now on the run from their captors and in need of an antidote to save his life, G and Sera’s clock is ticking. And they’ll have to gamble everything on the bond they forged in captivity if they want to survive.

Purchase Alpha at Amazon
Purchase Alpha at IndieBound
View Alpha on Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jus Accardo spent her childhood reading and learning to cook. Determined to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps as a chef, she applied and was accepted to the Culinary Institute of America. But at the last minute, she realized her true path lay with fiction, not food.

Jus is the bestselling author of the popular Denazen series from Entangled publishing, as well as the Darker Agency series, and the New Adult series, The Eternal Balance. A native New Yorker, she lives in the middle of nowhere with her husband, three dogs, and sometimes guard bear, Oswald.

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Have you had a chance to read ALPHA yet? How many books have you written that will never see the light of day? Are you able to write even if you think it’s crap? Share your thoughts about the interview in the comments!

Happy Reading,

Jocelyn, Halli, Martina, 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: Jul 7, 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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