Adventures in Debsland: Sydney Salter

Today's interview is with Sydney Salter, author of My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters,the September release Jungle Crossing, and the 2010 release Swoon at Your Own Risk.

So without further ado, here's how Sydney got here:

Did you always want to be a writer?

I can’t remember not wanting to write, but for many years I was so afraid to fail at my dream that I didn’t even try. I did keep a daily diary throughout my teen years and that helped me develop my writing voice and learn to write without self-criticism. (I still can’t go to sleep without writing about my day in my diary.)

What was the most difficult part about writing My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters?

Writing about Jory came pretty easily because I identified with her insecurities (I hated my nose in high school). The hardest part has been talking about my nose so much now that the book is published. I keep thinking: why didn’t I write about a girl who hates her knees? I wouldn’t mind talking about my knees. But I’m really glad that I’ve had to confront my feelings about my appearance—I’ve learned a lot about myself. If only I could go back and tell my 17-year-old self what I know now!

What is something that helped in you actually finish writing your story?

I wrote this book during National Novel Writing Month (www.nanowrimo.org). I plugged away while making Thanksgiving pies, early in the morning, late at night, and in some really unusual locations (cafés, repair shops, the food court at the mall...). I really wanted that winner’s certificate! I highly recommend NaNoWriMo for writers who have trouble finishing novels or simply want to shake up their writing routine like I did (I’ve since written two more NaNo novels).

I LOVE NANO! NaNo is the best thing ever. So, did you always want to write for young adults, or did you just get lucky it turned out that way? ;)

Oh, no, I wanted to be a “real” writer so I penned truly awful stories about professional football players (I don’t know any, don’t really follow sports, but it seemed glamorous, I guess). The only stories that ever received positive comments were those in which I used a younger voice. So I finally came to my senses and started writing for teens. I preferred to read YA novels so why not try to write them?

Can you describe your road to getting an agent and publication?

Long, bumpy, and full of lessons about patience, persistence, and hanging onto dreams. My Big Nose And Other Natural Disasters is my fourth manuscript. I’d become quite familiar with rejection, but I also learned how to revise (big, important skill) as I wrote new manuscripts and fixed old ones. Now I’m really grateful for those frustrating years because I learned so much about myself and my writing. I had submitted earlier novels to editors I’d met at writing conferences, but I knew that this one had more commercial appeal so I only submitted it to agents. I got several really nice, almost feel-good (if that’s possible), rejection letters. One agent who liked the book, but didn’t want to represent it, recommended Firebrand Literary. And they signed me!

What was your reaction when you first heard you got an agent/publisher?

Well, first, when my agent called, I liked him right away and could tell that I would really enjoy working with him (I do!). It was also a strange feeling to have someone who didn’t know me love my manuscript (sometimes I worried that my family, friends, and critique partners were just being nice). And then I jumped up and down a whole bunch.

My agent and I accepted Harcourt’s offer to publish my novel while I was in the airport on my way to a Society of Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) conference (I’m a regional advisor for Utah & Idaho). I loved celebrating with my writing friends!

How has the blogging community and fellow authors helped you in your journey?

One of my biggest regrets is that I’ve come to the blogging community late—I wish I’d made these connections much earlier. I know I’d be a ball of nervous quivering Jell-O if it weren’t for the support fellow bloggers have offered me as a debut author. I’ve made so many wonderful friends and learned so much from more experienced authors (thank you, everyone!). I’m grateful that we all help each other navigate this crazy publishing business. Plus, I love knowing so many people who read the same books I do!

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Thanks so much, Sydney, my fellow Wrimo! (Wrimos = NaNoWriMo authors, if you didn't know.) Wrimos are awesome, and you are especially awesome, Sydney.

Here's the description of My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters, straight from Amazon:

It’s the end of junior year, and summer is about to begin. The Summer of Passion, to be exact, when Jory Michaels plans to explore all the possibilities of the future--and, with any luck, score a boyfriend in the process. But Jory has a problem. A big problem. A curvy, honking, bumpy, problem in the form of her Super Schnozz, the one thing standing between Jory and happiness. And now, with the Summer of Passion stretched before her like an open road, she's determined for Super Schnozz to disappear. Jory takes a job delivering wedding cakes to save up for a nose job at the end of the summer; she even keeps a book filled with magazine cutouts of perfect noses to show the doctor. But nothing is ever easy for accident-prone Jory--and before she knows it, her Summer of Passion falls apart faster than the delivery van she crashes. In her hilarious and heartbreaking debut novel, Sydney Salter delivers a story about broadening your horizons, accepting yourself, and finding love right under your nose.

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I haven't read this one yet (I bought it the other day though!) so I can't offer my opinion, but if you want to read a good review of the book, check out Jordyn's review over at Ten Cent Notes. ugh why are jordyn's reviews so good

Links: Sydney's website/blog

Graphia/Paperback/$7.99/Amazon/B&N/Borders/IndieBound