Young adult fiction writer, Beth Fehlbaum, is as gritty and determined as her young protagonists. Life hasn't been easy for this Texas author but she spares no effort in making it easier for others.
Beth is as as giving as they make them when it comes to the teens for whom she writes books and the YA authors with which she collaborates.
Beth Fehlbaum, founder of UncommonYA, teacher, wife, mother and author of Big Fat Disaster and The Patience Trilogy.
Welcome, Beth, to Magic of the Muses.
Briefly describe UncommonYA and what
makes it unique.
 |
| Beth Fehlbaum |
UncommonYA is a grassroots group author website. There is no
cost to authors to participate, with the exception of “sweat equity,” and by
that I mean members must contribute blog posts, share links to posts, and tweet/retweet
the daily blog post link.
UncommonYA is multi-faceted:
· It is a marketing support group for authors of
traditionally-published edgy teen fiction who come together and support one
another’s efforts
· It is a resource for aspiring authors of YA
fiction to learn from experienced authors, many who teach writing craft
· It provides content to teachers, librarians,
and teen fans of YA fiction.
We
blog Monday through Friday, 52 weeks a year.
What does your group offer readers?
We
offer the latest news about members and their novels, interviews with agents
and editors, writing tips for authors of all ages, and special events such as
contests.
 |
| http://www.uncommonya.com |
Has UncommonYA evolved as you
initially envisioned? Where do you dream it will be in five years?
I envisioned the site as being a place for fans of YA fiction to be able to learn more about their favorite authors and interact with them. One thing I really like about it is that in one place, readers can find book synopses, author biographies, daily blog posts, and I am especially proud that readers can find teaching guides, links to videos, and more, on one site.
I envisioned the site as being a place for fans of YA fiction to be able to learn more about their favorite authors and interact with them. One thing I really like about it is that in one place, readers can find book synopses, author biographies, daily blog posts, and I am especially proud that readers can find teaching guides, links to videos, and more, on one site.
In
five years, I hope to have predictably high daily traffic—right now our visitor
count is variable. I would also like to see us expand our topics beyond
primarily writing instruction and include more of authors’ personal viewpoints
on current events and how those events relate to their novels.
How can authors become a partner in UncommonYA’s
success?
Authors
interested in joining us need to commit to blogging at least once a month if
not more; they need to be active on social media and support everyone else’s
work by sharing links, providing blog content, etc
In addition, they must be
traditionally published. We set the parameter of being
traditionally published because, while we acknowledge that there are quality
books that are self-published, we prefer to have a gate-keeper of sorts. That
gate-keeper is a book having made its way into a traditional publishing house
and going through the intensive editing, revision, and professional layout that
is standard in traditional publishing.
In addition to running UncommonYA,
you are an author. Of which personal accomplishment in your literary career
(book or otherwise), are you most proud? (Aside from the creation of your
author group.)
I
love my most recent novel, Big Fat
Disaster, but my “heart” books are the three I wrote while in recovery from
childhood sexual abuse. They are currently called The Patience Trilogy, but the name is likely to change when my new
publisher releases them beginning early 2017.
The first book, Courage in Patience
(1st edition 2008, Kunati Books), and the second book, Hope in Patience (1st edition
2010, WestSide Books) are out of print and the rights are reverted to me. The
third in the Trilogy, Truth in Patience, has
never seen the light of day. The publishers of Courage and Hope went out
of business within a year, respectively, of the books’ publications.
I
am most proud of The Patience books
because they are the story of a teen girl’s recovery from childhood sexual
abuse, and the books follow her journey from being broken into pieces to
becoming whole. I was in therapy for six years, and, while the books are
fiction, there are elements of the stories that I drew on my own life to write.
I
cannot begin to express how joyful and peaceful I am that these three books
have found a new home.
What’s really serendipitous about this development is
that as this is happening, it seems that I am at last finding resolution with
my mother, from whom I have been estranged since 2004 when I entered
counseling. While the endings in the book and my life are not tied up with a
neat little happy ending, they both have a HOPEFUL ending, and that’s more
important to me than anything else.
HOPE
does not necessarily mean that everyone ends up together, either. It means that
hope has won over fear.
What personal literary achievement/s are
you striving to reach within the next five years?
I
would like to see The Patience books
(again- considering a name change for them…) widely available; I will continue
to write novels for teens that deal with issues traditionally left in the
shadows, and I will continue to live my life authentically, even when it’s not
easy.
Please offer authors and aspiring authors
some sage advice.
Speak
your truth.
UncommonYA’s
link/s:
Your
author link/s:
Other
contact/purchasing links you’d like to share:
Big Fat Disaster,
Courage in Patience, Hope in Patience: Amazon US, Amazon Canada,
Barnes &
Noble, IndieBound
Gritty and successful has been brought to you by
Big Fat Disaster ~Beth Fehlbaum
"
Intense, Raw, Real, and Incredible"
Intense, Raw, Real, and Incredible"
"An emotional journey"
"A realistic binge with a message of hope"
"I loved this book!"
