This week YA author Katharyn Blair took over our Twitter as a part of our weekly Thursday Twitter Takeover. She is the author of the new YA novel Unchosen. Check out YEM’s interview with Katharyn Blair here. See highlights from her takeover below.
Hey, All! It's @Katharyn_Blair here – so excited to start this #YAauthorTakeover!
— WATCH 📺 LISTEN 🎧 READ 📚 (@YoungEntmag) January 28, 2021
UNCHOSEN has been out for two days now, and it's been really surreal to see pictures of it out in the wild! It's got me thinking a lot about the process and how this book came to be. #YAauthorTakeover
— WATCH 📺 LISTEN 🎧 READ 📚 (@YoungEntmag) January 28, 2021
I've always wanted to write stories, I think. My mom has a video of me when I was four telling spooky stories on our front steps to an imaginary audience 😂
I didn't think of it as a real career option until I was twenty-two, though… I decided to go for it! #YaAuthorTakeover https://t.co/JeHYJuctTh
— WATCH 📺 LISTEN 🎧 READ 📚 (@YoungEntmag) January 28, 2021
I also drew a lot of inspiration from my own life, mainly my relationship with my three sisters. We've been through a lot together, and I really wanted to see an apocalyptic story that revolved around sisterhood.
— WATCH 📺 LISTEN 🎧 READ 📚 (@YoungEntmag) January 28, 2021
A few fun facts! UNCHOSEN is my second published novel, but it's the *sixth* novel I've written! #YaAuthorTakeover
— WATCH 📺 LISTEN 🎧 READ 📚 (@YoungEntmag) January 28, 2021
I started writing seriously in 2012, when I was pregnant with my oldest daughter. I wrote a YA Fantasy I was *sure* would get me my dream agent! #YaAuthorTakeover #AMA
…and guess what?
— WATCH 📺 LISTEN 🎧 READ 📚 (@YoungEntmag) January 28, 2021
…it didn't work out the way I thought. I queried before I went into labor and kept hoping that there would be a request from an agent when I left the hospital. But I checked my email and… nothing. For months… nothing.
So I wrote another novel. #YaAuthorTakeover #AMA
— WATCH 📺 LISTEN 🎧 READ 📚 (@YoungEntmag) January 28, 2021
This time, I did sign with an agent. I was thrilled! But after more than a year and several other novels, we decided to part ways, and I was back where I started.
Only I wasn't, because there is no such thing as wasted writing! #YaAuthorTakeover #AMA
— WATCH 📺 LISTEN 🎧 READ 📚 (@YoungEntmag) January 28, 2021
I signed w/ Writers House in 2016 & signed my first book deal shortly after. Writing is always difficult, no matter what stage of your career you're at… you just keep going! I always lean on 2 things: my faith, and the stories that inspired me. #YaAuthorTakeover #AMA
— WATCH 📺 LISTEN 🎧 READ 📚 (@YoungEntmag) January 28, 2021
I have always been inspired by stories across all genres. Some of my earliest favorite films were Braveheart and The Last of the Mohicans (my parents didn't know I was watching) 😂
Neither are sci-fi, but they both had moments that stick with me even today. #YaAuthorTakover
— WATCH 📺 LISTEN 🎧 READ 📚 (@YoungEntmag) January 28, 2021
Since then, I've fallen in love with so many stories I've lost count! I love Laurie Halse Anderson, Sarah J. Maas, N.K. Jemisin, Stephen King…
I'm always worried I'm missing great reads/movies/shows… what is a *must see/read* for you? #YaAuthorTakeover #AMA
— WATCH 📺 LISTEN 🎧 READ 📚 (@YoungEntmag) January 28, 2021
A lot of those inspirations went in to UNCHOSEN. I love scary movies (even though I'm more or less a wimp). Writing the Vessels scared me sometimes when I was writing alone in my office at night… things with red eyes have always freaked me out!#YaAuthorTakeover
— WATCH 📺 LISTEN 🎧 READ 📚 (@YoungEntmag) January 28, 2021
Oooh! My husband is OBSESSED with that book and has been telling me about it for ages! (Watch me NOW read it because you said so! 😉😂)
And I identify with Charlotte's uncertainties, for sure… but anyone will tell you I'm bossy like Harlow! #YaAuthorTakeover #AMA https://t.co/8ioclUyAN6
— WATCH 📺 LISTEN 🎧 READ 📚 (@YoungEntmag) January 28, 2021
One of my favorite things about researching this book was that I got to research one of the COOLEST topics ever… women pirate lords! We don't often hear about them, but there were plenty of swashbuckling maidens back in the day! #YaAuthorTakeover #AMA
— WATCH 📺 LISTEN 🎧 READ 📚 (@YoungEntmag) January 28, 2021
My favorite part of the process of writing is revising… I love when I'm making the story *good*, not just getting it on paper. The hardest part, I'd say, is drafting Chapter One. You know there's such a looooong way to go. #YaAuthorTakeover
— WATCH 📺 LISTEN 🎧 READ 📚 (@YoungEntmag) January 28, 2021
If I couldn't be a writer, I love to think I'd make a great detective.
That probably isn't true… I might just be good at solving the mysteries I've invented in my stories 😂#YaAuthorTakeover
— WATCH 📺 LISTEN 🎧 READ 📚 (@YoungEntmag) January 28, 2021
Wow, that went by fast! Thank you so much for letting me take over, guys!
Over and out! #YaAuthorTakeover
— WATCH 📺 LISTEN 🎧 READ 📚 (@YoungEntmag) January 28, 2021
