This week YA Author Lisa Springer took over our Twitter as a part of our weekly Thursday Twitter Takeover. Lisa Springer is the author of There’s No Way I’d Die First. (See YEM’s interview with Lisa Springer here.) See highlights from the takeover below.
YEM Author Interview: Lisa Springer chats about writing a horror novel
For the next two hours I’ll be hanging out talking about the writing life and my journey to publication and all about writing my debut. I’ll talk about how I got my agent and my experience with the publishing process #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Mag (@YoungEntmag) September 1, 2023
I've been writing for over a decade but in 2015 I decided to take writing more serious and started a MG adventure novel that go me into a mentorship prog Author Mentor Match. I pitched a novel in #PitMad and that led me to my agent. #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Mag (@YoungEntmag) September 1, 2023
There’s No Way I’d Die First is my debut novel and is a YA Horror-Comedy. I had a lot of fun writing this spooky book! I love watching horror movies but I’m such a scaredy cat! #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Mag (@YoungEntmag) September 1, 2023
I read my first horror at 13! It was Pet Semetary by Stephen King! It was terrifying!! Some of my favorite books are The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass, White Smoke and The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D Jackson, Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare #YAauthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Mag (@YoungEntmag) September 1, 2023
I loved the Nightmare on Elm Street movies. I watched Deep Blue Sea, a horror movie with LL Cool J and that was the first movie where a lead Black actor survived. Brandy in I Still Know What You Did Last Summer was the first Black final girl I saw in a movie. #YAauthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Mag (@YoungEntmag) September 1, 2023
My favorite horror movie franchise is Scream. I think Ghostface is the perfect mix of villain and comedy. Right now my favorite horror movie is The Blackening. Everyone needs to watch this!! #YAauthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Mag (@YoungEntmag) September 1, 2023
In TNWIDF the clown's name is Gage as a nod to the first horror book I loved!! I really liked making that connection in my first horror book. The main character has to use her knowledge of horror movie tropes but it doesn’t always go according to plan. 😂🤡😈#YAauthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Mag (@YoungEntmag) September 1, 2023
In TNWIDF the main character Noelle wants to launch her own podcast about horror movies. Some of my favorite horror movie podcasts are: (1) Books in the Freezer, (2) Girl, That’s Scary (3) This is Horror (4) Homies of Horror #YAauthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Mag (@YoungEntmag) September 1, 2023
I wrote the first draft in about 4 months. It was tough writing such a large cast of characters and keeping the voices distinct. I also wanted to keep the tension tight throughout the book. As a writer I want to keep the reader engaged and turning pages!! #YAauthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Mag (@YoungEntmag) September 1, 2023
I think my favorite part of writing a slasher was coming up with motivations for the clown and fitting this into the story. Ultimately, one of my goals for the story is for young readers to see that they too can face down the dark and slay monsters. #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Mag (@YoungEntmag) September 1, 2023
TNWIDF is my first horror book. Why horror? It’s a way to build empathy through stories. Horror puts the truth under a microscope and allows the reader to navigate fear in a safe, controlled space. The best part is that you can put it down if it gets too much! #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Mag (@YoungEntmag) September 1, 2023
Fun fact: There’s No Way I’d Die First has 30 chapters. Each chapter opens with a horror movie quote. #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Mag (@YoungEntmag) September 1, 2023
Let’s talk playlists! I prefer not to listen to music with lyrics while I’m writing so I mostly listened to movie soundtracks. My favorite song while drafting the scariest scenes was “Run” by Michael Abels from the movie Us! #YAAuthorTakeover https://t.co/uvVv5HMc45
— Young Entertainment Mag (@YoungEntmag) September 1, 2023
Other faves on the playlist were for vibes only: All the Stars by Kendrick Lamar, Bad Guy by Billie Eilish and Disturbia by Rihanna #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Mag (@YoungEntmag) September 1, 2023
Thanks for hanging out tonight! There’s No Way I’d Die First is out on September 5. Preorders are so important to a debut author. Also I’d love it if you subscribed to my author newsletter for updates and news! https://t.co/AnWkP8b4l8
Happy reading!!#YAAuthorTakeover— Young Entertainment Mag (@YoungEntmag) September 1, 2023
Thank you to Young Entertainment Mag for the opportunity to take over the space!#YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Mag (@YoungEntmag) September 1, 2023
