Secret Identity – Or, Other Names To Write Stuff Under

Once upon a time there was a YA Writer named Bria Quinlan who decided it would be fun to write some funny, light-hearted rom coms as a break from her YA… Not that she didn’t love her YAs, but sometimes a girl wants to write something a little different.

And so she did.

And so she published one under the name Caitie Quinn.

And it did fairly well… people seemed to like it. The more people who liked it, the more emails she got asking when she would publish another one.

So, she did that too.

And then she thought, Wow! I really love this indie-publishing world… maybe I should go indie with some of my YAs. And so she and the Laird of Clan MacLeod, the Great and Powerful Lauren MacLeod, had a little chat and both decided that it could be a very good thing.

Thus, Bria began the long and difficult journey of going indie with full length novels.

And, because she doesn’t hear enough voices in her head, she thought you all might enjoy hearing about this in an interview between Caitie and Bria… Or maybe you’ll just start to realize the depth of her cray-cray.

~~*~~

Caitie:     So, it’s amazing how much we have in common.

Bria:        I know. We definitely have the same sense of smartassity humor.

Caitie:     But, our books are still really different. I mean, beyond the whole teen/adult thing.

Bria:        It’s true. It’s kind of funny that your books are lighter. Cute, happy, straightforward romances.
Mine on the other hand delve into some darker places.

Caitie:      Like what?

Bria:        Well, I don’t like to give away plots! But, I write about emotional issues and challenges. Let’s be honest. No one gets through high school unscathed. I wanted to write about those same issues that issue books deal with, but I wanted to deal with them the way I did. They way I knew how to get to the other side: Humor. Sarcasm. Self-deprecation. And, don’t forget some good old-fashion stubbornness.

Caitie:      And these books are funny?

Bria:        Yes!

Caitie:      Um…. Are you sure?

Bria:        Wait, what? You don’t think they’re funny?

Caitie:      Well… I’m just saying. Those are some heavy topics.

Bria:        And?

Caitie:      It’s hard to believe they’d be funny.

Bria:        Dude, did you read the book? I sent you the book. Are you kidding me?

Caitie:      I’ve been really busy. I have two category lengths I’m trying to get out and… Nevermind. Hold on. I’m just going to call one of our friends and ask her.

*phones Gwen Hayes*

Caitie:      Hi, Gwen? I’m interviewing Bria Quinlan and she just told me some of the things her books are about. But she says there funny. True or False?

GWEN:      They’re funny. Of course they’re funny. What’s not funny about emotional issues like…wait…Caitie…have you not READ Bria’s book? I know she sent it to you.

Caitie:      What… I’m sure I glanced at them. I said I was busy, right? Okay, so they’re funny.  I believe you.

Bria:        Thanks…

Caitie:     What about this first book, Wreckless. Dude, you spelled it wrong.

Bria:        Nope. It’s spelled that way on purpose.

Wreckless is about what happens when a girl obsessed with safety is betrayed and the rebellion it pushes her into.  Let’s just say that Bridget has seen how bad things can get if you don’t  play it safe. Super Safe. And her whole goal in life is to stay wayyyyy inside the boundaries. Until….

Caitie:      Until what?

Bria:        If you’d read the book I sent you, you’d know.

Caitie:     Fine. Moving on. You finalled in RWA’s Golden Heart in 2011 in the YA category. Is this your GH book?

Bria:        No. This was the standalone I’d just finished this past year for my agent. Although, yes. I have two other books I’m considering writing to follow Wreckless.

Secret Life was my finalling book. It and Secret Girlfriend are coming out this fall. I’m amazingly excited about it.

Caitie:      Which brings up a good question: Why are you going indie?

Bria:        I honestly think that going forward authors are going to have to attack the Get Published issue from every angle. I’m not saying Indie is for everyone… or Traditional is for everyone…. or Hybrid is for everyone… I’m saying, that for the books you write you have to  look at the timing and figure out what works best for you.

Caitie:     What did you do to get your books out — was it easy?

Bria:        Um, no. It wasn’t easy. I knew it would be a lot of work, but I still underestimated it. I had to research editors and then get sample edit pages from them to see who was the best one and the best for my story and voice. Then finding a cover designer who I loved. Then, I needed someone to format the e-and-paper copies to give them the most professional look. Then people to proof the copy before it was formatted… then after it was formatted to make sure everything was doing what it was supposed to do. This is after having the book beta’d and critted to death to make sure I was working with the best possible copy to begin with.

I wanted the cleanest, best written, best put together book possible for anyone who takes a chance on buying one of my works.

Caitie:     That is a lot. How did it go?

Bria:        Um…. some of it went super smoothly. Some of it not so much. Figuring out how to time everything to get from one stage to the next was a big learning process. Also, I’d planned to work with someone who was amazingly difficult so, just like in my day job, I canceled that person.

I came at this like I was a publisher and I decided what my standards of product and working relationships would be. And I stuck by them. This first book was about not only putting out the best product, but building contacts and teams to make the books after this hopefully go super smoothly.

Caitie:     So, you have your cover and release date?

Bria:        YES! The release date is June 18th!!! So close. I’m getting excited. I can’t wait to share Bridget and her insane Night of Rebellion with everyone. I think they’re going to fall in love with her as much as I did.

Caitie:     Yeah… blah blah blah – we want to see the COVER!!! Everyone always wants the cover!

Bria:        Oh, the cover is absolutely amazing. Writers always worry they’re not going to like their covers or they’ll like it enough or it just doesn’t capture the book… but Sarah at Okay Creations is AMAZING. The cover is stunning. I got goosebumps when I opened her art work the first time and saw Bridget there front and center.

Caitie:     AND?

Bria:        Well, I’ll be doing the cover reveal next Monday.

Caitie:    We have to wait???

Bria:        Yes! But a reveal is so fun!

Caitie:    So, what if someone wants to be part of the reveal?

Bria:        Oh – that does sound like fun! Okay, if someone wants to be part of the reveal on Monday (June 10th) they can email me —

Caitie:     — Us.

Bria:        Fine, they can email us at RogueGiraffeBooks@aol.com

Caitie:    Another aol email. What is The Laird going to say about that?

Bria:        Let’s not ask her.

Caitie:    Got it. What else are you doing this week to get ready?

Bria:        I’ll be doing some teasers this week. So, if you want to know more about Wreckless, make sure to stop back.

And a massage sounds like a good idea after all this!

Caitie:    This has been oddly (and confusingly) fun. Thanks to Bria for sharing her brain with me. And, check out all our book info below!

~~*~~

Interested in the funny, sweet rom com’s by Caitie Quinn? Check them out HERE.

COMING JUNE 18TH

WRECKLESS

Where obsession and rebellion collide.

Bridget Larson’s never met a rule she didn’t like. Drawing inside the lines isn’t just a way of life – it’s the only way she can make it through the day. And through it all her BFF Leah has stood inside those lines and weathered the unspeakable with her. Then Bridget catches her boyfriend with Leah–and the last thing on her mind is staying safe.

Salvation… A bad boy and his jacked up pickup.

Jake Moore was everything she needed and nothing he claimed to be. With one night of freedom and a spontaneously scribbled Rebellion List, Jake leads Bridget down every path she thought was forbidden… And into the one place she’d thought was lost to her forever.

Interested in being notified when this is released? Sign up for the New Release Newsletter. I never spam or share your email: Subscribe to my newsletter