On the 67th episode of the Self-publishing Roundtable we interview Young Adult author Kendra C. Highly. Kendra has published novels in both the contemporary and Sci-Fi/Fantasy YA genres. The YA market generally seems to be a tough nut to crack. We sit down with Kendra to discuss just how she did this, why she decided to write YA novels, her process on doing so, and what sort of marketing and publishing is working for her. This episode is incredibly valuable to not only those looking to get their foot in the YA market, but any author!
Be sure to tune in live on this page Thursday, October 9th ( 9pm EDT / 8pm CDT / 7pm MDT / 6pm PDT ) or catch the show later on our Youtube channel or iTunes!
Find Kendra on her:
Website – kendrachighley.com
Amazon – amazon.com/Kendra-C.-Highley/e/B008ZFTGU2
Goodreads – goodreads.com/author/show/6450754.Kendra_C_Highley
Facebook – facebook.com/kchighley
Twitter – twitter.com/KendraHighley
Google+ – google.com/+KendraHighley
Tumblr – kendrachighley.tumblr.com
If you think of any specific YA questions for Kendra that you’d like us to ask her, be sure to post them here! We’ll still take new questions live during the show, of course. 🙂
Evening all.
Hi everyone. Starting soon!
Adam Poe I’m very curious as to whether her YA books are being read/bought by younger readers/teens or more by adults?
Evening folks! Thought I’d come in and see the new lineup! Looking forward to this episode fo pho sho, yo.
PatrickStemp Evening Mr. Stempeneggar, also known as the P-1000.
xgranville yo know gon be a dope show fo sho
Ohai!
BatmanErica Hola
Ronny Khuri xgranville I need mo sho fo my fo mo ho’s, yo.
Ronny Khuri Adam Poe saw something that said that YA describes the age of the characters, not the age of the audience 😛
BatmanErica GREETINGS. HUMAN.
xgranville Ronny Khuri SHHH IT STARTED
Everyone has giant headphones today…
BatmanErica We’re going to space!
xgranville GREETINGS. BACON.
BatmanErica xgranville JOHN CANDY. GOOD MOVIE.
Adam Poe BatmanErica I don’t remember clearing you for liftoff. I’m gonna have a lot of paperwork waiting for me back at the space office.
Hello, Everyone! Hello, Lindsay!
xgranville PatrickStemp Yo. Death to all humans.
xgranville Adam Poe Bowie in space!
Hello ESIvy – Thanks for tuning in live!
Hi, Adam! I already “know” Lindsay. Looking forward to getting to “know” everyone else. 🙂
I love that workshop! I’ve been a member for awhile, and it’s incredibly helpful.
Question for Kendra: How do you plan out your character arcs, especially with teenage characters? Teenagers can be just as hard-boiled stubborn as they can be impressionable, so I’m curious as to how you go approach seeing your characters through those major plot, and life, changing moments in your books.
Ronny Khuri Adam Poe Thanks for question! We’ll planning to have some Q&A at the end. Got you in the line. 🙂
PatrickStemp Thanks for stopping by!
ESIvy Greetings! 🙂
BatmanErica Adam’s just seems big because his hair got smaller. 🙂
CateMorgan I was there too. It’s how I met Kendra. We still beta read for each other. 🙂
xgranville Thanks! I think we’re going to do the Q&A at the end. Got you in the lineup. 🙂
I would love to know how Kendra handles the challenge of writing the romantic elements of her books.
Joining in for the first time live. Excited to hear from Kendra. Love her books.
Joining in for the first time live. Excited to hear from Kendra. Love her books.
KristenOtte1 Hi Kristen : )
CateMorgan Yes please. “Michelle Read seconds all of Cate’s questions.”
michelleread THERE’S Michelle! 😀
michelleread KristenOtte1 Hello Hello!
CateMorgan michelleread Hello : )
KristenOtte1 Cool, thanks for stopping by, Kristen!
Woah! I missed the first few minutes. Trish isn’t here. I guess she’s trying to win some sort of weekly word count contest?
For YA writers, would the concept of writing from the perspective of an elderly person be frightening to the point of insanity?
CateMorgan Thanks for the question. I want to know too! 😀
We’re going into marketing stuff soon if you have any questions on marketing. 🙂
Lindsay Buroker Simple question: How does I money?
Mimi Werebeaver She’s on a 13 hour drive to Indie recon 😛
Adam Poe Mimi Werebeaver OH right! I knew about that. 😉 Serves me right for showing up late.
Hello All!
Hey David Anson – thanks for tuning in live!
Adam Poe David Anson Thanks Adam Poe
Am I the only one distracted by the hot pink alien-looking thing on Lindsey’s top shelf? I think it’s staring at me…
xgranville Lindsay Buroker Mr. Granville How are you?
David Anson xgranville Lindsay Buroker Mr. Anson, I am well. How goes it in the life of one of the Daves I know?
Lol CateMorgan she was telling us before the show that it is a pink kraken 🙂
Adam Poe CateMorgan It casts a shadow.
Mimi Werebeaver lol
Is Kendra using Wattpad at all? It seems to be popular with the younger audiences.
xgranville David Ansonon Good. Working and writing when I can…. Life is good.
Ohai michelleread. how be you?
We’re about to go into viewer Q&A mode. Anyone have any questions at all for Kendra? Comment here so it’ll be easier to find/sort through if possible 😛
CateMorgan A reader knitted that for me. All the dolls and stuff are from readers and are of characters (or monsters)> 😀
I think I should move the pink kraken each week just to mess with viewers… 🙂
Awkward ending. Fantastic.
Thank you everyone!
xgranville that’s what she said!
Ooh Wayne!
super informative episode. +1
After party please 🙂
Great job new hosts!
Ronny Khuri Thanks for listening!
xgranville Adam Poe A vaguely disturbing and SUGGESTIVE shadow.
It’s Adam’s first time setting up the after party. He should be sending invites shortly!
PiaSparks Thank you! Trish can give us the lowdown next week on whether she ever made it to Utah. 😀
BatmanErica Should have an invite now (I hope) 😛
ESIvy Thanks for stopping by!
I don’t know what an after party is, but I’ll try it. 🙂 Hehe. Living dangerously….
xgranville Will it be better if I share the chocolates with all the viewers? 🙂
ESIvy Email address? 🙂
esivy@phytapublishing.com
Anyone else for the afterparty? Post your e-mails and I will send you an invite (Check your mail!) – Several spots left.
Adam Poe Looking for mine. Must be the slow, rural internet. 😛
Lindsay Buroker ESIvy Sure! First time you hosting a podcast AND you’re starting out with a focus on the younger readers? Irresistible combination!
ESIvy Sent
Adam Poe Nothing in my mail yet…
ESIvy Adam Poe You will need to download the Google hangouts plugin if you have never used it. That may be the issue. https://www.google.com/hangouts
Adam Poe ESIvy Aha!
Adam Poe ESIvy Well, I never did get that to work. I’m going to have to ask my tech support – ie my son 🙂 – later. But thanks everyone!
Adam – I read your bio and I would love to hear a podcast about what you and your wife did when you started to get serious about writing and turn it profitable.
Until next time!….
ESIvy Adam Poe Awww, hope to see you next time!
I’ll try the after party then.