For the Goodreads summary and more information on Illegal, click here.
Now that her book launched in March, here's a shot of Bett looking relaxed:
and here's a picture of the beautiful cover of ILLEGAL:
So let's get started!
1. Bett, describe your story in five words:
Fifteen. Family. Fear. Father. Faith. (I like F words)
2. Which of your characters is your favorite and why?
I like Flora the best right now, because I know the least about her. She is a side character introduced in the middle of the book. She is the younger sister of a gang-banger trying to make a life for herself outside of the neighborhood.
3. Tell me a secret about your main character:
Nora began at nine years old (she is 15 in the book) as a character in a picture book. Every year that I revised the book, she became older. I was afraid if I didn’t get it published when I did, I would still be revising, but Nora would be in menopause.
4. Road to Publication: Long or Short?
It felt long in the beginning, but about nine years from idea inspiration to hitting the bookshelf. 6 months of first draft, 3-4 years honing and revising, 2 years of letting it sit because I gave up on it and write other things, and 1.5 years of publication process.
EB White, author of Charlotte’s Web and many other children’s novels, took six years to write his manuscript, then let it sit to “marinate” for a year before revising. Slow is good – but it drives me crazy!
5. What has been your most gratifying moment as an author?
The very small moments. Meeting readers one on one who identify with Nora, meeting friends I have ‘known’ from the Internet who have shared the publication path with me, and being able to sign my book at Books of Wonder in NYC. I have always dreamed of being able to do that!
And for the bonus round:
6. Tell me a secret about YOU:
Last year I was diagnosed with ADHD. I have always been a very driven person and compulsively made lists so that I wouldn’t forget things. Mornings and late afternoons were terrible for me, because I was so anxious that I was “forgetting” something.
Writing has been a calming force in my life because it MAKES me slow down. I have to listen to someone else (in my head) and if I interrupt them with my own craziness – I’m only getting in my own way.
Bett - thank you for sharing your very inspiring story and hugs for your honesty! I know ILLEGAL is a wonderful, heartfelt story that will be cherished by many readers for a long time.
Bettina is also holding a CONTEST right now!
Click HERE to go to her website for all the details.
