Author Interviews, Dystopian, YA/NA
the breeders dystopian young adult

INTERVIEW WITH YA AUTHOR KATIE FRENCH

Today on The YA Shelf, we have as a guest award winning author Katie French. Hi, Katie. I hope all is well in your publishing side of the world.

Let’s start by learning a bit about you…

First, thanks for having me, Ingrid. I’m happy to be here. I love all things young adult. I’m a high school English teacher by day, so I enjoy working with teens and reading and discussing great books with them. Later, I write young adult novels, which has been my passion for about eight years. I also read heavily in that genre. My husband thinks I’ve never grown up, which is fine by me. I have two kids, 8 and 6, who are the loves of my life, and we are adopting another little boy who is 5. I describe my life as busy doing all the best things: work, kids, pets, writing, and my husband fits in there somewhere, too.

I “met” (we’ve only had contact online) Katie through a shared experience with a writing workshop we attended in New York city several years back. At the time, Katie was trying to find an agent and a publisher for her book THE BREEDERS but, ultimately, made the decision to self-publish the book instead and it proved to be an excellent path. Could you share with us what made you decide to take on self-publishing?

I guess I took the leap to self publish because I was drinking the Joe Konrath Koolaid at the time. For anyone who doesn’t know, Joe Konrath has been a huge supporter of indie fiction for a decade. I started reading his blog and seeing the money he was making and the readership he was gathering, and realized going it alone was an option. I’m highly independent, so having control of every aspect of publishing was appealing. Also, the dystopia boom seemed to be on a downswing just as I was fishing for publisher. I knew my story was good, and I wanted to send it into the world. So I pushed The Breeders out of the nest and haven’t looked back since.

Tell our dystopian-eager audience about your series

The Breeders series is a gritty, action-adventure, dystopian romance, with western flavor. It’s main character, Sixteen-year-old Riley Meemick, is one of the world’s last free girls. When Riley was born, her mother escaped the Breeders, the group of doctors using cruel experiments to bolster the dwindling human race. Her parents do everything possible to keep her from their clutches– moving from one desolate farm after another to escape the Breeders’ long reach. The Breeders control everything- the local war lords, the remaining factories, the fuel. They have unchecked power in this lawless society. And they’re hunting Riley.

What are the biggest factors that have contribute to your book’s online sales and success?

The only way you can make it as an indie author is to dedicate yourself to working really hard. I have to do many different jobs as the owner of a small business. I am writer, publisher, and marketer. I have to do at least two of those jobs everyday if I am going to sell books and keep people interested. I treat my writing as a business. When I’m writing, I tell my family that I am working. This isn’t just a hobby anymore. Switching my mindset into business mode helps me make choices that will benefit me long term.

For you, what have been the best, most effective marketing campaigns?

I have tried SO many types of marketing. I actually did a series on it on my blog for anyone interested. To make a long story short, one of the best things you can do is write a series and make the first book free. Another great strategy is to build your mailing list by offering a free book when they sign up. I offer my paranormal romance for free to anyone who jumps on the French Bandwagon. And then I try to keep my fans engaged by sending out newsletter every month with freebies and giveaways. Also, writing more books. Nothing sells back list titles better than a new book.

Would you consider taking a traditional contract? If yes, under what circumstances.

I’ve thought this over and it would be so hard for me to jump back into a traditional contract. The terms would have to be good, (perhaps a print book only deal like Hugh Howey got) and there could be no non-compete clause. I want to be able to release books on my own whenever I want. I do think being a hybrid author pays the most, but traditional contracts seem to be getting worse, not better. Hopefully, publisher will take the hint and start offering authors some benefits for signing over. We do most of the work after all!

Katie, thanks for visiting. It was a pleasure!

Thanks for having me!

  • You Slay Me by Katie MacAlister

    Aisling Grey is a courier enjoying a free, work-related trip to Paris when she learns she's a Guardian. That's a keeper of the Gates of Hell, for those who don't know. She finds this out from Drake Vireo, who's scrumptiously sexy-at least in his human form. Now Drake has stolen the package Aisling was sent to deliver, and she must track him down, get the package, and try to resist the passion boiling inside her.
  • Written in Red by Anne Bishop

    As a cassandra sangue, or blood prophet, Meg Corbyn can see the future when her skin is cut—a gift that feels more like a curse. Meg’s Controller keeps her enslaved so he can have full access to her visions. But when she escapes, the only safe place Meg can hide is at the Lakeside Courtyard—a business district operated by the Others. Shape-shifter Simon Wolfgard is reluctant to hire the stranger who inquires about the Human Liaison job. First, he senses she’s keeping a secret, and second, she doesn’t smell like human prey. Yet a stronger instinct propels him to give Meg the job. And when he learns the truth about Meg and that she’s wanted by the government, he’ll have to decide if she’s worth the fight between humans and the Others that will surely follow.
  • Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

    When Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemies, she’s certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer—one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack—and the man—she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.
Load More Related Articles
  • 5 Amazing YA/NA Werewolf Books

    THE TRACKER’S MATE I’m a kick-butt tracker. The best in the business. Dead or alive, I find them. No one can ...
  • 10 AMAZING QUOTES FROM YA PARANORMAL BOOKS

    1) “The only way to survive eternity is to be able to appreciate each moment.” — Fallen by Lauren Kate 2) “I’ve ...
  • the breeders dystopian young adult

    INTERVIEW WITH YA AUTHOR KATIE FRENCH

    Today on The YA Shelf, we have as a guest award winning author Katie French. Hi, Katie. I hope all is ...
Load More By Ingrid Seymour
  • Interview with YA Fantasy Author L. Danvers

    Today, we’re featuring YA author L. Danvers. She’s the author of the Fate Abandoned series, the Vampires of Crescent Cape series, ...
  • Fantasy Author Interview

    Chatting with Marie Navarro Interviewer – How do you select the names of your characters? Marie – Different ways. I come ...
  • Interview with YA fantasy Author Drake Mason

    Hi there – this is Drake Mason aka D.S. Murphy. I write YA scifi and fantasy, and founded theyashelf.com when I ...
Load More In Author Interviews

Leave a Reply

Check Also

5 Amazing YA/NA Werewolf Books

THE TRACKER’S MATE I’m a kick-butt tracker. The ...

Welcome to The YA Shelf

Helping you find the BEST young adult literature online! We're YA authors, readers and bibliophiles, who read everything and sometimes post book reviews and fandom summaries. Check out our "best books for teens" lists to see our favorites, or browse nearly 300+ book reviews!

Check out today's deals or See what's hot! Today's FREE books
Today's BestSellers


imlovingbooks

Top Posts & Pages

Best YA books of 2022 (our 100 favorite reads of the year!)
18 free fantasy novels for Christmas 2021
50 YA fiction tropes and cliches we can't get enough of!
The Best YA Fae Fantasy Books
Sarah J Maas and YA cancel culture (what's up?)
The Best YA/Teen Fiction Books With Zombies
The Best Greek Mythology Based Books for Teens
The YA shelf (young adult literature reviews)

Search

Category Posts

True Blue by Luanne Rice | I’m Loving ♥ Books

The Devil to Pay by Maria Zannini | I’m Loving ♥ Books

Divergent

Fever

House of Night