Laura Spinella: Beautiful Disaster

This contest is closed. The winners are:

Nancye
karenk

Two copies of Beautiful Disaster are available in this week's contest. Contest open in the United States only.



Number One Novels: Congratulations on the publication of your first book! Tell me a little about it—what's your pitch?


Laura Spinella: It only took a couple hundred attempts and a few thousand more rejects to come up with the tagline: What would you risk for a love that is greater than honor or friendship or the passing of time? While Beautiful Disaster is a multifaceted story, I think the question captures the essence of the novel. Whether you have it or want it, I think that kind of relationship is something everyone can relate to—but if you enjoy romantic fiction, this is truly your ticket.

NON: How did you get the idea for your novel?

LS: The novel takes place in Athens, GA. where I went to college. I have many memories of Athens, most good, a few bad; it provided a great canvas for the book. That said, the story is pure fiction. Flynn, the protagonist, was a lightning bolt. The rest took about six years of rewrites and revisions. The passion between Mia and Flynn was there from the beginning, filling in the blanks and giving the story depth proved to be a greater challenge. It was an evolution. Characters, particularly Mia, developed over time. It took about three years to realize that Flynn could not be the catalyst for her character, that Mia had to be somebody all on her own. When I look back now, I think, “Duh…” She went from a vague sketch to a solid character, and quite fittingly, her metamorphosis became an integral part of the plot. Also, I wanted to tell a love story that would appeal to a wide audience and didn’t necessarily resolve in the traditional romance fashion.

NON: No two authors seem to take the same route to publication, but almost every author has an interesting story about their journey. How did you get published? Did you use an agent? How did you find out that your book had sold?

LS: Much of my story has surely been told. It’s the two steps forward, three steps back theory: lots of drafts, lots of maybes, lots of rejection. Beautiful Disaster is actually the second of five novels I’ve written. I’d make progress, get frustrated, put it away for a while and eventually go back to it—talk about your love/hate relationship! But there was something about the book that ALWAYS drew me back. I had cold queried Susan Ginsburg at Writers House regarding another book, Slush. (Yes, I get the double entendre.) After asking for a partial, she wrote me a positive rejection letter. It was enough to make me say, “If you kind of liked that, maybe you’ll really like this…” I submitted Beautiful Disaster, which she did like better. She also rejected it. Because I have no understanding of the word no, I took a chance and asked what she might change, if she was representing the book. While Susan’s reply was specific and detailed, it went to the beat of: go do this, this, and this. I’d never read anything so concise and direct regarding a novel I’d written. It made perfect sense and I followed her advice accordingly. In hindsight, I think the reason I could not get to this point (aside from the fact that Susan is brilliant) is that I was standing too close to the story; my perception was skewed. I sent it back to her a year later. Two months after that she called and said, “I sold your book!” I think I said something clever and pithy, like, “Ohmigosh, I don’t think we’re having tuna casserole for dinner anymore!” And thus, she was stuck with me.

NON: I think that names say a lot about a person, especially a fictional person. How did you decide on your protagonist’s full name? Did you have any other names that were in the running?

LS: I agree; names are critical when writing, even minor characters. Sometimes it takes a while, but I know the right name when I hear it. Flynn’s full name was the most fun, and I won’t spoil it other than to say his entire name is eventually revealed. But discovering it is part of the adventure! I had reviewer use Flynn’s whole name in a critique. The review was fine, but I was beside myself seeing Flynn’s whole name in print. The Flynn portion does have a quirky inception that has nothing to do with the character. As a kid, I was huge baseball fan. I had a number of favorite players, including Doug Flynn who played for the basement dwelling New York Mets. I think the name was something I associated with a carefree time in my life, therefore it adhered well to a character that I was passionate about from page one.

NON: Do you have another book in the works?

LS: Absolutely, thank you for asking! Currently titled The It Factor, the new book is also romantic fiction. It takes the what-if path of two teenagers who, due to surreal circumstance, miss their chance to be together. Aidan Royce goes onto a rock star life, but he’s never forgotten or gotten over Isabel Lang. It’s particularly difficult for him since she left him on their wedding night in a Vegas hotel room. Like Beautiful Disaster, there’s a lot of back story, which drives the present day plot. However, the characters are very different from Flynn and Mia, as are the plot twists. Beautiful Disaster's publication has been a distraction, but I’m ready and anxious to finish it.

NON: What's your writing routine? Do you write in the mornings, nights, daily, or when the mood strikes you?

LS: Best case scenario, I write from about 7 a.m. to just after noon. If I’m heavily into something the discipline is easy. If things aren’t going so smoothly social media can be a terrific distraction. I’ve gotten to the point where I’ve blocked FB, Twitter, even my email from my laptop, which is where I write. I have desk in my sunroom where I prefer to do my book writing. In my study is a miserable messy desk where I do freelance work. The two places never cross paths, which I never realized until a couple of years ago. I couldn’t imagine working on a manuscript in my study.

NON: What’s your favorite way to procrastinate?

LS: Did I mention social media? FACEBOOK, without a doubt. Of course, the book has a FB page. But I’m also happy to friend readers on my page!

NON: What’s your favorite non-essential item on your desk?

LS: Hmm, that’s a three-way tie. I have a miniature rock waterfall. I only ever filled it once, but I look at it all the time and say, “I’m going to put water in that thing…” I also have a glass soda bottle that bears a Boston Red Sox emblem and is filled with Christmas lights. It’s the tackiest coolest thing I own. The third isn’t really on my desk but over it. I have a collage of black and white postcards from my hometown on Long Island. They’re comforting and inspirational, making them, I suppose, somewhat essential. In that case, please refer to the first two items for non-essential clutter.

NON: What are you currently reading?

LS: I am rereading Stephen King's On Writing. I like a good craft book. There are so many bad ones. In part, I love this book because the second foreword starts out: “This is a short book because most books about writing are filled with bullshit.” He cuts to the chase and you can learn a lot. I am also reading Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. It’s such an emotional book—gut wrenching, unbelievable, and moving. After that three novels—all different genres—are waiting in the wings of my Nook. It’s so easy to make an impulse purchase!

Title: Beautiful Disaster
Author: Laura Spinella
Publisher: Berkley
Trade Paperback: 370 pages
ISBN: 978-0-425-23860-8
eBook ISBN: 978-1-101-47821-9

** During the month of March, Laura Spinella will be giving away two signed copies of Beautiful Disaster via her site, http://www.lauraspinella.net/. Leave a comment on any Ticket to Write blog and you’ll be entered to win. Laura Spinella will be guest blogging this week at Writer’s Digest Guide to Literary Agents, and March 18th at The Stiletto Gang.


"Beautiful Disaster is a heart-wrenching love story that promotes the message that the power of love never fades away… Spinella crafts a beautiful story.” Las Vegas Review-Journal.

“The complexity of the characters, and the mystery surrounding them, adds to the suspense… making Beautiful Disaster a page-turner…” Suffolk County News