1. The first novel in your Nitty Gritty series was a semi-finalist for Amazon’s Breakthrough Novel Contest and you followed that powerful book with the sequel ‘Off Limits’, a novel where you delved deep into the emotions of the characters Lindsay and Megan. What was it about the characters that demanded their story be written?
Honestly I think writing Off Limits and my first book Off Leash were very therapeutic for me. I wanted to give two strong young girls the chance to tell their story and as hard as their lives are I wanted to show how they are survivors.
I also had a friend in high school who was being sexually molested by her step-father and looking back I always wanted to give her a voice. She never came out and said that in words, it was more her actions and a lot of what wasn’t said that made me realize what was happening to her.
For Off Leash I really needed to vent and I created this character, Jay Walker, who was a teen, mad at the world and rightly so. At the time when I was writing Jay my own eldest teen was really going through an angry stage so I channeled a lot of what we were going through into Jay.
2. What are some tips you used to get inside your characters’ heads? How do you layer their world-what type of research to you do for your novels?
I don’t think I have tips. Characters speak to me. If a character, especially if I’m writing 1st POV isn’t talking in my head than I know I don’t have the voice nailed.
Research is hard. I listen a lot to teens and luckily have two of my own to get into teen-speak but I observe a heck of a lot more and hang out at the library were teens live in my neighborhood.
I also use the Internet for research a lot but for my third book in the series I’m working on I’m getting help from the YMCA Newcomers Association because my character in that book is a young boy who came to Canada as a refugee.
Actually, I’m really nervous about getting his voice right and because I don’t want him to fall into stereotyping I’m hoping to tap into their resources.
3. What are some of the challenges you faced writing this story and what are challenges that you battle when writing YA?
Time is always a cruncher for me. I manage a paddling club so once May hits I’m non-stop morning to night and on weekends dealing with 400 youth, plus juggling my four children schedules doesn’t make it easier.
I’m also an edit freak. I pick apart my stories. If you could see 1st draft and 2nd and 3rddraft you’d laugh. By the time my story is ready for my critique partners I’ve added/removed so much that it usually barely resembles what I first started.
My other time crunch is that I write in another genre – romance, so I’m usually working on two projects at once. When I write YA I can only work on YA because if I start writing my other genre I get pulled out of the teen’s head.
4. What drew you to the YA genre?
My own troubled teen. I was trying to get my head around him and realized how difficult my own teenage was but yet I survived. The funny thing is I sheltered and have over-protected my children and still my teen found trouble.
I wanted to get into his head since he certainly wasn’t speaking to me plus I was in a major writing rut and knew I had to try something new. I’m so glad now I went with YA. I feel like my writing is true to myself and I have always loved to challenge the creative aspect that lives within me.
5. What is the best/worst part about writing YA?
Best – you get to let your characters make mistakes because that’s what teens do.
Worse – you feel for those mistakes because as the writer you see that mistake coming long before your characters experience it.
6. There are many stories about authors overcoming adversity to go on to publication. How have you used any adversities you’ve experienced in life (unexpected move/illness, rejection etc.) to your advantage?
I’ve been rejected so many times it’s not funny. When I started out writing in the romance genre that used to really bother me, but after being multi-published I’ve come to realize it’s all subjective.
For YA though I thought for sure I’d do two things with my nitty gritty books. One, secure an agent – think over 50 rejects and two, get a publisher – again big fat no. Guess what though, I’m stubborn. If you believe in your story enough that’s the joy of the new publishing age.
My critique partners loved my first story and my second and even after having Off Leash place as a semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest in 2011, I realized the only person holding me back was me. So, I jumped on the Indie self-publishing bandwagon and haven’t looked back.
7. What was the best/worst writing advice you were given?
That if you don’t write a book by the time you turn 30 you never will. I remember vividly some guy saying that to me. I’d like to find him now and say get real. Life doesn’t end at 30. I’m 42 and it’s only getting better and I’m becoming more confident in my writing style.
8. Looking back at your career as an author what is it that you know now that you wish you would have known when you first started your journey?
Don’t get so depressed when you get a rejection and don’t get so happy when you get accepted. I know that doesn’t sound like it makes sense but it’s true. I was so happy to first secure an agent years ago, I didn’t do my homework and that cost me.
Since then I fired my agent and got the rights back to my first book. Unless a reject letter says something particular to my story I don’t even keep it. Usually a form letter tells me it didn’t make it pass the volunteer reading the slush pile and seriously I’m not going to let that get to me anymore.
9. What are some favorite tools you’ve used to help you grow as a writer (books, classes etc.)
I joined my local romance writers association and they are all a wonderful group of people. It’s a very professional group with workshops once a month, but we’re also very social.
We all share marketing tips and without this group I would never have learned what the heck a query was, or pitch or get the nerve to go to a writers conference – or better yet, start calling myself an author.
10. Anything else you want to add?

http://www.reneepace.com
Loved this interview…and your books! Managing a paddling club with 400 teens obviously really helps you nail the youth dynamics, so enjoyable.
Thanks so much Bev for popping by. That’s why the 3rd book in the series is called Off Stroke and yes, I’m using my paddling club (of course I’m changing the name) LOL
Great interview. How’d you learn about Indie publishing? Is there a how-to because I’m thinking of going that route but I’m afraid of getting involved with a publisher that might hurt my chances of going with a bigger publishing company in the future.
Sophia great question. There is an Indie yahoo group I belong to that’s very helpful. Going Indie isn’t for everyone but I truly believe if you can’t find a publisher for your book and you believe in it and are willing to put in the hard work than going Indie is for you.
Your book sounds interesting. Where do you find critique partners? I’ve had a few but we just never seem to mesh.
I’m really lucky. I joined my local romance writers chapter and besides being a very professional association I made some great writing friends. My best advice is join a writer’s group. For me it got me out of the house and sometimes escaping my 4 children is key to me writing.
Hi Renee. I love that you never give up and that you’ve found a home for your Nitty Gritty series. I loved OFF LEASH and look forward to digging into OFF LIMITS.
I know what you mean about trying so hard to protect your teens, only for them to find trouble and put you and themselves through hell! Boys especially, I think need to find constructive outlets for the agression and angst that goes with testosterone overload. Girls seem to have an easier time expressing themselves, as painful as that can be for mothers with sensitive hearts. Teen girls can get pretty cruel with their words.
For boys, I often recommend a heavy bag and a set of gloves at the age of about fourteen or fifteen. Thankfully, they seem to overcome this awkward and painful stage of life by the time they are 22 or so. Eeeek! It’s a long six or eight years. Keep loving them, teach them about forgiveness, and let them know that it’s okay to make mistakes as long as they can take responsibility for the consequences.
Thanks so much PJ and you are so true. Boys are totally different than girls but it’s amazing what they do share – body image concerns, being popular, and what they’re going to do when they leave home because most teens have no idea. My 16 year-old spends 4hrs at the gym and I’m hoping that will help him get through these tought years. He’s feeling lonely, and scrawny and worries at 5’8 he won’t get any taller – and for boys that’s a biggie.
My youngest stopped at 5’8. He never talked about it much, but it doesn’t seem to bother him now. They do get past it!
Love your book cover. How long did you write before you went Indie?
I’ve been writing all my life – no joke. I first started off writing poetry and then switched to freelance articles for publication and then novels. About 7 years ago is when I landed my first traditional e-pub publisher.
I soooo loved this book Renee1 I think I must have said it a hundred times now but I really did. It just touched me. I was so drawn in to Lyndsay’s story. She seemed so real and Meagan was her perfect foil – so set in the reality of life’s harder moments. I can’t wait to see what you will do with the paddling club book!
And, if you ever do write a how to for Indie publishing can you send me a copy!! 🙂
So cute Anne. I’ll be sending all my Indie stuff your way. Especially since 2012 we’re going to finish our own YA novel together – lol