Family, a multicultural background and a dab of medical intrigue are all strong themes in her writing. Lauren took the advice of ‘write what you know’ and twisted it into a romantic, dystopian adventure!
Young Adult
We have interviewed 13 fabulous authors from the Young Adult genre in May 2014. Check out their answers, post your comments and share the interview around!
May Author Interview: Author #9 Kelly Risser

Kelly Risser knew at a young age what she wanted to be when she grew up. Unfortunately, Fairytale Princess was not a lucrative career. Leaving the castle and wand behind, she entered the world of creative business writing where she worked in advertising, marketing, and training at various companies.
She’s often found lamenting, “It’s hard to write when there’s so many good books to read!” So, when she’s not immersed in the middle of someone else’s fantasy world, she’s busy creating one of her own. This world is introduced in her first novel, Never Forgotten.
Kelly lives in Wisconsin with her husband and two children. They share their home with Clyde the Whoodle and a school of fish.
May Author Interview: Author #8 Erica Kiefer
May Author Interview: Author #7 Amanda Strong
Two of my greatest passions in life have always been writing or reading. I’m pretty sure I spent of most of childhood either hiding in some random corner scribbling away in a notebook or pressing my nose into a book. Writing has been a journey for me, one that has stretched me, and taught me so much about myself and others.
When I’m not writing, you can find me chasing my three rambunctious children around the house and spending time with my wonderful and supportive husband. On some occasions you might still find me in my not-so-pink glasses, hiding in a corner to read or working out only to blow my diet by eating ice cream.
Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Awakener-Watchers-Men-Amanda-Strong-ebook/dp/B00G4T1KBY
May Author Interview: Author #6 Jessica Tornese
Jessica Tornese is an amazon bestselling author and was voted Solstice Publishing’s 2012 Author of the Year! She has finally finished the final novel in the Linked series; check out Destroyed Through Time this summer!
Jessica Tornese’s debut novel, Linked Through Time, was inspired by her home town Baudette, MN. She graduated from high school there and continued her education at Minnesota State University – Moorhead where she earned a degree in education. She spent several years coaching in the Junior Olympic volleyball program in Minnesota as well as the junior varsity team for Lake of the Woods High School in 2010.
Her favorite hobbies include reading, scrapbooking, playing volleyball, and extreme outdoor sports like caving, ziplining, and white water rafting. Jessica is also active in her church and has run several Vacation Bible School programs and Sunday school programs. She enjoys working with kids of all ages!
She hopes to continue writing and venture into new genres and age groups. Recently, she self-published her first juvenile fiction book for kids online. (see M&M Twins)
Jessica is married and has three children. Her family recently relocated to a small town in south Florida.
Links:
http://store.solsticepublishing.com/
Website:
Amazon author central page:
http://www.amazon.com/Jessica-Tornese/e/B008LUYA66/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Linked-Through-Time/392292227468460?ref=hl
Twitter:
@jltornese
Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/jessicatornese
LinkedIn:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicatornese
May YA Author Interview: Author #5 Chrystal (Christina) Vaughan
Author Website: https://www.facebook.com/chrystalwrites
Bio: Chrystal (Christina) Vaughan (1976-present) was born in Ashland, OR and grew up all over Southern Oregon where she currently resides. She is married and has two daughters and a son; she enjoys teaching others and imparting her love for the written word to her students. When she is not writing, Mrs. Vaughan enjoys spending time with her family and various pets, spinning yarn, and is a voracious reader.
May YA Author Interview: Author #4 M. E. Cunningham
Author website: http://melissajcunningham.com/ https://www.facebook.com/melissajcunningham.author?ref=hl
M.E. Cunningham (Also known as Melissa Cunningham) began writing five years ago when she decided, out of the blue, to enter a community writing contest and won first place. From that moment on she had a new love: Writing. Melissa is a member of the League of Utah Writers. Her past publication experience includes a recurring opinion column called Writing Reality, for her local newspaper: The Leader
Melissa’s first novel: Reluctant Guardian, was accepted for publication through Clean Teen Publishing in August 2013.
When Melissa is not writing you can find her spending time with her husband of eighteen years and her five children. Melissa studied music in college and loves to read all things fiction. Melissa lives in Northern Utah with her family, her horses, cats, dogs and chickens.
May YA Author Interview: Author #3 K.C. Finn
K.C. Finn has also recently been welcomed into the fold at Clean Teen Publishing as a debut Young Adult author for 2014 – look out for her epic Paranormal/Historical Adventure The Mind’s Eye out now and FREE for all!
As a sufferer with the medical condition M.E./C.F.S., Kim works part time as a private tutor and a teacher of creative writing, devoting the remainder of her time to writing novels and studying for an MA in Education and Linguistics.”
Author K.C. Finn
May YA Author Interview: Author #2 N. W. Harris
N.W. Harris published his first novel—Joshua’s Tree—in 2013. It was no wonder that with his wild imagination and passion for all things word related, that N.W. Harris was named a quarterfinalist in Amazon’s Break Through Novel Award Contest. In early 2014, N.W. Harris joined the ranks with Clean Teen Publishing when they signed his new young adult apocalyptic adventure series—The Last Orphans.
In addition to writing, N.W. Harris has been a submarine sailor, nurse, and business owner. His studies have included biology, anthropology, and medicine at UCSB and SUNY Buffalo. He is an active member of SCBWI and lives in sunny southern California with his beautiful wife and two perfect children. He writes like he reads, constantly.