BooksChatter: ℚ♫ Competing With The Star: The Star [2]

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Krysten Lindsay Hager to talk about Competing With The Star (22 March 2016, Limitless Publishing LLC, 232 pages), a Contemporary Young Adult Romance, book two of The Star series.

“Hadley our teenage heroine has many of the insecurities, which inflict most of us at this young age…A lovely story, with some good lessons about friendship, self-esteem and relationships, perfectly pitched for teen/young adult readers.” From author Jane Hunt.

“…Hager's main character is representative of every teenage girl. The author really nailed the reality of a young girl's early high school years. I think this is a valuable read for girls ages 12-18.” Review from Readers’ Favorite book reviews.

Author Q&A | Synopsis | Trailer | Teaser | The Series | About the Author | Giveaway & Tour Stops

A very warm welcome to Krysten Lindsay Hager; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter!

To start, Krysten has shared with us her music playlist for Competing With The Star. You can find out more about Krysten's song choices at Underneath the Covers - enjoy!

What was the inspiration for Competing With The Star?

"When I was in high school, I saw a few girls who would put up with a lot to stay in a group. It really threw me how they let themselves be treated and that’s where the idea for Hadley came from. I also liked to idea of what it would be like going to school with someone who was famous and what that would feel like."

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"I did bring a lot of my own high school experiences into it and let’s just say I’m really glad these books came out a month AFTER my high school reunion or else I wouldn’t have gone!

The scene where Nick walks Hadley home from the 4th of July party was based on a guy in high school who left a football game to walk me and my friend out. I always thought that was sweet and it stuck with me.

There are a few mean girl scenes in it that I *may* have witnessed, too, although I did not base Hadley on myself. I did go through friend drama in school a lot, so I use some of that, too. I’ve been told that you can hear me in Pilar a bit."

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for Competing With The Star - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"Ashley Byland from Redbird Designs was the artist. She sent me photos of the model that was on the cover for Next Door to a Star and I got to pick the picture I liked the best.

I wanted a beach scene and a pier in the backdrop to show that the book is set in a beach town (Grand Haven, Michigan.)"

Why should we read Competing With The Star and The Star series; what makes your book unique?

"I think the book is unique because it takes a regular high school girl and has her dealing with the normal insecurities we all have and then amps it up by having this teen celebrity going to her high school and interested in her boyfriend. Dating is hard on a good day, but add in a star going after your boyfriend and he used to be infatuated with her? Ugh!"

Can you tell us something quirky about Competing With The Star, its story and characters?

"My mom actually had the name Hadley on her baby name list when I was born. There’s also a small town in Michigan with that name and we used to drive through it every summer going to the beach.

The idea of a summer away to re-invent yourself and meet the perfect buy (not to mention run into your singer crush) were all things I used to daydream about in my teen years"

Who would you recommend Competing With The Star to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"I kept the book clean because I have another series (the Landry’s True Colors Series) that has gained a following and is known for having clean language and nothing objectionable. The characters in this book are older, but I didn’t want to alienate any of my other readers, so I kept it clean."

If you could / wished to turn Competing With The Star and the The Star series into a movie, who would be your dream team?

"Peyton Meyer would be perfect as Nick Jenkins who is Hadley’s boyfriend.

I could see Willow Shields as Haldey, Sabrina Carpenter as Simone (the star), and Tori Kelly looks like how I picture Morgan Kemp."

What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"I like to write coming of age stories about girls trying to figure out where they fit in, which isn’t always where they imagine themselves fitting in at first. I love writing characters that begin to learn to appreciate their own uniqueness and find their tribe.

I write YA, middle grade, new adult and women’s fiction and I love reading these genres. I also love reading biographies and memoirs."

What is your writing process?

"I almost always write at night. I don’t use an outline, but when I’m writing a series book I do keep a “bible” of facts with some ideas and I usually have some plot points written down—it’s just easier for a series.

I keep both a Pinterest board and a notebook with pictures and ideas for each book I work on. You can find my Pinterest boards here."

What is in store next?

"I’m working on a YA novel now about a girl dating a senator’s son. Totally having fun with that one and also have a new adult novel I’m working on, too, as well as the 4th book in the Landry’s True Colors Series. We might see Hadley again, too!"

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?

"I have a small collection of little team sport garden gnomes. It started with a University of Michigan one I named Brendon and then I bought my dad a Detroit Lions one. When my dad passed away last year, my mom wrapped the Lions gnome up and told me he should come live with me. I named him Brendon Jr. Since then I was sent another one. They’re indoor gnomes because I fear someone would take them if I put them outside.

I also collect bracelets. I buy one each time I complete a new writing project and I often pick ones that inspire story ideas. I have a bunch of Mantrabands that inspire me, so I wrote them into the story, Competing with the Star, for the girls to buy one another.

I have one that’s in memory of my dad that says, “Always in My Heart,” and others that inspire me like, “What if you Fly?” and “Believe.”

The natural stone bracelet is one I got in Grand Haven (where the story is set) at a store called Peace Frogs and it’s the lucky bracelet Hadley let Simone borrow in the beginning of the book."