From writing on Wattpad to being published: V. S. Santoni and Deanna Cameron give their author insights | AD

I have the pleasure of working with Penguin Random House to bring you this ad to promote 6 books that have been taken from Wattpad to being published. I have two author interviews to share with you about the writing process and going from Wattpad to Publishing!

The six fantastic books are:

• Saving Everest by Sky Chase – a sensitive, heartfelt and unconventional love story about finding inner strength and overcoming difficulties.
• What Happened That Night by Deanna Cameron – a captivating thriller that deals with sensitive subject matter. It will keep you turning the pages from beginning to end!
• Trapeze by Leigh Ansell – a compelling and heartbreaking story about a young trapeze artist who has to adjust to life outside of the circus. The story touches on themes of family, friendship and first love.
• Cupid’s Match by Lauren Palphreyman – a supernatural teen romance that focuses on the idea that each person has a destined partner or so-called match.
• I’m a Gay Wizard by V.S. Santoni – a gay romance set in a fantastical world, filled with interesting characters and dynamic settings. The novel is fun, exciting and an extremely refreshing read!
• The QB Bad Boy & Me by Tay Marley – from the author of The Kissing Booth which was made into a Netflix original, this is an adorable, funny, and heartwarming contemporary romance. I guarantee you’ll not be able to stop swooning over Drayton and Dallas!

Today though I’m bringing you author interviews about the writing process from V. S. Santoni, I’m a Gay Wizard and Deanna Cameron, What Happened That Night. Click here to find out more about all six books being published by Penguin Random House. 

Firstly, please tell us a little bit about your fantastic book?

Santoni: I’M A GAY WIZARD is a magical coming-of-age love story about a couple of queer teens, Johnny and Alison, who are kidnapped by the menacing Marduk Institute after they perform a vengeance spell on a group of bullies. They are forced to quickly acclimate to a new world shimmering with bizarre monsters, magical fraternities, and cute boys like Hunter and Blake.  But Johnny and Alison have no intentions of staying put, and they quickly begin hatching a plan to escape the Institute.

Cameron: I’ve described What Happened That Night as an untraditional murder mystery before, because, throughout most of the book, you know who the murderer is. The protagonist, Clara, is first seen living in this state of limbo after her sister has been arrested for the murder of her longtime crush, Griffin Tomlin but her life hasn’t been the same since she was sexually assaulted at a Super Bowl party the year before. She knows her rape and his murder are connected and struggles with her guilt because of this as she watches his loved ones and her own family grieve what happened. But, as she soon realizes, there’s more than just her side of the story.

What made you first take your story to Wattpad?

Santoni: I’m kind of an anarchist about books, so I liked being able to provide my stories for free to a global audience.

Cameron: I had been writing on Wattpad for years, I can’t even remember how many at that point, but I know I’ve been posting my work online since I was about twelve. Wattpad at the time was still in its early development, I think, so I started on another website that started getting a lot of problems with plagiarism years later just as Wattpad was starting to flourish so I switched sites around then, probably around 2011. I had been posting all of my stories on there since, so uploading WHTN wasn’t even a question for me. It was the only way I knew how to get my writing out into the world at the time.

What was your reaction when you found out Penguin Random House would be publishing your writing?

Santoni: I freaked out. One of the first books I ever bought myself was published by Penguin Random House (it was a Japanese/English dictionary), and I had always dreamed that one day I would see that little penguin on one of my books. My head spun when it actually happened.

Cameron: I was actually in a Target, going through the back-to-school section and I pulled out my phone to text my sister because I lost her (again), when I saw an email from my talent manager at Wattpad, Monica. I was so shocked. I was kind of laughing and covering my mouth and trying to look totally normal in front of the hyper kids trying to move their carts around mine. I couldn’t believe it. I have the paperback copies now, with the little Penguin sticker, and I still don’t believe it. It’s such a huge accomplishment I never expected to make.

How do you fit your writing into your day to day life?

Santoni: My husband has enabled me to pursue writing as a full-time career, so I write all the time. He has invested in me, and I’m grateful for that, and I want to work hard to pay him back for helping me pursue my dreams.

Cameron: It’s something I’m still learning to do, but I think I’m getting a little better at it. I’m a college student with a job in retail on top of my writing, so it’s not hard for me to feel stressed out about it, especially this time of year with finals and holiday hours happening. One thing I’m learning that’s helped me so much to do things as they come, take care of whatever is on your mind, and then drop it. Decide what I need to do for that day to be on top of things outside of writing and then I just do it. Managing those daily tasks has made writing easier for me, like now my head’s less cluttered.

Is there any advice you would give to anyone trying to follow in your footsteps?

Santoni: Whether you get a little or a lot of rejection, just keep pushing. Being a writer is all about being annoyingly persistent.

Cameron: Keep reading, keep writing, and keep at it. Perseverance is the only bit of wisdom or advice I think will work for every writer. Recognize that nothing worth it in life comes easily and that if publishing is something you really want, you have to work for it.

Thank you so much to these fantastic authors, their books are fantastic, exciting and gripping! They’re also out just in time for Christmas!