Interview With Chelsea DeVries

1-When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

When I was in the second grade or seven years old, I wrote a story called The Enormous Garden. My teacher said that for seven years old, my descriptions were like that of professionals. It just seemed inevitable. I became a professional seven years later at fourteen years old.

2-How do you schedule your life when you’re writing?

I write poems as soon as they come to me, usually, in the notes app on my phone. For fiction, I had to wake up early each day to write my NA novel, but once it was complete and out to the editor, I truly felt like a real writer because of the dedication I had to that book.

3-What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

For fiction, I have to write the story entirely in longhand. It actually makes me focus more on the story. Then I type each scene into a word document and edit it as I go. It makes the process much easier for me.

4-How did you get your book published?

I lost 10 years in my writing career pitching my novel to agent after agent, only to receive positive comments and be told my book wasn’t current with the market. As a book and music publicist for other authors and musicians, I knew that was total bull. So I decided to self-publish. The first edition of Sticks and Stones was published by Barnes and Noble Press. Second, due to the wider reach, book design, and marketability, I published with IngramSpark so I wouldn’t run into issues getting my book into bookstores since the company that supplies all books to major retailers like Barnes and Noble and Books a Million is Ingram. So far, I’ve received the most support as an indie author from the library system near me. I was told by Barnes and Noble that they don’t do author events near me.

My focus now is just on finding venues for live readings instead of worrying about housing my book in a bookstore.

5-Where did you get your information or idea for your book?

It’s entirely based on my true life story after spending 10 months working in a toxic work environment and falling in love with a young man who worked there and never telling him. The full story edition also reveals how I was diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder after publishing the first edition of Sticks and Stones and includes poems written in response to that diagnosis and to educate others on the autistic experience.

6-What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

When not writing, I read and run The Smart Cookie Philes, a book and music review blog turned publicity firm that is 6 years old. I also love to go for walks, and I’m in a bowling league. I also work part-time as a grocery store cashier.

7-What was one of the most surprising

things you learned in creating your book?

Republishing a book can be the best thing you may ever do for your art.

8-Is there anything you would like to confess about as an author?

My artwork, created in collaboration with Sticks and Stones, just received a solo exhibition with Art Show International and won as a finalist in one of their recent contests. It’s exciting because it opens up a whole new market for my book and poetry.

9-As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

I grew up wanting to be a veterinarian or a teacher because i loved school growing up and always loved animals.

10-How do you process and deal with negative book reviews?

They sting, and it takes me a few days to process them, but I use the feedback in them to better my book. All negative reviews the first edition got helped better the full story edition.