I’d like to welcome our Second Spotlight Author Winner Katie Hayoz. I ask that you give her a warm welcome. While this is my first introduction to Katie I feel as if she is one of us. That is one of the wonderful features of being a member of Rave Reviews Book Club. So Katie, thank you for visiting. And now take it away!
Thank you to Rave Reviews Book Club and all the members who so generously agreed to host me on their site!
That Novel Will Never Be Perfect
From Katie Hayoz
I’m not a perfectionist. Little mistakes don’t bother me. But when it comes to my writing, I take pride in what I do and I want what I put out there to be not just decent, but good. I rewrote Untethered at least eighteen times. Literally. And I’m talking full-on, rip-it-up and make do with the shreds kind of rewriting, not moving sentences around. What started as a five page story ended up (20 years later) to be a 340 page novel. That novel went through so many critiquing sessions and beta readers that I was sure it would be perfection by the time it was published.
Ha. Not quite.
Writing is art, and like all art there is a point where the person creating the work just has to stop. She just has to tell herself that particular piece is the best she can make it right then. That’s the sticker: right then. Because the truth is that you can always go back and make it better. There will always be holes you missed or mistakes you made or words that paint a clearer picture. But if you keep going back and going back and going back you never move on. Never get on to the next book; the one that first one prepared you for.
My dad paints watercolor. I can’t tell you the number of times he’s looked at a picture of his, already framed and on the wall, and said, “Why did I think this was finished? This whole section could use reworking.” My mom rolls her eyes. I understand. I totally do.
But there was a point when I just had to quit trying to make Untethered perfect. A point where my writing group and my family and friends said, “Stop already!” So I did. I’m proud of this novel — the characters, the world, the writing itself. However, that didn’t keep me from face-palming myself after its publication. There were things that I see now that I couldn’t see then. It kills me. And yet…
And yet I could go in, change it all and six months from now I’d be face-palming myself again. So, I’ve left it as is. I’ve moved onto another novel. It’s finished; sort of. I’ve done three drafts – three pick away the fleshy parts and gnaw on the bone drafts. I’ll rewrite it one more time. Then I’ll need to tell myself, “Stop already! That novel will never be perfect.”
But I’m hoping it will be damn good.
*Katie Hayoz was born in Racine, WI, USA but ended up in Geneva, Switzerland, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and two fuzzy cats. She devours YA novels like she does popcorn and black licorice: quickly and in large quantities.
Untethered is a paranormal coming of age novel that follows 16-year-old Sylvie on a unique and slightly sinister journey of self-acceptance. Sylvie has an ability to leave her physical body and astral project. While it could be akin to a superpower, she sees it as a curse. That is, until the day she decides to play with its dark side. Sylvie then sets an evil plan in motion that she believes will change her life for the better. But she does not count on it spiraling out of control.
Connect with Katie
On her website: www.katiehayoz.com
On Twitter: www.twitter.com/katiehayoz
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/katiehayoz.author
Buy Untethered on Amazon: http://amzn.to/ZH2qzY
RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB is pleased to announce a new Facebook “Question of the Day!” In an online Scavenger Hunt, participants will need to find the daily answer SOMEWHERE on the many Blog Tour Host sites! Please LIKE our FB page and play along:
Host Shirley Harris-Slaughter, Author
Rave Reviews Book Club
Book Title: Our Lady of Victory, the Saga of an African-American Catholic Community.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rave_ReviewsBC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rave-Reviews-Book-Club/271290866357000
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Shirley Harris-Slaughter 
Katie has such an awesome energy, it’s contagious! Her smile says it all! Great post, great job and Shirley, you did good hosting!
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Thanks Nonnie. I appreciate all that you do too. Katie I hope you had a fantastic tour.
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Congratulations, Katie, on reaching that level of perfect imperfection! I wish you luck with ‘Untethered’.
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Hi Katie,
That’s an interesting slant on a paranormal book. Congrats on your spotlight,and thanks, Shirley, for supporting Katie.
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I thought so too Kathy. I intend to get into it soon to find out more.
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Congrats Katie for being this week’s SPOTLIGHT AUTHOR! Thanks to Shirley for hosting her 🙂
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Shirley, THANK YOU for sharing Katie with your audience! I love seeing such a supportive community of writers!
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Its my pleasure Teri. Thank you for all your hard work in making all of this come together.
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Katie, all the best with Untethered, though it sounds like you’ve done a lot of tethering along the way, which already makes it a mystery to me! You’re so right about knowing when to say enough. I don’t do watercolors, but rather digital painting, which tends to make that decision even tougher.
I love my popcorn too, but not I’m looking forward to trying some with black licorice…ha ha.
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Lawrence I love your sense of humor. We all need a good laugh from time to time. Are you checking out the scavenger hunt? Lots of fun in that..
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I will, but given my speed I think I should be given a head start, or some kind of special help. 😉
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A well-deserved honor, Katie! Congratulations. Thank you to Shirley for hosting!
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Congrats Katie. I will try to get to Untethered after Nonnies’s book arrives. 🙂 RaveReviews will certainly keep me busy this year.
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To everybody who commented. Thanks for visiting my site and supporting Katie. I appreciate all of you.
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Great post!
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Thank you dalefurse. I’m glad you like it. At least its bright.
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Thank you so much for hosting me on your site, Shirley! I’m super thrilled to be here!
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Katie, I am so glad you are here. I love the look of your book, so much so that I downloaded a copy to read. The first page grabbed me. This darn blog wouldn’t let me increase the size of the bookcover. Oh Well, I’m becoming a reader again. CONGRATULATIONS!!
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Thanks for hosting this week’s Rave Reviews Book Club Spotlight Author! Congratulations to Katie Hayoz!
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Shirley – Thank you for once again hosting one of Rave Reviews Book Club Spotlight Authors. Congratulations Katie. I am very excited for you and all that will come your way as a result of being in the Spotlight.
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Congratulations Katie! Untethered seems like a fascinating read. I am really looking forward to reading it.
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