Interview with Debut Author Kristina McBride

I'm thrilled to begin my week of interviews with the talented and also very nice and extremely generous Kristina McBride.

Tell us about your book.
The Tension of Opposites will be released on May 25th through Egmont USA. It’s the story of sixteen-year-old Tessa McMullen, whose best friend was kidnapped two years ago. The book starts when Tessa finds out that her friend has just been found alive and is coming home.

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Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publication?
Oh dear. It was a long road, that’s for sure. I landed an agent on my third manuscript, and felt so lucky to be working with her, I didn’t even care that she thought my book needed some major revisions. During the next eleven months, I worked very hard on the changes. I believe I went through three titles, turning in at least five drafts before my agent finally said it was ready for submission to editors. She was right (she’s brilliant, I tell you). My book had three offers in three weeks!

Was there ever a time you felt like giving up? Why didn't you?
I think the hardest time for me was about six months into revisions with my agent. The book just wasn’t working, and I felt like I wasn’t ever going to get it right. But my wonderful husband, and supportive family and friends told me to eat a bunch of chocolate and get back to work. I knew this was probably my only shot at living my dream, so I did what they said. I pretty much started over, deleting all but 5 of 28 chapters. It was the best decision I’ve ever made. Dropping all the stuff that was no longer clicking together gave me the freedom I needed to just start over. That’s the draft that ended up working!

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What’s the one thing that’s surprised you most on the journey from starting your novel to publication?
That I’m actually here! All along the way, from childhood when this dream of becoming published formed, to the first offer from an editor, I never knew for sure if I could do it. I have my answer now – I can! And that’s still CRAZY for me to think!

Where were you when you got the news that your book had been sold?
The mudroom of my house. I’d been bathing two toddlers and didn’t hear the phone when my agent called with the news of the first offer. She left me a message, which is probably good because she may have gone deaf from my screams of excitement. Offer two came through the answering machine as well. It wasn’t until the third offer that my agent actually got me on the phone. It was a crazy fun whirlwind that lasted for several weeks.

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What did you do to celebrate?
Went to a local ice cream shop with my husband and two young children. I ordered a three dip chocolate sundae – yum!



To find out more about Kristina and her book, check out the following links:
Kristina McBride's website
Kristina McBride's blog
The Tension of Opposites at Goodreads

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For more inspiration follow the links below to other blogs, each with an inspiring interview with a different up and coming author!
Elana Johnson
Lisa & Laura Roecker
Kirsten Hubbard
Beth Revis
Leah Clifford
Carrie Harris
Kim Harrington
Tiffany Schmidt
Susan Adrian
Dawn Metcalf
Suzette Saxton & Bethany Wiggins
Victoria Schwab
Gretchen McNeil
Amy Holder