New Adult Book Club discussion

Joining us this week, L.J. Shen is in the Q&A hot seat! She is USA Today and Washington Post bestselling author of books such as Midnight Blue, Broken Knight, Pretty Reckless and many more.

Leave your question below for her to answer now.

I can’t imagine you have many, but how do you deal with negative reviews? As a new author, I am trying to use them to help me grow as a writer but a professional outlook on it would be beneficial.

What has been your hardest book to write?

Leigh..I need you to attend a singing close to Kentucky! Maybe Chicago or Nashville! Do you see yourself at one of those signings in the future? Your my unicorn!

Why do you prefer to write standalones?

Which one of your books was your favorite to write?

If you had to pick a book character the most like you, who would it be ! Doesn’t have to be a character you’ve written

What would you like to write about, but have not yet?

What's the strangest thing you've had to research for a book?

If you could spend the day with one of your characters, who would it be and what would you do?

What is your "must have" when you get into writing mode?

Which among your books is your favorite? Also, who's your favorite hero and why? 😁

What are some of your favorite books to read?

Do you listen to music while you write? If so what kind?

Who is you fav Author? Have you met him/her?

If you had no limit to money .. what would you do?

Is there a new series on the way? Or are you going to do an offshoot of already established series?

What is your absolute favorite thing about your fans?

Is there a character by you that at the end is not what you thought it could be or at the end you are like just "meeh" about them?

Do you plan to write a standalone anytime soon? anything that is not related to ASH ?

When you're writing what is the good to outfit, drink, snack and music that you have on? Do you change that when the plot line is truly getting to you?

Hello Leigh! ♥ Would you ever consider writing a fantasy or paranormal book?

Hello Leigh Shen. My questions is, many authors co-write book or even series. Do you consider co-write book someday? If yes, witch who?

Hi Leigh! My question is.......how do you know which story to write next?

I just gotta know how you find the cover models for your cover 😂😂..

But seriously, I want to know when there are times you give up, how do you get back up? How do you push yourself to continue, considering your characters are so developed, various plot lines and amazing chemistry?

From a struggling writer and avid fan,

J.B

Hi all! Here are the answers from L.J!

1) Rachel: I can’t imagine you have many, but how do you deal with negative reviews? As a new author, I am trying to use them to help me grow as a writer but a professional outlook on it would be beneficial.

To be completely honest. I don't read one and two-star reviews. I think there's an unbridgable gap between the reader and the book if they chose to rate it so low, and that is completely their right as customers to feel that way, but I don't see a way to grow from a review so negative. I do take a look at lengthy three-star reviews, because usually, those are written by people who enjoyed my books for the most part, but had issues with them. They're a lot more constructive in my opinion.
I'd be lying if I said I read too many negative reviews. Five years in this business, and I grew a thick skin, but I still don't see the point in punishing myself by reading negative reviews. When in doubt, I suggest to take another, harsh beta-reader to read your book before it's being edited.

2) Ashley: What has been your hardest book to write?

It's a tie between Pretty Reckless and Bane. They were just very consuming emotionally. Not all books that deal with heavy topics are difficult for me, sometimes they just flow (Broken Knight was one of them), but Pretty Reckless and Bane really hit me hard.

3) Megan: Leigh..I need you to attend a singing close to Kentucky! Maybe Chicago or Nashville! Do you see yourself at one of those signings in the future? Your my unicorn!

I absolutely see myself visiting Chicago, Nashville or Kentucky. I usually plan my signings a year or two ahead of time because I'm such a planner by nature, but I'm sure I'll visit there soon! I cannot wait to see and hug more of my readers!

4) Carolina: Why do you prefer to write standalones?

I believe there needs to be a carnal, acute justification to write two or three books for the same couple. Most stories can fit into 130k or less. My books are very long and cover the characters' love stories very thoroughly. I think trilogies and duets are a good fit for those who write very long sagas (for instance, The Bronze Horseman, which spans over the entire lives of the characters, since they're very young until they are old). Writing a two or three book series for the same couple just to put a cliffy from hell at the end of one of them, while tempting financially, is not something that calls out to me as an artist. But if I ever find THE couple that needs to have their story written in that way, I'd be sure to write it.
I just want to give my readers the very best of me, and right now, it is with standalones.

5) Ann: Which one of your books was your favorite to write?

Can't pick a one, or even a three. Each journey, you learn to fall in love with the characters and treat them like they're your kids, your friends, your family. So picking one is turning your back on the others in a way. Some books were easier to write than others because I had the characters' full cooperation. Most recently, Broken Knight and Angry God were those books. I knew the characters so well, it was a breeze.

6) Cali: If you had to pick a book character the most like you, who would it be ! Doesn’t have to be a character you’ve written

I really love Holden Caulfield. I think he had it right, even though he looked at the world through such juvenile eyes. I've always been a loner, an introvert, a faker who wants to be popular and loved by all but honestly fit the shadows much more.

7) Carrie: What would you like to write about, but have not yet?

Historical romance. I will, one day, I'm sure. I just need to do the research and find the guts to go balls-out and do it. I'm a sucker for historical romance and LOVE reading them. I'm also a huge fan of MM but I'm not sure I'll write one so quickly.

8) Nicole: What's the strangest thing you've had to research for a book?

I can't really reveal because the book is not out yet. I typically have a good laugh when I research sex positions or weird places to have sex in.

9) Latifa: If you could spend the day with one of your characters, who would it be and what would you do?

Emilia or Daria! They seem like such great fun. Jude, too. She'd be able to show me New York through her eyes. I try to write female characters I'd love to be friends with, because I always want to make sure the heroine is worthy of the hero.

10) Cassie: What is your "must have" when you get into writing mode?

Coffee, water, Post-It notes and a Sharpie nearby.

11) Chelsea: Which among your books is your favorite? Also, who's your favorite hero and why?

Can't choose! Sorry! LOL. It's too hard, and it's a very common question, so I feel bad about not answering, but I just don't see myself picking favorites.

12) Nicole: What are some of your favorite books to read?

I love historical romances! Also MM. I'm a huge fan of Kennedy Ryan, Elle Kennedy, TM Frazier and Mia Sheridan when it comes to indie books. I love reading trade-pub YA and NA books. I'm also a sucker for thriller and suspense books.

13) Maria: Do you listen to music while you write? If so what kind?

Nope. I can't listen to music when I write. I can't even have the TV on when I write. I normally write when I'm completely alone in my house. I have severe ADHD and ANYTHING can throw me out of focus.

14) Michelle: Who is you fav Author? Have you met him/her?

I have a few, and I've been lucky to meet some of them. I met Amy Harmon last year and it was amazing. I fangirled so hard and when she offered to take a picture with me I swooned. I also love Penelope Douglas and she's been a huge influence on me as an author. I met her many times and she is always so sweet. There's something so surreal about meeting someone you love so hard and put on a pedestal years ago. I think the height of my fangirl foot-in-mouth moment was with Colleen Hoover at Book Bonanza, though. I saw her walking down the hotel and stopped her to say hi, then thanked her FOR BEING ALIVE. I don't know why or how that happened, but I did. She smiled at me, nodded, and said, "Oh, you are so welcome."

15) Paula: If you had no limit to money .. what would you do?

Exactly what I'm doing right now, but I'd have an office that's also a library, that's ALSO the size of my current house.

16) Caytie: Is there a new series on the way? Or are you going to do an offshoot of already established series?

There's a brand new series on the way and I am freaking out just thinking about it. It is not connected to anything else I've written so far, a whole new world, but I swear, you're going to LOVE them!
The series is coming late 2020.

17) Holli: What is your absolute favorite thing about your fans?

They always show up. Releasing a book is kind of like throwing your sweet sixteen party. It's a test to your popularity. A lot is on the line. You show up in your favorite dress and hope to god people will have fun. It's an extremely sensitive time for an author. And I'm so grateful to have readers who buy, borrow, and leave reviews for my books. I don't think an author could ask for anything more.

18) Jessica: Is there a character by you that at the end is not what you thought it could be or at the end you are like just "meeh" about them?

There were characters like that, and I either rewrote the books (or them specifically), or completely canned the entire book if I couldn't salvage it. I'm a huge believer in the fact that once you put a book out there, it's there for life. It is your legacy, and it will always represent you. And I don't want mediocre things to represent me. That's not to say all books are born equal, and that all my books are masterpieces. But if I put a book out there, I know that at least from my end, I don't see them as meh. Maybe others will. But that's beyond my control.

19) Chelsea: Do you plan to write a standalone anytime soon? anything that is not related to ASH ?

I have a standalone coming out this year, and another one in 2020!

20) Rhonda: When you're writing what is the good to outfit, drink, snack and music that you have on? Do you change that when the plot line is truly getting to you?

I usually drink coffee, tea or water when I write. I'm always in my yoga pants or my PJs. I don't listen to music or have any other distractions. Most of the time, I turn my internet off so that I don't have any notifications or social media pop-ups on my screen. I have a very strict routine with my writing and I don't change that. Instead, I let the characters dictate the vibe and the plotline.

21) Milica: Hello Leigh! ♥ Would you ever consider writing a fantasy or paranormal book?

I would, but I'm entirely unsure anyone would want to read it! LOL. I love fantasy and PNR books and I'm a huge fan of a lot of the authors out there, but I'm not sure I have the chops to write THAT kind of world. But never say never.

22) SinfulSoulRead: Hello Leigh Shen. My questions is, many authors co-write book or even series. Do you consider co-write book someday? If yes, witch who?

Hi! Okay, so, that's a great question. As of now, I'm not sure anyone would want to write with me. I'm a control freak and I have very good ideas of what I want from my books and stories before I sit down and write. There are many authors I look up to, but ultimately, I'm not sure they're going to have fun writing books with me because I am a terrible, terrible team player. LOL.

23) Judy: Hi Leigh! My question is.......how do you know which story to write next

I don't. I sometimes write the wrong story, then can it or throw it in the trash.
I sometimes start stories and put them on hold and write something else, then go back to them.
I second guess myself all the time. I think that's the tragedy with being an artist, the essence of being a writer. You never know what to do next. There's no manual.

24) IM: Hi Leigh! Will you write a bonus chapter or novella about the Broken Knight family (Knight/Luna and the rest of the Coles) after the events of Broken Knight? I know we'll see glimpses of them in future books, but I'm talking about something separate and extra.

Hey! I don't think I will, no. I know many readers wanted that, and it may be addressed in future books in the ASH series, but I'm not going to write a novella or a full novel about the Cole clan.

25) Javelyn: I just gotta know how you find the cover models for your cover 😂😂..

LOL. A LOT of hard work!!!!

But seriously, I want to know when there are times you give up, how do you get back up? How do you push yourself to continue, considering your characters are so developed, various plot lines and amazing chemistry?

I think, for me, there's no other choice. I'm not going to do anything else other than write, no matter how successful I'll be in the future, or how unsuccessful I will be in the future. This is my calling. My passion. I'm so lucky to have that. And that's what's keeping me working. I love writing, and I love telling stories, and I think there's a lot of material out there. A lot of wonderful, strange, different stories to tell. And my job is to look for them, find them, and give them to you, with my own spin on them. It's the best job in the world.