13 Reasons Why Blog Tour - Day 8: Q&A Answers

Today, Faith and I are answering your Q&A questions! But of course, first up, the #R2L.

Today's reason to live: friends. I don't mean those people who text you every once in awhile to see what you thought of the latest football game, or what the preacher wore at the pulpit on Sunday. I mean the friends that talk deep things with you. The friends that say 'I love you' and prove they mean it by the way they act. The friends that will let you know when you've messed up, but will also help you strive to become more like Christ. You might have only one friend like this; and that's okay. One friend makes all the difference. This friend could be a family member, it could be someone you see once a week at church, or even someone you've never seen in person. God uses all kinds of deep friendships for His glory. In addition, He gives us Jesus to be the truest friend of all. Friends will let you down. We're human; it's just a fact of life. But Jesus will never let you down. Trust Him. And find true friends that point you to Him.

Okay, Q&A time! My answers are in teal, and Faith's are in purple.

- What was the hardest part about writing your books?

Okay, I had to think on this one for awhile. I’d say probably the hardest thing was the research. I don’t think a person could ever be completely sure of their research on a subject which they know nothing about!

I could totally second Kate’s response… Researching something that you’ve never dealt with or related to on a personal level is difficult. Because, in the back of your mind, you’re always wondering if you got something wrong. I suppose that’s where prayer comes in. xD

- What's your favorite memory of writing them?

Jest pounding out ‘dem wurds… 

Pfft, I’ll be a little more descriptive than that. The excitement I felt while constructing all these sentences that’d eventually become a book. Realizing that God could use me to show His love to others.

- Any release tour tips to share??

Plan ahead. Plan ahead, plan ahead, plan ahead. Don’t think that you’ve got plenty of time. We started planning this tour in January, but I still feel so ill prepared.

Make lists. Of literally everything. And then check off the items on those lists as quickly as you can. Trust me, you won’t run out of things to do. 

-What do you love about doing this blog tour and book release together? 

I love everything that this tour stands for. Life is precious; don’t throw it away. And I have to say, Faith is an amazing girl, and I’m SO glad we did this together, otherwise I’d be lost!

The message behind the blog tour is really special to me, and I’m glad we were able to do it together. On a fun note, the fact that if one of us doesn’t have time to do something right then, we could write to the other and be like “hey, got a sec?” And we’ll do whatever the other needs us to do. Especially Kate—she’s basically saved my life. And my online reputation. (I love yoouuuuu.) 

Love you more. ;)

-Are these books going to each be in a series?

Yes, the plan for Freedom is that it will be the first in a trilogy. I don’t have even a tentative release date for book #2 yet, but I’m excited for the rest of the series. 

As of now, Beloved is simply a standalone. Though, some of my reviewers have said that I need a sequel . . . I’m gonna need some ideas for that to happen!

-Do you see yourselves publishing more books in the near future? 

I hope so! I’ve got some ideas started, and though I can’t promise that I’ll be publishing soon, hopefully at least one of them will work out.

Yup! I mean, I’ve at least got to finish the series after I’ve gotten this far. xD

-What's the best thing about being an indie author??

Idk, ask Faith. She’s the pro. B-)

(Clearly not.)  The best part of being indie is the fact that I’m in control of everything. Call me a control freak, but I like being able to figure out the specifics and make the call on everything—from editing, to formatting, to covers, to marketing. It’s pretty lit. 

Same, though. I’ve loved being able to make the decisions for everything.

-What was it like planning this blog tour together?

Four hour-long phone calls about signup forms and giveaway entries and blog tour dates and preorder options and that darn posting schedule and… *cough* Yeah. Like that. It was fabulous. 

What she said. Not to mention panicking when your notebook with ALL your blog tour info goes missing one month before release date (yeah, not recommended. I did find it again a couple days later, btw). But also lots of laughs and fabulous moments.

-With Beloved, how did you come up with such amazing characters? What do you do to develop them and their backstory? 

Haha, well, I’m glad you liked them! Honestly, while I didn’t base any of them off specific people, I did compare them to people I know just to make sure that they were realistic. As for the backstories, that was completely my imagination!

-Who was your least favorite character to write? 

Mrs. Carlos. *shudders* for some reason, she drives me insane.

Alex’s mom—Nora Lorance. Let’s face it, she’s a snob. 

Random fact, Mrs. Carlos’s first name is Nora, too. This wasn’t even planned.

*did not even know that* 

Pretty sure . . . I’ve changed her name so many times XD

Have any more questions? We've left the Q&A form open to post more answers later this week!

Also, visit Faith's blog for more Q&A answers!

Life without love is hopeless. 

Foster teen Cara Richards is unloved. With nothing left and nowhere to go, she is determined to find peace, no matter the cost. But despite her intentions, she’s tossed into another foster family and this time, there’s no going back to who she used to be. To make matters worse, one of her five new foster brothers is a Jesus freak, and she refuses to believe that God actually cares.

Her world is thrown upside down in a way she never expects. Though she prides herself on a resilient heart, her mind is lost adrift among a sea of questions: Is death really the answer? Does God care about someone as unworthy as me? Can everyone truly be loved, no matter what?

Goodreads | Amazon | Paperback preorder

Having just returned to American soil from the desert sands of the Middle East, James Greene is done with his life. 'Double amputee' doesn't seem like a strong enough phrase to label the physical and emotional pain he bears. Add the lack of love and communication with his family members, the demons that haunt him day and night, and he can find nothing worth living for. Ending it all is the only way out. 

Alexandria Lorance is a not-so-ordinary physical therapist, content with aiding in her patients' recoveries. Her work gives her fulfillment, but alone in the silence, she still endures the hidden scars of a past, unhealthy relationship. Reminding herself that true healing is found in Christ alone, she seeks to show kindness and love to everyone she meets.


When these two broken ones' paths intersect, the spark of friendship is ignited, bringing hope and joy to both. Can they step out of the darkness of suffering and into the freedom of grace? 


A Marine, broken by war. A therapist, scarred by words. A chance meeting in a parking lot bonded them together. But can love grow in these two hurting hearts? Or are they truly too broken to ever find lasting happiness?

Goodreads | Amazon | Paperback preorder

Blog tour stops
Alyssa @ Alyssa N —Review of Freedom + Interview w/ Faith

Victoria @ Victoria Paige — 2x Review

Click on the image to be redirected to the giveaway

Thank God for true friends. And choose life.