I’m a mother of four kids, three of whom are teenagers, and I have heard a great deal about substance use and abuse going on among the kids they go to school with. I wanted to write a book that incorporated a portrayal of this societal problem that seems to be an epidemic, with the concept of coming of age as a gay teen, and with experiencing first time love. The result, is Clean, that is a love story, but it is also a story of two boys falling down very hard and then getting back up, with the help of family and friends, to stand on their own feet and to be, in many ways, better than before.
How long did it take you to write your book?
This is an interesting question because I began the work in the spring of 2015, wrote for several months, and found myself needing a break from the intensity of the pain Trevor and Lanny were experiencing. So, I took a two-month break and wrote a light fun love story novella, A Hard Day’s Night, published it, and then returned with a clear mind to finish Clean. So all together, without breaks, it took about five months.
How long have you been publishing your work?
My first book, Beggars and Choosers, was published in 2012 by Dreamspinner Press. Since then I have published all together, fifteen books with various publishers. I am loving working with YoungDudes Publishing because they care about authors so much and take a genuine interest in the subject matter.
What does your writing environment look like?
I have several, but my favorite place to write is in The Red Sox Room. It is a room in our house dedicated to all things Red Sox. There is a mural of Fenway Park, signed jerseys of some of the greatest, a chronological history of World Series wins, hanging painted bats, and a pyramid of signed baseballs. We even have a reclining leather Red Sox chair signed by Jim Rice. The final detail, as I look around the room, is my cat, Jon Lester (a former pitcher), sitting next to me on the couch.
Do you have any routines to help you write?
I like to listen to pop music, drink lattes, pat one of my four cats with my non-typing hand, complete edits on the treadmill, and take showers while thinking about what my characters are going to do next.
Author Bio
Ms Kerick is the
mother of four exceptional children—all named after saints—and five
non-pedigreed cats—all named after the next best thing to saints, Boston Red
Sox players. Her husband of twenty-three years has been told by many that he
has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about that, as it’s a sensitive
subject.
Mia focuses her stories on the
emotional growth of troubled young people and their relationships. As a teen,
Mia filled spiral- bound notebooks with romantic tales of tortured heroes (most
of whom happened to strongly resemble lead vocalists of 1980s big- hair bands)
and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping.
She is thankful to
CoolDudes Publishing, Dreamspinner Press, Harmony Ink Press, and CreateSpace
for providing her with alternate places to stash her stories.
Mia is a social
liberal and cheers for each and every victory made in the name of human rights,
especially marital equality, which is now the law of the land in the United
States—woot! woot! Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer
class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and
constant prayer to the Gods of Technology.
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Hi Emily!! Thank you very much for hosting me on your blog today and the wonderful interview!!
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