Q&A with Dylan Newton

Hey hey it’s Thursday and I’ve got a treat for you! I’m pumped to have author Dylan Newton join us for a Q&A 💖. She immediately went on my favorite author list after her debut book last year! Check out our chat below 👇🏻

Hi Dylan! I’m so glad you’re able to join me today on the blog! I feel like 2021 was the year of debut romcoms and How Sweet It Is was easily one of my most-loved books! What was the inspiration for Kate-an event planner and Drake-a horror author as the main characters in your book?

Hi Kristyn! First off, thank you so much for having me as your guest, and for the lovely compliment about SWEET. As with most writers, I’m a reader, first—a voracious one. There aren’t many genres I don’t read, and my favorite author growing up was Stephen King. I submitted an idea to my agent for a romantic comedy featuring a hero who was prolific in horror and felt trapped by his genre. I wondered what would happen if a Stephen King-like character wanted to switch to writing romance, and what that might mean to his fans and to him/his reputation as the Knight of Nightmares. That is where Drake’s character originated—a young, hot horror writer as famous…and infamous…as Stephen King. In this book, I created the hero first, then spent time figuring out my heroine. Since it was a rom-com, I asked myself: who would be the funniest match for a man trapped in a horror genre…but a glitter-loving, princess-style-wedding, event planner like Kate Sweet? After that, the characters came alive for me, and I was off writing the book!

Was this your first published book? As a book influencer and reviewer, Forever Publishing is one of my favorite publishers to team up with. I knew the moment they mentioned this book (Hey Estelle!) and showed the cover, it was immediately going to the top of my list! How was your experience with the publishing process for this one?

My first three books (as well as a short story) were paranormal romances with a small traditional romance publisher. I loved writing paranormal romances, but as with every genre, paranormals went through a lull in industry demand. Wanting to switch to the YA genre—and with my bucket list goal of having my book in every bookstore in America—I pitched to, and was lucky enough to snag, the amazing Cori Deyoe as my agent at 3 Seas Literary. Cori sent my next two novels (gritty, young adult contemporary romances) out on submission, and while we are still awaiting the fate of those, Cori recommended I switch genres to rom-coms. I wrote HOW SWEET IT IS, and she sent it out on submission, and the fabulous Leah Hultenshmidt at Forever Books/Grand Central Publishing saw it and loved it. I’m forever grateful (ha, no pun intended) to Cori and Leah, and now Estelle (the incredible marketing force at Forever Books) for their hard work. I have never collaborated with such a powerhouse group of talented women before, and I am so blessed to be a part of this team. In 2021, I finally got my bucket list goal of seeing my book on the shelves of every Barnes & Noble in America, and I ugly-cried. (That’s not hyperbole. I really did ugly cry in an IG video, complete with red-eyed, tear-streaked pictures, haha!)

What does a day of writing look like for you?

That answer varies by day, as I’m a mom, and some weeks are better for writing than others. Someday, I’d like to be the grown-up-author-lady who can write at home. But right now, home equals procrastination. So, I am a frequent patron of my local library, where I write sitting in a hard chair at a table in the corner—libraries are the best places to write, in my opinion! When I’m on deadline (which has been every day for the past two years), I have wordcount goals of 1,000 words a day. Toward the end of my recent deadline, because I was having to switch hats from writing book three to editing book two while also marketing book one, that goal increased to 2,000 words a day.

What is one thing you would like to share with other authors starting their journey that you wish you would have known?

I’d tell authors that failing is a part of the publishing/submission process—every author has been rejected. You will hear ‘No’ more times than the word ‘Yes’ to your work, and you have to be able to prop yourself up during rejections. It’s crucial to surround yourself with those who lift you up when you inevitably fall, so create a support system of family, friends, or fellow writers in your community/online who will remind you that while your journey may be hard, it is possible and it is important.

How do you like to spend your free time when you’re not on a deadline?

I love crafting, and my writing office splits space with a massive collection of scrapbook materials, glue guns and various stamp and ink hoards erm, collections! I also love antiquing, and our family recently purchased a Victorian house that we’re slooowwwly making over, room-by-room, which has been a blast.

Do you have any family traditions you look forward to every year?

If you’ve read HOW SWEET IT IS, you won’t be surprised that Halloween is my favorite! We carve pumpkins every year, and typically throw a big Halloween costume party, with various themes from ‘Zombie Prom’ to one epic party we did with a Harry Potter theme, which my daughter’s friends are still talking about.

What is something people wouldn’t know about you by looking at your social media?

I’m pretty out-loud with who I am, and my struggles with Imposter Syndrome as well as my tendency to find myself in awkward situations, lol! But here are some random facts about me you may not know: I love chocolate, but hate chocolate ice cream and chocolate milkshakes, I am terrified of spiders, and when I write, I have a hard time writing a book sequentially. I’m a mood-writer, and often skip ahead to write the scene I’m “feeling” that day.

Who are some new to you authors you’ve found in the last couple of years that you’ve enjoyed?

I’ve fallen in love with several Forever authors who were new to me these past two years. I love Abby Jimenez’s writing—she’s so funny and has such relatable characters—and Farrah Rochon writes the absolute best BFF relationships in her books. In the YA arena, I read Tiffany Jackson’s YA horror, White Smoke, which was my favorite YA book last year and as such, Tiffany is now an auto-buy for me.

I have to say I’m pretty fired up about your new book All Fired Up that is releasing this May! Once again, it’s one of my most anticipated reads! Can you tell us a little more about it?

Ha, I love your pun and I’m really stoked for May 17 when this small-town, opposites-attract romance releases to the world! While it’s the second book in my rom-com series, you can totally read it as a standalone novel. It features a stressed-to-the-max publicist, Imani Lewis, who is taking a much-needed hiatus from work to care for her grandmother (and her foul-mouthed parrot) as she recovers from a knee surgery. While Imani is envisioning some relaxation time, that’s before she realizes she’ll be spending the summer in a tiny town with Zander Matthews—her two-night stand from a year ago. Zander is Imani’s opposite—he’s a guy who’d seen enough during his time in the Marines to know that it’s best to live in the now, and his carefree, what-me-worry personality couldn’t be more different than Imani’s list-based existence. My favorite scene involves an annual festival in her grandmother’s small town…and while I won’t spoil it for you, the book’s front cover gives a big hint as to where the scene takes place! While the book is a romantic comedy, I also touch on some topics important to me—mental health and the importance of being on purpose with your own mental wellness. I loved writing Imani and Zander’s story, and I hope you enjoy reading their journey to love!

Ahhh! I’m so excited!!! 🤩 It sounds amazing and I can’t wait to read. Mental health is so important and has a special place in my heart, so I love that your book will include this 💚. Also, your costume parties sound spectacular and incorporating Stephen King vibes into a romcom was brilliant 👏.

Thank you so much Dylan for your time and this great interview! Peeps, if you want to pre-order All Fired Up click here. You can follow Dylan on IG or check out her website!