Guest Post: Erin Latimer, Author of Frost

Today I’m hosting a spot on the tour for Erin Latimer’s YA novel, Frost! We met because we once shared the same agent, and we both love YA novels. She’s the one who convinced me to sign up for Wattpad (@AmyMcNulty), so I asked her to share some of her experiences with the site.

Below is her Wattpad story:

I joined Wattpad four years ago, on the recommendation of a friend who’d found some pretty great success over there. I started posting a story that had received quite a few rejections from literary agents, figuring the only other thing I could do with it, was put it in a drawer somewhere. And that seemed like sort of a waste.

Those first couple months I was shocked that people were actually reading it. That they cared enough to comment. That they wanted more!  It was wonderful to have people read my writing.

I remember when I hit two thousand followers. I was so excited, I’d been clocking every single comment and new follower, and that seemed like a huge milestone for me. I also remember hitting nine thousand. For some reason those are the two numbers that stuck in my head, the ones I got really excited about.

My first fan letter was shocking. I opened my email and there it was, in my inbox. Someone who had not just commented, or “followed” me, but taken the time out to find my email and write an entire letter about how much they liked my story. I was completely floored. And hooked for life.

Heck, even my first nasty comment was a big thing. I had enough people reading that there were some that DIDN’T like it. To me, that was still something.

Four years on Wattpad have led to lots of amazing things. I’ve become a featured author, and part of the Wattpad “Star” program. Harlequin twitter chats, and periscope sessions with Hachette books. And most of all, one of my best-loved stories, Frost, accumulated over ten million reads.

It was released August 25^th with Patchwork Press, and without Wattpad, it wouldn’t exist.

So do I recommend Wattpad?

Yes. I bet you saw that one coming.

I recommend it not only to writers looking to build a platform, but also to readers. It’s a great place to find hundreds of stories for free, and to bond with your favorite writers. Wattpad is a wonderful mix of stars (like Felicia Day, John Green, Beth Revis and Lauren DeStefano) and unknown authors just starting to break out.

Sign up and post that story that’s been languishing on your desktop, or those snippets of poetry you’re not sure what to do with. Or just open a new Wattpad page and start writing from scratch. There’s no greater motivation than readers commenting on each chapter as you go.

And if you do sign up and you have questions, or you just want to say hi, feel free to drop me a line. I’m @ELatimer over on Wattpad, and I’d be happy to hear from you.

 

Erin Latimer is a young adult fantasy writer who was born and raised in Victoria, BC and recently moved to Vancouver. She writes books, makes silly vlogs about writing and reads excessively.

Her book FROST is being released by Patchwork Press on August 25th, 2015. FROST is a YA fantasy based on Norse mythology, about a teen who accidentally freezes the first boy she kisses and discovers her family tree is weirder than expected.

For more about Erin, check out: http://www.erin.patchwork-press.com/

Buy FROST today!

Megan Walker’s touch has turned to ice. She can’t stop the frost, and the consequences of her first kiss are horrifying.

When her new powers attract attention, Megan finds herself caught up in an ancient war between Norse giants. One side fuelled by a mad queen’s obsession and an ancient prophecy about Ragnarök, the other by an age-old grudge. Both sides believe Megan to be something she’s not. Both sides will stop at nothing to have her.

Fire or frost. It’s an impossible decision, but she’ll have to act soon, because the storm is coming.

Or try to win a copy in HUGE Rafflecopter giveaway!