Interview with Andrea Blythe Liebman

Author of Young Power

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

I’m originally from Eugene, OR and grew up in Sacramento, CA. Now, I reside in the Bay Area.

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

I’ve been fortunate to live in various places throughout my life and consider myself having a “dual-citizenship” between Oregon and California.

I was born in Eugene, OR but moved to Sacramento, CA at a young age. I returned to Eugene to attend the University of Oregon for a degree in journalism (with a quick stint in Italy) before moving to New York to attend Parsons the New School for Design and pursue a career in fashion public relations.

In 2015, my husband and I moved to the bay area to be closer to family, and with constant sunshine, great wine and access to mountains, lakes and the beach – we haven’t left!

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

I’ve always been a fan of creative writing; it’s essentially why I chose a career in public relations. After establishing my career, I found myself commuting two-plus hours each day and not making the best use of my time – I was constantly on my phone and not really achieving anything. I wanted to seek inspiration and fill a creative gap in my life.

As an avid YA fan, I wrote Young Power simply because I wanted to share a story that matched the realm of something I would naturally desire to read myself. I wanted to create something that might mean something to other readers, a story that would resonate with them and inspire them, and ideally impact their life in a positive way.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

Young Power, a fantasy novel and the first installment of the Young Power Series, marries urban fantasy with contemporary characters while connecting history, art, and adventure for a must-read romantic novel set in the modern-day world of the mythological gods. It’s perfect for those who have always enjoyed Young Adult but are looking for a more mature storyline that remains light-hearted and fun.

The series is aimed for a fully immersive reading experience, with curated playlists available on Spotify to coordinate with each chapter in the books, character-inspired candles to burn and engage new senses while reading, and endless mood boards and visual content available on Instagram – from book locations and scenes, character inspirations, literary quizzes and more – you can truly enjoy every layer and element of the story in different capacities as you read along.

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

Someone who appreciates mythology, arts and adventure, and infusing the three together with fantasy and romance to enter an entirely different, aspirational world. Whether commuting to work or simply wanting to cozy up on the couch after a long day, they look forward to reading as a way to escape present reality.

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

Through publishing and promoting Young Power, I discovered the incredible book community on Instagram! I had no idea this digital ‘book club’ existed on social media and by navigating through the publishing/marketing process, I have been able to meet and become great friends with readers around the world. It was definitely an unexpected result from this venture, but one I am very thankful for.

If you could, what advice would you give to your past self before embarking on this journey?

Write more, read more and learn more (a never-ending fulfillment). Don’t get discouraged and practice patience. Specifically, I  would have enrolled in creative writing courses while at university (I majored in journalism so took grammar and a couple of literature classes, but would have benefitted from creative writing instruction).

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

I love chatting about Young Power with readers (seriously, just IG message me your thoughts and you’ll make my day!), so greedily I would like to reach an infinite amount of readers for ALL the conversations, but ultimately it’s not about the quantity of readers – but impact.

I want Young Power to mean something to those who choose to read the series. Whether it’s finding personal connections to the characters, having a cathartic moment while reading a chapter that forever changes their perspective on life or installs a vivid literary memory/experience, or discovering a part of themselves that they did not realize was missing until turning the page and finishing the book – as long as my readers find fulfillment and resonate with the story in some form, I’m happy.

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

Convincing readers to give the Young Power Series a try.

As a new, independent author (and avid reader), I completely understand the skepticism, but strongly believe for those who are fans of YA fantasy/romance series, Young Power is a book they won’t be able to put down. (At least, until they have the sequel, Elemental Power, in their hands.)

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

As an independent author, I wear all of the hats. Fortunately, I have strengths in all three categories, but ultimately my weakness is finding the time to focus on all of them!

Thankfully with my decade-long career in public relations, I’ve been able to fine-tune my writing and marketing skills naturally. As creative at heart, thinking artistically and creating content is also a big strength of mine (whether it’s designing book cover art, capturing Instagram content, curating chapter-coordinated playlists or making character-inspired candles). The creative elements of these categories come seamlessly to me.

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

Finding time to focus on all three :).

Truly, I believe there’s always room for improvement an growth, so all three can also be my biggest weaknesses. Generally, as a right-brained thinker/imaginative, my biggest weakness for all three categories is focusing on the left-brain side of things.

Specifically, I would say proofing within writing/publishing is a weakness, but I have thought of working ways to improve/combat it for the third book in the series, Royal Power, which is anticipated to be released next year.

When do you think you will write your next book?

Currently writing it! I’m simultaneously working on both the third and fourth installments of the Young Power Series, Royal Power, and Eternal Power. My goal is to have them released in the next two years.

After the Young Power Series is complete, there is a much big question mark as to when I may start another book or series. But I promise, there will be more to come, eventually. 🙂

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

Self-published. I work with BookBaby which has been (and still is) a great source for new writers and also a wonderful publishing/distribution partner.