Greetings Younglings,

For this month's edition, we had the chance to talk with -linnwrites about her featured rivals' romance stories!

About The Author:

Born and raised a city girl, 22 year old Linn W. Eklund grew up thinking she'd pen stories of important (unimportant) uni-students roaming around streets that never sleep, IV's of overpriced coffee attached to their elbow pits as they try to decide between the thousands of dining options at their feet. Instead, she's found herself in a realm of small town coming-of-age stories—which, to everyone who knows she picked her first Sarah Dessen novel up at the age of eleven, doesn't come as a surprise—and as of now, she doesn't think she'll ever go back.

Often summer romances, Linn's works exist in the space of Young-and-New adult fiction. Sweet, smile-inducing and with a happy ending guaranteed, they take on the joys and the hardships of life, love and growing up. Often, there is a body of water (the city Linn calls home was built upon 14 islands, water is and always will be a constant in her life), suntanned teenagers or twenty-somethings making a mess of things and an iced—or sometimes hot—beverage of choice mentioned every other page. Best thing of all, they all connect to one another; there will always be an opportunity to spot a familiar face, and the same goes for the next one.

When she's not writing, Linn's daydreaming about a future apartment where she can paint the walls yellow, having popcorn or watching one of her favorite films (there's a list, but you'll have to ask for it). Mostly though, writing or not writing, she's just downing one-too-many cups of black tea.

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About the Book Of The Month - Wrong Quarterback

There are three general truths every Acebridge inhabitant knows by heart.

First, if you're on a hunt for the greatest latte in North Carolina, Beans & Bagels just off Main Street is the place to go.

Second, the color that paints the exterior and interior walls of the ice cream parlor by the beach is a deeply horrifying shade of blue.

And last, but not least, Ace Easters and Acebridge Westers do not - and should not - mix. After all, the generations-long rivalry between Acebridge's two high schools is the most prominent and soul-fueling tradition of the quaint coastal town.

In other words, Avery Waters should absolutely not go around kissing Ethan Taylor.

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1. What do you love the most about writing on Wattpad? Also, do you have any favorite young adult romance-related stories on Wattpad that you recommend?

The reader-writer interaction for sure! Sweet comments and messages, or just someone letting me know their thoughts about a certain plot point make my day. It's so fun to build a small community with one's readership, no matter how big or small. My readers are absolutely great, and I consider a lot of them friends. It's very rewarding as a writer to have that support, and as long as I'm writing not to be published (which is a goal I want to pursue one day) but for pure fun, I absolutely love having my readers tag along with me on the journey of finishing a draft. They're the best.

Lately I've been reading more and more New Adult and Literary fiction, rather than Young Adult. Or stories that fit into all categories—coming of age stories is a better way of putting it, I think.

As for some favorites in the YA community, Wrong Side Of The Bed by is so fun (and the main characters are rivals!). I really love Anchorage by it's a beautiful story. I will also (slowly, because I'm a busy girl) devour anything and writes, no matter genre. There are tons of talented writers out there, and I love finding new favorites!

2. Your story is about the long rivalry between Ace East and Acebridge West High School, which is a very interesting concept. What is the inspiration for this?

What do you think makes this rival relationship intriguing and attractive to readers?

It'll sound boring, but I'm not exactly sure where the idea of WQ originally came from. What I do know is it was years and years ago and I was standing in the shower as I came up with it. That's all I remember. These characters have been living in my head for a very long time, and so the details have kind of slipped away, now I'm just used to having these people running around in my mind.

If I were to guess, I'd say the idea stemmed from my many years of reading lots of YA books, as well as watching lots of movies, searching for storytelling in everything I came across. That, along with my infatuation with snappy banter, is probably the foundation the original idea of WQ is built upon. And I brought that, alongside my love for characters that *feel real* into the version I wrote of the story to publish here back in 2020. As for the rivalry—what's not to love?! The tension? The characters convincing themselves they're ACTUALLY NOT falling in love with this person they're supposed to loathe? Keeping secrets? Love hiding in plain sight? Stolen glances across the room? The (often irrational) fear of being found out? Lots and lots and lots of snappy banter. Rivalries are great. I've always been a fan.

3. If you have to choose a different ending for Wrong Quarterback, what would you choose? And why?

This is a difficult question, because I cannot really see there be another ending to this story. I do think the ending—as well as the story as a whole—could be a little neater writing-wise, but that's what's editing for! And one day, I will sit down and make those adjustments. I don't know, I just think that for this story, this was a perfect ending. I like that (spoiler-alert) Ethan and Avery get their happiness forever after, one of those rare high school romances that DO actually last for life. And I like how things didn't work out the way Avery had wished they would with her father, and that she's still trying to adjust to that when the part of the story we know stops. I think it's realistic. And I like that there's a string of hopefulness and excitement in those last few pages. Oh, and then I know everything that comes after, that's not on the page, and I can imagine that's why I have a hard time imagining things going any other way. I cheated myself out of that one huh?

4. Can you give us a quick brief on your writing procedure? How do you take an idea from your brain to a full-length story? What all goes into your writing?

Oh. I cannot exactly think of one way I do it, I guess it depends on what story I'm working on. There are a few things I always need though: a brief outline—the starting point, the end and a loose idea of how to get there without limiting the joy of letting the writing-process surprise me—and the names of the characters as well as knowing who they are, I have a really hard time writing a character I don't know anything about. I keep lots of notes with ideas of dialogue, character quirks and scenes to include later on in the story. And I always edit while I write, it's simply what works for me; I write, and rewrite a chapter at least three times before moving onto the next. Most of my ideas start out as small thoughts flashing through my day, and I usually jot them down in my notes app. And then sometimes, one of those small thoughts cannot leave my brain, and that's how I know it's the one I'm supposed to actually pay attention to. Other than that, I love to write and I have fun with my writing, so the idea-turning-into-words-on-the-paper part is pretty easy for me. If I find myself blocked I try to retrace my steps and see where I went wrong, whether that is a mistake within a story or writing the story altogether—it's usually an easy fix.

5. Do you have other hobbies besides writing?

Reading is an obvious one, I think! Another, not as obvious, is horseback riding. I grew up in a family of horseback riders and as a teenager I used to spend the weekends studying for school in between competitions which was... stressful. But the thrill of competing—and winning—made up for it! It hasn't always been easy to maintain that lifestyle while also growing up in the city rather than in the countryside, and so I've taken a bit of a step back from it, but hanging out with the horses on a sunny spring day is still one of my favorite things to do. And then I guess I just like to do simple things—walking, swimming, cooking (sometimes), dancing while cooking, watching a really good movie/show where I can gaze in awe at the magic of storytelling. All that stuff.

6. We have seen in your writing that you have depicted the difficulties teenagers and young adults face. What would you like to say to the teenagers who will be starting their university life soon?

This one's fun, because I am actually starting uni—to become an elementary teacher—this fall as well! But for some advice on *growing up*Whether that is continuing your education, taking a gap year—or several gap years, like me—or starting a new job, I'd say learn to be comfortable with who you are. Allow yourself to be you. Putting yourself outside of your comfort zone to try new experiences is great, but only in moderation. Don't dim your sparkle for someone else, or try to fit yourself into a mold someone else has carved out for you. Get to know yourself—your values, your interests, what gives you energy and what takes it away—and then allow yourself to grow within that comfortability.

As per "school-advice" I'd say, do your best but don't go over and beyond to do it. I almost burnt myself out on my first round in school, and these past years I've spent working an actual day-job. I've come to realize most people don't care if you got straight A's in the past, they're more interested in who you are as a person. These next few years, balancing on that vulnerable tightrope between young adulthood and adulthood, are all about finding out who you are—so don't be afraid to get to know yourself, and don't compare yourself to others on the way there. We're all on our own path, with different character arcs, and yours are entirely your own. Oh, and for one final thought, if it all feels wrong, remember you can drop out and start over, I did.

A note: I'm a notorious over-writer (and over-thinker, over-talker, you get the gist), hoping these answers aren't too long

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Thank you for chatting with us!

Check out the author's works in the profile account -linnwrites

Have you read their works? Any author to suggest to us for next month?