Author Spotlight: Interview with Hayden Smith

1. Quickly, give us the title and genre of your book and a 30-word or less tagline:
 
In Last Night's Clothes, Fiction, "Part-college coming of age novel, part-expose of the suburban underbelly."

2. Who is your intended audience and why should they read your book?
 
I wrote this book with 18-25 year olds specifically in mind. I feel they should read it because it encompasses all of the struggles of being a young adult; yet still features unimaginably wild antics to keep both realism and fantasy going.

3. How did you come up with the title of your book or series?
 
I used to run a blog called In Last Night's Clothes, where'd I'd share stories from night before and fiction pieces. My book was untitled for a while and after reading my blog, my friend Jenny suggested I name the book after it.
 
It then took on a whole new meaning in the book itself, as the reader discovers.

4. Tell us a little bit about your cover art. Who designed it? Why did you go with that particular image/artwork?

It was designed by Amazon and I choose it because it just felt right. It looks like a party with spooky undertones.

5. Who is your favorite character from your book and why?

The mystery friend that my protagonist Colin shares his stories with is my favorite character! Why? Because this mysyery friend is apart of the book from beginning to end, and yet remains nameless, faceless, and genderless. This transcends the pattern we tend to fall into when we read, where we search out and cling to little details that say nothing about the bigger picture.

6. How about your least favorite character? What makes them less appealing to you?

Kate Prescott Lane is my least favorite character, not because of the things she does, but because of what she doesn't do. She just isn't very self-aware and she doesn't care to change regardless.

7. If you could change ONE thing about your novel, what would it be? Why?

I'd consider changing the format a bit. I was heavily inspired by Flowers for Algernon, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and Requiem for a Dream and I tried to shape my work in the same way (with misspellings, vernacular, etc) but a few of my initial readers didn't get it.

8. Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about your book or series:

There are no page numbers. It is written as a series of letters.

9. What other books are similar to your own? What makes them alike?

As aforementioned, I was heavily inspired by Flowers for Algernon, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and Requiem for a Dream. My book is similar to those in its subject matter and unconventional style.

10. Do you have any unique talents or hobbies?

Do stand-up comedy and burlesque count?

11. How can we contact you or find out more about your books?

You can visit my blog: leprobleme.tumblr.com or my facebook page: facebook.com/haydenws

12. What can we expect from you in the future?

I'm currently working a second novel (Wildflowers), as well as editing a compilation of poems and short stories  (Fever Thoughts) co-written by my friend John Salazar.

13. What can readers who enjoy your book do to help make it successful?

Tell all your friends! I am my own PR, so any bit helps.

14. Do you have any tips for readers or advice for other writers trying to get published?

Don't give up, don't settle for less.

15. Is there anything else you’d like to say?

I'd like to thank all of my teachers,  ever.

16. And now, before you go, how about a snippet from your book that is meant to intrigue and tantalize us:

"September 24, 2009

It is autumn and that has always been my favorite season. The thin, delicate, little trees that line outermost edge of the sidewalks silently spill their still scarlet-colored blossoms and something about that invigorates me. ...I’m the perfect young gentleman on the outside and anything but on the inside."

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Thank you Hayden for taking part in my Author Spotlight interview! I hope your writing continues to flourish and we hope to see more of you in the future.
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If you or an author/illustrator you know is interested in being interviewed, feel free to send me an email at authorjejohnson@gmail.com