Rachel Hollis was a party organizer of VIP events in LA, and is an author for many well known entertainment magazines and internet sites. Her first book Party Girl is a real hit with average 4.5 Amazon stars from 250 reviews. The sequel Sweet girl will be released on May 5 and is already available for order. Thanks to Eryn Kalavski we are welcoming Rachael Hollis at Land of Books for our next cute interview.

– Rachel, your next book Sweet Girl is set for release in May. What the readers will find inside?
– I think what I’m most nervous/excited about is that they won’t find a character that’s at all like Landon from Party Girl. Max is a much more damaged character and while she’s pursuing her childhood dream she’s much harder on herself than Landon was. Also, Sweet Girl is much more of a love story than the first book. Landon needed to grow on her own, what Max needs most is to allow someone to love her.

– How did you decide to write the story?
– Honestly, I never thought these books were a series, I thought Party Girl was a standalone. But then everyone wanted to know what happened with Max and as soon as they asked the question I knew the answer. As to what her career choice is (a burgeoning pastry chef) that was because I wanted conflict. How does someone who’s severely hypoglycemic, who constantly monitors her sugar intake succeed as a baker? You’ll have to read it to find out. 😉
– What was the biggest challenge during the write up process?
– Getting inside Max’s head was really tough for me! Landon and Miko are me (at different times in my life) but Max was this totally unknown entity who was so gruff and grouchy. Once I figured her out though, I absolutely loved her. She’s got a hard exterior but that’s because she’s so fragile inside.
– Tell us something more about your main character Max Jennings? Is she close to someone from your real life?
– Honestly, I met Max the first day I wrote Party Girl and she barged her way into the bathroom. I have no idea where she came from which is why it was tough to write her.
– How much time did you need to finish the story and to publish it?
– I write a first draft in four to six weeks. It’s a really, really cruddy first draft but it’s done. I think all told the publisher gave me six months to work on this. I procrastinated for the first three and then spent the rest of my time writing and revising.

– Did you expect your first book Party Girl to be received so well?
– No way! I thought my mom would read it and that would be it! As a book nerd, it still blows my mind that other people read and like words that I wrote. I’m so thrilled that these characters in my head are being well received.
– Who are you?
– Book nerd. Wine Drinker. Cheese fanatic. Runner. Boss lady. Preacher’s daughter. Baby of four. Mother of three. Wife of David. (In no particular order)
– What are your writing habits?
– If I’m going to finish a first draft I have to go crazy on it. I have to set aside a whole month and give myself insane word count goals and tweak out on caffeine to get it done. Otherwise I’ll hem and haw and two years will pass by. I run a lifestyle website for a living, so my schedule is already insane. I just fit the writing in when I can and make no excuses. I did actually make a video about what a writing day is like for me if you want to see. http://youtu.be/yodw5jIOBt4
– What are you doing to promote your book by the best possible way?
– My book themed videos and parodies are really popular. In fact, Sweet Girl is already pretty high in its categories on Amazon because of the videos and it’s still just available for pre-order. I’ll just keep making those. 😉
– When we will see your next novel after Sweet Girl?
– I actually just turned in the first 3 chapters of Fan Girl (which is Miko’s story) to my editor yesterday. It should be out by the end of the year or early next.
– Do you remember the exact moment when you decided for the first time to put a story on paper and to publish it as a full novel?
– I tried SO many times to write a book. I would do a chapter here or there but never actually finish anything. Party Girl was the first draft I ever completed. I feel like if you can get a first draft you can finish the whole thing but that’s the toughest hurdle.
– Your company Chic Events is making parties for Hollywood celebrities. Do you use some of the things you experienced during such events in your novels?
– I don’t plan events anymore but almost everything in Party Girl is based on real life experiences. In fact, the crazier the story the more likely it was from one of my major celeb clients!
– What are your top 3 dreams that you would like to accomplish in the next couple of years?
– 6 works of fiction. 3 Cookbooks. 1 Screenplay.
– If you may ask yourself one question in the interview what it will be? (Don’t forget to answer)
– Rachel, what is the key to your success? 9 Hours of sleep a night. 😉

Learn more about Rachel Hollis at her Web page
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Take a look at her books
Party Girl
Sweet Girl
.