Elle Spencer - Casting Lacey
A couple of notes on the transcript:
- If you want to join us live, we discuss lesfic novels on the 3rd Sunday of every month at http://tinyurl.com/lesficlove (sign up or follow me on Twitter to find out what we're reading each month).
- Some chat participants requested that their names be obscured, so below you'll see the author's name in bold, while everyone else has been anonymized as Reader 1, Reader 2, etc.
Elle Spencer
Hi everyone!
Reader 2
@Elle Spencer's Wife shall we begin asking you the questions? what's it like to be the best part of @Elle Spencer's fan club?
Elle Spencer's Wife
There are exactly no appropriate responses to this... but it's awesome!
Reader 2
you two are my #wifegoals lol I have said it before and I won't stop saying it I love you guys on Twitter
we love you(r book)!
Elle Spencer
Awww. Thanks!
Reader 2
what was your inspiration behind writing Casting Lacey???
Elle Spencer
I love the fake girlfriend trope and wanted to write my own story.
Reader 9
I read you book when it was self published - how did it go from that to picked up by a house?
Elle Spencer
I was introduced to the owner of Bold Strokes by a friend. It seemed like a great fit. I'm super happy with how it's working out.
Reader 9
I was really impressed when I saw that it had been picked up on twitter; was it hard starting out on your own?
Reader 2
@Elle Spencer did you write any of your/your wife's types of attitudes or mannerisms?
Reader 5
It was purely epic... n i must ask the personality behind both quinn and lacy... close to home or imaginary
Elle Spencer
I think there's a little bit of both of them in me. They're not based on anyone I know.
Reader 8
What was your inspiration for making both of the main protagonists the way they were?
Elle Spencer
I'd have to think about that.
Reader 4
I love that each character had her own story, personality quirks, and adorableness (for lack of a better word). How long did it take you to create them? Did you plot it all out, or pants it?
Elle Spencer
I'm a total pantster!
And thank you! I love Quinn and Lacey.
Reader 8
There is a lot of depth to both characters.
Reader 4
I had no idea! They're so detailed and deep.
Reader 8
I am in awe of your ability to pants.
Elle Spencer's Wife
I am too, but I'm pretty sure we don't mean the same thing.
Elle Spencer
Thank you! They were fun to write.
Reader 2
I cried when it turned out you killed Lacey's dad
but I couldn't see it going any other way myself how hard was that?
Reader 9
You make is sound like she personally did it...
Like bam! heart attack
Reader 8
Well, she's the author. She kind of did.
Reader 9
The author in the kitchen with the pen
Elle Spencer
Aww. Yeah, I love what a great dad he was.
Reader 7
Ben's death hurt my soul for a number of reasons, but it solidified my membership in #TeamLacey
Reader 3
#TeamQuinn
Reader 1
Yeah, Lacey had a hell of a go in this book... poor girl, but she was so strong!
Elle Spencer
Lacey had been through a lot. She was just what Quinn needed, IMO
Reader 5
Im #teamlacy all day she went thru one helluva rollercoaster
Reader 8
Quinn did not make things easy on Lacey though.
Elle Spencer
No! They both had issues.
Poll: What team are you on?
Team Lacey - 14 votes
Team Quinn - 5 votes
Team Amy - 10 votes
Team Dani - 0 votes
Team Jack - 1 vote
Team Margaret - 4 votes
Reader 11
This isn’t a question so much as a comment. I love this book. I’ve read it 3 times since it came out. And I still want to strangle them. Lol
Reader 5
Dani... for me was the umbridge of the book
Elle Spencer's Wife
omg. I had to Google that! And yes, she is!
Reader 5
I told my fiance which book was up for this month n she said in german... but you have read that book so much already.. so in response i said... but its on audible now
Reader 1
Ooh, yes and the narrator did such a good job - I don't know about everyone else who listened on Audible, but Lacey and Quinn sounded exactly like I was imagining them!
Elle Spencer
The narrator did an amazing job!
Reader 4
How has being picked up by BSB changed your writing and planning?
Elle Spencer
It's very structured, so yes, it will be different. I'll have to step up my planning game.
Reader 1
Are you a soap fan yourself, Elle? I loved how much detail you managed to pack into both of the shows.
Elle Spencer
Thank you! I'm not really a fan. My wife was though, so she helped me with that.
Reader 3
Also the stamina! @Elle Spencer have you always been a lengthy writer?
Elle Spencer
No. I also have novellas. Casting Lacey turned out longer for some reason.
Reader 3
Yes, novellas! I can’t wait for Unforgettable to come out on Nov 1st!
Reader 8
What was the hardest part of the book to write?
Elle Spencer
Lacey's dad dying. I cried.
Reader 2
how long did it take for you to write Casting Lacey? overall? editing process, etc
Elle Spencer
About six months. @Elle Spencer's Wife was my beta reader and editor. And we're still married!
Reader 1
Haha that's like passing the "can you renovate a house together" marriage test, Writer Edition
Reader 4
Worse than the ikea test. Yeesh
Reader 2
@Elle Spencer why do YOU think Casting Lacey appeals to us all so much? did you have any idea it would go so well?
Elle Spencer
I had no freaking idea! It was a huge surprise. And I'm not sure why. Can you tell me?
Reader 2
I think it's because we secretly all adore the fake girlfriend trope! And there aren't enough of them out there
Reader 2
@Elle Spencer's Wife what is your favorite thing about Casting Lacey?
Elle Spencer
I love the character's banter. I love their humor.
Reader 8
Who was the hardest character to write?
Elle Spencer
Quinn. Because she was stubborn and didn't want to open her heart.
Reader 11
Which is why I wanted to strangle her. Lovingly. Lol
Reader 7
@Elle Spencer what do you feel is the most compelling aspect of your writing that makes your works page turning? Character development, plot twists, angst?
Elle Spencer
My wife says it's the angst.
Reader 8
Which character was the most fun to write?
Elle Spencer
Lacey. She cracked me up daily
Reader 11
The banter is what sucked me in immediately
Reader 5
I felt like they were a cute couple me n my fiance invited over for dinner
Reader 2
I loved Lacey's language lol
so down to earth and Quinn feeling so above it all but then she starts to mellow out
Reader 3
Yells from #TeamQuinn bench: “opening your heart isn’t easy!”
Reader 11
But once Quinn does finally open up I wanted to strangle Lacey. But it all absolutely made sense for the characters. And that made the ending so perfect.
Elle Spencer's Wife
Am I allowed to agree with all of this? The banter, the cussing. Hot women having sex...someone mentioned that too, right?
Reader 7
I love how the scenes on set and Lacey's "happy place" kept the sizzle up while we were waiting for the two characters to actually- you know get to together.
Reader 5
I loved amy's adoration of lacy
Reader 2
I love that Amy stood UP to Quinn when she was being an ass
Reader 7
I think most books would have stopped after they got together in Napa, but it was so important for Quinn's character development to her to do her penance of 44 days to grow.
I loved how Amy was ready to send Dani packing.
Reader 3
We ALL wanted to send Dani packing. She got zero votes
Reader 2
have you considered a sequel for CL?
Elle Spencer
Not at this time.
Reader 9
I was really impressed when I saw that it had been picked up; was it hard starting out on your own?
Elle Spencer's Wife
Releasing a novella first was definitely intentional... to work out the Amazon bugs, make some friends, get her name out there. We also tested out some of Amazon's advertising strategies... That helped to set the stage for CL, which did have a minimal ad budget and by then Elle had a bit of a Twitter following too.
Elle Spencer
I couldn't have done it without @Elle Spencer's Wife She was amazing. And now, being with a publishing company, it's really nice to not have to do it all on our own. I have a ton of support now.
Reader 4
If you were to rewrite it, would you change any of it? Or the process by which you wrote it?
Elle Spencer
I really like how it turned out. I can't think of anything I would change.
Reader 8
What was the hardest thing to research?
Elle Spencer
Being on the set of Jordan's Appeal. I tried to get it right. Not sure if I totally succeeded.
Reader 1
How did you conduct that research?
Elle Spencer
Google and talking to people who know more than me.
Reader 5
Ok what was the most frustrating part of the whole book to write
Elle Spencer
Knowing where to end it. That's always a hard one for me.
Reader 8
Which character out of all the characters in this book would you most like to meet in real life?
Elle Spencer
I can't choose between Lacey and Quinn. I love them both so much
Reader 6
I hope no ones already said this but I loved how 'spiky' their interactions were even at quite a late stage in the book. Was this intentional when you started writing the relationship or did it evolve organically?
Elle Spencer
Their banter just happened. And that's who they were with each other, even after they got together. I didn't want it to change.
Reader 12
With it being a celebrity romance, if the book was made into a film, anyone in mind who you want play Quinn and Lacy?
Elle Spencer
Please just let it be lesbian actors.
Reader 2
@Elle Spencer THANK you for writing Casting Lacey and THANK you for answering all of our questions, I'm sure there are a few more but otherwise we are all super grateful for your and @Elle Spencer's Wife appearing today in all of your gayness and glory
Reader 11
What are you working on now?
Elle Spencer
A second chance romance, rich girl/poor girl book called The Road to Madison
Reader 2
what is your favorite lesfic out there right now?
Elle Spencer
There's so much out there now and I'm so grateful for that. Tons of great books!
Reader 9
How is it different writing with BSB than independently?
Elle Spencer
There's so much support from the BSB team and also their authors. But now I have deadlines, so that's very different.
Reader 9
are you a professional writer or do you have to juggle a job around writing?
Elle Spencer
I'm writing full time now, so no juggling. Just a tremendous amount of support from @Elle Spencer's Wife
Reader 6
Title first or does it ever change?
Elle Spencer
Do I know the title before I write the book? God, no. Titles are hard
Reader 8
Which one of your characters do you think would be most suited to surviving a zombie apocalypse?
Elle Spencer
Definitely Lacey. She'd own that world.
Reader 7
I think Amy would surprise everyone and save the day. Trusty bag of tricks...
Elle Spencer's Wife
Jack would find a way to monetize it.
Reader 2
@Elle Spencer's Wife I have a feeling Jack would have caused it
Reader 6
How much do you enjoy interacting with readers at events like this? How important is the feedback to you?
Elle Spencer
I love it! I love all of the readers! I'm so grateful for all of you!
Hearing from readers is really awesome. I love that.
Elle Spencer's Wife
How is it knowing my mom is reading your book?
Elle Spencer
Crazy weird. Thank god my mom isn't reading it.
Reader 5
Yall are such #wifegoals
Reader 8
Any advice to give aspiring authors?
Elle Spencer
I didn't think I could do this and I did! So anyone can! If you have a story inside of you, tell it.
Reader 8
And for those that have a billion plus stories to tell and can't seem to pick just one?
Elle Spencer
Pick one! Write it! We'll read it.
Reader 6
If you were going to write a completely different genre, what do you think it'd be?
Elle Spencer
Romance it it for me, but @Elle Spencer's Wife is hardcore campaigning for time travel.
Reader 1
Thank you so much for being here today, and for the amazing book!
Elle Spencer
Thank you for reading it! And thanks for all of the love!