We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Madison Rupp a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Madison, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
My career as an author relies on creativity; therefore, it’s crucial for me to regularly refill my creative well. This looks like visiting theme parks with my family or settling into the couch to watch a hockey game. When I engage with my interests, I’m inspired. Oftentimes, my best work follows.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m an author of young adult novels. By debut novel, LIARLAND, came out August 13, 2024. LIARLAND is a young adult thriller about a teen who has a summer job at a very dangerous theme park.
Self-publishing my book was the greatest challenge and accomplishment of my life thus far. I didn’t know what to expect when I unveiled LIARLAND to the world. I was tremendously surprised and honored when the book’s preorder became an instant bestseller on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.
If you are interested in reading LIARLAND, you can order a copy via Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Books-A-Million, and IndieBound. LIARLAND can also be read with a Kindle Unlimited subscription.
Here’s a bit more about LIARLAND:
Gwen’s summer job at a theme park is cool until people start dying…
After her best friend, Valerie, disappears, an anonymous account slides into Gwen’s DMs with a deal: help shut down Pineland or Valerie will die next.
Between shady operations and “freak accidents,” it shouldn’t be too hard to tarnish Pineland’s already-declining reputation. But why is the killer so desperate to close the park?
Anxious to get Valerie out alive, Gwen hatches a plan of her own. Enlisting the help of her cute but off-limits neighbor, she schemes to unravel the killer’s identity. The race is on to unmask the murderer before anyone else’s life goes downhill.
A twisty roller coaster ride from start to finish, this suspenseful, romantic, theme-park thriller will have you on the edge of your seat.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Here’s my advice to aspiring authors:
1. Write what you know. I find that my writing thrives when I am passionate about the subject.
2. Read the same genre of books you wish to write. This may sound silly, but it’s easy to forget to carve out reading time! Not only will consuming art refill your creative well, but it’s crucial for authors to know the current market if they wish to write a commercial book.
3. Write without looking back. It’s so easy to get stuck editing your first few pages over and over again until they seem “perfect.” However, before you know it, months have gone by and your book isn’t growing. Remember – the first draft of any book is you telling the story to yourself. Perfecting that story can come later.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
Growing up, literacy was a pillar of my family’s household. We frequented our local library, listened to audiobooks in the car, and shared books. Reading was never a chore – but a joy. It was something that brought us closer together. This foundation is the reason I’m an author today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://madisonrupp.com
- Instagram: @madisonrupp
- Twitter: @madisonrupp
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
