Feature: Lynette Noni, YA author

My best friend Lyn just signed a publishing deal with Pantera Press. She was nice enough to answer a few questions about herself and her experiences.

1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

In a nutshell, I’m a 27-year-old Australian girl who loves reading, writing, the beach, chocolate, and anything even remotely related to Disney. I also sing – often without realising I’m doing it. (Yes, I’m that crazy girl who hums to herself in the supermarket queue).

2. When and why did you start writing?

I’ve dabbled in one form of creativity or another ever since I was a young child – playing instruments and song writing, sketching, painting, scrapbooking, sewing… You name it, I’ve probably tried it. But after graduating from university I was left with some free time before travelling overseas and, quite simply, I was bored. Martin Luther said, “If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write.” So, that’s exactly what I did.

3. Can you tell us about Pantera Press and your upcoming novel, Akarnae?

Pantera Press is an independent publishing house based in Sydney, Australia, committed to discovering and nurturing debut authors. They offered me a contract after reading my manuscript, Akarnae, which is the first in a five-book young adult fantasy series. It’s about a girl who finds herself stuck in a parallel world where she attends Akarnae Academy—a school for people with extraordinary gifts—while she searches for a way back home.

4. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Probably the best advice I can give is that you have to remain positive and always believe in yourself – no matter what. The publishing industry is both competitive and subjective; one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Be prepared to face rejection over and over again, but if you truly believe in yourself, then nothing will stop you from doing everything you can to pursue your dreams. And hopefully it will be well worth the effort in the end!

5. What are your future goals as an author?

I may have begun writing because I was bored, but I continued writing after that because it turned out to be something I was passionate about. I love writing so much – I love being able to experience new worlds right alongside my characters and journey with them as their stories develop. So, I guess you could say that my main goal is to never lose that feeling, that sense of wonder. I never want to take what I do for granted, because it’s… well, it’s everything. And I want other people to live those experiences with me as they read my books, meet my characters, and explore my worlds.

You can find Lyn’s blog – here.

If you would like to be featured/interviewed on this blog,  shoot me a quick email at the address provided on my contact page.