Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Mila McWarren, author of The Luckiest.
Hi Mila, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your current book.
Hi, and thanks for having me! I’m in my 40s, married with kids, and I live on the East Coast of the US where I work as a social scientist. The Luckiest is my first novel, and it tells the story of two high school sweethearts who had a sloppily resolved breakup and who are then forced to spend a week in a house together while their best friends get married.
What’s the best line you ever wrote?
I honestly think writers are the worst at knowing this, aren’t they? There are lines I have written that I thought were pushing it too far – too cheesy, too on the nose, too over the top, and every time they are the ones that get the best response. There’s one toward the end of this book that’s like that, a line that almost makes me cringe, but every person who has read the manuscript has mentioned it as something that left them swoony, so what does that mean? If it’s the most effective, does that make it the “best”? I honestly have no idea.
I will say this: there’s an epilogue to this book, and the last installment of the epilogue is a few paragraphs of writing that I was very pleased with, and my editor was, too. I’ll take it.
Do you listen to music while writing? If so, what kind?
I do! For everyday writing of both the work and fictional kinds, I have a playlist that’s mostly old-school soul and R&B. I tend to make a playlist specific to each bigger project. The Luckiest‘s playlist features a lot of 70s and 80s country (music Aaron’s mom would have listened to), a good selection of Houston rap and hip-hop (that’s all Nik), and then things that Nik would have put on the playlist for Alex and David’s wedding. The whole playlist feels like a kind of home now.
If your book were made into a movie, what actors would you like to see star?
I can’t even imagine. (I literally can’t; I’m sitting here flummoxed.)
Okay, but let’s do this. Aaron has to be Chris Colfer (who would never ever do this, but shush), for the sake of sentimentality but also because that kid really is one hell of an actor. Also I just like his face. Nik’s face-inspiration was Nakuul Mehta, a gorgeous Indian actor. (You should google him; you’re welcome.) I can’t think of an American actor who I would cast in his place, but I’m pretty bad at remembering actors – I generally have no idea who anybody is. Anybody have any suggestions?
What genres do you write in?
Well, this is the first book, so I don’t know yet! This is definitely squarely in new adult m/m, but I’m pretty sure there’s some young adult in me somewhere; I’m currently raising teenagers and they are absolutely hilarious inspiration.
Where and when do you prefer to write?
Wherever and whenever I can – I don’t really have time to get picky about it. I tend to run hot and cold with writing – I’ll let story build up and play itself out in my head for a while, and then find an hour to pound out several thousand words of stuff that’s already pretty well-developed. Pieces of this book were written in several cities across a handful of countries, and even when I’m closer to home there’s no real pattern of where I’m writing. Sometimes it’s my office at work, sometimes it’s in my office at home, a lot of the time it’s sitting up in bed, and then a lot of this was pounded out at coffee shops or on picnic tables at parks. Needless to say, I carry my laptop everywhere; it’s an unhealthy (but productive) attachment.
This was fun. Thanks for hosting me here today!
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Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25446714-the-luckiest
Publisher: Interlude Press
Cover Artist: C.B. Messer
When New York-based memoirist Aaron Wilkinson gathers with his high school friends to marry off two of their own, he is forced to spend a week with Nik, the boy who broke his heart.
As they settle into the Texas beach house where the nuptials will be performed, Nik quickly makes his intentions clear: he wants Aaron back. “He’s coming hard, baby,” a friend warns, setting the tone for a week of transition where Aaron and Nik must decide if they are playing for keeps.
Pages or Words: 256 pages
Categories: Contemporary, Gay fiction, M/M Romance, New Adult, Romance
Excerpt:
Aaron finishes the song and Stephanie snatches the mic out of his hand, crooks her finger at Nik and launches them into a reprise of their performance of “Dancing on My Own” from the homecoming weekend they all spent here at the house back in senior year. Stephanie still has questionable rhythm and tragic pitch—she loves to sing, which is why they have a karaoke machine in this house, but it’s one thing she will admit she doesn’t have much of a gift for—but there’s a reason Nik majored in music at The University of Texas, and his voice has come a long way.
Somehow, this deliberate throwback to a memory that was never anything but happy seems different than what Aaron has just done. He sits on the sofa, flanked by Alex and Jasmine, hating them both a little for participating in it even while he smiles. Nik dances—how can you not, with this song—but he still watches Aaron, gives him a little head-tilt during the chorus, and it’s charming and devastating and infuriating.
Jasmine leans to murmur, “Oh, I see how it is.”
“Oh, shut up.”
“You might not be desperate, but I’m not sure about him. He’s coming hard, baby.”
Sales Links:
About the author:
Mila McWarren grew up in Texas, but has happily made her home on the East Coast for the last decade. In her day job she works as a social scientist and has spent the last 10 years developing her fiction writing online. She lives with her husband and their two kids. When she isn’t using working, writing, or hanging out with her family, she likes knitting and watching television, because they go together like peanut butter and chocolate, two of her other great loves.
Where to find the author:
Twitter: @milamcwarren
Tumblr: milamcwarren.tumblr.com
Website: www.milamcwarren.com
One $25 Interlude Press gift card. Five e-book copies of ‘The Luckiest’
Tour Dates & Stops: July 7 – July 20, 2015
7-Jul
Because Two Men Are Better Than One
8-Jul
Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves
9-Jul
Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
10-Jul
Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance
13-Jul
Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews
14-Jul
15-Jul
16-Jul
17-Jul
Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My
20-Jul
I would like to give a big Thank You to Mila McWarren and Will at Pride Promotions for letting us take place in this Blog Tour.
Rainbow Gold Reviews 
Congrats on publishing The Luckiest. It sounds good and has a wonderful cover.
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Thanks so much for having me here! I’ll check back in later in case any of you readers have questions, and thanks again!
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I like the sound of this one. Congratulations on your release, and I hope it’s a big success for you! Appreciate the giveaway, too.
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