Welcome to another edition of STACKED’s Twitterview series. This month, we bring you Holly Schindler, author of A Blue So Dark and the recently-released Playing Hurt. She’s here to talk influences, March Madness, water imagery, and much, much more. I even let her cheat a little on character count. We’re giving away a copy of Playing Hurt, too, so get your entry in at the end.

Pitch PLAYING HURT in 140 characters or less:
Two former athletes stumble onto love—and the light that can still exist in their lives, healing their long-lived heartache in the process.

What inspired PLAYING HURT?
When I took my team to March Madness back in senior year…
(The people who know me are belly laughing. I have zero athletic ability. Ziltch. I’ll try that one again…)

What inspired PLAYING HURT?
The strong desire to reinvent a cute summer romance drafted years ago. Wanted to give it a meaty backstory. My pub journeys = looooong.

Chelsea and Clint both have to give up something they love and not by choice. Have you had to do something similar in your life?
I did the opposite—clung to writing, love of my life, at the sacrifice of most everything else. (Took 7 1/2 yrs. to get 1st acceptance!)

Do you relate to either Chelsea or Clint?
When writing 1st person, pieces of me always slip through—even into male characters!

How hard was it to write a male voice?
Clint’s voice wasn’t in itself difficult. The main difficulty was drafting new material. 1st draft=Chelsea’s POV. Writing Clint=new novel!

Both PLAYING HURT and A BLUE SO DARK feature significant water imagery and setting. Care to talk about that and its significance?
Water imagery seems odd for a girl in landlocked MO, doesn’t it? LOVE the calm of being near water. Would love a house near the lake.

What is your writing routine / how do you get yourself in the writing mindset?
My writing routine is 24/7. Really. I write incessantly.

Best piece of writing advice you’ve received?
Don’t quit; keep going; you’ll get there if you just put your butt in the chair and pay your dues—Advice to self.

Best piece of writing advice you can give?
People WILL tell you you’re nuts for writing. The only truly nutty thing is listening to them.

Who do you think is doing groundbreaking work in the YA lit world today?
I always think of L.H. Anderson as a seminal author who ushered in current contemporary YA.

Name three books or authors who inspire you.
Zevin, Ockler (especially for how she handled herself during Scroggins debacle), Catherine Ryan Hyde.

Share one of the most memorable moments of your teen years.
Guitar lessons with former Ozark Mtn. Daredevil. Most innately talented person I’ve ever known…