Our writing VIP here at Write Out Loud this month is Greg Logsted. Greg is a novelist and currently lives in Danbury, CT with his wife and fellow author, Lauren Baratz-Logsted and their daughter Jackie. He is the author of Something Happened and coauthor of “Fred,” the lead story in the Johnny Cash-theme anthology, Literary Cash.

Write Out Loud: Welcome, Greg. You have a book coming out tomorrow (June 23). Congratulations! Can you tell us a bit about it?

Greg Logsted: Thanks for inviting me, Ami!

In my second novel ALIBI JUNIOR HIGH, thirteen-year-old Cody Saron has never lived in one place longer than a few weeks, and has never attended a regular school. He’s grown up on the run with his father, an undercover agent for the CIA. Cody has traveled the entire globe, speaks five languages, and has two black belts. What Cody isn’t prepared for is…junior high.

When the danger surrounding Cody’s dad heats up, Cody is sent to stay with the aunt he’s never known, Jenny, in her small Connecticut suburb. Cody has no idea how to fit in with other kids, how to handle his first crush, or how to make it through a day of classes.

As Cody struggles to adapt to the one thing he’s never experienced — a normal life — he starts to fear that his father’s world has followed him and no one he loves is safe. Now he has to use everything his father taught him to fight for this new life he’s discovered.

WOL: Where did the idea for your book come from?

GL: The idea for this book came backwards. The title flashed into my head one day. I thought it sounded great and then I went about writing a plot to go along with the title. Weird, huh?

WOL: I’m assuming they don’t usually come to you that way. Do your stories tend start with a character idea or a plot idea?

GL: I guess [Alibi] went title, character, plot. This is the first time that’s happened. Normally it’s the opposite: plot, character, title. Go figure.

WOL: How long did it take you to write Alibi Junior High?

GL: It took me about a year. I’ve also got a day job so I had to write around that.

WOL: Where is your favorite place to write?

GL: I’ve got a small desk in my bedroom. I guess it’s the only place I really write. I might write down ideas or take notes when I’m out and about but I mainly write in my bedroom.

WOL: Writers are often known for their vices. What is your biggest writers’ vice? (Hint: Mine is chocolate.)

GL: Is procrastination a vice? Let’s see, I guess my big vice is caffeine, coffee, tea, it doesn’t matter. (I’m trying to cut back…it’s really hard!). I also like pistachios and jellybeans (I have no off switch for either of them.)

WOL: What does your writing routine look like? Do you schedule your writing or do you write when inspiration strikes?

GL: I try to write every day. I’ll write for an hour before work and then two or three hours after work. Weekends are different — I’ll get as much done as I possibly can.

WOL: What are you working on now?

GL: I just started something called OUT OF THE WOODS about a high school camping trip gone bad. It’s going to be my first paranormal novel. A couple weeks ago I finished THE STUTTERING TATTOO, which is a YA mystery. My agent’s reading it over now. Hopefully it will be ready to go out soon.

WOL: Are you prone to working on multiple fiction projects at the same time, or do you spend all your time on one project until it’s complete and then move on? Why?

GL: I basically work on one project at a time. I found it’s the best way to get things done.

WOL: Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. Best of luck with your books!

GL: Thanks again, Ami — it was a lot of fun!

If you’d like to learn more about Greg and his books, check out his website or find him on Twitter.