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Hayley Stone

Goodreads Author

Born

in The United States

Website

https://www.hayleystone.com

Twitter

hayley_stone

Genre

Science Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction

Member Since

June 2012

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Hayley Stone is the author of the weird western, MAKE ME NO GRAVE, a finalist for the Laramie Book Awards, and the Last Resistance sci-fi series.

She has lived her entire life in sunny California, where the weather is usually perfect and nothing as exciting as a robot apocalypse ever happens. When not reading or writing, she freelances as an editor, plays the ocarina, and analyzes buildings for velociraptor entry points. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history and a minor in German from California State University, Sacramento.

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Popular Answered Questions

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Hayley Stone First, stop calling yourself aspiring! Are you writing? Yes? Then congratulations! You're a writer. Own your artistic calling.

Second, try new things a…moreFirst, stop calling yourself aspiring! Are you writing? Yes? Then congratulations! You're a writer. Own your artistic calling.

Second, try new things and don't be discouraged when something doesn't work out. Effort counts for a lot more than you think, and now is the time to experiment, away from the judgmental eyes of an audience.

And lastly, write what scares you. Write what's humming through your veins—the tune only you hear. Stomp your feet. Make some proverbial noise on the page. That is how you'll satisfy your muse, that fickle, bloodthirsty creature. That is what will make you stand out.

But whatever you do, write. Write. Write.(less)

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Hi Hayley -I just read your blog post on Terrible Minds and connected with it so much -thank you for sharing it! Questions for you: How long was your process from writing the first words on a page to actually holding your finished, published book in your hands? Did you face a lot of rejection before you finally faced that magical yes? How did you deal with the rejection? Thank you in advance :)

Hayley Stone Hi, Jennifer!

So glad you enjoyed the post! I love encouraging other writers, especially since this business can be so tough. But onto your questions!

1…moreHi, Jennifer!

So glad you enjoyed the post! I love encouraging other writers, especially since this business can be so tough. But onto your questions!

1) I began writing Machinations in 2011, during my second year of college, and finished the first draft in early 2012. So about 4-5 years between when I wrote it and when it got published. Mind you, a lot of that wasn't me being stalled by rejection; it was me being lazy and not editing. Oh, and going to college. Not wasted time, I hope. I believe I grew into the writer I needed to be in order to make those changes.

2) I faced some rejection, though not as much as I probably should have. This might sound like a weird answer, but let me explain.

I queried maybe ten agents back when I first finished and got resounding NO's. Then I briefly gave up. Let me repeat that: only ten agents. (Oh, young me, so easily dissuaded...) I took it as a sign that the book was garbage and resolved to write a better one. And then when I didn't, when I kept being drawn back to Machinations, I finally rolled up my sleeves and got to work. When I queried again, I'd queried maybe 12 agents, got some full requests, and as it turned out, the very first one I queried (Marlene Stringer) ended up loving the book and offering representation.*

The harder rejections came during submission. There are a lot less editors than there are agents, and it can feel like crucial doors closing when they reject. Plus, many times, they're very complimentary about the work, which somehow makes it tougher. They'll also--not always, but sometimes--explain why they didn't connect, or what wasn't working for them.

Which leads me to your final question...

3) I didn't query long enough to really get bogged down by those rejections. Whenever one came in, I'd usually send out two or more queries to other agents. Revenge queries, as they're called. They're like little notifications to the universe that you're not going to lay down and quit. Quite satisfying, really.

Editor rejections, as I mentioned, were somewhat harder to process. It'd make me sad and pessimistic for a few hours, I'd complain to my family or friends, like WOE IS ME NO ONE WILL EVER WANT THIS BOOK I'M GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE UP PIRACY ON THE HIGH SEAS MAYBE GET A PARROT I DON'T KNOW THEY'RE MESSY MAYBE AN EYEPATCH??? and then I got over it. I have a quick emotional rebound rate and a lot of confidence.

Note: You can discuss with your agent whether you even want to *see* the rejections. Some writers don't, and their agents keep them from them. That's totally fine. Me? I'm nosy and like to have all the facts.

The important thing is to feel what you're feeling, let it wash over you, and then release it back into the world in a healthy, productive way. Whether that's by getting back to work on a new book, or sending out some revenge queries. Always keep going. Keep writing. If this is what you want to do, if this is the passion that drives you, and you're willing to work for it, you'll get there. I firmly believe that.

Hope this helps! And best of luck with your writing, Jennifer!

Hayley

*This is by no means a usual number for querying. A lot of writers will tell you that they queried 50+ before landing their agent. Don't be discouraged if it takes longer!(less)

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Hayley Stone’s books

Average rating: 3.93 · 2,383 ratings · 554 reviews · 21 distinct works • Similar authors

	Make Me No Grave 3.88 avg rating — 1,478 ratings — published 2018 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Machinations (Last Resistance, #1) 3.79 avg rating — 384 ratings — published 2016 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Counterpart (Last Resistance, #2) 4.15 avg rating — 107 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Mrs. Claus: Not the Fairy Tale They Say by Rhonda Parrish (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Laura VanArendonk Baugh (Goodreads Author), C.B. Calsing (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 94 ratings — published 2017 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Vol. 141, Nos. 5 & 6, November/December 2021 by Sheree Renée Thomas (Editor), Natalia Theodoridou (Goodreads Author) (Contributor), Nalo Hopkinson (Contributor) 3.74 avg rating — 62 ratings — published 2021 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Last Resistance: The Complete Series: (A Post Apocalypse Box Set) (Last Resistance Box Sets Book 1) 4.28 avg rating — 53 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	World Domination: A Supervillain Anthology (Superheroes and Vile Villains, #2) by Steve Beaulieu (Goodreads Author), Tom Reynolds (Goodreads Author), Terry Schott (Goodreads Author) 4.24 avg rating — 46 ratings — published 2017 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Architect (Last Resistance, #3) 4.45 avg rating — 38 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	At Last We See Our Years Foretold: A Fantasy Short Story it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 4 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Caesura 4.50 avg rating — 4 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Hayley Stone's Blog

Pitch Wars 2019 Mentor Wishlist

If you’ve come across this post, chances are you already know what you’re about, but in case this is the first time you’ve heard about this whole Pitch Wars thing, allow us to explain!

Pitch Wars is a mentoring program where publishing industry experts (writers, editors, etc.) choose one writer each to guide through the process of editing a manuscript, culminating in an agent showcase. The mentor

Series by Hayley Stone

Last Resistance (3 books)
by

Hayley Stone (Goodreads Author)

3.91 avg rating — 529 ratings

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Hayley’s Recent Updates

Hayley Stone is now friends with Laura Millar
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Hayley Stone has read Shadows Beneath: The Writing Excuses Anthology by Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 23, 2024 09:21PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Shadows Beneath by Brandon Sanderson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Shadows Beneath by Brandon Sanderson <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
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Quotes by Hayley Stone (?)

“that’s frustrating, but other times, it’s like I’m listening to someone discuss a book I’ve already read. Your perspective is completely different.”
― Hayley Stone, Make Me No Grave

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“Like she’s never completely sure if she’s doing or saying the right thing, only hopes that she is. The capture is framed from the shoulders up like one of her previous broadcasts, but the background is all wrong. Instead of the Tea room’s neat, orderly space, she’s standing in what looks like the interior of a house. There are picture frames on a dresser behind her, filled with a family he doesn’t recognize. “We’ve intercepted several messages like the one I’m about to play in the past two months, broadcast over open channels. Allow me to also preface this by saying, Chersky believes them to be clever digital forgeries. Our technicians are the best at what they do. However, I feel it prudent to get your unique perspective.” Another finger tap, and the video begins to play. “This is Rhona Long, former commander of McKinley base,” the woman begins. It must be cold where she is. Her breath mists, and her throat is wrapped in a thick hand-knit scarf. A small chain hangs over it, pendant out of frame. “I have made several attempts now to reach out to McKinley base but have received no response. It is my hope that other factions will receive this message and share it.” She then goes on to describe the events surrounding the missile strike on Calgary, masking the mission’s goal under the guise of “recovering crucial assets from the machines.” She warns against trusting the New Soviets but stops just sort of inciting insurrection, concluding with some now-outdated intelligence about the higher echelon’s movements in the region.”
― Hayley Stone, Last Resistance: The Complete Series: (A Post Apocalypse Box Set)

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“An imitation is still an imitation, no matter how hard it tries to be the real thing.”
― Hayley Stone, Machinations

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Hayley’s Quotes

“It is the storyteller's prerogative to try to write, every now and then, the ending she might wish for. Even if it exists only on the white page.”
― Natasha Solomons, The Novel in the Viola

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“You see, that is the sad, sorry, terrible thing about sarcasm.

It's really funny.”
― Brandon Sanderson, Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians

tags: humor, sarcasm

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“Writing a first draft and reminding myself that I'm simply shoveling sand into a box so that later I can build castles.”
― Shannon Hale

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“I do know that for the sympathy of one living being, I would make peace with all. I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy the one, I will indulge the other.”
― Mary Shelley, Frankenstein

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“If you love what you do and are willing to do what it takes, it's within your reach. And it'll be worth every minute you spend alone at night, thinking and thinking about what it is you want to design or build. It'll be worth it, I promise.”
― Steve Wozniak

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