Author Interview: David Englund

David Englund has written Upsetting The Tides.

1. What is your name and where do you call home?

David Englund.  I currently live in Fargo, North Dakota.

2. Do you have a pen name?

I don’t but I thought about it for a long time.  My main character’s name is Clark Jackson.  I was going to go with Jack Clarkson myself to have some fun with it.

3. What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or less words, what would you say?

Upsetting The Tides.  How would a normal person with no military or scientific training deal with finding a portal to other worlds?

4. Do you have plans for a new book? Is this book part of a series?

Actually, I have already written the next two books which are now in editing and I have started the fourth book.  There are so many worlds out there to visit, I think I could write Clark stories for the rest of my life.

5. What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing?

I have thoroughly enjoyed watching and reading stories my entire life.  I found it to be an absolute blast to make up my own stories.

6. How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book?

John Berdahl was great to work with.  I wanted readers to get the impression that there is an abundance of worlds for the character to venture to.

7. Which is your favourite cover of all the books you have written?

I really like the cover for the upcoming third book in the series (displayed on my blog).  I am extremely excited about that story line and I feel like the cover conveys the image that I want (The first two stories are exciting too).

8. How did you come up with the title for your book?

I made a list of about 150 possible titles and I kept coming back to this one.  I must have asked a hundred people for their favorite off of the list.  There was no consensus so I finally decided to go with my favorite one.

9. Is there anything you would change about your book? And why?

I think I will always lament over aspects that I could have done better or differently, especially now that reviews are starting to come out.  The thing is, I liked the energy that went into that story.  I had so much fun writing it and I think it shows.  I didn’t want to overdo the tinkering and possibly lose that feeling.

10. Are you a self-published / Indie author?

Yes, I am self-published.  I am learning that self-published books are getting a bad rep for not being professionally edited.  That’s too bad.  Everyone needs editing.  I would be embarrassed if readers were to see the mistakes I make before Wanda goes through my work. 

11. Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it?

I have read Tom Clancy’s Clear and Present Danger twice and L. Ron Hubbard’s Battlefield Earth a couple of times.  I could read both of them again.

12. What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format?

I am finally reading The Hunger Games in paperback.  So far, I am thoroughly enjoying it.

13. Do you have any advice for other writers? And what’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing?

I’m guessing that there aren’t many existing writers out there that need my advice but I would like to say something to everyone in general.  Don’t be afraid to write.  We all have a story inside us.  Let it out.

14. Where can your readers follow you?

Blog:  www.davidjenglund.blogspot.com

Goodreads author page:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/215495.David_Englund

Amazon:   http://amazon.com/dp/B005ZLLU8U  

Thankyou so much for taking the time to do this interview and allowing us a glimpse into your writing world!

Author Interview: John Podlaski

John Podlaski has written Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel.

1. What is your name and where do you call home?

My name is John Podlaski.  My family and I reside in Sterling Heights, Michigan- USA

2. What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or less words, what would you say?

My book is called, "Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel".  Young soldiers are "different" or "changed" when returning home after their first war.  Cherries will show you why. 

3. What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing?

Actually, my wife can take the credit.  Thirty years ago, my mother gifted us with a shoe box containing every letter I had written home while serving in the Vietnam War.  We read through the many letters and a personal diary I carried - my wife, intrigued by it all, had a hundred questions.  She suggested that I make a short outline based upon the letters and diary and then try to flesh it out so her questions could be answered.  I started this project on a manual typewriter and carbon paper, intending to write something no longer than a term paper.  However, as more questions and requests for clarification  were made, the "term paper" grew.  Editing, during this time, required an entire chapter to be retyped in order to maintain proper structure.  In early 1980, Atari came out with a game console that offered a word processor, the ability to store data on floppy disks and a dot matrix printer.  Purchasing this, I spent the next three months duplicating all the key strokes of the paper into this new computer, then finding it much easier to edit and add to the story.

The manuscript was completed in 1986 and then shopped around to various publishers and entered into contests at various colleges; the story was a finalist at Washington State University's International Literary Awards.  I finally located a publisher who was willing to take a chance on my story providing it was rewritten to a third person perspective.  

Six months later, the rewrite was half complete and already exceeded the length of the original.  I began working a lot of overtime on my job and found that there wasn't any time available to continue my project - this continued for the next year.  At that point, I lost interest in the project all together - boxing everything up and moving them to the garage, where they sat for the next twenty years.

In 2009, my wife and I attended our 40th high school reunion - the school was small and we only had sixty students in the graduating class...at least two thirds of them had attended.  The last reunion attended was the 20th, and I had forgotten that I had donated two copies of my original manuscript for them to read and pass around.  So, I was quite surprised when they asked about the status of that manuscript from long ago.  When I told them them I stopped the project shortly after that last reunion, they were relentless in their efforts to get me to pick it back up.  This persistence continued for the next two or three weeks before I gave in.

The floppy disks could not be converted to Microsoft Word without spending quite a sum of money.  My daughter, Nicole, said that if I could print out everything saved, she would get it all into Word.  Six weeks later, she handed me a memory stick with both versions.

Nine months later, April 20, 2010, "Cherries" was born as an e-book on Smashwords.com and later as POD on Amazon.com and other platforms.     

4. Do you gift books to readers for book reviews?

Yes.  I will gift the e-book version in exchange for reviews.

5. How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book?

Smashwords.com offered a list of cover designers to authors to help with the cover.  I contacted the owner of DigitalDonna.com and we collaborated on a book cover design.  She is highly recommended and has exceeded the expectations of everyone I had referred to her.

6. How did you come up with the title for your book?

My original title was "The Ingenuous Soldier" which I thought was appropriate at the time, because my story is about about the innocent, scared, naive, young teenage soldiers who go to war.  One publisher, a Vietnam Veteran himself, suggested that I change the name to "Cherries", the moniker used to depict that same group of soldiers in Vietnam - The New Guy!.  The name stuck!

7. Is there anything you would change about your book? And why?

It's funny that you ask this, because every time I read the novel, I find places where I can further elaborate or change some of the wording.  After making three separate changes to my story during the last year, I was strongly encouraged to "stop" and move on.  Otherwise, there will be no end.  So now, it is what it is!

8. Do you have a book trailer? And what are your thoughts on book trailers?

Yes, I have a trailer available on my blog, U-Tube and also on my Facebook fan page.   I think it's a great way of getting the word out about your work.  However, the quality of the trailer can also be a turn off if was not well thought out and put together professionally.  It's like the movies at the theater - the trailer has to hook you and pull you in.  

9. Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hardcovers or audiobooks?

I have book cases and cardboard boxes filled with books and always enjoyed reading them - hardcover was preferred over paperback.  However, I purchased the larger Kindle over a year ago and absolutely love it!  Now my preference has shifted to e-book above all others.  Since I travel a lot on business, I have also found the audiobooks enjoyable - especially on those long drives from one state to another.  I have recently purchased a professional microphone and am planning to record "Cherries: and have it published as an audiobook too.

10. Are you a self-published / Indie author?

I am a self-published / Indie Author!

11. What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format?

I am currently reading an e-book titled  "Devil's Gate" by Clive Cussler.

12. Do you have any advice for other writers? And what’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing?

Only to persevere!  Don't give up...there is no other feeling in the world like holding a printed copy of a book that you wrote.

13. Where can your readers follow you?

Blog:  http://cherrieswriter.wordpress.com

Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/cherriesnovel

Goodreads author page:  http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3772926-john-podlaski

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/#!/pdoggbiker

Other:  http://www.lulu.com/browse/search.php?search_forum=-1&search_cat=2&show_results=topics&return_chars=200&search_keywords=&keys=&header_search=true&search=&locale=&sitesearch=lulu.com&q=&fListingClass=0&fSearch=cherries+-+a+vietnam+war+novel&fSubmitSearch.x=12&fSubmitSearch.y=4

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003R4Z5U6

Smashwords:  http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/13437

Other:   http://www.authorsden.com/johnpodlaski 

Thankyou so much for taking the time to do this interview and allowing us a glimpse into your writing world!

Author Interview: Jill Williamson

Jill Williamson has written Replication: The Jason Experiment, By Darkness Hid, To Darkness Fled and From Darkness Won.

1. What is your name and where do you call home? 

My name is Jill Williamson, and I live in Eastern Oregon.

2. What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or less words, what would you say?

My most recent book is called Replication: The Jason Experiment. It’s about a girl who discovers her biologist father is covering up multiple secrets—all of which are named Jason.

3. Do you have plans for a new book? Is this book part of a series?

I have ideas for two more books in a trilogy, but whether or not I get to write them depends on how well the Replication does. Right now I’m working on an apocalyptic (book 1) and dystopian (book two) duo for teens that will come out in 2013. They are tentatively titled Thirst and Captives, though those titles may change.

4. What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing?

I wanted to speak to teens about life and chasing after your dreams. I discovered that sometimes, people hire speakers based on articles written by the speaker. So I looked into writing articles. Along the way, I started writing a novel about a spy kid. It was so much fun that I forgot all about writing novels. But I do get to speak to teens about chasing their dreams, so it all worked out.

I started that first book in 2004, so it’s been many years of writing now.

5. How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book?

My publisher designed the covers for all my books. I got to turn in a list of ideas, and in all cases the designers used them. I’ve been pretty thrilled with my book covers.

6. How did you come up with the title for your book?

Originally, I called the book Jason Farms. I came up with that title the day I came up with the idea for the story. I was in a car with my sister in upstate New York. We were driving to an orchard to pick apples. As we passed farm after farm after farm, I got to daydreaming: What if there was a Farm that grew people? They could call it Jason Farms! And the idea was born.

But my publisher felt that Jason Farms was confusing, so they changed the title to Replication: The Jason Experiment.

7. Do you have a book trailer? And what are your thoughts on book trailers?

I have two book trailers for Replication! I made one from each main character’s point of view. Here are the links:

Abby’s trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SODPu2WfxcI

Martyr’s trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCYeTXZGvg0

I love book trailers. I made one for my very first novel, By Darkness Hid, then a bunch of teens got together to film a live-action trailer for my second novel, To Darkness Fled. They had such a great time they decided to make a trailer for the third book in that trilogy, From Darkness Won. That trailer is in post-production right now, but should be done any day. I can’t wait to see it! I even got to play a small role in that one. *grin*

8. Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hardcovers or audiobooks?

I like them all! My favorites are paperbacks. I like paper books and paperbacks are lighter than hardcovers. But I own a Kindle, and I like it too. It’s so convenient. Audio books are fun, but I don’t spend much time in a car and have little time to listen at home, so I don’t get through many of those.

I do podcast my own books on my website, though, which is kind of a free audiobook that listeners can download. So if you like audiobooks, and would like to give my medieval fantasy trilogy a try, the entire first book is available for download on my website.

9. Are you a self-published / Indie author?

My first trilogy was published with a small, independent traditional publisher called Marcher Lord Press. And my new books are with Zondervan, which is a division of Harper Collins.

10. Do you have any advice for other writers? And what’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing?

Write, write, write. Get into a critique group where you feel you are learning. And finish that first book. Many new writers tend to get stuck for years writing that first book. Train yourself to be a writer by doing the hard work of completing a full manuscript. Then go back and rewrite it. And when you’re done, put it down and write another book. Then write another. Then another.

Also, read, read, read. When you read, study what the author did. Look at their dialogue, action, punctuation, characters, plot, everything. Learn all you can. It will help you be a better writer and storyteller.

And try not to be impatient. Work on making each book the best it can be. When you finish a book, send it out. While you’re waiting to hear back, write another one. I wrote six novels before my first book was published. I’ve heard the same from many authors. So, try to have fun.

Advice-wise, one of my favorite writing quotes is from Michael Crichton. He said, “Books aren't written—they're rewritten. Including your own. It is one of the hardest things to accept, especially after the seventh rewrite hasn't quite done it.” It’s so true.

11. Where can your readers follow you?

Blog: www.jillwilliamson.com

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/jwilliamsonwrites

Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2869923.Jill_Williamson

Twitter: http://twitter.com/JillWilliamson

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Jill-Williamson/e/B002BM9I08/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Thankyou so much for taking the time to do this interview and allowing us a glimpse into your writing world!

Author Interview: Kelsey Miller

Kelsey Miller has written Retribution.

1. What is your name and where do you call home?

My name is Kelsey Miller. I am from Pennsylvania, but I am now in Massachusetts for school.

2. What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or less words, what would you say?

I just published my first book, Retribution. It features a vampire who doesn’t drink blood and a werewolf who is forced into his human form whenever he fights the vampire.

3. Do you have plans for a new book? Is this book part of a series?

I definitely do! Retribution is the first book in a series, so I am planning to begin working on the sequel shortly.

4. What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing?

I’m not really sure what first inspired me to start writing. Apparently I’ve been writing since I was a couple years old. My mom kept all of these “books”. They’re scribbles. I do remember looking at picture books and making up stories to go along with the pictures since I couldn’t understand the words.

5. Do you gift books to readers for book reviews?

Of course! Although I’m a poor college student so hundreds of free books would be outside my economic means. I would say contact me on goodreads or through email and let me know. If you have a blog or something I’d probably be more likely to.

6. How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book?

I did everything for my book, including the cover. I don’t own any fancy graphic design software, so to make the cover I took one of my photos for the background. Then I drew the characters on the cover and scanned them into the computer. It was mostly a lot of fiddling around with colors and such. But I’m pretty proud of the end result.

7. Do you have a book trailer? And what are your thoughts on book trailers?

I think book trailers are pretty cool! It’s nice to find out about a book by watching a slick video. Unfortunately I don’t have a book trailer, since I neither know how to make one nor have the software to do it. But one would be awesome.

8. Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hardcovers or audiobooks?

Good question! It depends on my level of interest in the book.

Hardcovers: OMG-this-book-is-awesome-I’ll-love-it-forever.

Paperbacks: Yeah, this book is pretty awesome.

E-books: Meh, I just want to know how it ends.

9. Are you a self-published / Indie author?

Yes, and proud of it!

10. Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it?

That question has the potential to have a really long answer. I have read Pride & Prejudice a couple times. Anything John Green related is like comfort food, so his books are well-used. (If you don’t know who John Green is GOOGLE HIM NOW.) If it has the words Harry and Potter in it chances are I’ve read it multiple times.

11. Have you ever bought a specific edition of a book because of its cover? (For example a UK, US or Canadian version)

Oh, yeah. You have to get the pretty ones. I’m also guilty of selecting a certain version on goodreads because I like the cover better…

12. Have you ever read a book just based on its cover?

“Don’t judge a book by its cover” is a cliché for a reason! And I am guilty. But I would also say that books with not as good covers can be great books, and books with stupendous covers can be terrible. I would say a better diagnostic would be to open up the first page and read it.

13. Has the quality of the cover of a book ever put you off of reading it?

Unfortunately, yes. It was probably good, too.

14. What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format?

Right now I’m reading Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. It’s really good. I never knew that Jobs was such a prankster! I would definitely recommend it if you love Apple. But then again, I would recommend it, period. It’s a hardcover.

15. Do you have any advice for other writers? And what’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing?

Do NOT stop writing. Writing is hard, and it has to be done by yourself. But you’re not alone; every writer knows how hard it is to keep writing through that wall.

Do NOT let people tell you that your book will never be published. That is crap. With services like createspace and kindle direct publishing you will be able to publish your book, even if it’s not conventionally.

Do NOT write something because you think it will be popular or it is popular. Write about something that interests you.

Do NOT think anything is a stupid idea. You thought it up, it’s probably pretty cool.

Do NOT lose your sanity while writing.

I remember someone telling me to keep reading. That seems like pretty good advice.

16. Where can your readers follow you?

Email: Kelsey.miller.books@gmail.com

Blog: http://kelseymillerbooks.blogspot.com/

Tumblr: http://www.tumblr.com/blog/kelseymillerable

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelsey-Miller/269512729738166

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/kelsey_miller

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/miller_books

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kelsey-Miller/e/B005SE6WHI/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1322945801&sr=8-1

Thankyou so much for taking the time to do this interview and allowing us a glimpse into your writing world!

Saturday Snippets! 24/12/11

Here are my Saturday Snippets!


She turned and left, and I restrained a scream. If I had to hear one more thing about what a model student Matt was I thought I might just lose it.
"What's all that about?" Ruby asked when I reached our table in the cafeteria. Murk had cornered me near enough to my friends to make me a spectacle.
I sighed and rolled my eyes. "Nothing. I had a surprise visit from my parents today." My friends around the table started to look excited, so I continued before they could cut in. "I learned that my Grandma died - a month ago."
 - Page 197, The Academie by Amy Joy


The Learned One, the dwarf, and the two elves waited a few moments to give Linwyn and Golaron the head start they needed. Screams filled the night air as the enemy camp came awake under the twins' swords and their horses' hooves. At least they had the element of surprise. But it would not last for long.
 - Page 67, Soul Seeker by Jacquelyn Smith

Author Interview: Dean Murray

Dean Murray has written Torn.

1. What is your name and where do you call home?

My name is Dean Murray, and I’m originally from Idaho, but have lived for more than a decade in Utah.  I’ve also lived in Manhattan, the Bronx, and a small town in Minnesota.  Generally it seems like the slightly more rural life works best for me.

2. What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or less words, what would you say?

My most recent book is called Torn.  In 20 words or less:

Shapeshifter boy is torn between protecting his pack and a growing fascination for the new girl in school.

3. Do you have plans for a new book? Is this book part of a series?

I’ve actually got plans for quite a few other books, some of which are already done and nearly ready to be released.  Torn is told from the point of view of the male protagonist, but I’ve also written the same story only told from the point of view of the female protagonist.  Broken is still a few weeks away from going live, but once it does, readers will be able to purchase the two stories separately, or as a combined double novel.  My grand plan there is that I want readers to be able to start with either story and get an enjoyable experience, but still have a few questions that pull them into the other point of view.

The sequel to Broken and Torn (tentatively titled Splintered) is currently being edited, and I’ve also got several short stories out to advance readers that are part of what I call my ‘Dark Reflections’ world.   It’s meant to be an alternate timeline set in the same world as Broken and Torn, with many of the same characters.  It lets me explore all kinds of different avenues with my characters that I couldn’t do along the main timeline.  Bad guys are good, good guys are bad type stuff.

4. What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing?

While I was in college I stumbled onto a guy who was writing fanfiction who was really good.  At the end of some of his novels he had a challenge to give writing a try because it ‘wasn’t that hard’.  I took the challenge, wrote a couple of fanfic novels, and have been writing most of the nine or so years since then.

5. Do you gift books to readers for book reviews?

I’m very open to this idea.  Being an indie writer gives me some really neat control over my career, but it also means it’s just a little harder to get my name out there, and I’m always happy to send people copies of my work to help get the word out.

6. How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book?

My wife Katie did the cover for Torn.  She’s done all of my covers except for Frozen Prospects, and I think she’s done a great job.  Since Broken and Torn are so closely related I asked her to do covers that had the same feel to them.  I felt like having just the eyes visible on the cover model added a bit of mystery to the cover which suited the story well.

7. Which is your favorite cover of all the books you have written?

I have several covers that I really like and that I think Katie did an especially good job, but my absolute favorite is the cover for Longing.  She put it together from a few different images, but the result is so clean that I think it wins hands down.

8. How did you come up with the title for your book?

Katie comes up with titles for an awful lot of my stories, but I think I actually came up with this one on my own J.  I essentially tried to boil the story down to its most basic pieces and I realized that more than anything Alec was torn between conflicting desires.  I tend to really like one word titles where I can get away with them, so from there it was pretty easy.

9. Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hardcovers or audiobooks?

I grew up with paperbacks and hardcovers.  There are probably some books I’ll still buy in hardcover because I need to complete my collection, but for quite a while now I’ve been an e-book convert.  The convenience of being able to have a book on my phone so it’s with me wherever I go is a huge plus in my mind.

10. Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it?

I frequently go back through books I’ve read before as I find I still enjoy re-reading them.  I read all of the Twilight books multiple times both because I really loved them, and because I wanted to capture some of the things that made them so good and do the same thing with Broken and Torn.

I’ve also read most of the Robert Jordan books multiple times, and for a while there the only e-books I had were David Weber’s Honor Harrington books, so I’ve read some of them four or five times.

11. What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format?

My father-in-law loaned me a copy of The Alchemist in paperback which I’m struggling to get through, so I took a break and read B Justin Shier’s Zero Sum in e-book.  It’s a bit bloody;  I wouldn’t recommend it to the younger crowd, but he writes very enjoyable novels

12. Do you have any advice for other writers? And what’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing?

Most of the writing advice I’ve taken to heart is from people like Dean Wesley Smith, which is really what lead me down the path of indie publishing.  I’d have to echo his sentiments that writing is mostly about putting your butt in the chair and working at it.  A novel especially, I think, is much more like a marathon than anything else.

13. Where can your readers follow you?

Blog: www.deanwrites.blogspot.com

Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4749826.Dean_Murray

Twitter: @writer_dean

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dean-Murray/e/B004F8CC7W/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/DeanWrites

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/dean-murray

Thankyou so much for taking the time to do this interview and allowing us a glimpse into your writing world!

Author Interview: Sara Grant

Sara Grant has written Dark Parties.

1. What is your name and where do you call home?

Hi! I’m Sara Grant. I moved to London from Indianapolis, Indiana, eight years ago.

2. What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or less words, what would you say?

My debut dystopian novel is titled Dark Parties. Once you’ve written 70,000 words of a novel, it’s difficult to summarize everything you’ve imagined. But here goes...

Dark Parties is a dystopian thriller. It’s a coming-of-age tale about identity, freedom and love.

3. Do you have plans for a new book? Is this book part of a series?

My second book will come out in the spring of 2013. It’s another stand-alone dystopian novel. Its working title is Half Lives. It’s a work in progress, but here’s what I know so far:

Half Lives chronicles the journey of two unlikely heroes – Icie and Beckett. Both struggle to keep themselves alive and protect future generations from the terrible fate that awaits any who dare to climb the mountain. Even though they live hundreds of years apart, Icie and Beckett’s lives are mysteriously linked.

Half Lives is a race against time and the battle to save future generations. It’s about the nature of faith and power of miscommunication – and above all the strength of the human spirit to adapt and survive.

4. What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing?

I’ve created stories since I was a little girl, imagining epic dramas for my Barbie dolls. I wrote my first short story when I was eight years old. It was titled “A Dream I Wish Was True” and it was a complete rip off of a skit from The Brady Bunch Variety Hour. My first original story was titled “Adventure in the Bread Drawer” and it was about a girl who shrinks and meets a family called the Germs in a stale Twinkie (an American snack cake with cream filling). While in school, I was convinced I couldn’t be a writer because my spelling was appalling. The invention of spell check saved me.

5. How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book?

The very talented design teams at my publishers created the covers for Dark Parties.

6. Would you have different book covers for different countries?

You can see the very different and equally wonderful covers for Dark Parties on the homepage of my web site: www.sara-grant.com. I love all my covers for different reasons. I trust my publishers to develop a cover that appeals to readers in their countries. It’s really interesting to see how different publishers focus on different aspects of the story. The German cover is gorgeous and focuses on my strong protagonist. The US cover is dark and sinister. My UK cover is more symbolic and atmospheric and really communicates a sense of hope.

7. How did you come up with the title for your book?

The original title for the short story that would become Dark Parties was “Beige.” Not a very compelling title so you can see why I needed to change it. Since I expanded Dark Parties into a novel, it has always been titled Dark Parties. The book starts with Neva and her best friend Sanna hosting a party in the pitch black. The events that happen when the lights go out serve as catalysts for the rest of the action-packed book. The title refers to this party and the subsequent encounters Neva has in the dark, but it also refers to the many dark forces that are at work against my main characters.

8. Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hardcovers or audiobooks?

I prefer different forms of books for different reasons. I must own a hardback of all my favourite books – if they are available. I love the weight, substance, smell and feel – everything – about a hardback book. But often it’s not practical to carry around a hardback. When I’m travelling, I love to have multiple reading options on my Kindle. It’s great to go on holiday and have a dozen books at the touch of a button. I also enjoy listening to audiobooks. While I’m rushing about, there’s something soothing and satisfying about having a book read to you. I think it must tap into the wonderful memories I have of being read to as a child.

9. Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it?

When I was younger I re-read The Secret Garden and The Boxcar Children several times. Recently I’ve read and then re-read and analyzed A Gathering Light by Jennifer Donnelly. I love that book and wanted to consider it page by page to figure out what made it tick. I read To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee for the first time last year and I already want to read it again.

10. Have you ever read a book just based on its cover?

I may be enticed by the cover but I generally make my decision to read a book based on reading the blurb and the first page. I’ve nearly done the opposite though. For a long time, I didn’t buy what is now one of my all-time favourite books because of its cover. Something about the original paperback cover for Walk Two Moons didn’t appeal to me. When I finally picked it up, read the blurb and the opening, I was blown away. I’m certainly glad I didn’t judge that book by its cover.

11. What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format?

I’m just starting the hardback of A Monster Calls inspired Siobhan Dowd and written by Patrick Ness. I’ve read so many wonderful reviews for this book so I’m really looking forward to it. I’m also reading Lesley Levene’s I Think Therefore I am: All the Philosophy You Need to Know as research for my next book. It’s a great overview so I can pinpoint further reading. I’m listening to The City and the City by China Mieville on my iPod because I didn’t think I’d have time to read the book soon enough. I already have purchased more books than I can read in 2012. But it won’t stop me from buying more.

12. Do you have any advice for other writers? And what’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing?

Read. Read. Read. Read broadly for the age group for which you are trying to write. Read the classics but also keep up with what’s on bookstore shelves right now. One of my tutors at Goldsmiths College said that all the teachers I’d ever need can be found in the pages of great books. Learn from the current masters of fiction. I like to dissect books that I admire and try to figure out why they work and why I love them so much.

Revise and polish your manuscript until it sparkles and until you can’t think of any way to improve it. Then give it to a fellow writer whose opinion you respect – better yet find a writers group – and then revise some more. Write. Revise. And repeat as necessary.

Be obsessed by your story. If you get published, you will be working on this story for years and will be connected to it for the rest of your life. Love your story and characters. Write a story that will continue to intrigue you.

But most importantly...believe in your work and never stop learning and improving and writing and rewriting.

13. Where can your readers follow you?

Blog: I blog as part of The EDGE, a group of UK-based writers who focus on edgy fiction for teens. http://edgeauthors.blogspot.com/

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dark-Parties-US-and-UK-and-NEVA-Germany/185986454776108

Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1320312.Sara_Grant

Twitter: @authorsaragrant

My website is: www.sara-grant.com

Thankyou so much for taking the time to do this interview and allowing us a glimpse into your writing world!