INTERVIEW
What inspired you to write your first book?
I’ve always enjoyed reading but writing wasn’t something I really thought of doing until about 10 years ago. I had an idea that kept popping in to my head but I dismissed it for a long time. Eventually, when it wouldn’t stop nagging at me, I decided to write some things down. My little idea soon turned into a complete story and since then, I can’t seem to stop doing it.
Do you have a specific writing style?
At the moment I’m a newbie, so I haven’t written a great deal. But so far I’ve found writing in third person seems to come natural to me. That doesn’t mean to say that I’ll stick to the one style though. I would like to try my hand at writing in first person at some point.
How did you come up with the title?
The title for Awaken (Divine Hunter Book 1) just came to me half way through writing it and seemed to fit the storyline well. I came up with the name for the series, Divine Hunter, early on in the writing process. In fact, I think I was only working on my notes at that point.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
I didn’t consciously write the book to convey a message. I would imagine that readers interpret books in many different ways so I’m sure mine will be no exception. If someone can take something away from my books, if they are influenced by them in anyway, then that would please me no end.
What books have most influenced your life most?
I suppose I’ve been influenced by many books that I’ve read. Dan Brown’s Da’vinci Code fascinated me when I first read it. It hasn’t really influenced my life but I would definitely say reading his books played a part in inspiring me to write. For some reason, I’ve always been drawn to horror, so the likes of Dean Koonts, James Herbert and Stephen King have heavily influenced my horror obsession.
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
I wouldn’t say mentor, but I absolutely love Jeaniene Frost. She is such a terrific writer. I love everything about her books and her characters. She has a great writing style and always has really strong dialogue between her characters. She’s definitely been a big influence for me.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
The very first page. I had my whole idea typed out, all of my notes in front of me and then I had to start my story. Looking at that blank page was like looking at a mountain I was about to climb. But I proved to myself that mountains are, in fact, possible to climb with the right equipment and plenty of coffee!
Read the full interview over at Blazing Minds