Hello Splinkervillains!
NOT SO FAST! We'll get to you in a minute! Jeez.
Halloween is almost here! So I'm sure you are all wondering, 'why the hell is Splinker writing about anything other than "I've Been Deader," a near perfect blend of horror and comedy? I have no good answer. (Do they celebrate Halloween across the pond?)
IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT ME!
Anyway, today I learned that not every problem is due to zombies or marriage -- at least according to Worlds Apart - Leah, the story of, I'm guessing, a girl named Leah.
Using the power of Kabalah and the internet, I was able to track down Andrea Baker, author and, I assume, consummate baker.
Hello Ms. Baker. It's a real pleasure to have you here today. You're writing a wonderful series of books, blogging, baking 24/7. You obviously live an amazing life. So tell me, have you read "I've Been Deader," and how much did you love it?
(Interviewer's Note: I actually forgot to include this question in the interview packet. I think we can all assume that Ms. Baker loved it.)
(Interviewer's Note: I actually forgot to include this question in the interview packet. I think we can all assume that Ms. Baker loved it.)
When did you first decide to put aside your love of baking and start your writing
career?
I’ve always
made up stories, my family says since before I could even write them down. In those
days I suppose it was more a case of imaginative play, but where many grow out
of that, I continued to do it. If I’d read a novel, I would make up follow
on stories for the same characters, and live inside those stories for ages. When I
graduated though I stopped allowing myself to indulge like that, as I thought
it was childish and an adult shouldn’t do it. Although I stopped writing them down, I
couldn’t stop the ideas in my head, and eventually, about three years ago, I
started writing again.
So, if I am understanding you, you basically lie all the time. I suppose all those kind words about my book were just another story? If so, I LOVED IT!
Tell us about a favorite character from a book.
It has to
be Anne Shirley, from the Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery. It has been
a lifelong favorite of mine, and I still enjoy reading it now. She is
feisty, intelligent and funny, and despite them being from a different era now,
I think there are a lot of life lessons within that still apply. My eight year
old daughter has just discovered the films, and loves them, so I am looking
forward to hearing her thoughts when she gets to the books.
Time travel
plays in the books, but at this stage, not travel as such, although it may
appear in future books of the series.
Couldn't you just time travel in future and then come back here and tell is if travel will play a big part in the upcoming books? Go ahead, we'll wait.
My first book,
Worlds Apart – Leah, was published by Taylor Street Books on October 11th
2012.
Leah knows that her mother
died in a car accident when Leah was small and that her father, who used to be
the gentlest dad in the world, has
become increasingly controlling and occasionally violent.
She also knows that her recurring dreams are telling her something more about how and why her mother died, and why her dad turned nasty, but they are becoming progressively more disturbing and confusing.
When Leah meets Ben, she is excited to have a friend she can confide in and have fun with, but is he what he seems?
The voice of Leah’s mother repeatedly tells her to rely on her instincts, but when Leah is run over in a freak accident and Ben’s family take over her welfare, are they protecting her or using her?
And why would anyone, good or evil, bother with an ordinary girl just about to go to university?
She also knows that her recurring dreams are telling her something more about how and why her mother died, and why her dad turned nasty, but they are becoming progressively more disturbing and confusing.
When Leah meets Ben, she is excited to have a friend she can confide in and have fun with, but is he what he seems?
The voice of Leah’s mother repeatedly tells her to rely on her instincts, but when Leah is run over in a freak accident and Ben’s family take over her welfare, are they protecting her or using her?
And why would anyone, good or evil, bother with an ordinary girl just about to go to university?
[SPOILER ALERT!] So, no zombies at all then?
What's next?
Book Two in
the series is still being written, so we don’t have a scheduled release date,
just yet.
Besides being distracted by thoughts of me, what is the hardest part of writing
your books?
"Line forms here, ladies."
I would have to say time. I try to be very disciplined, and only write when it doesn’t interfere with family life and work, but often by then I am mentally if not physically exhausted, and my mind just goes blank. I have lots of little techniques that I use, such as play lists, films, and books that inspire me, but I can often go weeks without writing anything sensible.
I would have to say time. I try to be very disciplined, and only write when it doesn’t interfere with family life and work, but often by then I am mentally if not physically exhausted, and my mind just goes blank. I have lots of little techniques that I use, such as play lists, films, and books that inspire me, but I can often go weeks without writing anything sensible.
Most of my ideas come from turning off the lights and screaming at loved ones. What about you? How do you research your
books?
My series
is based just a few miles from our home, in an area that I’ve known all my life. As a result
the research is quite easy, because I know the area, and am familiar with some
of the local myths that underpin the story. There are some wonderful resources online
that I can dip into to check historical information or the source of the myths
too, but nothing quite beats being able to wander around the Castle, soaking up
the atmosphere, and letting my imagination play with ideas.
What does your significant other and
family think of your writing career?
My family
are extremely supportive and proud of my writing, now that they know that I’ve
returned to it. My Mom has always said I should write, and I
think was secretly disappointed when I gave up on it years ago. When I
returned to writing, I didn’t tell a single soul until I’d written the bones of
this novel, the first thirty thousand words. My husband just thought I’d finally given up
trying to stop him watching football at night!
Does your significant other read
your stuff?
No, my
husband isn’t a great reader, and the genre I write just doesn’t interest him
at all!
Jeez! I hope he cooks. Next time he wants you to cook something just say "Sorry. That chore doesn't interest me at all!"
Do you have critique partners or beta readers?
Do you have critique partners or beta readers?
I am part
of a wonderful online writing community, the Alliance of Worldbuilders, who got
together on the Harper Collins Authonomy website. The advice, support, and critiques I’ve
received from them have really improved my work, and I honestly don’t think
Leah would have been published without them.
Don't get me started on Authonomy. Did I ever tell you the story about how my book made it to the editors desk and then... well, never mind. What was one of the most surprising
things you learned while writing your books?
That the
hardest part isn’t the writing of the book. Yes, that takes time, and energy, and a bucket
load of imagination, but it is also fun. The hardest thing is drafting query letters,
doing submissions, and now that I am published, the self marketing! I am quite a shy, introverted person, and
marketing myself is not something that I find easy.
Me too! There's no one more shy or introverted than me. That's one of the things I LOVE most about me!
Me too! There's no one more shy or introverted than me. That's one of the things I LOVE most about me!
Do you use a pen name? If so, how
did you come up with it?
I always
used to write under the name Rose Wall, which is a combination of a family
nickname and my maiden name. However, when we were discussing publication,
my publisher convinced me to publish under my real name, so I took the plunge. No hiding
from it now, is there?
Excellent. I see many restraining orders in your future. What was the scariest moment of your life?
Excellent. I see many restraining orders in your future. What was the scariest moment of your life?
There are
two – the first was when I was in my twenties, and my husband and I (we weren’t
married at the time) were driving down a country lane in typical wet and windy
British winter weather. Directly in front of us an old oak tree
snapped with the force of the wind and fell across the road. We both
knew there wasn’t enough time to stop the car. Thankfully we survived without serious
injury, but it was really scary.
The second
is totally different, but I think most parents would understand – the time we
discovered our daughter has a life threatening allergy to nuts. She was
only twenty one months old, and we hadn’t given her any nuts – as all parents
know children under seven should not eat them. However, she started being violently sick,
and her face started to change colour and swell. We called an ambulance and she was rushed to
hospital and treated for anaphylactic shock. We later discovered that she must have eaten
something that was contaminated with nuts, and now have to carry adrenaline
with us just in case. Absolutely terrifying.
Are the names of the characters in
your novels important? How and why?
The name of
my main character comes from my great grandmother or “Nanny-Nan” as I always
called her. She died when I was only a child, but her
eldest child was named after her, and she and her sister, my own Nan, were very close.
Who should play you in a film of
your life?
My life
isn’t interesting enough to make a film out of!
Ah. So maybe Jennifer Lopez, then?
If I came to visit early in the morning and for some unknown reason you let me in, would you impress me as being more like a chirpy bird or a grumpy bear?
If I came to visit early in the morning and for some unknown reason you let me in, would you impress me as being more like a chirpy bird or a grumpy bear?
It depends
how early in the morning it was! I am
far more of a morning person than my husband, although I think these days he’s
converting me, as I find it harder and harder to get up when the alarm clock
goes off!
Describe what it’s like to be an
author in three words.
Fun. Liberating.
Scary.
Your publisher has offered to
fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would
you most likely want to go?
I’d
actually like to do a tour, and visit all the ancient castles and forts in the
world. They are a major feature of my work, and I’d
like to research and explore them so that I could continue to use them in the
series.
I'm sure you would! Nothing like taking advanatage of the kindness of imaginary publishers.
I'm sure you would! Nothing like taking advanatage of the kindness of imaginary publishers.
Do your friends think you are an
introvert or an extravert? Why?
Definitely
an introvert. I am quite a shy person at heart, and prefer
small groups to large crowds.
Use no more than two sentences. Why should we read your book?
We tell our
children that a bad dream is just that, nothing to worry about. In my book,
the opposite is true.
My daughter
a puppy. She is desperate for a dog of her own, but as
we both work, it wouldn’t be fair for it to be locked up all day. Winning the
lottery would mean I didn’t have to work, and therefore she could have the dog
of her dreams.
A better friend than many people I've known.
A better friend than many people I've known.
If he could talk, he'd say "Buy Worlds Apart.
And for God's sake, roll down the window!"
Do you have a favorite quote, quip,
or saying? What is it?
It’s
actually quite a recent one – “No story lives, unless someone is prepared to
listen”, and it something J K Rowling said as she thanked her fans at the last
British premiere.
That's it! Thank you so much --
Oh yeah. Do you have a Website or Blog?
Oh yeah. Do you have a Website or Blog?
My website
is www.AndreaBakerAuthor.com,
and my blog is www.rosewallauthor.wordpress.com. The blog can also be found on my
website.
Do you have anything specific that
you want to say to your readers?
I hope you
enjoy the books! I would love to hear
off you, and answer any questions you may have about the series – you can find
out how to contact me on my website, or through the facebook page www.facebook.com/WorldsApartLeah
Comment! Stroke the ego!
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