As we gear up for this amazing event, I’ll be bringing you author interviews so you can get to know the attending authors in more detail! There are lots and lots of authors for you to discover, not to mention, hundreds if not thousands of books! Why not grab a cuppa and sit back and relax! All while hearing more about our writers and their writing lives, inspirations – and maybe even a secret or two!
What is your favourite book (not your own), and why?
Godblind by Anna Stephens. It’s an amazing book – the entire series is great. Dark and gritty with amazing world building and characters. I can’t recommend it enough.
Was there a book you wrote that broke you and made you feel like you’d never write again?
I haven’t written it yet, but I have an idea and every time I think about the characters and their journey it makes my heart ache. I know it’ll be a tough one to write.
Are you one of those authors for whom music is EVERYTHING and without it you’d never write?
Definitely! I have to have a playlist on in the background otherwise I struggle to get words onto the page.
Is your desk/writing space tidy or messy?
A mess. I can’t find anything I need.
Who or what inspires you as a writer?
People and places. I find mannerisms and conversations tend to inspire my characters. Most of my main characters have traits that I’ve been around in my life. I also get inspired by places. Sometimes I see a location on a drive or a walk and I find myself thinking about how it would be the perfect place for a scene.
Are you an introvert or extrovert? Or something else…?
Introvert! It takes a lot to get me out of my shell. Writing was a way to be a little more extroverted and I feel like I’m getting better at being more out there but in my soul, I love being left in a cosy corner with a book. I’ll probably be under my table at the signing.
What is your advice to authors just starting out?
Write the story you want to read. Don’t worry about thinking that it might have been done a million times already. Your twist and take on it will be unique. Write and keep writing even if it’s just a sentence a day.
Your favourite place to read and/or write?
My favourite place to read is tucked up in bed, first thing in the morning. I get up super early so it’s still dark and the house is quiet. I find it easy to get carried away into a different world while still being cosy in the blankets.
If writing is your full-time job, have you ever been told to get a “proper job”?
I left my job as a postdoctoral research assistant to write full time. That caused a lot of my friends to raise an eyebrow and ask some questions. But I’m happier doing what I do now and I think that’s what is most important.
Who is your biggest cheerleader?
My family. Without a doubt they have had more faith in me than I’ve had in myself at times. I can’t thank them enough for the amount of unwavering support they give me.
Thank you so much for your time, Zavi!
SML Literary Events 
Reblogged this on Sarah Michelle Lynch and commented:
Another interview with one of our brilliant authors – ENJOY!
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