Interview with Amaris Chapman (31 Days of Halloween)
Interview
with Amaris Chapman
with Amaris Chapman
Thank you for joining me in the shadows. Pay no
attention to that odd silhouette over there. Weird things live here.
Where do you hail from?
attention to that odd silhouette over there. Weird things live here.
Where do you hail from?
I’m born and raised in Canberra, Australia.
Tell me about your latest book. What makes it
stand out from the crowd?
stand out from the crowd?
I wanted Prevailing Life to be less about drama
and more about the story. I was tired of teen books being dark and depressing.
Having said that I picked topics for the story which are dark, but presented
them in a way that didn’t make me want to bang my head against a wall. There is
nothing worse than a winging dumb heroine. Maggie is smart and caring and has a
kickass attitude.
and more about the story. I was tired of teen books being dark and depressing.
Having said that I picked topics for the story which are dark, but presented
them in a way that didn’t make me want to bang my head against a wall. There is
nothing worse than a winging dumb heroine. Maggie is smart and caring and has a
kickass attitude.
Do you have anything new in the works and can
you tell us a bit about it?
you tell us a bit about it?
I have started the second in this series. It’s
turning out really great. There are some new characters who are really going to
shake things up.
turning out really great. There are some new characters who are really going to
shake things up.
What advice would you give to writers just
starting out?
starting out?
Join a group with other authors. Don’t be afraid
to ask questions. I learnt so much about submitting and editing from just
asking others to help.
to ask questions. I learnt so much about submitting and editing from just
asking others to help.
How did you deal with rejection letters?
Any tips for unpublished writers?
Any tips for unpublished writers?
The first few didn’t bother me. After the 25th one it gets harder lol But just remember, you
only need one publisher to like it, not 25. Everyone gets rejected, Stephanie
Meyer submitted about 15 times before Twilight was picked up.
only need one publisher to like it, not 25. Everyone gets rejected, Stephanie
Meyer submitted about 15 times before Twilight was picked up.
What tools of the trade are must-haves for
you?
you?
Movies. I get a lot of inspiration from watching
movies, I always have one on in the background when im writing.
movies, I always have one on in the background when im writing.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to
research a story?
research a story?
I don’t know about crazy but I ask my family a
lot of odd questions. To their credit they usually give their answers with a
lot of thought, no matter how odd they think I am.
lot of odd questions. To their credit they usually give their answers with a
lot of thought, no matter how odd they think I am.
What do you like to read?
Im a huge fan of Tamora Pierce. I read her books
over and over because her characters are strong and I don’t get angry with them
half way through the book haha
over and over because her characters are strong and I don’t get angry with them
half way through the book haha
Who is your favorite author and why?
Again Tamora Pierce. I also read Lynsay Sands
when I want the switch to adult fiction. I love how she made her vampires so
realistic.
when I want the switch to adult fiction. I love how she made her vampires so
realistic.
Now for the fun questions. Let’s strip
away the veil of invisibility. Do you have a day job alongside writing and will
you tell us about it?
away the veil of invisibility. Do you have a day job alongside writing and will
you tell us about it?
Im a librarian for the government. I always
wanted to be a librarian but I would prefer to get a job in a primary or
highschool where I can get my hands on novels rather than acts and legal text
books which bore me.
wanted to be a librarian but I would prefer to get a job in a primary or
highschool where I can get my hands on novels rather than acts and legal text
books which bore me.
If you weren’t a writer, what career might you
have chosen?
have chosen?
I have always wanted to own a small hobby farm where I can garden all day
and chase chickens.
and chase chickens.
Who is your favorite superhero (or heroine)? Can
be from a comic book, movie, novel, cartoon, video game or anywhere else heroes
reign.
be from a comic book, movie, novel, cartoon, video game or anywhere else heroes
reign.
Hancock. I loved him and thought Will Smith
played it really well. It was actually one of the movies Prevailing Life is
based on.
played it really well. It was actually one of the movies Prevailing Life is
based on.
Your favorite book hero?
Allyanne from Tamora Pierce’s Trickster books.
You finally have an evening free to spend any
way you want. Money is no object. Where do you go? What would you do?
way you want. Money is no object. Where do you go? What would you do?
Spa. I love massages and the smell of spas with
the soothing music.
the soothing music.
You’ve been gifted (or cursed) with the ability
to shift into another form by a witch. What kind of shifter are you? Why?
to shift into another form by a witch. What kind of shifter are you? Why?
Crow. I have always loves crows and would love
to be able to fly.
to be able to fly.
When
did you start writing:
did you start writing:
My
first story I started when I was 15 and finished in my early 20’s. Reading it
now its pretty terrible grammar wise and I don’t think it will ever see the
light of day. Prevailing Life is the second YA I wrote and I’m really pleased
with the result.
first story I started when I was 15 and finished in my early 20’s. Reading it
now its pretty terrible grammar wise and I don’t think it will ever see the
light of day. Prevailing Life is the second YA I wrote and I’m really pleased
with the result.
What
is your typical writing day like:
is your typical writing day like:
I
don’t really have one. I work full time so can only write at home or in my
lunch break. Generally this happens on my fast dieing laptop in front of the
TV. I really find watching movies helps with the creative process. And Coke
helps too J
don’t really have one. I work full time so can only write at home or in my
lunch break. Generally this happens on my fast dieing laptop in front of the
TV. I really find watching movies helps with the creative process. And Coke
helps too J
Tell
us about the story:
us about the story:
Prevailing
Life is the first in a trilogy about the life of Maggie, a teenager who
discovers her soul mate is an angel named Dina. Now that they are
reunited Maggie has to walk the line between her world and the
information Dina gives her. I remember being a teenager and frankly I
wouldn’t want to deal with the things Maggie does! We also have some
very alluring young men in the book who add that extra spice. They get a whole
lot more interesting in the next book too.
Life is the first in a trilogy about the life of Maggie, a teenager who
discovers her soul mate is an angel named Dina. Now that they are
reunited Maggie has to walk the line between her world and the
information Dina gives her. I remember being a teenager and frankly I
wouldn’t want to deal with the things Maggie does! We also have some
very alluring young men in the book who add that extra spice. They get a whole
lot more interesting in the next book too.
So
there are more to come?
there are more to come?
I’m
working on the second one now and have some great ideas. We see a new character
and Maggie is moved even further out of her comfort zone.
working on the second one now and have some great ideas. We see a new character
and Maggie is moved even further out of her comfort zone.
Can’t
wait!
wait!
If
you want to get your copy of Prevailing Life follow the links below, it’s
available in print or e-book. There is also a contest to win some collectible
custom designed buttons on Amaris’s website all you have to do is read the book
and leave a review on Amazon! Easy!
you want to get your copy of Prevailing Life follow the links below, it’s
available in print or e-book. There is also a contest to win some collectible
custom designed buttons on Amaris’s website all you have to do is read the book
and leave a review on Amazon! Easy!
Thanks so much for being my guest today!
Anything else you’d like to share with my readers? Don’t forget to give
us links to your website etc.
Anything else you’d like to share with my readers? Don’t forget to give
us links to your website etc.
I really hope they enjoy reading about Dina and
Maggie and stay tuned for book 2!
Maggie and stay tuned for book 2!
Buy links:
Contest!
Buy and review Prevailing life on Amazon, the first five
reviews will win a set of collectable buttons. Go to Amaris’s website for more
details.
reviews will win a set of collectable buttons. Go to Amaris’s website for more
details.
Amaris lives in Canberra, Australia. Since a young age she
has written Young adult fiction in order to give her characters a voice
and ensure her stories end with a bang.
has written Young adult fiction in order to give her characters a voice
and ensure her stories end with a bang.
Currently working as a Librarian she enjoys reading fiction about
strong heroines with kickass attitudes who don’t laydown and surrender in the
face of fight.
strong heroines with kickass attitudes who don’t laydown and surrender in the
face of fight.
