What are your favourite books and why?
The Harry Potter series, because picking up Philosopher’s Stone at age 7 was what inspired me to start exploring the world of fantasy fiction.
The Mortal Instruments/Infernal Devices, because I find the whole concept very interesting and well-developed, and the Infernal Devices have a great steampunk twist to them
Good Omens, because the level of wit and sarcasm cannot be beaten
The Fault in Our Stars, because of the amount of time I spent crying in silence after reading it
The Kingkiller Chronicle (Patrick Rothfuss), because the amount of worldbuilding in that series is immense, and his writing is incredible.
Who are your 5 favourite authors/illustrators, and why?
JK Rowling, both for reasons mentioned above, and the fact that without Harry Potter fanfiction I would not be the writer I am today!
John Green, both for his writing abilities and for creating such an amazing community as the Nerdfighters
Rick Riordan, for writing middle-grade books that I still enjoy at the age of 18 more than most other books I’ve read
Maria V Snyder, because everything she comes out with is gold
George R R Martin, for being able to keep track of three hundred character storylines at once, and have them intertwine flawlessly.
What was your favourite book when you were a child?
The Faraway Tree (or Harry Potter, depending on your definition of ‘child’)
Who is your favourite hero in a book?
Tyrion Lannister
Who is your favourite villain in a book?
Tyrion Lannister
If you could be a character from a book who would you be?
(You seriously expect me to be able to pick just one???) Luna Lovegood. Or Celaena Sardothien. Or Magnus Bane. The list goes on.
If you could recommend just one book for everyone to read what would it be?
(Again, just one??) Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
What book do you wish you had written?
Not including the Harry Potter series, Throne of Glass
Who or what was your biggest influence in deciding to become a writer?
JK Rowling and John Green
What inspired you to write your latest book?
The steampunk costuming and design I see at conventions
What's the best thing you've ever written?
‘Take Back the Skies’, though I don’t have much else in the running for that title. I am pretty damn proud of some of my old fanfiction though.
When did you start writing?
At the age of 12
If someone wanted to be a writer what would be your number one tip for them?
Keep writing. Even if you think it’s terrible, keep writing; you will only get better with practice. And learn to finish the things you begin, because the ending is the hardest part.
Is there any particular routine involved in your writing process (favourite pen, lucky charm, special jumper)?
I don’t tend to sleep much, and I write the entire novel in a very short space of time, usually doing nothing but writing from the time I wake up to the time I sleep. Also I probably drink my own bodyweight in tea several times over.
Do you have any abandoned stories in you ‘bottom drawer’ that you would like to revisit?
Plenty! All of which I do actually plan to revisit at some point, when I have the time.
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