APRIL 11, 2013
SOUL MEANING BOOK TOUR: INTERVIEW + GIVEAWAY AT BEX ‘N’ BOOKS!
Today, I’m with Bex Johnson at Bex ‘n’ Books for an author interview + giveaway. Bex is one of the brains behind Hot Tree Editing, a creative editing and proofreading company based in Queensland, Australia. Check out her Facebook Page!
http://bexnbooks.blogspot.co.uk/
1. Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m AD Starrling, author and part-time baby doctor. I was born and bred in Mauritius and came to the UK 18 years ago to study medicine. I published my first novel, Soul Meaning (Seventeen Book One) in 2012.
2. What inspired you to write your first book?
I wrote my very first novel when I was twelve and that story was inspired by one of my many adventure dreams (I have lots of them!). In terms of what I’ve published, Soul Meaning was inspired by the image of the number 17 painted in red on a black marker stone in the middle of a lagoon in Mauritius.
3. How did you come up with the title Soul Meaning?
When I decided to write about a man who could die 17 times, Lucas Soul walked into my head, a ready-made, living, breathing, character. This story is about Lucas discovering the special meaning behind his own existence, hence the title.
4. Describe Soul, your main character, in five words.
Humble, powerful, lonely, kind, immortal.
5. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book?
That I could write this type of story at all! The previous books I had written had been light-hearted fantasy. I never thought I could write in the action-thriller genre.
6. Have you ever done anything strange or weird in the name of research?
Yes! Steve, my reference guy for all things weaponry and battle, had me over for dinner one night. His wife and three cats watched on in amusement while Steve and I enacted one of the fight scenes from the second book. I was wearing heels and a dress!
7. How long does it take you to write a book?
Working part-time in medicine, it currently takes me 11-12 months to write a first draft running at 100-110K words. If I wrote full time, it would take 6 months to produce a first draft.
8. Can you share a little of your current work with us?
I am polishing King’s Crusade, the second novel in the series, before it goes for formatting. It’s scheduled for release late April, early May this year. I have also started the third novel in the series, scheduled for release Spring/Summer 2014.
9. Do you have any writing rituals?
I must have the playlist for the book playing on my iPhone and several cups of tea or coffee! I usually compile a book specific playlist for each novel.
10. What book are you reading now?
Angel Bait by Tricia Skinner by day, Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett by night.
11. What new author has grasped your interest?
I’ve fallen in love with Jade Kerrion’s Double Helix Series, which I discovered last year. It’s a thrilling combination of science-fiction, action, and also some deep philosophical questions about the direction that genetic research could take in the future. I cried when I was reading the second and third books. A lot. The fourth novel in the series is out later this year.
12. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
I hope Seventeen entertains you! My aim was to make you turn the pages and not want to stop. There is plenty of bonus material of my website with music playlists, research extras, and character profiles that you might find interesting after you’ve read the book.
Random Questions:
1. What’s in your fridge right now?
Low fat tuna and mayo sandwich filling, jacket potatoes, cheese, low fat butter, skimmed milk, wine, salad, fish cakes, fruits, vegetables, cooking sauces and condiments, olives, left-over New York cheesecake from a recent dinner party!
2. What song do you sing at the top of your voice every time you hear it?
Airplanes by B.o.B. featuring Hayley Williams from Paramore!
3. Other than writing, what special or unusual talent(s) do you have?
I love drawing, mostly life drawings with charcoal. I have taken classes in the past and would love to have the time to start drawing again.
4. Where did you last go on holiday?
Cuba. It was a beach holiday in Holguin. Gorgeous hotel, great food and wine, and lovely weather.
5. If your house was attacked by feral aliens, and they were zapping your house with their Uber super bombs, what five items would you save?
Swiss army knife (don’t have one, but have always thought I should), matches, torch with batteries, phone with GPS, first-aid kit.
6. If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?
Please say ‘Arrrghhhh!’