AMBER SKYE FORBES and ~ WHEN STARS DIE ~

                                                                
·        What is your book about?

When Amelia discovers witch blood in her family, she joins a convent to cleanse that taint. However, when she discovers redemption is not possible, she unites with the dangerously attractive priest, Oliver Cromwell, to fight for a place in Paradise.









·        What inspired you to write this particular story (and/or series)?

There really is no one point of inspiration for me. All I knew is that I wanted to write about witches and convents, and everything else just sprang from there. I knew I wanted to make my witches different, like why some people are witches and others are not, and I knew I wanted to say something about religion and the human condition.

·        Describe your writing in three words.

Emotional, descriptive, dark

·        Do you have specific techniques you use to develop the plot and stay on track?

I just outline to keep everything in order. It really helps in pointing out potential plot holes, and then preventing them in later drafts.

·        Are your characters in the book based on anyone you know?

Amelia in When Stars Die isn't really based off anyone I know. Her look was originally based off Wednesday Addams, because I had a nightmare involving Wednesday Addams, but she was a slightly different girl. I decided to take that girl and create Amelia, but Amelia's appearance has changed since the inception of When Stars Die eight years ago.

·        Was there any research involved in your work?

Yes. I had to research the Victorian era and convents. Even though my book is in an alternate universe, I wanted to include the Victorian era, nonetheless, because it was a difficult time for women. It's even worse if you are a woman and a witch. And it was an interesting thought to me to have a witch aspiring to be a nun.

·        What authors inspire or influence your work?

Libba Bray and John Green are two authors that come to mind.

·        Do you need visual media to describe people or places? (Some authors use pics. out of magazines)

I've used pics to help me describe places, but I don't need visual media to describe people.

·        Favorite snack when writing.

I don't have a favorite snack for writing. I try not to get distracted by anything, including food, so I can meet my goal for that day.

·        Do you have a Muse?

I don't have a Muse. Writing is my job now, so I have to do it whether or not inspiration is present.

·        Once a character is fully developed do you set them free or do they still dance around your mind?

They still dance around in my mind, especially if it's a rough draft. My characters don't become fully developed or realized until the day that manuscript is published. And even then they may not be fully developed.

·        Is the Thesaurus one of your best writing friends?

Yes, it is, but I also try not to get too thesaurus happy.

·        Who gets to read your drafts before they're published?

My assistant, Mariah Wilson, gets to read them. I also hire an affordable freelance editor to go over part of the manuscript, and I use those comments to help out with the rest of the book.

·        Share with us your biggest hurdles in the writing process?

I guess my biggest hurdle in the writing process is getting to a point where I'm satisfied enough with the story to send it off to my assistant to be read. I always listen to my gut, and when my gut goes off and I can't figure out what's wrong, then I either take a break from the story or sometimes just send it off to be read if I don't have the time to take a break.

·        Share the biggest hurdles in the marketing process.

The biggest hurdles are just getting people to notice that my book exists. Thus far, I have had to spend some money on doing that, like money on giveaways and blog tours because it's difficult trying to gather a street team who will do things for you without expecting a whole lot in return. But I know that is about to change because I have two social media moguls from AEC Stellar Publishing who are putting together a list of people to do blog tours, so I won't have to do so much work in the future.

·        What project(s) are you working on now?

I am working on the sequel to When Stars Die called Stars Will Rise. I am also working on a contemporary fantasy and am in the process of outlining a YA contemporary literary novel. I also have a short story coming out in an anthology AEC Stellar is putting together about two mentally ill teens trying to make an unstable relationship work.

·        Is there anything else you would like to say to your readers?

When Stars Die will be released on October 22nd, first in print at Amazon and Barnes and Noble, then in e-book format.

·        Thank you!!!

·       Where can readers find you and your book(s) online?
 

Amber Skye Forbes is a dancing writer who prefers pointe shoes over street shoes, leotards over skirts, and ballet buns over hairstyles. She loves striped tights and bows and will edit your face with a Sharpie if she doesn't like your attitude. She lives in Augusta, Georgia where she writes dark fiction that will one day put her in a psychiatric ward...again. But she doesn't care because her cat is a super hero who will break her out.  

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