☼ A Place In The Spotlight ☼ with M.C.V. EGAN: Slumberland By Derra Nicole Sabo Genre: Biography

Convince us why you feel your book is a must read.

I'm not sure how to convince anyone to read my books, but as for Slumberland...well, we all have weird dreams, so if you're interested in reading about someone else's twisted dreams and nightmares then Slumberland definitely is a read to check out.

If your book had a candle, what scent would it be?

It would definitely be a spiced candle, scents of cinnamon..nutmeg..ginger and clove. Calming with a bite.

What did you edit out of this book?

A few nightmares that just stressed me out when trying to write them. I figured it was just a sign to leave them out, I wasn't ready to unleash them.

Is there a writer whose brain you would love to pick for advice? Who would that be and why?

Stephen King...He's a legendary storyteller and one person who I'm sure has some wise inspirations to share.

Fun Facts/Behind the Scenes/Did You Know?'-type tidbits about the author, the book or the writing process of the book.

The writing process consists of a fully charged laptop...a piping hot or icy cold caramel macchiato...full charged wireless headphones...a fully stocked playlist and glasses to see what the heck I'm typing.

What are your top 10 favorite books/authors?

Gosh...well I'm a fan of Stephen King, Margaret Atwood, Harper Lee, Gillian Flynn, Caleb Carr, Jomny Sun, C. S. Lewis, JoJo Moyers, John Green...just to name a few.

What book do you think everyone should read?

I feel like this question has an attached answer to it as most will say that The Alchemist is a life changing book and it is. I am a fan of that book all the way and it definitely changes your mindset on certain aspects of life. However, as a music lover, Gray by Pete Wentz is a jaw dropping, pull at the heart strings Behind the Scenes book about what life on the road for a band is really like. It is his On the Road memoir and I have read it a few times. This book will leave any fan with a whole new appreciation for bands and the art they create.

How long have you been writing?

I actually began writing in Jr. High as a outlet from being teased and bullied in school. However, when I lost my vision in High School, frustration consumed me and I ended up throwing away all of my notebooks one day. I stopped writing for a few years, but after finding a surgeon who knew of an experimental procedure that could restore my eye sight, I felt as though I was seeing the world in a whole new spectrum. I started writing again when I was 22 and have never looked back.

What kind of research do you do before you begin writing a book?

Living life with a rare disorder turns one into a medical junkie in a way. From shows to documentaries to reading all kinds of articles. I also researched dreams, nightmares and the workings of the sub-conscious mind. Between research from books and the internet mixed with my own personal experiences...I like to have as much knowledge as possible when I start writing any new manuscript.

What do you think about the current publishing market?

I believe that Indie bookshops are becoming a thing of the past, which is very sad. While online shopping and downloading a book to your Kindle is great and convenient, you definitely lose a different experience of being able to walk into a bookstore. Perusing the aisles, finding new authors and genres, the smell of the books...I know that major book stores are still around, like Barnes and Nobles which I love. As for the flow of writers attempting to dip their toe into the book world, I think that it is becoming harder and harder to make yourself stand out as an author. The writing industry is definitely overflowing, but as long as there are books to read then keep 'em coming.

Do you read yourself and if so what is your favorite genre?

I love reading, bookworm to the end, lol. While my favorite genre is suspense/ thriller/ psycho-thriller, I will read any genre because I love finding a new book or author. It's all about variety.

How do you dream? Are your dreams in color or black n' white? Do they feel surreal or all too real?

Well, I'd like to introduce you to my little slice of bittersweet. These subconscious woods hold every fear and my anxieties masked are as wolves. Nightmares that play on a loop for weeks, even months at a time. Symptoms of waking in cold sweats and shaking. The only moments of peace are found in the sporadically studded dreams that happen every now and again. These woods house every past demon as well as certain past versions of who I once was. This place is worse than death, yet it inspires. So...

...Before my alarm clock goes off, before I take the last train out of here, I take one last glance back, one last glance at all of the Polaroids pinned to every tree branch, polaroids of every dream and nightmare that have stolen my nights since '95...

These dreams...these woods...this place...it's my upside down...

This is my Slumberland…

Reviews:

"I enjoyed ‘Slumberland.’ It is a poetic, dark, abstract look into Derra Nicole Sabo’s dreams. I was reminded of many odd and repetitious dreams.

I really liked Sabo detailing how the unfamiliar and the familiar can offer both comfort and terror to the dreamer. I’ve always known the fact, but had never thought about it in those terms before..."

"I enjoyed weaving through every retelling of the author's remembrance of her dreams and nightmares. How she explains their importance through reflection of them is an eye-opener too..."ﾟﾟ

"there was something about Slumberland that resonated with me. It is, in essence, a collection of short dream stories that are weaved together in an inexplicable way. The author goes kind of dark, but her phrasing is beautiful. It is abstract and poetic..."

(the little widgets after the reviews are supposed to be butterflies...if you can get them to be them? lol)

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