Did you
always want to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?
I’ve always been scribbling, since I was old enough
to hold a crayon. I didn’t believe, until recently, that other people would
want to read what I wrote.
I have, at various times, worked in criminal
justice, in a library, and in government. Dreams change, but writing has always
been with me.
What is the name of your latest book, and if you
had to summarise it in less than 20 words what would you say?
My newest release is THE OUTSIDE, the sequel
to THE HALLOWED ONES. It’s up to one Amish
girl to save her family, her community, and the boy she loves . . . but what
will she be asked to leave behind in return?
Who is your publisher? or do you self publish?
I’m published by the wonderful folks at
Harcourt. I feel very fortunate to be part of such a great team – they are such
a pleasure to work with.
How long does it usually take you to write a book,
from the original idea to finishing writing it?
It usually takes me a few months. I like to
noodle around with the idea and structure it a bit in a journal before actually
starting to write. I find that the more real estate I allow the book to take up
in my head, the faster it goes.
What genre would you place your books into?
THE OUTSIDE is a YA thriller. It has some
elements of horror and contemporary fantasy, as well.
What made you decide to write that genre of book?
The funny part about this series is that I didn’t
set out to make it YA. It just came out that way…I knew that I wanted to tell
the story from the perspective of a young Amish woman who was dealing with
issues of conformity and autonomy. I was completely unaware that it was YA
until I turned it in to my agent.
So I guess…the answer is that I didn’t consciously
adjust my writing. The story just developed on its own in a YA way.
Do you have a favourite character from your books?
and why are they your favourite?
Katie is my favorite. Katie was an
interesting character to write because she's very strong in a quiet, enduring
kind of way. And she’s a young Amish woman – which was a very exciting
challenge for me to write! Katie struggles to develop her own moral compass,
independent of her parents and community. That requires a great deal of
fortitude, just as much fortitude as dealing with the evil creatures in her
world.
How long have you been writing?, and who or what
inspired you to write?
I’ve always been scribbling, ever since I was old
enough to hold a crayon. I loved stories – my mother was a librarian and was
always reading to me – so I always wanted to try to tell my own.
Writing as Laura Bickle and Alayna Williams,
I wrote four urban fantasies. Two are best summed up as “Ghostbusters in
Detroit with dragons and arson” (EMBERS and SPARKS). The other two, DARK ORACLE
and ROGUE ORACLE, are about a criminal profiler who uses Tarot cards to solve
crimes.
My most recent work includes a pair of dystopian
fantasies, THE HALLOWED ONES and THE OUTSIDE.
Do you choose a title first, or write the book then
choose the title?
I have a hard time coming up with
titles that “stick.” THE HALLOWED ONES was originally called THE GATE, to
symbolize the boundary between the Amish world and the world outside, safety
and chaos. But THE HALLOWED ONES fits the story better – it evokes a mood and
creates more curiosity, I think.
And the same was true for the sequel. THE
OUTSIDE was originally THE SHINING ONES when I was drafting.
How do you come up with characters names and place
names in your books?
One of my favorite tools to use in naming
characters and places is Behindthename.com. This website allows me to search by
meaning, so I can give my characters names that really fit their personalities
and challenges.
Are character names and place names decided after
their creation? or do you pick a character/place name and then invent them?
I name the character when I create him or
her, and the name becomes a part of the character.
Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet,
tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?
I keep notebooks of character ideas. So my
characters are pretty well laid-out before I start writing. There are always
some surprises and new developments, but I like to know what I’m starting with.
They always grow and change as the story develops, which feels pretty organic
to me.
Do you basic plot/plan for your book, before you
actually begin writing it out? Or do you let the writing flow and see where it
takes the story?
I do plot before I write. I like to have a roadmap
that shows me where I’m going. Usually, I wind up somewhere more unexpected
than I began, but I like to keep track of character arcs and the pacing in the
story.
Have you ever suffered from a "writer's block"?
What did you do to get past the "block"?
The only solution I’ve found to writer’s block is
pushing through it. If I let the block fester, it becomes larger and more
difficult to surmount. If I keep nibbling at it, it disappears.
What do you do to unwind and relax? Do you have a
hobby?
I collect comic books, Tarot cards, and action
figures. I recently started taking karate classes, and have been known to break
out into spontaneous belly dance (but never when anyone’s watching!).
Where can readers follow you?
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