Today we have an interview with the lovely Sarah Mullanix! She is a complete sweetheart and we are absolutely thrilled to have her on the blog today! <3
SM: Enjoyable, intense, and romantic....geez, asking a writer to only use 3 words is very
difficult :)
2. Do you have a favorite character from Beautiful Souls? If so, can you tell me who it is?
SM: I'd have to say that Leo is my favorite character in Book 1 of Beautiful Souls, but
knowing what I do about Luke, he may turn out to be my favorite character in Book 2.
3. What was the hardest part of writing your book?
SM: The hardest part of writing Beautiful Souls was taking out parts that I thoroughly
enjoyed writing, but just didn't quite fit in with where I wanted the story to lead. Maybe at some point I will include my deleted last chapter of Beautiful Souls in a free download or as a special feature in Book
4. Did you have any say in the cover, and do you think it accurately portrays what’s in the book?
SM: I actually designed my own book cover to Beautiful Souls, so yes, I had 100% say in
the matter. I believe the cover very much portrays the story. The background looks
like what I imagine the scenery would look like in Fairview, IN (the hometown of Becca and Leo), and I also think it portrays the relationship between Becca and Leo along with a bit of eeriness that can be found in the story throughout the entire book.
5. Do you have a favorite place where you love to write?
SM: My favorite place to write is actually on my couch. I'm a mom of three, so the couch is pretty much the center of activity where I can keep an eye on everyone while still getting some writing done. I think I might be a bit strange as a writer, because I still scribble everything down by hand in a notebook, then transfer it to my computer. I tend to write more freely this way, plus I accomplish my first stage of editing as I transfer the work onto the computer.
6. If you were writing a book about your life, what would you title it?
SM: Organized Chaos
7. What sparked the idea for your novel?
SM: There were a few thoughts in my head that sparked the idea for Beautiful Souls. In a way, the lives of Becca and her mother are both lives that I'd want to actually live. Some of the events in the book were brought to life and embellished by actual events during either my, or my husband's, childhood. Also, the names and some of the personality traits written into the characters in Beautiful Souls were borrowed from my children. So, I drew inspiration from my life and the lives around me, then my imagination did the rest.
8. How personal is your writing?
SM: Although my writing is completely fiction, I draw inspiration from the lives and events all around me. I put my heart, soul, and feelings into each word that's written, so my writing is incredibly personal.
9. Are you currently working on any new writing? (Will there be a sequel to Beautiful Souls?)
SM: There is absolutely going to be a Beautiful Souls 2 (still untitled) which is currently being written and will hopefully be released late 2013. I'm sure this will be a relief to anyone who has already read Beautiful Souls (those of you who have read the book know why I say this :)
10. Do you recall how your interest in writing origionated?
SM: I remember as a child that I would read and write constantly. I lost those loves for many years while I was in college and during the time that my children were very young. My obsession with reading was sparked again a few years ago, and that filled my head with so many ideas. Those ideas nagged me night and day until I finally sat down and wrote the first three chapters to Beautiful Souls in less than a week, and the rest is history.
11. In the description of your book, the main characters are best friends turned love interests. Have you ever had a relationship with a guy who was also your best friend? If not, Do you ever find yourself jealous of the connection you created between your characters?
SM: My relationship with my husband did not start as friends, although we almost immediately became best friends after we started dating. I've never had a relationship myself, like the one between Becca and Leo in Beautiful Souls. Becca and Leo's relationship was written this way because I remember my mom telling me at least a hundred times during my dating years that the man I marry should be my best friend, and that advice translated into Becca and Leo growing up as best friends in the book then turning love interests once in high school. I don't think I'm jealous of Becca and Leo's relationship, but it's definitely nice to write a character's actions to be exactly how I'd want my boyfriend or husband to act. :)
12. I would like to end the interview with something fun. Can you tell me something fun/random/wonky/crazy about yourself or your writing habits? (ignore the yellow.. I am not sure how to get rid of it. haha)
SM: I'm not sure how much there is about me that's fun/random/wonky/crazy because afterall, I'm a mom of three so I have to be pretty normal and reliable as to not embarrass my children on a daily basis. But, one thing that was strange/different about me while writing Beautiful Souls was that not one living soul knew that I was writing a book. Nope, not my husband, or children, or sisters, or parents, or friends. After Beautiful Souls went live on Amazon and B&N I told my sister-in-law, husband, and children, then I started getting calls from other family members and friends when they saw posts/updates about the book on my Facebook page and blog. I'm sure there are even still a few family members out there that still don't know about Beautiful Souls. I guess I'm wonky like that. :)
Sarah's Contact Links
This is what life is like --- what a real life should be like --- perhaps. A life full of adventure, terror, joy, secrets, and of course family. I knew that this world, which I still had not fully processed or accepted, was what I had been waiting and hoping for all my life. Still a burden, certainly, but one that I now carry willingly; for this is my family and my legacy, without which I would be nothing.
There is never a single surprise in Fairview, Indiana. Routine, routine, routine, seems to be the town’s motto; that is, until four new residents move to town.
Fairview’s small-town resident, Becca Olson, has spent the first seventeen years of her life appreciating her surroundings, but she hopes everyday for something more. When she heads off for another unexceptional, typical day as a junior at Sycamore High School, she’s made aware of four new residents that have recently moved to her quaint town; two of which are Sycamore’s new students, Zoey and Luke Fitzgerald. This is when Becca’s life becomes suddenly and unexpectedly more interesting and frightening.
When Becca’s small-town life is turned upside down by unexplained visions, an attack on her life, and her best friend, Leo, turned boyfriend reveals his inherited family secret, she learns that life hasn’t always been what she thought it was. A gift from Leo and an unexpected find for her mother’s antique shop sparks curiosity about Becca’s own family heritage. When her own family secret --- her predetermined destiny of becoming a shape-shifting witch--- is revealed, Becca is thrown into a magical world of witches and warlocks, soul-possession, shape-shifting, and flying. As if all of that isn’t enough, she also has to contend with evil wizards disguised as friends who want nothing more than to rob her of everything she holds dear ---including her own life
[sorry for the quality. My camera is Crap-tastic. (: ]
This looks so great! Thanks for sharing with us! I adore that cover as well.
ReplyDeleteDid the author have any say on the design of the book cover? Also, who in the author's life encouraged them to sit down and write their first book?
Thanks for the giveaway!
mestith at gmail dot com