"The bond between author and reader has always fascinated me. Without the reader's imagination, an author's words are dead in the dark. Only when you open their book do you make them come alive. It's like a spell. And you spread that magic because you talk about the book, post about it, or give it away to someone." - Thomas Olde Heuvelt, Hex & Echo.
Our next author featured in our series is Sally Thorne. I thought I'd leave it to a writer to explain why I am doing this series of author interviews and I couldn't have said it better than Thomas Olde Heuvelt above.
You can order 99 Percent Mine on our website HERE (support indies). I hope you all enjoy this interview as much as I did. I am always pleasantly surprised by the Lightning Round. Our Virtual Romance Book Club will be discussing 99 Percent Mine Thursday January 5th at 7pm PST on Zoom. Details HERE.
Stephanie Rose: Can you take us through your writing process for 99 Percent Mine? How did the writing process differ from your other work?
Sally Thorne: I think I complain in my author letter in 99 PERCENT MINE how hard it was to write. It was my second book (and everyone told me, the second one is the hardest!) and I felt a lot of pressure, due to the unexpected success
of my debut, THE HATING GAME. I had writer’s block and didn’t know how to trust myself. It was compared a lot to THG, which was tough because they’re very different.
Now, with four books to my name, I am learning that each book is different, and you have to relearn the process every time.
SR: What character do you most identify with and why?
ST: In 99%, I identify most with Truly. I’m fairly chill and happy to work on my own thing in the background. I like that she is scaling up her business and is successful by selling things she made with her own two hands.
SR: If you could only recommend one of your books which would you choose and why?
ST: I recommend THE HATING GAME because it’s my most successful release, and has been adapted into a movie starring Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell.
SR: Do you listen to any music when you write? If so what kind?
ST: When writing 99 PERCENT MINE I had a playlist that included Revelatory Eyes by The Paper Kites, Mine by Bazzi, I Will Possess Your Heart by Death Cab for Cutie, and the song that I really think of when I think of Darcy Barrett- Bad at Love by Halsey.
SR: What is the best piece of life advice that you've received?
ST: Write your dream book.
SR: Can you tell us what you're currently working on?
ST: I’ll start a new book in 2023. Not sure which direction I’ll go in yet, as my last release ANGELIKA FRANKENSTEIN MAKES HER MATCH was a historical, and quite a departure from the contemporary romance I’m best known for. Watch this space!
SR: Any recent books, films, shows, or podcasts you want to recommend to our readers?
ST: Books: The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
Films: Barb and Star Go to Vista del Mar
TV: Love Between Fairy and Devil (Chinese, on Netflix)
Podcasts: Going West (true crime)
Lightning Round | Altered and Borrowed from James Lipton
SR: What is your favorite word?
ST: Pug.
SR: What is your least favorite word?
ST: Diarrhea.
SR: What is your favorite romance movie?
ST: Amelie.
SR: What is your favorite romance book?
ST: Any release by Christina Lauren.
SR: What sound or noise do you love?
ST: Australian kookaburra.
SR: What sound or noise do you hate?
ST: Alarm clocks.
SR: What is your favorite curse word?
ST: Dipshit.
SR: What profession other than your own would you like to
attempt?
ST: Dog groomer.
SR: What profession would you not like to do?
ST: Skyscraper window washer.
SR: If you knew you were going to die and only had a chance to read one more book what would it be?
ST: My diary from when I was 17.
SR: You plan a movie night and can watch one movie with any one writer. What writer and what movie do you choose?
ST: I’d watch Bridget Jones’s Diary with Mhairi McFarlane.
SR: What author dead or alive would you want to spend the day with and in what fictional place?
ST: I’d like to travel through Narnia in a sleigh, with Christina Lauren. They are two people writing under that pen name, so I’ll sit in the middle.
SALLY THORNE lives in Canberra, Australia and spends her days writing, reading, and drinking cups of tea. She lives with her husband in a house filled with vintage toys, too many cushions and a haunted dollhouse.