The writing process has always fascinated me. There's something magical about reading a good book. And the really good ones make me wonder how did the author come up with this story idea? How did they go about creating this masterpiece? Since this stuff interests me, I thought it might interest you too.
I've been reading Amanda Hocking's books lately and they are fascinating to me, especially her newest releases in the Trylle Trilogy. Switched, book 1, is out and Torn, book 2, will be out soon with Ascend, book 3, to follow shortly after.
She currently has several novels out now, My Blood Approves, Fate, Flutter and Wisdom a series based on one girl's love triangle with two vampires. Hollowland is her post-apocalyptic novel about zombies and the story of a girl who fights them as she searches for her brother. The Trylle trilogy is her latest release about Wendy Everly who, thanks to a mysterious guy in her life, Finn, finds out she's been switched at birth and finds herself drawn into the world of Trylle that is both appalling and fascinating.
I asked Amanda for an interview and she kindly accepted. I asked her several questions about how she writes her wonderful novels and then some specific questions about her latest releases. Hope you enjoy it!
Amanda, where do you get your inspiration from for your books?
A lot of different places. I had a couple ideas floating around before I got to working on the Trylle Trilogy. I wanted to write a paranormal story that hadn’t been done a thousand times before, so I was looking into a lot of different folklore to get an idea for it. But the opening sequence I had in my mind from the start. That came to me after I read an article about Andrea Yates.
How do you go about naming your characters?
With the Trylle Trilogy, I looked up a lot of Scandinavian names because the story is based on Scandinavian folklore. But I spend a lot of time hanging out at Babynames.com when I’m naming characters.
Do you plot your novels before you write them or do you "fly by the seat of your pants"?
I plot them out. I outline like mad. If I try to write “by the seat of my pants,” it ends up all bogged down and rambling.
You are able to release your novels so quickly. How long does it take you to write a book?
On average, 2-4 weeks. But that’s just the writing process. I’ve already outlined and researched before I start writing, then after I write, I have all the editing left to do.
Do you ever encounter writer's block and if so what do you do to get over it?
Not really. I used to when I was less organized. But I have a bulletin board with a list of future projects, and I have outlines of the stories before I work on them. So it makes it harder. I always know what’s coming up.
Music or no music while you write?
Almost always music. On my blog, I have “soundtracks” for each book I have out. The soundtracks are made from the music I listened to while writing. I pick the 15-20 that I think fit the story best.
Favorite snackage while writing?
Sweet Tarts and Red Bull.
Favorite place to write?
My office. I have a poster of Christian Bale above my monitor, and his glaring down on me helps keep me on track.
Any advice to new writers out there?
I think it’s a really great time to be a writer right now. But don’t rush into anything. Take time to research and edit your books. Write a lot, read a lot, and listen to your voice. Don’t force it.
Now that we've discovered a bit of how you create your wonderful books, let's explore your newest trilogy of books you are releasing, The Trylle trilogy.
Can you give a brief summation of your Trylle books for readers?
Wendy Everly is a teenage girl who discovers she was a changeling and has to adjust to who she really is and what it means. It’s sort like the Princess Diaries, but darker with a paranormal slant.
Your Trylle books are original, wonderful, and captivating. How did you come up with the idea for this trilogy?
I read a couple sentences about vitterfolk. In Scandinavian folklore, trolls were beautiful and intelligent, but ill-tempered and sneaky. They were known for stealing from humans, changelings, and communing with nature.
Did you spend a lot of time researching this series?
I spent a few weeks. I’d say 2-4 works before I wrote the book I spent researching and writing the outline.
How do you write fight scenes so well? I was able to feel every punch or kick Wendy took or gave. Did you get into a lot of fights? (Just kidding!)
I did get in a few fights in elementary and middle school, but I was on the losing end most of the time. ;)
Who is your favorite character from the Trylle world?
That’s hard to say. I dig Elora a lot, and Oren in the second book. I also like Tove and Finn, and I do really like Loki.
The names of the characters in the Trylle trilogy are so unique, how did you come up with them?
I got most them from the Finnish and Swedish top names. Tove came from a Finnish author who wrote a series of books about trolls. Elora is actually the name of the baby in Willow, and I always thought it was pretty awesome name.
Which scene was your favorite to write in Switched (Book 1) and Torn (Book 2)?
In Switched, it was definitely the ballroom scene towards the end of the book. Where Wendy is running down the hall in gown. In my head, it looked pretty awesome. In Torn, my favorite scene is either in the beginning when Wendy is first talking to Loki, or in a scene where Wendy and Tove are talking. (I don’t way to say more to spoil it.)
When is the third book coming out?
January 2011.
Any chance you'll write more than three books in this series?
I don’t think so. The Trylle Trilogy would be a bad name for four books, haha. But I haven’t crossed out the idea of doing a spinoff series in the future.
Who does your beautiful book covers?
I did the covers for the My Blood Approves series and the Trylle Trilogy. I hired a cover artist for Hollowland, and the fantabulous new cover for Honalee is from Phatpuppy Art.
Where can we buy your books?
They are all available in paperback and Kindle at Amazon, and as ebooks at Barnes &Noble. I have links to all my books from my blog too.
Amanda, thank you so much for your time. I've really enjoyed getting to know more about your writing process and more about your Trylle trilogy.
Thank you for having me. :)
If you would like to learn more about author Amanda Hocking and her books, you can find her on the web at:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/amanda_hocking
My blog: http://amandahocking.blogspot.com/
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/amandahockingfans
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/amanda_hocking
