Every other Wednesday, I’ll be showcasing authors who got an agent in the last couple of years. If you’d like to be a part of this, let me know in the comments or contact me via Twitter @judi__Lauren
I’m so excited to kick this off with an interview with Amy Mills. Not only is she an awesome writer, she’s also my critique partner and I would never have gotten an agent without her. Welcome to the blog, Amy!
What was the hardest part about writing your book?
Um—the actual writing it part? TC was my first novel I’d written. I’d dabbled in fanfiction when I was a teen, but I’d never created my own world and my own characters before. So really, the hardest part was finding the confidence to write it at all (and then showing it to others!)
Showing it to others is the worst necessary evil for me too. How did you meet your agent?
We met through the contest Agent Match.
Do you have a rough number of how many queries you sent out before being offered representation?
Around 22.
What inspires you to write?
A lot of the time it’s characters that won’t shut up that drive me to actually opening a word document. To be honest, sometimes there is no inspiration that gets me through writing…it’s just the stubbornness of wanting to finish what I started.
Can you tell us a little bit about your creative process? Where do you get your ideas and characters?
From everywhere and everything. I wish I had a more definitive answer because it might be easier getting ideas! My creative process mostly consists of me walking around town, listening to music, and letting my mind wander.
Many people have jobs along with writing. How do you balance that schedule?
I’m lucky that my day job is low stress and only requires exactly eight hours of my day. Typically I’ll write on my lunch breaks and after I get home from work (my husband and cats are pretty independent so I can get a lot done 😉
Is there a fictional character or book you wish you had created?
No. The reason I love certain characters and worlds so much is because of the way that creator made them. If I created Harry Potter, I don’t think it would’ve been nearly as awesome.
HP is the most awesome. Can you tell us what you enjoy most about writing?
Living so many different lives and experiences. That happens with reading, too, but as a writer you get so much more immersed in your characters and their world. Oh, and I also love the “sudden burst of inspiration” feeling. You know—that moment where suddenly you come up with a great idea to untangle a complicated plot and you feel like you can solve all the world’s problems? Yeah—I love that.
I love those moments too! Can you describe your awesome MC Jess in three words each?
Scientist, independent, and lonely
Before you leave, would you share the first sentence of your query that got you an agent?
I haven’t looked at my query in months! Alright, here it goes:
The last words Jess Irons heard from her murdered mother were: Hide. Lazarus is alive.
Thanks so much, Amy!
Amy is a science fiction author with a soft spot for STEM protagonists, adventure, and heart-wrenching romances. When she isn’t engineering or writing, you can find her tutoring math or taking dance classes. She’s lived in San Diego her entire life, making her a certified weather wimp and a lover of California burritos. She enjoys traveling around the world with her husband, even if it means leaving her three cats, Sherlock, Watson, and Moriarty (all of whom live up to their individual namesakes) at home. You can find her at her website or on Twitter @ms_amymills
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