Book Blurb
Sharra's
world is a terrifying place.
Violent
seismic 'Shifts' and outbreaks of an all-consuming black fire radically alter
landscapes on an increasingly frequent basis. Only the Map Makers can predict
where the Shift will fall, and Sharra, daughter to one of the most famous Map
Makers, yearns to join their ranks and break a cultural taboo that forbids
female cartographers.
Sharra's
father, Lord Milton, is one of the few to challenge the current order, but his
shadowy past limits his political reach and his second wife, Lady Ivory, is
determined to manipulate him to ensure a privileged future for herself and her
daughter, Jayne.
The
main obstacle standing in Ivory's way is Sharra.
Author Interview
1. What
would you consider to be your Kryptonite as an author?
Good conversation. I love exchanging ideas and chatting with interesting
people. It’s the only thing that comes close to bringing me as much enjoyment
as writing, but I can engage in it for lengthy periods and it can all too
easily eat into my writing time.
2. If
you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Focus more on your writing
and you’ll get their sooner!
3. Favorite
childhood memory involving books?|
We had a book club at primary school. We picked books out of a catalogue, paid
for them and then waited. They all arrived in one enormous box and the teacher
opened it in the middle of the class. Waiting for my new books to arrive was so
exciting.
4. If
you could dine with any literary character, who would it be and why?
The Darkling from Leigh
Bardugo’s Grishaverse novels. Gotta love a bad boy.
5. What
fantastical fictional world would you want to live in (if any) given the
chance?
I would like to live in Gail Carriger’s steampunk world. Probably a female assassin
with a truly preposterous name.
6. Did
you want to be an author when you grew up?
Yes. Always. I loved making up stories as a child but it wasn’t until I reached
adulthood that I really believed that I could do it for a living.
7. If
you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
Creative, inquisitive, difficult.
8. What
is your most unusual writing quirk?
I can spend years thinking about a book and then write in just a few months.
9. What’s one movie
you like recommending to others?
Cowboys and Aliens. It’s such an outlandish premise that you would think it
simply couldn’t work, but it’s delivered with aplomb and it really does. The
fact it had Daniel Craig in it didn’t hurt either. ;)
10. If you could
own any animal as a pet, what would it be?
I love shoebills. A very unusual bird which looks like Jim Henson created it.
11. Have
you ever met anyone famous?
I used to be a journalist, so I’ve met a few TV stars (Colin Baker, Una Stubbs,
Johnny Morris), and as an ex-chair of the Society of Authors in Scotland, I’ve
also met loads of authors (William Gibson, Alan Campbell, Charles Stross, etc.)
12. What
is the first book that made you cry?
I’m not
sure, but I think it might have been Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy.
13.
How long, on average, does it take you to write a book?
Between
two months and two years – length makes little difference!
14.
How do you select the names of your characters?
With much
pain and consideration. I often end up asking my partner because he’s got a
vivid imagination and comes up with excellent and appropriate names.
15.
What creature do you consider your "spirit animal" to be?
A snow leopard. They love the cold and I do live in Scotland.
16.
What are your top 5 favorite movies?
In no
particular order - Casablanca / Harvey / Cowboys & Aliens / Kingsman: The
Secret Service / Grosse Pointe Blank
17. If
you were the last person on Earth, what would you do?
Attempt
to make an interplanetary communicator and find some aliens.
18.
What fictional character would you want to be friends with in real life?
John
Constantine. I know that a lot of his friends die, but I hope I’d be one of the
other group.
19. Do
you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Write for
as long as it gives you pleasure.
20.
What book do you wish you had written?
The
Secret History by Donna Tartt
21.
Tell us 10 fun facts about yourself!
I can
hypnotize people / I’m good with a blow torch /I also write plays / I love
cooking – currently exploring Middle Eastern recipes / I’m mostly vegan
(haven’t given up eggs yet) / I nearly always win when playing Splendor (I love
the gems) / I’m an avid Star Trek fan (and have been from childhood) / I have a
two-inch scar that I got from broken glass / I was a frequent test subject for
Edinburgh University’s Parapsychology Department / I’m listed on IMDb
22. If you could live in any time period, what would
it be and why?
|All time
periods have their drawbacks – rather fond of Edwardian times. I’d love being a
grand hostess and gathering the minds of the moment around a dinner table.
Except, being female, I would be at a disadvantage in such a strongly
patriarchal time.
23.What
is your favorite genre to read?
I read everything. It’s the
characters and story that I look to love. I’m open to all genres.
24. When
did you write your first book?
I must have been about
eight. Sadly, I didn’t keep the manuscript.
25. What
sparks your creativity/how do you get your ideas?
Dreams – all my most successful books have come from dreams that I’ve had.
26. What
do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I teach part-time at University, creative writing and journalism. I love
encouraging students and seeing them grow. I also spend a lot of time reading,
cooking and playing games. Yoga has become a bit of thing for me during
lockdown.
27. What’s
a typical writing day like for you?
Thinking, thinking,
thinking, thinking – WRITE!
28. Do
you listen to music when writing?
No. I find it distracting.
29. If
you could have a dinner party with 3 other authors, who would they be?
Dorothy L. Sayers, Robertson Davies and Conan Doyle.
30. If
you had to pick a celebrity to cast for your main character, who would it be?
Darci Shaw (who played Jessie in Netflix’s The Irregulars)
31. If
you could travel anywhere in the world to write, where would you go?
Petra in Jordan. I would love to sit in that environment and be inspired by all
the history that had happened there.
32. Would
you ever write under a pseudonym?
I do. I could tell you, but then they’d have to kill you. ;)
33. Do
you have a favorite food/snack/drink when writing (or anytime)?
Coffee – made with freshly ground beans
34. How do you
choose your book covers?
I normally describe how I see the cover and then the publisher offers
suggestions. They’ve always been excellent.
35. What’s one thing
you’d like to say to your readers?
Thank you for buying and
reading my work. The more stories are read, the more they and the characters in
them come alive.
Caroline lives for stories. Reading them. Telling them, Watching them. She can't get enough of them. She can hypnotise people and she sings well in the shower. She enjoys cooking, but hates housework, and has managed to convince everyone who knows her that she doesn't understand washing up. So much so that when friends visit some of them do it for her. Fortunately she also has a dishwasher. She always feels she didn't make enough of her teenage years, and hopes that at least the teenagers in her books do!
Follow her at:
Website : https://caroline-dunford.squarespace.com/
2 Comments
I love this interview! Thank you so much <3
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! :)
DeletePlease try not to spam posts with the same comments over and over again. Authors like seeing thoughtful comments about their books, not the same old, "I like the cover" or "sounds good" comments. While that is nice, putting some real thought and effort in is appreciated. Thank you.