AUTHOR INTERVIEW
WITH
CAROL KUNZ/AMANDA JASON
PLEASE WELCOME THE BRILLIANT AUTHOR BEHIND THE BOOK 'LUCKY NUMBER
FOUR' THAT TOOK AMAZON BY STORM,
CAROL aka AMANDA.
Hi, Carol!
Tell us a little about yourself.
I was born in England. Graduated from an
American high school in England. My Mum is English and my Dad is American. I'm
left-handed, redheaded and I don't tan. I broke my neck 20 years ago and during
my second surgery, I died on the
table. Totally changed my life. My pen name for my NA books is Amanda Jason
which where my twins that I lost my first pregnancy. Amanda live one week and
Jason lived two. But because my book Lucky Number Four sold crazy worldwide,
they live on in memory.
How would you describe your books?
I write YA/MG paranormal/dystopian with
my son, Adam. I wrote my first book last year and released it in January of
this year. It's a NA romantic comedy.
What genre is your work mainly? Do you tend to stay in the
same vein or are you hoping (if not already) to explore new ventures?
I love all genres and will probably try my hand at most of them
Share with us a quote from one of
your favourite characters in your books.
"So what's it like to be
queer nowadays?" This is from Dora's grandma who says inappropriate things
all the time. She's automatically assumed the models are all gay because her
granddaughter is living with them.
Is it hard to come up with new ideas
and / or plots?
Not really, I love daydreaming and
that helps.
What inspired you to write your
book?
I always wanted to write a book
and so when my son came to me 4 years ago to ask me to write a book with him, I
jumped at the chance. We have written three so far and plan on writing more
together, after I finish the next book in my NA series.
Who is the easiest character to
write for and why?
The hardest and why?
Females are the easiest and the hardest
are the male characters. My hubby helps me with that.
Without giving anything away, what
is / are your favourite scenes in your book (s)?
My favorite scenes are family
dinners at Dora's
Parent’s house.
Do you have any hobbies?
Reading, making swag, going to the gym
Do you have a specific writing
style?
Not really
How did you come up with the
title?
Dora moves in with three male
models and I had to think of a reason why they needed her to move in so badly.
How much of the book is realistic?
It's all fictional ~wink wink~
Are any experiences based on someone you
know, or events in your own life?
Maybe :)
What books have most influenced
your life most?
The Chronicles of Narnia
If you had to choose, which writer
would you consider a mentor?
C.S. Lewis
What book are you reading now?
I'm reading a manuscript by a
fellow author
What are your current projects?
Working on book 2 of Lucky Series,
also I've been asked by a group of authors to be involved in an anthology.
If you had to do it all over
again, would you change anything in your books?
No, I love Lucky Number
Four
Do you recall how your interest in
writing originated?
I've always daydreamed and one day I was
asked to write a short story for my Literature class when I was 11. My teacher,
unbeknownst to me, submitted t to a contest in our town in England. I won and
received an award from the mayor. When I was growing up we didn't have
computers, so when I received my first laptop from my son, Adam, I knew it
would change my life.
Can you share a little of your current
work with us?
My next book involves another one of the
models and his story.
Is there anything you find
particularly challenging in your writing?
Commas, I hate commas. Luckily, my editor loves
them :)
Who is your favorite author and
what is it that really strikes you about their work?
J.D. Robb. Her futuristic world
building is amazing, as are her characters. I feel that I truly know them
personally.
Who designed the covers?
C.A. Kunz covers for The Childe were
created by the head graphic designer at Universal Studios and The Modified and
my own Lucky Number Four were created by Sarah Hansen.
What was the hardest part of writing
your book?
Trying to write a romantic comedy
when my life was not very comedic.
Did you learn anything from writing your
book and what was it?
That I could do it and people
actually read it and like it.
Do you have any advice for other
writers?
Start out by writing what you
know. Never Give Up!!!!
Do you have anything specific that
you want to say to your readers?
Thank you from the bottom of my heart
for taking my book worldwide.
What is your favourite genre to
write?
Young Adult
What is your favourite genre to
read?
That is so hard. I enjoy reading
all genres.
How long have you been writing
for?
The last four years regularly and
before that I wrote poems and short stories, for my eyes only.
What is your favourite movie?
Bridget Jones's Diary
How difficult is it to come up with one
of your amazing plots?
If I bounce my ideas off of someone
else, it's not that hard.
How about characters? Are they
easily born and developed?
I love my characters. I'm a people
watcher so I have many characters to work with.
How long does it take you to
complete a novel from concept to completion?
With my son, it took almost a year
for our first book, seven months for our second book and four months for our
fourth. Lucky Number Four took me almost a year.
What was your first published
piece? And how was it to publish your first book?
The Childe, which I wrote with
my son. I slept with the proof on my pillow. Yes, I'm a nerd.
Have you ever trashed a novel or
story before or after finishing it, feeling it wasn't turning out as you
planned?
Not yet.
Out of all your brilliant characters, which
ones were you favourite?
That is such a hard question. It's like
saying which of my children are my favorite.
Do you have a special time or
place to write?
I write in my oversized, stuffed
recliner on my laptop.
Any funny experiences or quirks
you'd like to share with your readers.
I'm not superstitious but I always leave
my house with non-holey underwear. That comes from my English grandma who use
to tell me this in case I'm in an accident. Weird huh?
Which one of your awesome books would
you like to see be made in to a movie?
What was the worse job you ever done?
Washing pots and pans by hand, in
a dining hall, on an Air Force Base in England. The water had to be
so hot; I had to wear special gloves. My hair
always looked a mess from the steam and my face always looked like I was
blushing.
Do you ever get any ideas at random
moments, and if so how do you hand on to them?
Yes, I make notes on my phone for later.
Can you write on demand and under
pressure, or do you need time and space before the creativity starts to flow
and how do you overcome writers block?
I can write under pressure but I prefer
to take my time.
Who was your inspiration behind
your lead men in your books?
If I don't say my hubby, I might
get in trouble.
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