Author Interview: S.C. Wright

Bad Reception by S.C. Wright

Series: Sanctuary Book 1

Release Date: 27th October 2015
Publisher:  Snow Leopard

Genres: Urban Fantasy


Brook Cottage Books is thrilled to welcome Shannen Wright to the blog.

Do you write under your real name or is this a pen name you use?  

This is my real name.

Where are you from?

I'm from Fife, which is a really cold part of Scotland in the UK. It's an "infamous for having four seasons in one day" kind of place.

List 3 interesting facts about yourself. 

Oh okay, let me see. Number one, I love languages. I can speak English, French, and Japanese, and I'm currently working on my Spanish, German and Swedish at the moment. I wouldn't say I was fluent in all of them, but I know enough to get by.

Number two, I love lolita fashion. It's a Japanese sub-culture and fashion and I adore the clothing. It's all about frilly and puffy skirts – and nothing to do with the book or film. I have a few pictures of myself wearing the outfits. See pics!

And thirdly, I have a pet bearded dragon. His name is Spike and he is four years old this year. He is one of the smuggest animals on the planet. 

What was the first thing you ever had published?

Currently, this is my first book; Bad Reception, to be published. This is one that Snow Leopard are working on right now. I'm super excited about this and already have a few sequels planned for it. 

Do you have a writing routine?

As yet, I mostly write when I have the inspiration for it. I don't have any fixed time, but I do try to write as much as possible. There's not really any day when I'm not at a computer so I have no excuse not to be typing something up at least once or twice a day. Even if it's not book related.

Do you have any writing rituals? 

I need my music. I've always been of the believe that music helps you feel and, especially if I'm writing something dramatic or emotional, I need music in the background. It the music is right, the inspiration lasts for hours. Actually, I find out of the best soundtracks for writing – for me anyway – is the soundtrack for the fourth assassin's creed game. It sounds silly, but I can listen to that on repeat while I type and the muse just keeps coming!

Where did the idea for your most recent book come from?

It's funny, because Bad Reception is something I've been working on for quite some time. I've always had what I think it an active imagination, and I believe that, as a teenager, I think every kid has that urge to run away from home? Even if it's just for a split second. Whether it is to escape bullies, school, abuse, or really, any reason. Well, I thought to myself, what if you did? What's the best outcome if one of those kids who wanted to escape their life, could. What if it happened for the better?

On a serious note, I've never experienced any abuse personally, but in my book, I think Kana has a lot of hardships to deal with regarding her family and if my book can provide an escape – even on a small scale – or a temporary retreat, then it's done it's job. That's what Gabriella's hotel is all about, after all, it's a place you can go, if you have nowhere else to go.

Who was the first person you shared your book with? 

One of my friends who lives in Seattle, Brittney. She's a good friend and she motivated me to keep going and finish it. At first, it was just a rough sketch of an outline, but she made it so much bigger. She kept telling me to write and she was so excited to read more about my characters . It was with her help that I could really see just how amazing my work was and that I needed to share it with other people who might need that inspiration or motivation in their lives. I still get nervous sometimes, but if I can help a few people and inspire them, then the book has done its job!

Do you have a current work in progress?

Well, I'm currently working on follow up books, sequels to Bad Reception, to show that the story isn't done yet. There are still some things about the characters pasts that we need to find out and Kana still has a bit of growing up yet to do... In fact, there are several characters I think who still need a bit of growing up to do!

Do you have any advice for budding authors?

People tell me that they want to write, but they don't know what to write. Just write anything. Write what you know, write about something no-one knows. Make something up. Write about something you're passionate about. Just keep writing.

Also, don't expect the first thing you write to be amazing. Every story goes through so much editing before it reaches the editor, the publisher, and even the shelves, so if something doesn't look amazing after you write it, remember it's only the first draft. Keep going. Finish your work and edit it later! I promise it's okay to leave it and come back!

About the Author

I was born in Fife, and, diagnosed with Autism at the age of 8. For years I tried to be normal, decided that wasn't going to cut it, and set out to make my own path in life. I studied Art for a year in college, while serving KFC chicken to people, and then became a bar worker. Now I serve drinks to people pretending to be normal while trying to get my books known in the world. I paint, draw, sing and write in my spare time, only two of which I manage with any degree of talent, and at the same time take care of my bearded dragon, Spike, who comes up with the best ideas!

Author links – Blog - www.scwright.co.uk

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/scwrightofficial

Book Blurb

Listening to your parents is hard work. As a teenager, you're always right, of course, but to them everything you do comes up short. Kana is nearing the end of her teenage years and is already a young woman. With no career prospects, no goals in life, she just can't seem to attain her family's expectations. On her nineteenth birthday, an accident caused by her own shortcomings causes a domino effect of chaos turning her life from boring and mundane to terrifying and supernatural. Kidnapped by a vampire and her chauffeur, she ends up the hostage of a host of strange creatures: Chloe, a mild mannered Cajun vampire. Vincent, a Welsh werewolf with a penchant for piracy and a history of drug abuse. Gabriella, a Spanish immortal who cannot die, and her daughter, a shapeshifter.

Will she finally find her way back home to her family? Or is family more than blood and kin?

Buy Links – Available in Ebook at http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0179WEHSC or in Paperback from May 2016