I’ve got a lot of good stuff for you today on the blog tour for We Other, author Sue Bentley very kindly answered some of my questions and there is a giveaway as well. Don’t say I’m not good to you…first off though here is what the book is about.
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Family secrets, changelings, and fairies you never want to meet on a dark night.
Jess Morgan’s life has always been chaotic.
When a startling new reality cannot be denied, it’s clear that everything she believed about herself is a lie. She is linked to a world where humans – ‘hot-bloods’ – are disposable entertainment. Life on a run-down estate – her single mum’s alcoholism and violent boyfriend – become the least of Jess’s worries.
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You’re well known for writing children’s books – what made you switch to a novel for YA readers?
It’s actually not that much of a switch. I started out writing for adults and like all, or most, new writers collected lots of rejections. My first literary agent suggested I’d be good at writing for children, which at the time I thought meant going for an easier option. I soon discovered my mistake! It took a while to learn how to write to fit a required brief and please an editor, but I ended up contributing to an existing children’s book series, and a new one about to be launched, each under a different pen name. Fourteen books later, I finally had the opportunity to write my own Magic Kitten, Magic Puppy, Magic Ponies and Magic Bunny series. Luckily for me they’re all still in print and selling around the world.
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What was the inspiration behind We Other?
There were lots of things that led to writing this book. One of them was reading Tithe by Holly Black. It ‘spoke’ to me immediately. I’ve always been fascinated by fairy tales and folklore, particularly of the UK – but not exclusively. I’ve a collection of books of fairy tales, natural history, plant lore etc As a child I spent a lot of time in the outdoors and loved woods and forests. I had all that knowledge and interest inside of me and nowhere to put it. Reading Tithe opened up the possibility of creating my own characters and world building based on my interest in fairies. But my book would be firmly rooted in the UK and seen through a different lens to that of the fabulous Holly Black whose fiction is firmly of the USA.
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We Other has been described as dark fantasy, was it your intention to write it this way or did it naturally evolve that way?
A bit of both! I was well aware that the fairies that fascinated me were not always the sanitised, pretty versions in cartoons or cute sweet things, like those in The Flower Fairy books. I like my fairies with sharp teeth, cruel intentions and sly grins, so the book was always going to have some darker aspects. It did get very dark at times, which I hadn’t planned for. But it suited the plot and the added drama and peril kept my characters on their toes!
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Who is your favourite character in the book?
I love them all, good and bad. But if I had to choose one, it would have to be Jess Morgan. We Other is Jess’s story – her journey from a bleak, lonely and difficult life with few prospects of improvement, to a totally new and unexpected existence. We experience much of the story through her viewpoint, although other key characters show us how they are affected by meeting and interacting with Jess. Jess is awkward, difficult, introverted, at first, but she’s brave and willing to take risks and has a heart of gold. If she was your friend, she’d be on your side, no matter what.
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What kind of project are you working on next?
Well I have a couple of things underway. I’ve recently completed the first draft of a novel entitled Second Skin. It’s not exactly about fairies, but there are certain similarities. The main character is a shape-changer, who belongs to a conquering race of beings. She’s been brought up on a remote farmstead. At the start of the book she’s about to begin living at court with its strict rules and protocol, but things don’t go to plan. Something terrible happens to turn her life upside down. I still have a lot of work to do on this book. I’m setting it aside for a while, so I can re-visit it with a fresh eye. I’m also in the early stages of writing a sequel to We Other. I’m a few chapters in, but there’s lots of planning to do before I move on. This book’s entitled, Scar You. I’m excited about getting back to the world of We Other and introducing fresh and interesting new characters, as well as picking up with those I know so well.
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Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Writers must write. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? But if I had a penny for all the people who said to me that they were going to write a book someday…There are no short cuts. Just start writing. You’ll learn so much in the process. The first book you write will not be your best work. But you’ll have something to edit and improve. If you keep on writing and don’t give up, take the knocks and the criticism, and pick yourself up after you’ve cried into your cornflakes – you’ll get there. It’s a crowded market these days, but it always was. Writing’s hard work. But keep at it, believe in yourself, and your dream of being published will come true. I’m living proof of that. Good Luck!
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If you like the sound of the book then click the link below to win…
a signed copy of We Other and a personal letter
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There are a lot of other stops on the tour with more brilliant content so be sure to check them out.
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Sue Bentley discovered a love of books at an early age. She worked for Northamptonshire Libraries for many years, while teaching herself the craft of writing. She is the author of the worldwide bestselling Magic Kitten, Magic Puppy, Magic Ponies, Magic Bunny series for age 5-9 years. She also writes for children and adults under various pen names. A lover of English Folklore, her books often contain elements of the otherworld and the darkness within the everyday. Her books have been translated into around 20 languages. We Other is her first book for Young Adults.
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everywhere-and-nowhere.com 