Author Interview with Lauren Shaw and giveaway.

Welcome Everyone! 

Today we have a special guest on Book Passion for Life. As you all know I recently read and reviewed a book called 'The Advice Girl'. 

So.....Please give a big welcome to author Lauren Shaw. Lauren has kindly agreed to do an author interview and a FAB giveaway. Before we start though, we'd like to say massive Thank You to Lauren for taking the time to answer our questions. 

1) When did you first realise you wanted to become a writer?

I’ve never really thought of becoming a writer professionally until recently. But I’ve always loved writing. I wrote my first poem when I was five years old. I think it was about kings, queens, and castles… and it was silly. I kept journals all through school and wrote poetry. But I never attempted to write a book until a couple years ago when “The Advice Girl” was born.

2) How long did it take you to write 'The Advice Girl'?

I wrote the rough draft for the book in about a week. Then it sat on my laptop for about two years. I never really thought I’d do anything with it. It was just something I felt like doing at the time. I picked it up again a couple months ago and began trying to edit it and revise parts I thought needed more description. But all of that was a much longer process, and took me about three weeks.

3) What is your work schedule like when writing?

I’ve always been an insomniac. So I usually work my job during the day, and at night I write. If I have the next day off I stay up sometimes until five or six in the morning. If I have to get up and go to work, I try to be in bed early… but it never works out. There is just something about the night time that goes perfectly with writing. I very rarely write during the day.

 4) What inspired you to write 'The Advice Girl'?

Sometimes I just feel like there is something “off” about the world, and it needs to change for the better. That was the inspiration for the book. I was in a rough place in my life, and was quite miserable. I obviously couldn’t change the world, but I made a character that could. “The Advice Girl” was kind of like my personal fantasy made manifest through my writing.

5) Kira & Sophia are the main characters  - How did you come up with their names?

I’ve always loved the name Sophia, and it means wisdom in Greek. I thought it tied into my character and her “abilities”. When I was trying to think of a name for her best friend, Kira just stuck out. I liked it, and I thought they went well together so it stayed.

6) Who is your favourite character out of the book?

My favourite character has to be Markus. I know he’s like the epitome of evil, but he is so much fun to write! He was also my biggest challenge. I really had to put a lot of thought into him. I tried to make him as believable as possible.

7) How many books are you planning to write for this series?

So far there are only two, “The Advice Girl”, and the sequel which I’m working on now. I am going to release a companion book titled “The Journals of Sophia”, but it will not necessarily be in the series. I am thinking about making it a trilogy, with a book following the sequel. But it really depends on how much more material I think is needed for the story to be complete.

Three Random questions

1) What's your favourite book?

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley.

2) What type of Movies do you like?

I like all kinds… I don’t really have a favourite genre. As long as it has a good story that makes me think and I can relate to the characters. Action is good, romance is also good, and I really love 80’s movies.

3) Who is your favourite fictional character from a book and why?

I would have to say Jack Torrance from “The Shining” by Stephen King. I know it’s a dark character to pick but looking at it from a writer’s standpoint… the character is simply amazing and awe inspiring to me.The character himself is an aspiring writer, and becomes “possessed” which frustrates his desire to write. There is just so much depth to him, and so many layers to the story, and I very much want to write a character like that.

Once again, thank you for taking the time with us today and thank you for the fab answers Lauren! :) 

If you'd like to show your support to Lauren then follow her on: Lauren Shaw Goodreads Page / Lauren's Blog / Lauren's Twitter and her book is available from Amazon UK, Amazon US, Barnes and Nobles and Smashwords .

Giveaway! 

Yes! That's right guys, Lauren has kindly donated TWO paperback copies of her book for us to giveaway....and yes, it will be an INTERNATIONAL giveaway. :) 

Want to enter? All you need to do is the following:

Be a follower of Book Passion for Life 

Be a follower on Lauren's blog: L.A Shaw Blogspot

and fill out this Entry Form

Extra Entries are available too but of course they are optional. 

The giveaway will finish on May 11th, 2011! Winners will be announced on the blog and by email. 

You will have 48 hours to reply to the email or a new winner will be picked, please don't forget to check out Book Passion for Life's giveaway policy details too.

Good Luck :)