Tell us a little about yourself and your background?
Certainly – my name is Sarah Antoinette Brownlee and I am a Children’s and Young Adult author based in London, England. I currently have two YA novels out: ‘How the Wolf Lost Her Heart’ and its sequel ‘How the Tiger Faced His Challenge.’ Both are set in a grim, futuristic London. I’m also a great animal-lover and enjoy looking after dogs in my spare time.
Which writers inspire you?
Oscar Wilde will probably always be the biggest inspiration for me. The depth and flow of his writing has had a profound effect on me ever since I read ‘The Happy Prince’ when I was seven. Other inspirational authors for me are Tom Sharpe, C.S. Lewis, J.K. Rowling and Jack Higgins.
Have you written any other novels in collaboration with other writers?
No.
When did you decide to become a writer?
I’ve been writing stories ever since I could command the written word, so I wouldn’t say it was something I ‘decided’ exactly. It just felt natural to do. However, my first published novel was in 2014 so I’ve been in this industry just over a year.
Do you write full-time or part-time?
Part-time.
Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?
I’m definitely more of a ‘free-flow’ writer. It’s exhilarating for me to begin a story without knowing where it’s going and this is the method that suits me best. However, on occasions, such as with ‘How the Tiger Faced His Challenge’ I needed to write out the plot beforehand and be a lot more strategic with its execution. This was a relatively new experience for me, but definitely a worthwhile learning curve.
Do you have a strategy for finding reviewers?
I think many authors will tell you that it mostly boils down to an instinctual thing. If a reader is a fan of your particular genre or a theme in your novel, then they will very often exhibit interest in your stories.
What are your thoughts on good/bad reviews?
Everyone loves a good review. And everyone, whether secretly or openly, hates a bad one. You can spend months, years even, sweating and toiling over what you consider to be your greatest masterpiece and then, in an instant, someone sums it up in just one word: ‘Crap’. Hehe… But seriously, I appreciate all reviews, even the scathing ones. Whether people love or hate your work, the most important thing is that you made some kind of an impact on them. I think this is the most crucial factor when it comes to art. Indifference is far, far worse than a bad review.
How can readers discover more about you and you work?
I have a page on Facebook if readers would like to learn more about my work – and I am always happy to hear from them! https://www.facebook.com/sarahbrownleeauthor
Any Comments for the Blog readers?
Yes – thanks for reading this interview! I am rather dull in comparison to my actual stories unfortunately, but you get the gist! Looking forward to mingling with you on Facebook and Goodreads. J
Any feedback for me or the blog?
Keep up the good work! I very much enjoy receiving the latest updates from your blog and it is an excellent platform for both readers and authors alike – informative, elegant and inspiring. It has been both an honour and pleasure to do this interview.
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