Interview with S.A. SANTOS

1)    When did you decide that you should also write?

It was about five years ago. After reading so many books, I had an idea in my mind and started writing my first manuscript. I didn’t finish it at the time. But since 2018 I felt this urge to put the story into paper and I finished my first novel.

Writing for me is a liberating experience. It allows me to create and live in another world. It’s also powerful to think I can control the destiny of all characters. But in the end, it’s the other way around. The characters talk to me and tell me their story.

 

2)    Do you want to inspire people through your writing or do you write just as a hobby ?

At first, it started as a hobby. I didn’t know if could write a full novel. I just wanted to try and do my best to deliver a good story that could entertain people and leave them better or happier than when they started reading it.

 

3)    What inspires to write?

I guess all the books I read in my life are a source of inspiration. All of them left a mark on me, an emotion, and an impact. The idea for the series I’m writing now, for example, popped into mind when I was about to sleep. Out of the blue, a scene started playing in my head, and it was so vivid it was like I was watching a movie. It was instant and brief. I got up and wrote the scene. The next day, I started thinking about the characters, and what the story was about.

 

4 ) who are your favourite characters from your own books and why ? 

I love all my characters as they reflect some small part of me, the good and the bad. From Sacrifice my favorites are Alice because she is a very good friend, spunky, and upbeat; Kat because she is sweet and spicy, and Jason for being Jason. LOL.

5 ) Who are your favourite writers?

I have many. The classical, I like the master Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Mark Twain, to name a few. My favorite contemporary authors are Marion Zimmer Bradley (I read “The Mists of Avalon” numerous times), Samantha Towle, Rebecca Zanetti, Lara Adrian, Laurann Dohner, Charlaine Harris, Jeaniene Frost, etc.

 

6 ) one advice you would give to the upcoming writers?

I’ll give two:

·      Don’t give up!

·      Be patient.

The writing process is strenuous. At least it is for me. When you are done and have the result of months of work in your hands is one of the best feelings you can have in life. Your baby is born, and you can finally relax.

But you can’t. It’s only the beginning. When you think your manuscript is finished, you’ll find out that it will take a lot of editing, and a lot more editing, to have it ready to publish.

 

7) Did you face issue in publishing or editing?

I find the process of self-publishing through Amazon and Smashwords quite friendly. The platforms do a good job of guiding you step-by-step through the publishing process. You just follow them and voilà your eBook is online.
Publishing, however, is far more than that. I found out that writing a book is the easy part. If someone can say that. LOL. As an independent author, I must think about the cover design, editing, find beta-readers, edit, again and again, build a social media presence, create a mailing list, prepare the book launch and marketing campaign, and only then publish it on the platform. And maybe I’m still missing some steps. 
I find it complex and time-consuming. I love some parts like writing, cover design, and marketing campaign.

Editing, however, is an acquired taste. I edit the story as I write, but I found that not productive. So, with my current project, I’m refraining from editing while I’m writing. I’m just concentrating on writing and will leave the editing for later.

 8) How did you get the idea to write the book sacrifice ? 

I wanted to write a romance novel with a happy ending. The idea came to my mind and it was just two sentences: Kathleen is on a hospital/mental facility, her father is dead, and her stepmother put her there after a nervous breakdown.

Jason, her father’s godson takes her out of the facility and marries her. She overheard a conversation that he married her out of pity.

Those two sentences were the starting point to the novel.

 

 Let's know you more ( Fire round)

a)     Your inspiration 

Life

b)    Any other hobbies apart from writing

Photography

c)     Your favourite holiday spot 

A chalet in the mountains.

d)    Your favourite book and film

Book: The Mists of Avalon

Film: A Midsummer Night's Dream

 

e)    what does life mean to you? If given a chance what would you like to change on this earth or add? 

For me, life is an opportunity for us to evolve spiritually. It’s a process the soul goes through to learn to love itself and others, to be positive, forgiving, and grateful.

I think Earth is perfect. I would change the governments’ and people’s minds and make them respect, preserve, and honor our home.

***********************************************

I personally enjoyed this interview a lot with S.A.SANTOS as she was raw, genuine and did not sugarcoat. I love that her final interest are for welfare of the whole world and she is not self centred. It was intriguing to know how her novel characters talk to her as she draws them. It was indeed a lovely experience interviewing S.A.SANTOS , AUTHOR of the novel the sacrifice and many more on the way ..... desperately waiting for her upcoming novels.