Good afternoon, Arrowheads! Today I’m super excited to have Sarah Addison-Fox visit with us for an author interview as apart of her joint blog tour with Tricia Mingerink. Sarah Addison-Fox is the author of the dazzling Allegiance series, including Disowned, Dissemble, and the newly released Dissociate! It’s been a pleasure getting to know her through Twitter and Goodreads over the last few months, and I personally look up to her as an indie Christian author. So, without further ado, I’d like to introduce y’all to Sarah! 😀

Author Interview with Sarah Addison-Fox

Q1: When did you first feel that God called you to be a Christian author?

Great question! I’ve always toyed with writing, but it wasn’t until a few years ago, when I finally turned my life completely over to Jesus and prayed for Him to use me in whatever way He deemed best, that the spark ignited again.

Ultimately, it was a combination of a few things over a couple of years that culminated in me writing the first draft of Disowned.

I was diagnosed with MS and as a way of escaping the mess my head was in, I binge read every single Christian series I could get my hands on. I read Biblical fiction, Fantasy, Contemporary, Dystopian and discovered my preference was Fantasy.

I loved a book called Tahn, only to find out the author and her son had died in a tragic accident. It shook me and I started thinking what if I never get the chance to write the book I’d always wanted to?

I saw a Christian comedian called Michael Jnr, who was real, hilarious and spoke about how every person has a what (for me that was writing) but they mostly fail to understand their why.

He explained that our lives are a series of events that are leading to the plan God has for us, and that once you can see everything that has happened in your life, good or bad, is for a purpose, you begin to understand that God will use your what to reach out to people for Him.

Something clicked for me when I heard that. I couldn’t finish a novel before that because I didn’t know why I was writing. All the years spent reading, all the pain, all the heartache in my life, I could use that to connect with people in a way that served God’s interests and not mine.

For twenty years (yes, I am oooooold) I pushed that dream aside, but God had other ideas. Instead of letting me mope around, dwelling on my health and my family’s future, God gave me a plan and a purpose.

Sorry, things got waaay intense just then.

Q2: If the Allegiance series could become a film series, who would you want to portray Celeste and Mick?

Oh wow! Imagine that eh? Probably totally unknown actors because I’ve never actually seen anyone that precisely matches the idea of how I view Mick and Celeste. If you find a muscled actor with sandy blonde hair, dimples and green eyes, let me know….because I’d like to see him!

I’m one of those people who cringe when they see a favourite book made into a movie and they get the character all wrong so it would be hard to find someone to fit the bill.

Q3: What’s your go-to snack when you hit writer’s block and need a pick-me-up?

Chocolate! Oh who are we kidding? I use chocolate for a general pick me up! Writer’s block would mean bringing out the big guns…chocolate and cake.

Q4: What is your writing process like? Are there certain must-have items you need to be able to write?

I need to be left alone with my laptop in order to write. I want cans of cold coke, m&m’s, and epic music pumping me up!

My process is simple, get rid of family, drink coke, connect wireless headphones and start plugging away. 1000 word minimum, unless the house is on fire….

Q5: What advice would you give to someone who is writing their first novel?

Don’t rush to publish what you’ve written. You get one shot to make a good impression as a debut author, don’t waste it and risk damaging your reputation.

Take your time polishing your draft, study your craft, read widely, hire an editor who works in your genre, get advice from authors you admire, read everything on Indie publishing, and above all, make sure you are prepared to deal with everything being a published author brings with it.

When I was writing Disowned, I knew without a doubt I was following God’s leading because everytime I had a need, He met it. Everytime people thought I was nuts, I’d hear a scripture that spoke to me, or someone would offer to assist me in an area I wasn’t skilled in.

Having said that, I am perfectly placed to be publishing at this time of my life. There is no way that even ten years ago I could be doing this. Publishing is far more expensive than the average writer knows.

If you can’t afford to hire an editor, a proofreader and everything else it takes to produce a professional document, perhaps consider it may not be in God’s timing for you right now.

♦

For more from Author Sarah Addison-Fox, you can follow her at:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook| Amazon | Twitter | YouTube

Be sure to sign up for Sarah’s Stars newsletter for bonus content as well!

Check back here on Friday for a book review of Sarah’s newest release, Dissociate, the third installment in the Allegiance series! I’m also looking forward to reading an arc copy of soon-to-be-released Dagger’s Sleep by Christian author Tricia Mingerink!

Sarah and Tricia are also hosting a Facebook Festival tomorrow and Friday (24th and 25th) with special guest, author Serena Chase! To attend the festival, click here! 😀

Are you a Christian author looking for blog tour stops? I’d be honored if you chose Authoring Arrowheads as one of your stops! If interested, reach me over at my Contact page!

-Allyson 😀