The SHANNON MUIR’S INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS column on Mondays and Wednesdays is a place at Shannon Muir’s author website open to interviews and guest posts from other authors. One thing Shannon firmly believes in for readers not only to learn about new books available, but about those who craft the tales behind them. As its name implies, SHANNON MUIR’S INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS weekly column features writers from all genres of fiction who want their potential audience to get to know them, and their works, better – and occasionally may offer features from Shannon herself that support readers to discover words.
Today, find out more about SEVENTH BORN.
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Seventh Born
by Monica Sanz
Genre: YA Paranormal/Mystery & Suspense
Release Date: September 4th 2018
Entangled Teen
Summary:
Abomination. Curse. Murderer. All names hurled at eighteen-year-old Seraphina Dovetail. As the seventh-born daughter to a witch, she’s the cause of her mother losing her powers and, in turn, her life.
Abandoned as a child, Sera dreams of becoming an inspector and finding her family. To do that, she must be referred into the Advanced Studies Program at the Aetherium’s Witchling Academy. Her birth order, quick temper, and tendency to set things on fire, however, have left her an outcast with failing marks…and just what Professor Nikolai Barrington is looking for.
The tall, brooding, yet exceedingly handsome young professor makes her a proposition: become his assistant and he’ll give her the referral she needs. Sera is quickly thrust into a world where witches are being kidnapped, bodies are raised from the dead, and someone is burning seventhborns alive. As Sera and Barrington grow ever closer, she’ll discover that some secrets are best left buried…and fire isn’t the only thing that makes a witch burn.
Purchase links can be found HERE!
Interview with the Author
What initially got you interested in writing?
I’ve always been an avid reader, so my love of writing definitely stemmed from my passion for reading. I don’t know the moment I decided to put the words down on paper, but I’ve had characters and fantastical ideas knocking around my head for as long as I can remember. I feel a big part of my imagination comes from how I was raised—to see the beauty and magic in everything. That allowed me to see the world in a different way and writing became an outlet to get those thoughts and observations out.
What genres do you prefer to write in?
I prefer to write romance and fantasy. It’s also what I love to read so it makes sense, I suppose. Love is such a huge emotion to tackle, and that’s what fascinates me. It can motivate people to do all sorts of things, and exploring those boundaries and motivations and the journeys it sends characters on continues to inspire me. I don’t think I can ever run out of things to write about while love exists. Fantasy allows you to think outside the box and make otherwise impossible things possible. There aren’t really any limits in writing fantasy, as long as you can make it work and have it make sense, and I love that freedom to explore the impossible.
Are there any authors you prefer to read and why?
At the moment, I am awed by Leigh Bardugo. Seriously, reading her work makes me question my career choices. Her worldbuilding and dialogue and… just everything is so amazing. Holly Black is equally incredible. They are both serious author goals.
How did you make the move into being a published author?
My move into being a published author was a bit different and more gradual than a lot of writers. I started my career posting my first drafts on the social writing community, Wattpad. As my fan base grew, I started querying and eventually published The Awkward Love Song of Abigail Archer, then self-published Finvarra’s Circus, and now Seventh Born with Entangled Teen. I love how my journey evolved because my time on Wattpad—interacting with followers and having my work out there for everyone to see and interpret and critique helped me grow as a writer in the artistic and business sense. I feel it prepared me for the world of publishing, as well as allowed me to meet other writers on a similar path, some of which are now my closest friends and who I’ve grown with and made the move to traditional publishing with.
What do you find most rewarding about writing?
The finished product is super rewarding, but when someone reads one of my books and they “get” it or it helps them in some way is one of the best feelings ever. It makes those hours of drafting and revising and editing all the more special.
What do you find most challenging about writing?
Self-doubt is probably the most challenging part of writing. I don’t know of any writer who hasn’t at some point felt as if their writing needs to be set on fire or they’re somehow not good enough. It comes with the territory and I’m grateful once the funk goes away and I can keep creating.
Do you have any tips for writers who find themselves experiencing writer’s block?
Writer’s block can be due to a number of things, some of which are fatigue, lack of inspiration, or being stuck at a certain part of the story. When I’m tired, it’s pointless to try and write because I end up either staring at the screen or just falling asleep. The best thing is to rest and get back to the story once you’re refreshed.
I tackle lack of inspiration by listening to music and daydreaming—that’s one of my favorite things to do, actually. Taking a step back and allowing the story to unfold in my head is sometimes all I need to get pumped again.
Lastly, if I’m stuck at a certain part of the story, I either skip it and keep writing the scenes that follow, or I go back a few scenes to find out what led to the moment I’m stuck at. I’ll deconstruct that journey and find out what needs to change in order to clear the blockage in the story.
What advice would you give to people that want to enter the field?
Make sure this is what you want to do because there is no set timeline for success. Some people succeed in months, others in years. If you’re in it for instant money and success, you’re probably looking in the wrong field. If you’re in it because you can’t stop writing–if the need plagues you and stories are constantly forming in your mind, then get writing. It has to be because you love it; it’s that passion that will get you through the disappointment and low points.
What do you want readers to take away from reading your works?
I would like for them to feel satisfied and happy and see the world and love as a bit more magical. There’s so much ugly in the world, that if they can find some happiness while reading, then I hope they find it in one of my books.
Is there anything else about you that you think readers might find interesting?
I believe in magic.
About the Author
Monica Sanz has been writing from the moment she could string together a sentence. Her stories have come a long way from mysterious portals opening in the school cafeteria, transporting classmates to distant worlds. A classic by the name Wuthering Heights is responsible for that. She’s been lost to dark romances and brooding fictional men ever sense. Now she writes about grumpy professors, cursed ringmaster, tortured soul collectors, and the girls they fall in love with. Monica’s books have received many accolades on the social writing website Wattpad. She’s accumulated over six million reads, eighty thousand votes, and fifteen thousand comments since posting her books on the website. She is also a member of the Wattpad4, a group of writers who host weekly Twitter chats on the subjects of writing and publishing.
Author Links:
Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook
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