Author Interview: Suzi Davis author of Amber Frost

I'm really happy to have author Suzi Davis here today to answer a couple questions. Her debut YA paranormal novel came out in December from ireadiwrite Publishing. Thanks Suzi for the chance to interview you.

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Can you tell us a bit about your debut book and what inspired you to write it?

Amber Frost (The Lost Magic, Book One) is a Young-Adult paranormal. It tells the story of Grace, a smart, pretty and wealthy eighteen year-old who seems to have the perfect life. She is sad and lonely though and plagued by nightmares. Then she meets Sebastian, an attractive yet peculiar boy at her new private school, and her whole world starts to change. Strange things are always happening around Sebastian – he seems to be able to make whatever he truly wants come to be. Sebastian can’t remember his life beyond the past few years and is actually much older than he appears. The two struggle to be together while competing with Sebastian’s powerful yet uncontrollable magic and trying to unravel the mystery of who they each really are.

Amber Frost began with Sebastian. The idea for his character came to me one day, and he wouldn’t leave me alone. The more I thought about Sebastian, the more the story started to take shape in my mind. I loved the idea of someone being able to make whatever they truly wanted happen because it seems like a superpower but really there are so many complications. Do we always know what we want from life? Is it possible to have equally-strong, conflicting desires or will one always win out over the other? How much would you sacrifice for true love? All these questions swirled around my mind and demanded to be explored. I was so excited to write Amber Frost and that enthusiasm and passion stayed with me from the first Chapter, right until the very end.

Amber Frost is set in Canada, why did you decide to set the book in Canada vs. in the US?

I find that it’s much easier to write about a place I’ve been to in person than one I’ve just seen pictures of or read about. I know the sights, sounds and scents of Victoria – I know how the city feels and therefore I’m able to capture a fuller, complete sense of the city.

Victoria, BC was also the perfect location for Amber Frost to be set in as it met the story’s needs. I wanted to choose a city that was big enough for a wealthy, aspiring family like Grace’s to live in (Victoria is the capital of British Columbia) but that would also provide a beautiful, natural landscape as the “backdrop” to the story.

What was your reaction when you first saw the cover?

I was lucky to have my input included while the cover was being designed. When I saw the first “prototype” I was very excited. I really liked where it was going and couldn’t wait to see the final product. When the final cover was sent to me – I was blown away. I literally got goosebumps. It was amazing to see such a beautiful, physical representation for a story that I had worked so hard on and put so much passion into. The cover for Amber Frost is exactly what I had imagined – well, actually it’s much better! Michelle Halket did an amazing job.

Have you read any good books lately that you would recommend?

I just finished reading The Maze Runner, a YA novel by James Dashner which I really enjoyed. I also recently read Towers of Midnight (Book Thirteen of the Wheel of Time) by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson and I would definitely recommend that series to any Fantasy fans. The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins (also YA) is probably my favorite read from 2010 and I would highly recommend those books to anyone.


What's next for you? Are you working on any future novels?

My next (and current) project is Book Two of The Lost Magic which will be published by ireadiwrite Publishing later in 2011. I have a few other “works-in-progress” but those are all on-hold until Book Two has been completed.

Lastly, Where can we find you online?

Website: http://www.authorsuzidavis.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorsuzidavis
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SuziD_
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/SuziD
Publisher: http://www.ireadiwrite.com/

Amber Frost is available from ireadiwrite.com, Amazon, ibooks, Barnes & Noble, Sony, Chapters and all other major (and some minor) ebookstores.

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You can read my review of Amber Frost HERE.