INTERVIEW WITH SHARON PARTINGTON

Sharon Partington is a working writer who has sold her first novel to Samhain Publishing. She is also the Acquisitions Editor for Lilley Press, and the Managing Editor for Worlds of Wonder: A Magazine of Speculative Fiction.

She lives in Edmonton, Alberta Canada where she is the proud single mom of an amazing grown son, currently serving in the Canadian Military. While he is away, she is owned by her two feline children, Bailey and Chirpa.

What is your routine when working on a book?

I'm not sure I have a specific routine, it kind of depends where I am in the process. I tend to just write as the idea comes to me - then I go back and fill in the world building and character back stories later. I'm not big planner - planning too much seems to hinder the process for me, I like to give the story a chance to write itself. It works, for the most part. At least for me.

Do you ever show people your WIP?

I belong to a crit group that I share my WIP with, and a I have a number of close writer friends that I trust enough to share my work with. I don't usually share my work with family members until it's finished.

Do you listen to music when you work?

Always! What it is depends on what I'm working on at the time. I prefer instrumental stuff - my favorite writing CD is the soundtrack from Michael Flately's Lord of the Dance, although I have been known to write to Bon Jovi and 3 Doors Down as well.

Who has influenced your writing the most?

I don't think I can choose just one influence. Tolkien made me fall in love with Fantasy. Andre Norton introduced me to Science Fiction. George R.R. Martin has inspired me to create interesting and complex characters that evolve as the story progresses. Dan Simmons has given me insight into creating intricate and believable worlds. I hope I've learned a little bit from every author I've read.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I've always been a story teller - I think I wrote my first short story when I was eight or nine. I wrote in junior high school and did well at it, then all of the "growing up" stuff happened and I didn't pick up a pen again until I was in my mid-twenties. The Lord of the Rings inspired me to write Fantasy, but my first sale was a Science Fiction short story, and my novel is Science Fiction as well. Funny how that works, lol.

How do you write, free-thought, or from an outline?

I guess I'm what you'd call an "organic" writer - I tend to let the story write itself. This does present it's own series of problems though - sometimes you run out of gas half way through, or where you want to take the characters isn't where they want to go. I have used an outline, usually when I get really stuck and need to chart my way back into familiar territory. When this happens I use the outline as a basic road map – nothing carved in stone, just a general direction to move towards. I've tried outlining projects from the beginning, but I find that for me its too restrictive.

Where can we find your work and what are you working on now?

The Assassin Journals: Hunter was released, digitally, by Samhain Publishing on November 20, 2007 - it can be found at THE ASSASSIN JOURNALS - It will be released in print in September of 2008.

It can also be found at Amazon.com: AMAZON ASSASSIN JOURNALS

I also have an Official Author's Site: SHARON'S SITE and links can be found there as well.

I've just finished the first draft of the sequel to Hunter, called The Cartel, and I'm starting the world building for book 3 of the series, which will be called Araki Storm. I'm also working on a Paranormal Fantasy called A Thief in Time which I hope to finish to the end of the first draft stage by January of 2009.

Do you work on more than one book at a time?

I do work on more than one book at a time -– sometimes I need to take a break from one and work on the other. I have five or six projects in various stages of completion, and I tend to switch back and forth among them. At the moment, though, it's the AJ Franchise and Thief, that keeps me the busiest.

What do you read when you are writing?

I can't read when I'm writing - I tend to get too distracted and nothing gets done. If I get really stuck, or need to take a writing break, I'll pick up a book and escape for awhile. When that happens I'll read just about anything - Fantasy, SF, Mystery. I like 'em all ;)

What would you say to an aspiring writer?

Persevere -- don't give up. Learn from other authors. Join a crit group. Develop a thick skin, and get used to hearing the word "no." Be your own biggest fan, and your own worst critic. Believe in yourself -- don't let anyone tell you, you can't do it. ~~finis~~