Interview with Susan Wingate, author of YA fiction 'Spider Brains'

It is a pleasure to bring you an interview from one of my new BFFs, Ms. Susan Wingate, author of the YA fiction Spider Brains!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Most recently, Susan Wingate’s novels, SPIDER BRAINS and DROWNING each reached Amazon Bestseller status in 2012. DROWNING won the 2011 Forward National Literature Award for Drama. She would love for you to read her books. You can find them all under the tab on this site labeled “Books”. SUSAN has written eleven novels, two short story collections, a few plays, one screenplay and tons of poems. Her latest 2011 novel DROWNING  (contemporary women’s fiction), won 1st place in the 2011 Forward National Literature Award and also won a finalist award for the category of Women’s Fiction/Chick Lit in the 2011 International Book Awards. A vibrant public speaker, Susan offers inspiring, motivational talks about the craft of writing, publishing and marketing, and how to survive this extremely volatile (e-)Publishing industry. She presents these lectures for private groups and at writing conferences, libraries and bookstores around the country.

To get your copy of SPIDER BRAINS by Susan Wingate: http://www.amazon.com/Spider-Brains-Love-Story-ebook/dp/B007KDAS0C/ref=la_B003CMMERK_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1339336080&sr=1-6

To view all books by Susan Wingate: http://www.amazon.com/Susan-Wingate/e/B003CMMERK/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

To learn more about Susan, go to her website: http://www.susanwingate.com

Visit Susan Wingate on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/susanwingate

Like Susan Wingate on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanwingate.author

Follow Susan Wingate on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/susanwingate/susan-wingate-s-books/

ABOUT THE BOOK:

If one were to bake the story SPIDER BRAINS into a cake, they should sprinkle in Charlotte’s Web, toss in one Jellicle Cat, then stir in a little Spiderman—but as a girl and not in that goofy latex outfit! A tale of hope, transformation, transition and inspiration.

After her father’s death last year and, now, in the throes of a gnarly teacher’s whim as she thinks ahead to college (or really just dreams of getting into college), a small black arachnid bites fifteen-year-old Susie Speider on the finger. The bite sends her nights into fantastical dreams about taking revenge on a teacher who, ultimately, holds her college aspirations in the palm of her cold calloused hand. But, after Susie figures out the dreams are real, she ups the ante by visiting the teacher regularly… as the spider! And, oh, by the way! Who is that boy spider munching on flies, hiding over there in the corner? A story of loss and forgiveness, tolerance and kindness, Susie Speider deals with the death of her father while Matt Ryder–the new neighbor boy–has just lost his mother. Ultimately, SPIDER BRAINS poses some important questions about how to treat Attention-Deficit-Disorder.

Q: Welcome to The Writer's Life!  Now that your book has been published, we’d love to find out more about the process.  Can we begin by having you take us at the beginning?  Where did you come up with the idea to write your book?

One night in bed, I noticed something strange. It was very early in the morning. My husband had gotten up for work and flipped on the bathroom light switch. The brightness shone against the ceiling and there, not too far from the bed, was a spider making its way across the ceiling. I thought about retrieving it and then setting it free outside but before I could set one foot on the floor to do so, a story flashed across my mind. For about an hour I wrote notes covering the over-arching idea which resulted in the novel Spider Brains: A Love Story.

Q: How hard was it to write a book like this and do you have any tips that you could pass on which would make the journey easier for other writers?

I don't think writing Spider Brains was necessarily difficult. However, a tricky aspect of voice comes to mind. The entire novel is written in first person and although the story literally tumbled out of my fingertips, first person isn't always the easiest point of view for writers to write in.

Q: Who is your publisher and how did you find them or did you self-publish?

My publisher is Roberts Press and they're a small press in the Pacific Northwest.

Q: Is there anything that surprised you about getting your first book published?

My first book published was The Bobby's Diner Series and I always think that the first time getting published is one spent on cloud nine. That publisher had headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Q: Can you describe the feeling you had when you saw your published book for the first time?

With all of my books, each time you hold it in your hand, it's like holding up a winner's cup. It feels so great. But after the feeling wanes, it's back to work on the next one. SPIDER BRAINS is book no. 10 for me. I have written book 11 and I'm working now on books no. 12 & 13.

Q: What other books (if any) are you working on and when will they be published?

I'm working on another young adult fantasy, my twelfth book which is the companion book to Spider Brains: A Love Story. That book will be titled "Chicken Brains" and the third book is "Ant Brains." The entire series idea will remain central around the theme of high school science projects with Susie Speider as one of the main characters in each.

I'm also working on another adult novel which will be an apocalyptic thriller.

Q: Finally, what message (if any) are you trying to get across with your book?

Spider Brains is about a fifteen year old high school girl. If one were to bake the story Spider Brains into a cake, they should sprinkle in Charlotte’s Web, toss in one Jellicle Cat, then stir in a little Spiderman—but as a girl and not in that goofy latex outfit! A tale of hope, transformation, transition and inspiration.

After her father’s death last year and, now, in the throes of a gnarly teacher’s whim, a small black arachnid bites fifteen-year-old Susie Speider on the finger. The bite sends her nights into fantastical dreams about taking revenge on the teacher who, ultimately, holds her college aspirations in the palm of her cold calloused hand. But after Susie figures out the dreams are real, she begins visiting the teacher regularly… as the spider! And, oh, by the way! Who is that boy spider munching on flies, hiding over there in the corner?

A story of loss and forgiveness, tolerance and kindness, Susie Speider deals with the death of her father while Matt Ryder–the new neighbor boy–has just lost his mother. Ultimately, Spider Brains poses some important questions about how to treat Attention-Deficit-Disorder.

  

Q: Thank you again for this interview!  Do you have any final words?

I'd love to say thank you! Thank you for your time and your effort at getting my book information on your blog. I'm honored to be featured here on The Writer's Life.