As her second installment of the Angel Heart Saga, Forever Disguised, is being released, I thought it would be appropriate to interview her.Ā Don’t for get to enter her Blog Tour and Giveaway on Instagram
1-At what age did you know you wanted to be a writer/ when did you begin writing?
I can still remember the feeling when I learned to read and this whole new wonderful world opened up to me. I was so blown away! Since then books have been such a huge part of my life, first by reading of course, but also by writing small stories myself. But even though Iāve dreamed about being a writer since I can remember, I never dared to follow my dream until The Angelheart Saga. Before that I never truly believed that I could be a writer, so even though stories have been popping up, I never did any serious attempts to write a whole book. But when the images of Erica and Sasha and the others in The Angelheart Saga came to me about four-five years ago on a vacation in California, I felt that the story was so strong that I just couldnāt let it go but had to try and write it down. So I guess that you could say that it was the story itself that inspired me to finally pursue my author dreams! I really do wish so much that I could go back in time and tell the younger me to believe in myself and pursue my dream to write much sooner, not to wait this long to do itā¦
2-did you have a career before being an author and if so, what was it?
Yes I did and I still have. Iām nowhere near being able to live on my writing, so besides being an author, I also have another full-time job. This means that I have to try and write whenever I can between work and being with my family. I guess that you could call me a ānocturnal airplane writerā as I do most of my writing when the rest of the family is asleep or on the flight between our two homes in Stockholm and New York.
3- where do you get your inspiration for stories and are characters based on real people you know or are they totally fictional?
I get inspiration from just about anything really! Reading books and watching movies. Overhearing a conversation on the subway. Remembering something that have happened in my own life. Often the ideas pop up when Iām out running and then I stop to write notes on my iPhone, so I remember the ideas and can write them down in the evening. I have to admit though that Erica is very much based on myself. But, as an authorās privilege, she is a bit smarter and better looking lolā¦ But besides that, sheās just like me; clumsy, a bookworm, something of āan old soulā, feeling out of step with her same age friends and being too serious for her own good at times, a kind of bad driver, but a great runner finding peace and quiet and respite from all demands out in the woods with her running shoes on.
Also, most of the places described in the books are based on my own experiences and my own visits. I really love Cambodia and Vietnam, as well as Chicago and New York (which is my second home), which I hope shows in the books.
4- If you could meet and have a discussion with ANY other author, who would it be and why?
Oh, there are so many amazing authors out there! I love YA authors like Becky Albertalli, Rainbow Rowell, Mackenzi Lee, Marie Lu and Cassandra Clare and would so much love to meet them all. But if I have to choose one author, it would have to be J.K. Rowling, for the way she created a whole universe on her own and all the characters that you love and carry with you in your heart forever. With Harry Potter, she has also helped so many troubled and lonely children, giving them hope and bringing them joy, itās utterly amazing. Thereās even a research study proving that the Harry Potter books help children to be more accepting of LGBT persons, so the books are literally making the world a better place! J.K. Rowling is such an inspiration to me and it would be a dream come to true to meet her!
5- What is your fave or main fandom (besides your own of course
?)
Harry Potter for sure!
6- do you utilize Alpha and Beta readers?
I havenāt so far, but I think I will for the third book in The Angelheart Saga. The first and the second book were to a large extent already written when I got signed by my publisher. So First Came Forever was published very soon thereafter, with Forever Disguised quickly being processed as well, so for the past year Iāve focused a lot on spreading the word about the series. But now I will focus more on writing the final installment and discussing my ideas with interested readers. (So if anyone would like to be an alpha or beta reader for the third book, you are so welcome to contact me!)
7- any plans for a new series?
Yes, I have some ideas already that Iām hoping to pursue. I think I will take a break though and not start directly after Iāve finished the Angelheart Saga. It has been a bit too much at times to find time for work, family, friends and the writingā¦
8- do you think you would ever write any other genre?
As it feels right now, I donāt think so. YA is my favorite genre both to read and to write. I have always loved teenage love stories, with all their intensity and all-consuming feelings; the coming of age and accepting who you are, and the characters you get to know and love and hope for a happy ever after for despite all obstacles in their way. So Iāve always kind of known that I wanted to write in this genre, to tell a story for teenagers as well as for any adult who remembers his or her first crush and the emotions of it all.
9- family and home life?
I have a husband and two kids and a dog. And besides being an author, I also have another full-time job, where I sometimes travel quite a lot. It basically means that I have to try and write whenever I can between work, being with my kids and driving them to activities, walking the dog and my running practice. And on top of that, we also kind of alternates between our house in Stockholm and our apartment in NYC, especially during winter time. So Iām keeping myself busy!
10- If you could be any character, from any book, (including your own)-who would it be and why?
Well, I already kind of feel that I am Erica in my own books (since she is so much based on myself), so I think I would choose a character from another book. And that would be Hermione Granger. Sheās my all time favorite fictional person and role model; smart, loyal, fierce and has such amazing integrity. She also gets to be friends with Harry Potter and experience magic and save the world. Iād love to be her!
With all my love,
Annie
After reading the first novel in the Angelheart Saga, I could hardly wait for the second book. It did NOT disappoint! Forever Disguised follows Erica after everything that happened in First Came Forever. She is trying to move on with her life after the terrible events that took place in the first book.
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