Today's Spotlight is on author Amelia Mah
What inspires you to write?
Well I have lots of stories playing in my head so it’s either become a writer or start wearing white jackets that tie your arms behind your back. If it was not for being able to step into my own world I expect I would go crazy.
Do your stories tend to be character driven or plot driven?
The characters. The plot just seems to happen on its own. Nothing is ever planned. I just provide the fingers on the keyboard.
The main character is just like me. Yes, she is very like me. In fact we both have the same name! Ok so we are a little different, like she can hang from the ceiling by her foot claws where as I would be lucky to hold onto a ladder with two hands.
I based her on my own childhood and yes I did have a very odd upbringing. I remember sleeping on roofs as a child. Well we had a flat roof and it was so much fun on a hot summers night to wear PJ’s and snuggle up in a sleeping bag staring up at the stars and yes my PJ’s did have bats on them. Ho, those were the days!
I now own panties with bats on! See I did say I was crazy. I will try and add a pic of them to this just to prove it.
What are the recurring core issues in your stories?
I can remember all the embarrassing stuff that all teenagers go through and I show that they are the same when you happen to be a different species and to this day I still think boys happen to be a different species with or without fangs.
In the book I talk of the problems with simple things like wrapping a tower around yourself when coming out of a shower, this sort of thing definitely comes from my high school days where for fun girls used to pull off other girls towels so you had to run after them naked, apart from the writing has it affected me? Well if ever see me wear just a towel in company nowadays I would be the one with that comes with a belt!
My vampire world has lots of rules and when something happens then there is a reason for it. You can see how the main characters run up against rules and what happens to them when they do. Normally it is very funny to watch.
Why do you think you are drawn to these types of characters/plots again and again?
I try to put myself into a situation and then look around and think heck how would I get out of this. As I said, the world has rules and my characters are not super heroes.
Just because a vampire has better teeth than most people all it means is they need to brush them more often!
What are your favorite fiction genres to read from?
I love funny novels.
What are your favorite non-fiction genres to read from?
History, yes I so love history.
Where can we find your book Fangs Rule: A Girl's Guide to Being a Vampire and your new book Amy Mah Vampire (Nightlife)?
Signed and post free just visit my website: www.fangsrule.com
Or this page: www.fangsrule.com/buy.htm
Even on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Amy-Mah-Vampire-Night-Life/dp/1874192626/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1342656390&sr=8-3&keywords=amy+mah
And
Give the core premise behind your story.
Today's world is difficult for everyone, especially teenagers.
They face the stresses of school, deciding whom to date, and the biggie of sex, just to name a few. Imagine all of those things ten times worse, and you might get an idea of what it's like being a living, breathing teenage vampire.
At last, the world can read about the life of a girl with good teeth, her problems with strong sunlight that gave her spots, and the sunblock that made her hair go yucky and produced more spots. Yes, sunlight was dangerous, as she could be the first teenager in history to die from terminal acne!
In her everyday life, older vampires expected her to walk about at night in the traditional female uniform, a see-through, 18th-century nightdress, without undies! Well, this female vampire knew why the cold winds blowing along the corridors were called, "male winds," so she wore her see-through nightdress over jeans and a very thick jumper. To be sure that people would still know she was a vampire, the jumper had a very large, pink bat on it.
And as to guys, well, it was normal for a girl to dream about guys; she just wished the dreams could have involved chocolates and holding hands, not leaping out at someone, ripping off his shirt, and demanding to know what blood type he was (well at least not on the first date).
When and where does your book take place?
With a world filled with blood sucking denizens of the night (vampires) you want me to give you a location? Ok, think of it as America and as to the time well, about right now. ;)
Who is the heroine?
Amy Mah who is a teenage girl that finds she is stuck as a teenager for far too long.
What drives her?
Day to day living, the same that drives most people.
What is she running away from (literally or figuratively)?
Mostly humans that want to kill her just because she has better teeth than they do.
What about her will make readers sympathetic to her?
Anyone who is a teenager or lived through the teenage years will know her problems.
What is the theme at the heart of your story?
Growing up and being different
Will your new book be part of a series?
Yes I hope it is, but it will depend if people buy this one. If they do then it will be the first in the Night Life series.
Last Year I did a book which is a guide to help to understand my vampire world it is called FANGS RULE: A Girls Guide to Being a Vampire”
Its done as an A to Z of what to expect to happen as a teenage vampire, a self help book if you will. The guide is fully illustrated by manga Artist Heby and is written in an easy to follow A - Z format explaining everything a teenage vampire girl would need to know about living life as a modern Vampire. What is fashionable to wear when eating out? Fang maintenance & how to keep your claws sharp. Should you let a boy bite you on the first date? Easy to understand clear advice is given to every day problems Example: When you get an urge to bite: We all get those normal urges to bite things, and I must point out it is very normal. Claws are all well and good in a fight but a bite gives the extra advantage of getting a refreshing drink at the same time. Lots of girls worry about showing their Fangs in public believing that to show your fangs is rude, but don't be shy they can be a girls greatest asset (ok second greatest asset) if a boy is being rude to you, don't just snarl at him, bite him! You are a vampire why do you think you have sharp teeth if not for sinking them into a boy that is being rude to you?
Very good point, Amy! Where else can we find more about you and your books?
You can find me at my website http://www.fangsrule.com and at The Vampire Book Realm http://www.vampirebookrealm.com/
Thank you so much for joining us here today, Amy! Life as a teenager is rough enough, but being a vampire on top of it has to be even harder.
As an extra special treat, here are two of Amy's videos for you to enjoy.
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