Today I’m delighted to welcome the multi-talented author Emma Adams to Off the Page chatting about her latest book and more!
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Who is Emma Adams?
I’m a book-obsessed literature graduate with an addiction to the written word! I write fantastical stories for young adults, daydream too much, and love to travel. When I’m not immersed in my own fictional worlds, I’m also a freelance editor and proof-reader for three fabulous indie presses.
2. What draws you to speculative fiction?
I’m drawn to the endless possibilities. I love creating and exploring new worlds and the sheer scope of the genre. As the stories I write are always bizarre, fantasy is my natural home!
3. You are also an editorial intern, has this affected how you write and, if so, in what way?
Reading submissions for Entangled has taught me a lot! I’ve become a lot more critical of what I read and I’ve learned what turns off submissions readers and just how important it is to hook the reader in the first chapter. Sometimes we can learn more from reading imperfect books as we can from reading polished, published ones!
4. Tell us about the Darkworld series. What’s it all about and what makes it special?
Darkness Watching follows Ash, an eighteen-year-old university student who can see into a sinister otherworld called the Darkworld, and discovers a hidden world of magic and supernatural monsters. It’s upper-YA urban fantasy with a different take on demons, and is paranormal without the emphasis on romance. I guess I just wrote the kind of book I’d love to read!
5. I love the cover for Darkness Watching, can you give us a little background info on the design?
Thank you, I’m glad you like it! J It was designed by Alex, my fabulous cover designer at Curiosity Quills, and we went through several versions before we settled on this one. I faced the challenge of making it look different from other paranormal YA books (and there are a lot of them!), and I insisted on having the demon eyes on the cover – but I didn’t want it to freak anyone out too much, either! 😛
6. Can you tell us about any new works or works-in-progress we can look forward to?
The sequel to Darkness Watching, Walking Shadow, will hopefully be out this year (I’ve just signed the contract with CQ to publish it!), and I’m working on several other WIP’s. I’m hoping I’ll get to share them all eventually, but Darkworld is the only thing set in stone at the moment! J
7. It’s the zombie apocalypse! If you could choose any author to be your speed-walking getaway partner, who would you choose and why?
Julie Kagawa. Not only has she written about a post-apocalyptic world in the Blood of Eden series, she also knows martial arts. Definitely someone I’d want to have on my side!
You can only choose one!
1. Science fiction or fantasy?
Fantasy J
2. Game of Thrones or Doctor Who?
Argh! At the moment, I’d say Game of Thrones (I love DW, but I like the David Tennant seasons best). But GOT is definitely not light viewing! 😛
3. YA or NA?
YA, purely because of the variety. I love that NA is gaining popularity, but I’ve yet to find a really awesome speculative NA book that I love as much as my favourite YA books. Yet!
4. Skydiving or bungee jumping?
Skydiving! I did a tandem skydive when I was travelling in Australia, and it was one of the most awesome experiences of my life. But I’ve never bungee jumped yet!
And now for the most important question…
5. TeamSam or TeamDean Winchester?
Love both Winchester brothers, but I’d have to go with TeamDean. He just makes me laugh.
You can get in touch with Emma on Twitter or on her website, and be sure to check out the Darkworld series!
Eighteen-year-old Ashlyn is one interview away from her future when she first sees the demons. She thinks she’s losing her mind, but the truth is far more frightening: she can see into the Darkworld, the home of spirits– and the darkness is staring back.
Desperate to escape the demons, Ash accepts a place at a university in the small town of Blackstone, in the middle of nowhere – little knowing that it isn’t coincidence that led her there but the pull of the Venantium, the sorcerers who maintain the barrier keeping demons from crossing from the Darkworld into our own world.
All-night parties, new friendships and a life without rules or limits are all part of the package of student life – but demons never give up, and their focus on Ash has attracted the attention of every sorcerer in the area. Ash is soon caught between her new life and a group of other students with a connection to the Darkworld, who could offer the answers she’s looking for. The demons want something from her, and someone is determined to kill her before she can find out what it is.
In a world where darkness lurks beneath the surface, not everyone is what they appear to be…
