An interview with author Shari Lopatin.
Hi!
Welcome to Zigzag Timeline. Can you tell us about your background as an author?
Hi! Thanks for having me on your blog
today. I’m super excited to be here! So … background on me as an author and
writer … I usually say I tell stories that matter. Initially, I began my career
as an award-winning journalist. But now, I write complex and stimulating
suspense novels that tie into modern-day social issues. I’ve worked as a
newspaper reporter, magazine writer, public relations professional, social
media manager, and (my favorite) earned the title of “Cat Mom of the Year.” As
an author, I’m releasing my debut novel, The
Apollo Illusion, on May 19, 2018.
What
got you into writing?
OMG, what didn’t get me into writing?
Seriously though, I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. I wrote my
first short story when I was seven years old about a group of aliens who
befriended a girl on earth; they all had names of food items, such as
"Butter."
However, I began writing professionally
in 2005, after I graduated from college with my bachelor's degree in
Journalism. My mom talked me into going that route after I floundered in my
original major, Marketing. Too many numbers. My mom said, “Give journalism a
try. I think you’ll like it.” Glad I listened to her!
What was the first
idea you had for your book, and how did the story grow from there?
I came up with the idea for The
Apollo Illusion while having dinner with my mom,
sister, and boyfriend. My mom commented on a news story she'd watched that
reported how babies are learning the swiping motion of a tablet before they
learn to speak. We started discussing the societal repercussions of a
generation brought up with that foundation, and the idea for my book sparked.
Additionally, I'd been watching the
effects of social media on my beloved profession of print journalism and had
been contemplating issues around the rapid advancement of technology. After
that dinner with my family, I started writing in this frenzy, and my book
developed organically from there.
Among
your characters, who's your favorite? Could you please describe him/her?
I think my favorite character is
Andrew, one of the two main protagonists. Andrew starts out as your typical,
breast-obsessed, 19-year-old boy, kind of post-adolescence but not quite
“adult” yet. He’s a total ladies man, the heartthrob of the book. But that face
is really a mask hiding a deeper pain steeped in abandonment issues and a
mentally ill mother.
Without saying too much, I gave Andrew
a strong character arc and enjoyed seeing how he grew before my eyes. I think I
had the most fun with his character because I got to write from a male
perspective, but I also infused strong emotional drivers into Andrew’s
character, which made him more alive and real for me.
What's your favorite scene from your
novel? Could you please describe it?
My favorite scene is actually one of
the surprise plot points, so I cannot talk about it! But it's a very emotional
discovery in the book, one that I cried while writing. Without giving away
spoilers, this scene deals with a theme that I value deeply: family. And I
think in a way, I was writing a "wish" that I have for someone in my
life who I love, and this was my way of waving my magic wand and giving this
person something in my story that I know will not happen in life.
What's
your favorite part of writing? Plotting? Describing scenes? Dialogue?
Oh that’s a hard one! I love writing
dialogue; in fact, I think it’s one of my stronger points. But maybe it goes
deeper than that.
The rush of creation, and the thrill of
publication, I think. I know technically those are two things, but they are
equally as joyful for me. The creative process—as I'm writing—is both euphoric
and exciting. I feel tranquil when I'm writing; I sort of disconnect from the
outside world and live inside this new reality I've developed.
Subsequently, I revel in readers'
reactions to my work after publication. It's this profound feeling of pure
accomplishment, and I enjoy watching others join me in the excitement of the
story. It takes on a life of its own.
How
long does it take you to write a book? Do you have a writing process, or do you
wing it?
I’ve written two books so far, and each
one took me more than a year to complete for the first draft. But I also work a
full-time job. I think if I had eight hours from Monday through Friday to
write, I could knock out a book once every four to six months! With breaks in
between, of course. 😊
I cannot work from an outline, though.
I always have a general direction that I'm running toward, and I may have some
plot points in my head, but I let the characters (and therefore the plot line)
develop organically. I need to allow my creative energy to flow without too
much structure. I can always fix things later or improve the story arc during
the editing process.
What is it about the
genre you chose that appeals to you?
I looooove dystopias. Seriously. Three
of my favorite books of all-time are The
Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, 1984
by George Orwell, and Brave New World
by Aldous Huxley. I’m not sure if
dystopias ignite the philosopher and critical thinker in me, or if they’re just
exciting, but I’m addicted to them. I try to write the stories I crave to read,
so I hope others feel the same way about my book!
Are
there any books or writers that have had particular influence on you?
Yes! Junot Diaz might be my favorite,
and I adore his book, This Is How You
Lose Her. I also love Khaled Husseini (The
Kite Runner), Margaret Atwood (The
Handmaid's Tale), George Orwell (1984),
Aldous Huxley (Brave New World), Judy
Blume (about every young adult book I read growing up), Pat Conroy (The Prince of Tides), and Jeannette
Walls (The Glass Castle). I’ve picked
up favorite techniques from all of them.
Did you ever surprise
yourself when you were writing your book? Characters who took on lives of their
own? Plot elements that took unexpected turns?
I do! Sometimes, my characters surprise
me by their actions or the things they say, and I've actually developed some
exciting plot twists this way. Other times, I’m writing from a place of deep
emotional valleys, so when I re-read the chapter later, I think, “Whoa, I wrote
that?” Of course, those moments are always offset by the days I want to scream
at the drivel I allowed onto the page. Oh the joys of writing!
Thanks for stopping
by!
ABOUT THE BOOK
The Apollo Illusion is a story for the hackers, the techies, the seekers, and the rebels of the world. A dystopian suspense for young adults and millennials, it follows bullied nineteen-year-old Flora into an isolated web of truth, lies, and survival when she stumbles upon a dark secret about her walled-off home state of Apollo. To learn more or pre-order, visit www.sharilopatin.com/books.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shari Lopatin tells stories that matter. An award-winning journalist, she writes complex and stimulating suspense novels that tie into modern-day social issues. Her debut novel, “The Apollo Illusion,” is releasing May 19, 2018. Learn more at www.sharilopatin.com/books, or pre-order your digital copy for just $2.99 from Kindle,iBooks, Kobo, Barnes and Noble (Nook), or Smashwords. Want a print copy? Sign up for The Readers Club to be notified the moment they become available!
