My name is Emily White and I write YA science fiction with a paranormal twist or sometimes YA paranormal with a sci-fi twist. And I do all this while letting my two little boys use me as a playground.
Could you tell us a little bit about your work in progress?
My completed novel, ELEMENTAL (which is scheduled to come out this summer, by the way), is a Darth Vader meets Tinker Bell YA sci-fi about a girl who discovers she can manipulate the elements but doesn't know if she can control the monster inside her. I've got a couple others I'm working on (one a paranormal and one hard sci-fi), but ELEMENTAL has 90% of my focus right now.
What is the first story you remember writing? What was it about?
The first book I ever wrote was a graphic novel about how mean my sisters were to me. Hey, I was four or five! And I must say, the pictures were spot-on. But as far as real books go, I wrote my first full-fledged novel in middle school and it was about evil mythological creatures taking over the world and eating people.
Are you more of a “plotter” or a “pantser”?
I am definitely in-between. I've tried plotting before and it never really worked for me, but I can't give up all control and just let the characters take me where they may. I always know how a book will end before I start it, and I usually know how chapters will end before I start them, too. But all this stays in my head and tends to be pretty flexible.
All writers need encouragement. Who first encouraged you to write, and who is it that encourages you today?
My mom planned on all of her children being writers some day, so she was the one who encouraged me first. I'd say I find most of my encouragement today from my blog readers and fellow writers. Knowing that there are people who will hold me accountable and who seem to be excited about my career just as much as I am really keeps me focused and eager.
Which authors have had a significant influence on your writing?
C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Becca Fitzpatrick
What music, if any, do you enjoy listening to while you write?
ANY (well, except country or rap). It all depends on the kind of music my MC would enjoy listening to. The music on my playlist ranges from classical to techno and Christian rock to Marilyn Manson.
What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses as a writer?
I'd say my greatest strengths are dialogue and suspenseful scenes. They're certainly my favorite parts to write. And my weaknesses? I'll admit I may be too much of a fan of "that" and "but." I always have to highlight those words as I revise so I can annihilate them if possible. It usually is possible and my manuscript tends to look quite colorful as I'm going along.
What do you hope to achieve with your writing?
Fame and fortune. Haha! Well, not completely. That would be nice though. Ultimately, I hope I can write something that people truly love.
What was once traditionally a print medium is now rapidly branching out into many digital formats. What do you think of this trend?
I love it! I think it's awesome! The world of publishing has opened up to writers like never before, and to readers too. The things you can do with an ebook are just astounding. Imagine having your book trailer at the front of your book as a perk for readers to enjoy. It's absolutely possible! And self-publishing is a viable option for many writers now. I love where we're headed.
What was the last sentence that you had to re-read over and over again because of its awesomeness? What struck you about it?
"Because something is significantly wrong with a creature that sacrifices its children's lives to settle its differences." (from MOCKINGJAY, by Suzanne Collins). I love it for how bold it is and how it speaks of something that isn't just a threat of what might happen in this society, but what this society has been doing for far too long.
What book(s) have you recently read that you would recommend to the readers of this blog?
YA sci-fi! Especially THE MARBURY LENS, by Andrew Smith and THE MAZE RUNNER series, by James Dashner.
What advice do you have to other aspiring authors out there?
Keep at it and read, read, read! Oh, and get a good critique partner--someone you could mistake for your long lost twin. When you have someone who shares your vision for your work, helping you see all its weakness (as well as its strengths), you will naturally grow into a better writer.
An apocalypse destroys the entirety of human literature, apart from the work of three authors that you can magically save with your wizardry – what do you save from imminent destruction?
Oh boy, only three? THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA (technically many books, but you said "work," so I'm going to take that to also include completed series :) ), GULLIVER'S TRAVELS, and A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT. I know I didn't say LOTR, but these works were political satires and allegory, and we would definitely need those to teach future generations what the world was like before the apocalypse.
Our time is at an end. For our curious readers, how can we follow your progress?
You can follow me at my blog, Emily's Playhouse, where I talk about writing, reading, and sci-fi.
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