Interview: Sawyer Bennett (Part 1)
October 14, 2013Okay, so I know this isn't anything to do with fantasy, but I absolutely ADORE this author, and she so kindly agreed to grant me an interview and giveaway. Sawyer Bennett is the author of the Off Series, as well as two other books called Forever Young and To Catch a Dark Thief. I have already reviewed her Off Series which you can find here, and I have Forever Young on my TBR and review list.
I sent Sawyer off some questions, and here is what she had to say...
Me: Who is your favourite couple from the Off Series and why?
Sawyer: My favourite couple from the Off Series is Emily and Nix of Off Limits. I just love how broken Nix was and how transformed Emily had become since introducing her in Off Sides. Emily agreed to give him only what he could handle, and in turn, he fell hard for her. He wanted more and didn’t even know it until he lost her. And of course, the way he got her back (yes, we’re talking tattoo magic here), is the most swoon worthy moment I’ve written.
Me: If you could choose one of your male characters to magically come to life from the pages of your books, who would it be, and why?
Sawyer: This one is easy...I think it would be Flynn from my upcoming release of Off Chance (due out 10/21/13). He is about as good of a man as you can get. Flynn would just make the world a better place.
Me: How do you prepare to write? Do you just have an idea, sit down and start typing, or do you plan?
Sawyer: I usually start with an idea that I’ve mulled over in my head for a bit. I know the basic premise of the plot, I know where it will start and where it will end. All the stuff in the middle just comes out as I write. It’s a very organic process for me. Sometimes I might plot out the basic ideas for each chapter, but then I just let my imagination take over and spit stuff out.
Me: Are there parts of you, your friends, husband and life in the pages of your books? How much inspiration comes from these sources, and how much is simple fiction?
Sawyer: Oh my gosh, I write so much stuff from my own life in my books. Sometimes it feels like cheating since I’m stealing ideas from my life. I couldn’t even begin to tell you all the things in every book that are so “me”, but a few come to mind. Nix’s character is based in part on my ex-husband who was a Force Recon Marine. My dog, Atticus, plays a prominent role in Off Chance. And without giving anything away, there is an entire chapter in Off Chance that is based off a specific scene in my life.
Me: Can you tell us about your experience with becoming a published author?
Sawyer: I thought long and hard when I started writing as to how I wanted to go about being published. I’m not a very patient person, and the ease with which you can self-publish just seemed the best route for me to take. I took a great online course through our local RWA chapter on the mechanics of self-publishing, and I’ve learned a lot about it since then through trial and error. The reasons I like it versus traditional are that I can operate on my own time table, I have complete creative control, and frankly, I think you can generally make more money as a self-published author if you have the fan base.
Me: Can you tell us something about yourself that not many people know?
Sawyer: Hmmmm… let’s see. My first career was that as a trial lawyer. I’m still a majority owner in a law firm here in Raleigh but I’m in the process of selling my interest out so I can write full time. I love being in the courtroom and I think that has helped me be a writer. As a trial lawyer, I have to tell a convincing and entertaining story to the jury. That translates easily to writing as long as I can put the story from my head on paper.
Because I love Sawyer so much, I had a stack of other questions that I asked her. A second post will be coming soon, but in the mean time, here's your chance to enter a giveaway to get your hands on a copy of her upcoming Off Series novel, Off Chance with Flynn as the man to steam up your Kindle.
About Sawyer:
Sawyer Bennett is the pen name for a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.
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