Interview with Author Amanda Leigh

Author Amanda Leigh has just launched her second novel  entitled Burned, in her Beauty of  the Dark trilogy. I've known Amanda since we were both young teenagers. We instantly bonded over beings readers, and passionate writers. We also both love Bacon and cats. Hehehe. I'm excited I was able to interview Amanda to talk about her new novel and other bookish deductions.

(Dana)What is your all time favorite book?

(Amanda)I think I get asked this question every time I get interviewed. It is SO difficult to answer. So I always cheat in two ways. I’m going to count a series as one book and I’m going to list three books instead of just one.

1. Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling (the whole series)
2. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
3. The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton

(Dana) BAD GIRL hehehe

(Dana) What inspired you to write Scarred? Did you always envision Kiaras story being a trilogy?

(Amanda) It’s funny how stories can start out. Sometimes they simmer for years. This was sort of the case with Scarred. When I was 18 (2009) I scribbled a sentence in my journal. “A witch and a vampire fall in love.” That was it. About a year later, in college, I wrote a couple of chapters for it. They were much different than what got published. They weren’t even in first person. Then, after I graduated college, I found that notebook with the one sentence and couple of chapters. I thought it could be interesting. I started taking notes. My first note that I’ve found about it is from September 2013. In six weeks I wrote the first draft of the book that is now Scarred. At first I called it Beauty of the Dark but I decided I wanted that for the series name so I came up with a different name for book one.

(Dana) What are you most excited about with Burned?

(Amanda) Hmmm...good question. I think getting deeper into the characters, seeing other sides of them and seeing vulnerabilities. I like finding out more about them. I also think (hope) I did a pretty good job in combining the creepy and bloody with the romantic and sexy. I hope readers respond well to it. I’m excited to explore the dark sides of the characters even more.

(Dana) This isn't the first time you wrote about a  female witch that is friends with a male vampire. In a horror anthology you wrote the story about  a female witch and her male vampire facing off against another male vampire, what is it about these two supernatural beings that you love?

(Amanda) Well, I see the story you’re referring to as a sort of prequel to Scarred. It’s about the day that Kiara’s parents died. It’s just told from the Point of View of the vampire who killed them. The female witch is Kiara’s mother. And the male vampire friend is Kaleib. But, what do I love about these beings? Hmmm. I think maybe it’s that they’re very human supernatural beings. Witches are humans with powers, abilities. But they are largely human. Humans that have to deal with their abilities. As for vampires, they’re interesting to me for similar reasons. They have such a dark, monstrous side to them. They survive on blood. But the look completely human. They have human emotions. They’re humans who survive on blood. I find the struggle that comes with that fascinating and also see it as a good metaphor for the darkness in all of us.

(Dana) whoa, I had no clue that was the prequel. Thats really cool. I think I'm gonna have to go back and read that

(Dana) What's a trait you cannot stand to see in a female protagonist?  

(Amanda) Too worried about her looks. I mean, yes, it’s made pretty clear in the books that Kiara is beautiful. (Though often we’re seeing her through Trent’s eyes who obviously has quite an affection for her.) But she doesn’t spend a lot of time worrying about makeup and what to wear and how she looks and all of that. I think she knows she’s pretty but her physical appearance isn’t her main concern. She doesn’t spend a lot of time primping and getting ready. Also, I’d just like to take this opportunity to say how I see Kiara. Often readers picture the heroines as very thin which is fine but that isn’t how I see Kiara. I think she’s probably got some more curves to her.

(Dana) Yass we love lady lumps!

(Dana) If Kiara, Trent and Kalieb were to sit under the sorting hat, what Hogwarts house would they each be in?

(Amanda) This is such a fun question!! I had to think a little about Kiara and Kaleib. I think Kaleib would be in Hufflepuff since I see him as very loyal. I think Kiara would be in Gryffindor. She’s definitely determined and brave. Trent I didn’t have to think about at all. Trent would be in Slytherin, hands down. Pride ✓. Ambition ✓. Cunning ✓. Hmmm, I like the idea of a Gryffindor and Slytherin being interested in each other. Lol ;)

(Dana) I love this too, Romeo and Juliet meets Harry Potter!

(Dana) Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?

(Amanda) I still have it. My mom saved it. I think I was about two or three years old. I told my mom a story about Prince Darien and Princess Serena (from Sailor Moon. I loved her.) My mom wrote it down and I drew the pictures. We stapled the pages together and made a cover out of construction paper.

(Dana) It's Nanowrimo* time, have any of your novels been written or started during this time of year?

(Amanda) Scarred started out during a Camp NaNoWriMo Session. The first draft of Burned was written during NaNoWriMo 2014. And the last book in the trilogy was written during a period of twelve weeks. And two of those months were Camp NaNoWriMo sessions. I also have a novella written that I used Camp NaNoWriMo to get me to write. I have 50,000 words on another novel that I wrote during NaNoWriMo 2015. Oh and I have a short story set in the Beauty of the Dark world that I wrote during… Camp NaNoWriMo April 2016, I believe.

(Dana) Do you have any actors in mind to play your characters in a film?

(Amanda) I’ve thought some about this but it’s such a hard question. I see the characters a certain way in my mind. And honestly, I don’t know of a lot of actors. Lol I kind of considered Matt Bomer for Trent. I see Trent as a combination of Matt Bomer and Ian Somerhalder. Kiara….I saw a picture of Sara Paxton where she could have been Kiara. She had the right look. As for Kaleib, I have no clue whatsoever.

(Dana) Who is your favorite fictional Witch ?

(Amanda) Hermione Granger. I love how intelligent and strong she is. My mom says I remind her of Hermione. High compliment.

(Dana) Who is your favorite fictional Vampire?

(Amanda) Damon Salvatore….or Elijah Mikaelson. Are we talking just books here? Because then it would be Damon. Though I do like Lestat, too….

(Dana) Do you have a playlist inspired by Burned?

(Amanda) I do!! I make playlists for all of my books. This is the one for Burned: http://spoti.fi/2zLI4Dh

(Dana) What advice would you give to other self publishers?

(Amanda)vTo try to learn about marketing a book. There are books you can read about it. One I’ve been meaning to read is called Let’s Get Visible. Marketing is the part that I have the most trouble with. Also, be aware of trends in the market but I would say to write for yourself. When you write a story that you really love, it will show and readers will respond to that. This career path is tough and you have to have a thick skin. Some reviews are downright cruel. But remember that reviews are subjective. Try not to get bad reviews get to you too much.

(Dana) Who is your favorite character to write and why?

(Amanda) Trent. Hands down my favorite character to write is Trent. Why? I’m not entirely sure. I mean, I love his snarky nature. And he’s kind of cocky and flirty which is fun to write but he has a real vulnerable side under there that I like writing, as well. Mostly so people can see he isn’t a total ass. But I also know Trent really well. Better than any other character I’ve ever written. Even if I can’t convey what he’s thinking (because he can be pretty complicated) nine times out of ten I know what he’s thinking. Even in regards to things that have nothing to do with the books. You know, things like, what he would think about the movie I’m watching, book I’m reading, apartment I live in, etc. Trent came to me pretty much fully formed. I had to think more about Kaleib and Kiara’s back stories. Trent’s I just knew. I sat down to write it and it just came out. I hardly needed to think. It was like he was waiting to come out.

(Dana) I am not shocked to hear it! :)

(Dana) 5 words to describe Burned

(Amanda)

1. Dark
2. Sweet
3. Bloody
4. Creepy
5. Romantic

*(Nanowrimo stands for National Novel writing Month)

Where to buy Burned (on Kindle currently for 3.99) 
https://www.amazon.com/Burned-Beauty-Dark-Book-2-ebook/dp/B077JNZYC8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511300423&sr=8-1&keywords=burned+amanda+leigh

Check out Scarred on Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35834911-burned?ac=1&from_search=true

All of Amanda Leighs books

https://authoramandaleigh.com/books/

About the Author

Amanda Leigh with Elvis

Amanda graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Communications from Pace University in 2013.  While in college, Amanda was the Managing Editor of Vox Literary and Arts Magazine from 2011-2013. Amanda has been in a total of 9 publications including poetry collections, novels and anthologies.

Amandas Author blog
https://authoramandaleigh.com/

Motive Unknown

Stephen Paddock is a terrorist. Without prejudice he opened fire with an assault rifle into a crowd of 22,000 people, killing 59 and injuring more than 200 while bringing our nation to its knees. We have learned that Stephen was a country music fan. So were the people he murdered. We are told that Stephen lived a very quiet life. Until he committed the biggest act of Domestic Terrorism in our country? 

Yes, he lived a quiet life. They want to know what Stephens motive was. Officials have begun investigating and digging into to his quiet life. For some reason, his motive is unknown. Why would this simple guy, over sixty, a poker player, "living a quiet life", commit this heinous act of terrorism? No one knows his motive. Why not ask me? I know what his motive was. His motive was to kill. To harm, to terrorize. This may be shocking to some but not every oldish, white guy living a "quiet life" is a dear patriot that loves his American people. Stephen certainly wasn’t one. Stephen intended on being infamous. He picked the perfect spot in his Mandalay Bay hotel. He probably had a juicy rib eye steak and a scotch beforehand. He probably settled all his debts and said goodbye to friends, before bringing all those weapons to his room and finding the right angle to inflict the most damage. 

He probably salivated as his assault rifle blared and confused people into mass hysteria. He used his weapon of Mass Destruction to inflict harm and horror on people who were partying and having a great time, all vulnerable with their guard down. Stephen wanted to watch innocent people scatter in terror while he got to play God for a while, taking life in the most brutal and inhumane way. Stephen wanted to watch the fear and confusion as people didn’t know which way to go or where the shooter was. He felt powerful. Kill- that was his motive. Make all the people in this country question what can happen anytime they leave the safety of their houses. Stephen wanted parents to worry about the world their children are growing up in. Stephen wanted to continue to divide us, over gun laws and race. Stephen wanted to be another Lone Wolf. Sounds kinda cool doesn’t it? Stephen’s pale face and having no ties to the Middle East ensure he would become known as another Lone Wolf. That does sound better than Terrorist so I see what he was aiming for. A pale faced man, a man living a quiet life, killing so many civilians is startling as hell. Stephen wanted to scare us. He wants us to think twice next time we’re in public and let our guard down. How many more Stephens’ are out there? I can name a lot of white guys over sixty that live a quiet life. Stephen Paddock is a terrorist. Stephen intended on killing and changing our nation’s history. Stephen intended on baffling the media and many Americans. 

Stephen also chose to kill himself because he could not face the consequences of his despicable actions. Suicide was also his intention but he wanted to go out with the notion that he actually made an impact on our world despite his normalcy of a quiet life. Stephen wanted to prove something to me.  That what I’ve always heard is true. It’s the quiet ones that we need to watch out for.