Ask the Author: Deborah Bee
Answered Questions (7)
Deborah Bee
Thanks for your question Jandi. I'm so glad you liked my book. Also glad you liked the distinct voices of Sarah and Kelly. I based all the lead characters in my book on people that i know to make it easier for me to think how they would respond to certain situations. Beth is my very good friend at work. Clare is my best friend at school. Kelly is a mix of two girls that i know, one of them a friend of my sons who came on holiday with us and said "I'm not even lying'" the entire time. Sarah is the only one who isn't based on anyone in particular, but since it's her story, i suppose that's right. I really enjoyed writing both characters, but Kelly was such fun to write. I kept up with both of them throughout as they were both feeding information simultaneously. But before i started a new chapter for each character, i went back to their previous one and re-read it so i was back in their personality. Thanks so much for asking. I'm working on another dual narrative and that last bit does really help to keep you on track. xx
Deborah Bee
The story originated with Sarah, the coma victim, who can't remember her own history. I liked the idea that she was finding out what was going on at the same time as the reader, through overheard conversations. I always knew what i wanted to happen in the end. That was always the plan.
Deborah Bee
Switching off everything and thinking. A three hour car journey with no phone and no radio is ideal.
Deborah Bee
Two possible book 2s. I haven't decided which one i prefer; one's commercial but not easy to write, the other's more complex but more me.
Deborah Bee
Keep going. If you can tell a story, you can be a writer.
Deborah Bee
I don't feel like a proper writer yet. Maybe when my print version launches. Hope so.
Deborah Bee
If you have planned your story beforehand, you should find that if you just keep going - you will get through the tricky bit, then you can come back to it. If you haven't planned - and maybe you're not the planning type - I sleep on the problem. I've wrestled some plot problems to the ground just as i'm falling asleep - or waking up.
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