Sarah Stafford's Blog
September 12, 2015
Reader Questions
I've received a number of questions from readers regarding my novel that I will hopefully be able to address here.
One of the primary concerns some have expressed was over my use of something aside from first-person POV.
In the US, it's become standard practice to write YA novels using first-person perspective as many in the publishing industry argue helps create an instant connection with the characters. Initially, I began writing using this method but quickly discovered it was limiting my ability to create the sort of complex story I'd envisioned.
Another concern was from readers who were unfamiliar with a YA novel with a main character not acting as the driving force behind the story, aka the protagonist.
In American literature, it's normal to roll the main character and protagonist into one, creating what literary buffs refer to as the 'Hero/Heroine' archetype. What this means is that the outcome of the story and the fate of the entire fictional world around which the story revolves rests exclusively on the proverbial shoulders of a single character. This practice is heavily influenced by the film industry and publishers oblige by seeking out stories possessing a 'cinematic' quality as books have by and large become catalysts for movies in recent years. Personally, I find this plot device extremely contrived and predictable, and in the case of Amber, simply not feasible given her age and role in the story, itself. And, while Amber is the main character in the sense that the bulk of the story is told primarily from her perspective, she is not the protagonist - that role is actually fulfilled by Fortis.
I hope this sheds some light on why I went about the plot as I did.
Happy Reading :)
One of the primary concerns some have expressed was over my use of something aside from first-person POV.
In the US, it's become standard practice to write YA novels using first-person perspective as many in the publishing industry argue helps create an instant connection with the characters. Initially, I began writing using this method but quickly discovered it was limiting my ability to create the sort of complex story I'd envisioned.
Another concern was from readers who were unfamiliar with a YA novel with a main character not acting as the driving force behind the story, aka the protagonist.
In American literature, it's normal to roll the main character and protagonist into one, creating what literary buffs refer to as the 'Hero/Heroine' archetype. What this means is that the outcome of the story and the fate of the entire fictional world around which the story revolves rests exclusively on the proverbial shoulders of a single character. This practice is heavily influenced by the film industry and publishers oblige by seeking out stories possessing a 'cinematic' quality as books have by and large become catalysts for movies in recent years. Personally, I find this plot device extremely contrived and predictable, and in the case of Amber, simply not feasible given her age and role in the story, itself. And, while Amber is the main character in the sense that the bulk of the story is told primarily from her perspective, she is not the protagonist - that role is actually fulfilled by Fortis.
I hope this sheds some light on why I went about the plot as I did.
Happy Reading :)
August 16, 2015
Free Offer
Readers can download a FREE copy of The Handmaiden of Death now through Aug. 20.
Suitable for ages 16 and up.
YA Supernatural Suspense
Sixteen-year-old Amber Marsden must fight for survival after a botched drug deal leaves her orphaned on the frozen streets of present day Detroit. Her hope for rescue fades until she mysteriously awakens in the opulent abode of prominent businessman Fortis Lombardi, who offers the wayward teen a place to stay and the chance for a new life. Over time, Amber discovers that her wealthy guardian has been harboring a dark secret that will change the course of her life, forever....
Set against the backdrop of a city in decline, The Handmaiden of Death is a fast paced, darkly spellbinding foray into the human psyche that will captivate fans of the vampire genre seeking a story with a lot less sparkle and a lot more bite.
Suitable for ages 16 and up.
YA Supernatural Suspense
Sixteen-year-old Amber Marsden must fight for survival after a botched drug deal leaves her orphaned on the frozen streets of present day Detroit. Her hope for rescue fades until she mysteriously awakens in the opulent abode of prominent businessman Fortis Lombardi, who offers the wayward teen a place to stay and the chance for a new life. Over time, Amber discovers that her wealthy guardian has been harboring a dark secret that will change the course of her life, forever....
Set against the backdrop of a city in decline, The Handmaiden of Death is a fast paced, darkly spellbinding foray into the human psyche that will captivate fans of the vampire genre seeking a story with a lot less sparkle and a lot more bite.
