Liis asked Ellen Allen:

Hi Ellen... So, I started reading The Sham. It's something altogether different I've read this far. I am about 40 pages in and I would like to ask how the idea for this book formed? What triggered this plot and the characters? Was it difficult to write? Thanks

Ellen Allen Hello. The idea for the book came from a nightmare that I had about two years' ago. I woke up in cold sweats because I had dreamt I was involved in a murder at my school (I was 17 in my dream...) The characters sort of developed from there. Emily is made up, in part, by who I think I wanted to be at 17 and what I actually was!

It's my first book so I've learnt so much about how to write in that time.. about the process and what to leave in and what to leave out. I'm writing my second book right now and I'm feeling that the process of writing this one feels much easier; I'm learning as I go along... Thanks for the question! Ellen

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