Monday 28 October 2013

Say hello to author H.J Daly.

Please welcome author H.J Daly to my blog today. She has taken some time out of her busy schedule to answer some questions for us.

Let's begin.

Tell us a little about yourself.
What could I tell you that you don’t already know? I remember enjoying writing as a teenager and of course I have always been an avid reader, but I started writing more recently for fun. For something to keep me sane when my boys went into full time education before that, a lot of my time was taken up with dancing. Appearing on Come Dancing and travelling Europe enjoying every second, well apart from the bad back, knees and wrists.

Tell us more about your books? 
I think Pulse was one of those stories that had been with me for years, running around my head when I walked the dogs as a kid. Imaging the barren landscape of a dystopian world and finally putting that on paper was a wonderful feeling. I love fantasy, always have, but it is always historical or hidden from humans. What I wanted was to mix the two worlds together, a human world with skyscrapers and cars and living with them goblins, elves and all manner or magical creatures. My story follows a young woman, forced to do whatever she needs to survive and the journey she makes that changes her life forever.

Who are some of your favourite authors? 
Everyone must have a huge list of favourite authors and I don’t think I am an exception. It all depends on what genre I am reading. I love Michael Connelly, the build up of tension the glimpses of the truly damaged mind. In respect of fantasy it has to be Cassandra Claire, the way she uses water based metaphors to draw all the elements together will make me forever jealous and as I love children’s books, another favourite has to be Derek Landy, his narrative drive is amazing and the humour that runs through every page keeps me hooked.

Which writers have inspired you?

The series I read over and over again as a teenager was the Dragonlance Chronicles by Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman. I was totally amerced in this fantasy world of elves and dragons. It was the first time I had really noticed the skill of a writer being able to create such strong relationships between the main characters. No simple black and white decisions, not knowing who was good or evil or who would win. They made me realise that you could complicate the relationships, letting me write a hero that was never going to be perfect.

Do you prefer ebooks or paperbacks? Why?
Although I do have a large collections of e-books, who doesn’t, it is running into thousands I kid you not, they are more for convenience. My kindle goes nearly everywhere with me, but nothing compares to a book you can hold, put up on your shelves, though I am running out of space, face.

Favourite film? Why?
This question is almost as bad as asking me if I have a favourite book, how can I pick one. At the moment I do love the Perks of Being a Wallflower. It’s a lovely understated piece of acting with a very heavy content, though you don’t quite know that until it slowly unfolds before you. A great piece which I felt was better than the book, I know I am as shocked as you.

If you could choose anyone alive/dead to play your characters in a movie, who would it be and why?
A young Audrey Hepburn as my main character, Esa. She didn’t do many gritty films but I would like to think she would have loved the challenge. A more recent actor in Matt Bomer to play Thomas, not seen him in much but he looks like Thomas to me.

What do you like to do for fun?
Go to the pictures, though not always fun if you see some of the films we’ve seen. Sometimes we spend more time chatting than watching, it’s a good job its mainly empty and getting together with friends to talk, strangely enough there is a lot of talk about books and films.

Describe your perfect date.
It would have to be a drink in the St.Perrin’s Inn with my husband, which is on the beach at Holywell Bay just outside Newquay. Sappy as it sounds I love the sound of the waves on the beach so a walk as the sun was setting would finish it off nicely.

Which do you prefer, horror, romance or sci-fi?
It has to be sci-fi.

If you could be any creature in the world, what would it be and why?
A panther, strong, sleek and a little bit sneaky.

You can find out more about this author by clicking the links below.

Redribbonwrites.blogspot.co.uk

Twitter - @redribbon01

https://www.facebook.com/pages/HJ-Daly-Author/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pulse-HJ-Daly-ebook/dp/B00B9J7X0G/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1382134539&sr=1-1&keywords=hj+daly

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Awaken-Sword-Idis-HJ-Daly-ebook/dp/B00ET9W4NE/ref=pd_sim_sbs_kinc_1



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