{Interview & Giveaway} Francis Knight, author of Fade to Black

Welcome to Francis Knight!!

We have an awesome interview laid out ahead and one sweet giveaway!!

Ready?

Set?

GO!!!! ;P

~The Author:

Francis Knight was born and lives in Sussex, England. When not living in her own head, she enjoys SF&F geekery, WWE geekery, teaching her children Monty Python quotes, and boldly going and seeking out new civilizations.

Find her at: ~Website~Amazon~Twitter~Facebook~ 

~The Interview:

1. What, in your opinion, is the hardest thing about being a writer?  

A couple of things – firstly getting myself to sit down and write! I’m fine once I get started, but I have a tendency to say ‘I’ll just do this first…’ and well, and then an hour later I still haven’t got any words in. Procrastination is a terrible thing. The second is when it comes to actually showing it to anyone else. Utterly nerve-wracking.    

2. How did your writing process for Fade To Black go?  

It was very different to all my other books, to be honest. I started it as a Nano project (a challenge to write 50k of a novel in a month). I duly did the 50K, but then got sidetracked with other projects, and only came back to it every now and again. Finally, in 2011 I decided it was about time I finished it and subbed it! So in total, it took me five months to write, but that was spread over three years.   

3. How much planning and premeditated thought went into the city of Mahal?  

Planning in advance, almost none. I was thinking of Bladerunner, and the hive cities of Warhammer while I wrote, and they influenced me. But mostly it grew as I was writing. The ‘planning’ – that is making sure it all worked – came afterwards.   

4. Fade To Black is reformat in a planned trilogy. Did you know where you wanted the series to go and how it would end from the beginning?  

I had a vague idea once I’d finished the first, but as to how it actually ends…that came to me just as I was finishing book 2. I tend not to plan very much in advance – as I write, I find the actual process gives me more ideas, so any plans go out of the window! Although once I’d figured out the end, while it changed, the basic set up of it gave me something to aim towards.  

5. When did you know that writing fiction is what you wanted to do with your life?  

Oh, that’s tricky. I started dabbling quite a while ago – I was laid up with ME for a long time, and it was either watch daytime TV, or give this writing malarkey a go. So I tried it, and dabbled on and off for a while. It was only when I showed what I’d done to a couple of extremely-well-read friends, and they said they thought I should give it a go, that I decided to become serious. I sold my first romance six months later (I write under another name in romance, though Fade to Black is my first fantasy), but it was still a hobby, almost. One that I got paid for. It’s only when I got an agent for Fade to Black I thought perhaps I should really concentrate on it.   

6. How often do you write?  

Barring illness and emergencies, every day. Not always at the same time, but my aim is to get at least 1500 words in every day. Sometimes it’s a little less, more often it’s more. But pretty much every day. If I leave it longer, it just makes it harder to get back into a story!  

7. Who has been your main supporters in writing your debut? Inspirations?   

Well, my family have been very supportive. My husband hardly ever complains if I spend the evening writing. This could be because I tell him to go to the pub :). My kids think it’s fantastic too. Inspirations…the woman who made me want to write is CJ Cherryh. I loved her stuff growing up, and I wanted to be able to evoke the same feelings in others. Whether I manage it is another matter entirely. 

~The Book(s):

Fade to Black

Series: Rojan Dizon Trilogy #1

Release Date: February 26, 2013

by, Orbit

Buy: ~Amazon~

From the depths of a valley rises the city of Mahala.  

It’s a city built upwards, not across—where streets are built upon streets, buildings upon buildings. A city that the Ministry rules from the sunlit summit, and where the forsaken lurk in the darkness of Under.

Rojan Dizon doesn’t mind staying in the shadows, because he’s got things to hide. Things like being a pain-mage, with the forbidden power to draw magic from pain. But he can’t hide for ever.  

Because when Rojan stumbles upon the secrets lurking in the depths of the Pit, the fate of Mahala will depend on him using his magic. And unlucky for Rojan—this is going to hurt.{Goodreads}

The rest of the series (coming soon)...

~The Giveaway:

The Prizes:
1 Signed copy of Fade to Black and Before the Fall

The Details:
This giveaway is International!
You must be 13 years or older to enter!
Winner will have 48 hours to reply before a new winner is chosen!

a Rafflecopter giveaway Good luck!! Enjoy your day! :D ~Jaiden