Six things asked

One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. "Which road do I take?" she asked. "Where do you want to go?" was his response. "I don't know," Alice answered. "Then," said the cat, "it doesn't matter." 
-Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland 

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Keeping with this theme of six things, I asked my readers to ask me questions they have been meaning to put to me. Here are six of them, with my answers, below. I accept no responsibility for answers you do not like.

1. How long does it take you to write a book?

It’s hard to say, because I write sporadically throughout the year according to the school terms and the academic calendar, but all up I suppose about eighteen months? My books are quite lengthy for YA novels – if I wrote shorter I could maybe get them done more quickly. 

2. Why did you choose to set it in Ireland?

I have asked myself this many times – why set my story somewhere so far away instead of somewhere I know? For some reason I have always felt an attraction to Ireland as a place, though I have not yet been there. In my mind I have this association with old magic, and I was maybe trying to connect with that. Plus, I think I really liked the idea of Aristea and Renatus talking with an Irish accent. 

3. Do you have anyone in mind for the movie adaptations?

Theo James for Renatus.

4. What is your favourite scene from Unbidden?

The best scene to write was the masquerade sequence. I looked forward to writing that for years before I reached that point in the series! 

5.  How do you find the time to write? 

I get this one a lot. I suppose I do it instead of other things that other people do, like going to the movies or baking. I'm also uncomfortably strict on my time. I can't watch Netflix unless I am also folding washing or laminating. 

6. HAVE YOU STARTED THE FOURTH BOOK?!? 

YES! I have written the first chapter, and it starts with a bang. Hopefully I can get into it when school breaks up over Christmas.