by Amy Orr
A woman attacked. Two men unravelling. A city struggling for a way forward.
Raji/Vicki and John/Thomas had everything: friends, freedom, a modern alter lifestyle, and each other. But when one of Raji’s multiple personalities gets attacked, things get complicated. Who is to blame? Is it John, trusted but unstable? Is it Thomas, quiet, confident but with something to hide? Or is it the Institute, the omnipotent organization responsible for their creation? The city teeters on the edge of chaos as one cop attempts to piece together what happened and prevent their way of life from collapsing entirely. Everyone must decide: who do you trust?
ebook, 239 pages
Published April 2015
Amy Orr is a fiction writer with a background in astrophysics and finance. Her main focus is in science fiction but she also writes and enjoys other areas of speculative and literary fiction.Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13781111.Amy_Orr
Website: http://www.amyorrbooks.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amyorrbooks
Q & A with Amy Orr
Q: Tell us a little bit about your main characters.
I try to create characters with a realistic balance of likeable and distasteful qualities. In 'Divided We Stand' most of the characters have split personalities. John/Thomas is a deeply troubled man who is struggling to come to terms with himself and relationships with those around him. Raji/Vicki is a vivacious, happy person whose life is thrown into turmoil by a violent crime that she - seemingly - has no one to blame for. She sinks into denial and hopelessness as the world around her fails to make things right. And Kripke is a by-the-books policeman who finds himself, very unwillingly, being pulled into the world and the psyche of the suspect in Raji/Vicki's attack.
Q: Who designs the covers for your books and what is that process like for you as an author?
The wonderful Gabor Csigas, and the process is fantastic. I really didn't understand how much of a science cover design is until he started talking me through his process. There is so much that goes into a clever cover design! Gabor is extremely creative and I feel that the design effort - to really work - has to be collaborative. It's also really interesting to see how a creative mind accepts your concept and can take it into a totally new and un-thought-of direction.
Q: Describe your ideal writing spot.
Ideal? A beautiful sun-filled study with a huge wooden desk and books lining the walls, overlooking the ocean. Realistic? At home, in my little apartment in (mostly snowy) Canada, on my computer, with a dog sat on my feet. That's still pretty good though.
Q: What is the best advice you have been given?
The best writers are thoughtful readers. (Also: do what you want to do, not what you think you ought).
Q: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A marine biologist. But I couldn't swim and hated biology class. I still love the ocean though, and anything that lives in it.
Q: Which do you prefer: hard/paperbacks or ebooks?
Paperbacks. Although I have found it surprisingly easy to transition to ebooks. I thought I'd hate them just out of principle, but I love my ereader. It's nothing like reading on a screen and it makes travelling much easier!
Q: If you could be any paranormal creature, what would you choose to be and why?
Ooh, that's a tough one. I'm not big into the paranormal. I guess a dragon. They're badass and they can fly. I think flying is probably the best thing ever. But wait, are dragons paranormal or mythical? What's the difference?
Q: What book are you reading now?
'Behold the Man' by Michael Moorcock. An oldie but a goodie, and a really great example of a simple idea executed thoroughly and believably. It's a re-read for me, but I had a hankering for some heartbreaking pathos.
Q: Tell us a little bit about your main characters.
I try to create characters with a realistic balance of likeable and distasteful qualities. In 'Divided We Stand' most of the characters have split personalities. John/Thomas is a deeply troubled man who is struggling to come to terms with himself and relationships with those around him. Raji/Vicki is a vivacious, happy person whose life is thrown into turmoil by a violent crime that she - seemingly - has no one to blame for. She sinks into denial and hopelessness as the world around her fails to make things right. And Kripke is a by-the-books policeman who finds himself, very unwillingly, being pulled into the world and the psyche of the suspect in Raji/Vicki's attack.
Q: Who designs the covers for your books and what is that process like for you as an author?
The wonderful Gabor Csigas, and the process is fantastic. I really didn't understand how much of a science cover design is until he started talking me through his process. There is so much that goes into a clever cover design! Gabor is extremely creative and I feel that the design effort - to really work - has to be collaborative. It's also really interesting to see how a creative mind accepts your concept and can take it into a totally new and un-thought-of direction.
Q: Describe your ideal writing spot.
Ideal? A beautiful sun-filled study with a huge wooden desk and books lining the walls, overlooking the ocean. Realistic? At home, in my little apartment in (mostly snowy) Canada, on my computer, with a dog sat on my feet. That's still pretty good though.
Q: What is the best advice you have been given?
The best writers are thoughtful readers. (Also: do what you want to do, not what you think you ought).
Q: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A marine biologist. But I couldn't swim and hated biology class. I still love the ocean though, and anything that lives in it.
Q: Which do you prefer: hard/paperbacks or ebooks?
Paperbacks. Although I have found it surprisingly easy to transition to ebooks. I thought I'd hate them just out of principle, but I love my ereader. It's nothing like reading on a screen and it makes travelling much easier!
Q: If you could be any paranormal creature, what would you choose to be and why?
Ooh, that's a tough one. I'm not big into the paranormal. I guess a dragon. They're badass and they can fly. I think flying is probably the best thing ever. But wait, are dragons paranormal or mythical? What's the difference?
Q: What book are you reading now?
'Behold the Man' by Michael Moorcock. An oldie but a goodie, and a really great example of a simple idea executed thoroughly and believably. It's a re-read for me, but I had a hankering for some heartbreaking pathos.
Comments
Post a Comment