Please tell us a little about yourself and your work.
As a reformed, reluctant reader, I can empathize with anyone with an aversion to books. When I first learned to read, I didn’t believe good books existed, so I made up my own stories. On book- report day in eighth grade, I dreamed of publishing my own novel. That way, I could report on my book and not have to read it first—because I wrote it! I had no idea how often an author must read a manuscript during the editing process. I gained a passion for books in college through a juvenile literature class. Awesome literature is out there for young readers, and I want to be a part of that. I write for the young and the young at heart because they deserve an engaging, adventurous story filled with unexpected turns and a few laughs. I think I just described a roller coaster! As for my work: My stand-alone novel, Hutra, is Book Two of my Winnie and the Wizard fantasy series from Wild Rose Press. Winnie lives by a warrior code, and Kip, the “wizard,” is a young, aspiring magician who gains magical powers during their travels.
How did you develop your characters?
Each one has a different origin. For instance, the main female character in Frama-12 and Hutra shares a few characteristics with my older sister. I originally named her Torie. Then one day while I was listening to an oldies station, they played “Windy” by the Association. The chorus described my character so well I renamed her Windemere, with the nicknames Winnie and Windy. Her little stepbrother, 6-year-old Mikey, is based on my nephew when he was that age. The inspiration for Kip’s Cockney accent came from a tubing excursion. One of the kids in our group started speaking in a Cockney accent for absolutely no reason. That memory stuck with me and became a part of Kip’s character. The character of Nor, also in Hutra, appeared through pure imagination and pure fun!
Was your storyline something that you envisioned from the beginning, or did you build/change it as you wrote your novel?
I’m one of those seat-of-the-pants writers. After I come up with a “what if” idea, I thumb through a “name your baby” book until I find a character name that fits my story idea. Next, I imagine the character experiencing and reacting to different scenarios until the plot starts to solidify. Some days it’s agony writing this way, but once I find the groove, I dive into it and let the characters tell the story.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on Book Three in this series. Winnie, Mikey, and Kip visit an island in an alternate world where they’re tasked with breaking an enchantment on a princess and stopping an invasion from the mainland led by their nemesis, Thaddeus Krell.
What can readers expect that might be different from your previous body of work?
One of the joys of writing a fantasy series featuring alternate worlds is that each is different. Frama-12 is a little like Alice in Wonderland on steroids. Hutra is more realistic, with a Victorian feel, except with cellphones and zero tolerance for other-worlders.
Find out more about Aud Supplee at www.AudSupplee.com.
Portions of this Q&A were edited for clarity.
