Interview with Sarah Painter

I was lucky enough to have Sarah Painter stop by my blog to tell us a little bit about her debut novel 'The Language of Spells' and the magical power she would most like to have.











1. How did you come up with the idea for your novel?

I never really get big ideas for stories, just a character's voice in my head that starts talking until I start listening...

2.What made you decide to include magic?

When Gwen started talking in my head (and I know that makes me sound less-than-sane, sorry) I knew pretty quickly that she had an ability to find lost things and that she was trying to resist it, to be 'normal'. I didn't know it would end up as such a large part of the book, but the whole magical heritage of the Harper women just grew from that.

3.What writers do you think influenced you?

I'm sure I've been influenced (in some way) by every single writer I have read and loved, but for this book I think my adoration of Fay Weldon, Alice Hoffman and Jennifer Crusie probably played a part.

4. How did you come up with the characters in your novel and who was your most favourite character to write?

Ah, that's a good question. I don't actually know how I create characters, I just keep writing (putting them into situations as they come to me) until they reveal themselves. I loved writing Iris's journal entries, though. She's acerbic and I like a bit of that.

5. What was the most surprising thing you learnt from writing your book?

Just how much better a book gets with every revision and what it's like to work with a professional editor.

6. What book are you reading at the moment?

I'm reading a non-fiction book about the 1930s for research purposes and Libba Bray's The Diviners for fun.

7. What is your favourite magical novel?

That's a great question, but I fear it's impossible to answer. I've loved magical fiction with an unseemly passion since I first read Diana Wynne Jones as a child.

8. What magical power would you most like to have?

The power of healing would be a true gift.

9. If you could have one wish, what would it be?

I'm probably supposed to say world peace, but if I could be certain that everybody I love would remain happy and healthy for the rest of their (long) lives, I'd wish for that.

10. Can you give us a hint about what your next book will be about?

Yes! Thank you for asking! I'm writing the follow-up to The Language of Spells. It's a stand alone story but set in the same town as The Language of Spells and with a lot of the same characters. 

Thanks Sarah :)

Sarah's novel The Language of Spells is out now and you can read my review here: The Language of Spells Review