Author Rebecca
Ripley is chatting with me today about her new YA paranormal fantasy, The
Aberrant Sword.
Bio:
Rebecca
Ripley grew up playing in the heather on the rolling hills of the Hampshire New
Forest. Growing up in a region where witchcraft, legends and lore shape the
history and even future of the region, she developed a deep love for fantasy.
In her books she tries to marry the concepts of fantasy with strong
storytelling and fast-paced young-adult action.
Welcome,
Rebecca. Please tell us about your current release.
The
Aberrant Sword is a fast-paced young adult paranormal fantasy book and the first
in the Abarynthian Artefacts series. The story is about Isabelle who ‘finally’
gets to become a real-life kick-ass demon hunter… except that everything goes
terribly wrong.
She ends
up befriending the Demon and, on a back,-breaking quest for a sword that is supposedly
key in Evil’s plan to conquer the world.
I wanted
to write a fast-paced yet fluffy and maybe even a bit romantic Young-Adult book
– that now has turned into a full-concept series.
What
inspired you to write this book?
I
currently live in South East-London (my husband works outside of London so it
is easier for him to hit the M25 that way) and I work near Green park. My
commutes are hella long! I am talking an hour at least. One morning I finished
my audiobook and I was hit with the lethargy that comes after finishing a
really good series or an amazing book – What should I do now?
Opposite
me sat this absolutely gorgeous woman – dark features, eyes that pierce into
your soul, beautiful brown curls, tall and so incredibly stylish in leather…
I could
see her being a bad-ass demon hunter!
On the
train back home I started writing my book.
What
exciting story are you working on next?
I am
currently working on the second book in the series. I have planned 5 books in
this series and I already have plans for 2 spin-offs. One is an Academia series
and one spin-off will take place in the USA. I am so excited for them but I
can’t seem to write fast enough!
When did
you first consider yourself a writer?
I don’t
think I consider myself a writer yet. It’s hard. In the end I am just a girl on
her way home or to work hammering out words on a keyboard. I guess I will
consider myself a real writer if people buy my books and like them – I think
that would be a real milestone for me: getting good reviews and people mailing
me or signing up to the mailing list because they like my stories.
Do you
write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other
than write and how do you find time to write?
No
– I mostly write on my commutes and when I am home in the evenings. I basically
take a bus to the train station and open up my laptop as soon as I am on the
train. I tried writing during my lunch breaks but all what happens is that I
just forget to eat. In the evenings I write after dinner – most of the time
with a large glass of red wine. I think that is my favourite way of writing:
comfy P-Jay bottoms, band shirt and a big glass of red wine.
What
would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I talk to
myself and my characters when writing. It’s very annoying on the train and tube
because people literally think I am
a) talking to them
and when
they notice I am not
b)
batshit crazy
As a
child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted
to become a vet. Very unique – I know…
Later on
I wanted to become a journalist and travel the world.
I don’t know about the journalist stuff but if my books would be successful (touch wood) I do think I would travel the world non-stop. I would be a digital-nomad-author.
I don’t know about the journalist stuff but if my books would be successful (touch wood) I do think I would travel the world non-stop. I would be a digital-nomad-author.
Anything
additional you want to share with the readers?
Adventure
may hurt you but monotony will kill you. Get out there! Go explore! But always
take a book
Thanks for being here today!
