Guess what, guys! Today we have the amazing Abbie Emmons coming onto the blog to talk about her debut indie novel, 100 Days of Sunlight! Abbie is pretty awesome (and her YouTube channel is amazingly helpful) and I’m ecstatic to have had the opportunity to interview her 🙂
Please welcome Abbie!
Chelsea: What are three things we might not have known about you?
Abbie: 1: When I’m not writing, I train Karate and love it so much! I’m currently a green belt.
2: I was homeschooled all my life and am currently studying creative writing and psychology.
3: One day I want to learn how to fly planes.
How do you choose which spark of an idea you should develop into a full novel?
That’s a good question! Whenever I get a spark of an idea for a story, I think about it a lot. If the plot bunny keeps coming back to me and I keep getting new ideas for how to make it better and better, I know I should develop it into a full novel. But if I lose interest in an idea after a few months and never really think about it again, it pretty much stops there.
Which is your favourite to write—beginning, middle or end?
The middle! I know a lot of writers who don’t like writing the middle because you’re kind of in the midst of everything, not at the intriguing beginning or the exciting climax… but I find the middle of a novel super fun to write because you’re in the thick of all the story’s conflict – characters making bad decisions left and right! Plus, the midpoint is usually a “plot twist” story beat, and that’s always fun to write.
Which 100 Days of Sunlight character is most like you and why?
Tessa is definitely most like me. We share a lot of the same personality traits and habits: introvert, neat-freak, writer, dreamer, independent, obsessed with controlling everything. I usually don’t write characters who are super similar to me, but with Tessa I felt like I could step into her shoes and experience what she was experiencing, because we’re so similar.
But I feel like every character has a piece of me inside them, and I think that’s a beautiful part of being a writer. You can put something of yourself into every character, yet still have a lot to learn from them.
What is the strangest thing you’ve ever had to research?
Ever, for any book? Probably that one time I had to figure out how to replace a clutch on a dirt bike. (Don’t ask.)
What’s your favourite thing to do when a character/scene/plot just isn’t working?
Flip it upside-down. This is a piece of advice I got from my inventor/entrepreneur dad, and it always stuck with me and helps me sort out some of the most frustrating moments of writing. If something isn’t working, the first thing I ask myself is: what happens if I flip this upside-down? For a scene, what if I made the last thing happen first and the first thing happen last? For a plot, what if I told the story from another character’s POV? For a character, what if I made them have the exact opposite motive?
What are your top three tips for someone looking at indie publishing?
- Get a really good understanding of how much work is involved before you make the decision to go indie. I 12/10 recommend going indie, but it is a lot of work. Do tons of research and know what you’re about to take on! Take some time to sit down and write up an 8-month publishing timeline plan.
- Blog. If you don’t have a blog, start one. Write articles about topics you think your future readers will be interested in. It’s never too late to start growing your platform – never too soon, either!
- Learn from those who have gone before you. Indie publishing is a much bigger realm than you might think! There are some great podcasts and YouTube channels out there by indie authors who give a wealth of information to indies who are just starting out. A few of my favorites are The Self-Publishing Formula, The Creative Penn, and Kindlepreneur. Devour their articles and podcasts, and you’ll be way ahead of the game!
Is there a specific quote you associate with each of your characters?
Oooh, I love this question! Wait, like quotes by other people that remind me of my characters?
For Tessa, probably: “There are experiences of landscape that will always resist articulation, and of which words offer only a distant echo.”
For Weston, “You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.”
Did you have a playlist for 100 Days of Sunlight?
Yes! You can listen to the playlist on Spotify. (I’m a little too in love with it. 🙂
What would be some 100 Days of Sunlight comp titles?
Hmm, probably Wonder, The Fault in Our Stars, and Five Feet Apart.
Thank you so much for interviewing me on your lovely blog today, Chelsea!
Add 100 Days of Sunlight on Goodreads
A Little About Abbie:
I teach writers how to make their stories matter by harnessing the power and psychology of storytelling, transforming their ideas into a masterpiece, and creating a lifestyle that makes their author dreams come true.
How about you guys? Have you read 100 Days of Sunlight? Are you planning to? Definitely go and check out Abbie’s blog and social media!
an ordinary pen 
YES! SO excited about this release! ☀️
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