Winterview with Author Stephanie Sauvinet

To celebrate 13 weeks of winter, Hàlön Chronicles will be conducting one interview a week for 13 weeks. We’ve also partnered with additional artists and authors for a few surprises throughout the winter. Join us on the hashtag #13Winterviews, or check out our blog hop for a sneak peek at who’s on the roster in the coming weeks.

Hosted by: K. J. Harrowick

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am an adult and YA science-fiction ESL writer – originally from France, I moved to the U.S. at seventeen and now live in New Orleans. I am an oncology and stem cell transplant nurse by day and have two furry kitties that are more spoiled than children should be.

2. What types of books do you write, and why?

In my eyes, science-fiction has always been one of the best genres to answer the ‘what ifs’. It allows writers like me to push the boundaries of what is today. Technology never ceases to progress and the result of this advancement always brings me to wonder what comes next and how will it affect us as humans. The moment when the status quo isn’t challenged is when imagination dies. I don’t see any better genre to shake things up than SF.

3. What were your early influences, and how does this manifest in your work today?

I still remember the first two science-fiction novels I’ve read. I was browsing through my middle school’s library and the cover of NIOURK by Stefan Wul caught my eye. (As an expat, I now find it ironic I would pick a novel with the Statue of Liberty on it.) That’s when I caught the science-fiction bug, but what sealed it was the second SF novel, again dug out of my middle-school’s library – DUNE by Frank Hebert. It remains my favorite book to this day.

Later on, I moved on to reading Gibson, Phillip K. Dick and all the masters, they’ve all influenced my own writing by their made up terms, political intrigue, character molding and world-building.

4. Are there aspects of the craft that excite you more than others?

Drafting for sure. That’s when everything and anything can happen, the pinnacle of creating new worlds and characters. I often find while both are interconnected, they suffer from the chicken or the egg conundrum. How has the world molded the characters but also, how have the characters influenced the world they live in?

It’s never a straight answer and it changes with every book. That’s what makes writing exciting.

5. What books or websites are your go-to places while editing?

One of the websites that helped me a ton when I learned to edit was Susan Dennard’s Resources For Writers It covers anything from plotting to revising and as an author herself, she puts things in perspective and definitely understands the process!

The other main resource I’ve used was Martha Alderson’s The Plot Whisperer. Her blog and various books as well as online series have been a tremendous eye opener for me. She outlined a lot of things I was unconsciously doing (positive as well as negative) while drafting but also helped me focus on what I was missing.

6. Tell us about your current WIP or your latest book release.

My article Medical Misconceptions in Fiction will be published as part of PUTTING THE SCIENCE IN FICTION by the Writer’s Digest in Fall of 2018.

My WIP is an adult science-fiction with cyberpunk undertones, THE BODY ELECTRIC. I’m also drafting a YA science-fiction that could be described as THE GIVER meets BRAVE NEW WORLD and an adult SF whose main character is the equivalent of Tomb Raider in space.

Curious to know more about Stephanie Sauvinet? Be sure to visit her website or connect with her on Twitter. Stephanie is repped by: Nicole Resciniti & Lynnette Novak of The Seymour Agency.

Don’t forget to check out this year’s Winterviews and partner interviews. You can also follow this blog and be the first to know when new content is released.