Interview with Emi Gayle

What eighteen year old Mac Thorne doesn't know will probably kill her. In exactly eight months, five days, three hours and thirteen minutes, Mac has to choose what she'll be for the rest of her life. She has no choice but to pick. As a Changeling, it's her birthright. 

To Mac, it's a birthchore. Like going to school with humans, interacting with humans, and pretending to be human during the pesky daylight hours. Once darkness descends, Mac can change into any supernatural form that exists-which makes her as happy as she can be. That is, until Winn Thomas, the biggest geek in her senior class, figures out there's more to what hides in the dark than most are willing to acknowledge. In this first of the 19th Year Trilogy, Winn might know more about Mac than even she does, and that knowledge could end their lives, unless Mac ensures the powers-that-be have no choice but to keep him around.

Thank you Ms. Gayle for this interview!

1) How and why have you started to write? Were there something or someone that gave you an impulse?

There wasn't, actually. One day, I just said "I want to write" and see what happens and 60 days later I had a complete novel of 111,000 words. It started off as just something 'to do' but took off when I found that one book wasn't enough ... I LOVED writing and had to do more. So I did!

2) Tell me something about you and your book After Dark.

Well ... about me. I'm a mom of a teenage boy and a set of identical twin girls. I've also got my own teenage love story that spans my entire teenage years from 14-19 and beyond. As for After Dark, it's not 'about me' and Mac is nothing like me, but I relied a LOT on my past to remember what it was like to be a teen, to think I knew best but didn't and to remember the things I didn't know. 

Ultimately, I created Mac and her trilogy (After Dark, Day After and Darkest Day). Here's the blurb to learn a little more:

What eighteen year old Mac Thorne doesn’t know will probably kill her.

In exactly eight months, five days, three hours and thirteen minutes, Mac has to choose what she’ll be for the rest of her life. 

She has no choice but to pick. As a Changeling, it’s her birthright. To Mac, it’s a birthchore. Like going to school with humans, interacting with humans, and pretending to be human during the pesky daylight hours.

Once darkness descends, Mac can change into any supernatural form that exists — which makes her as happy as she can be. That is, until Winn Thomas, the biggest geek in her senior class figures out there’s more to what hides in the dark than most are willing to acknowledge.

In this first of the 19th Year Trilogy, Winn might know more about Mac than even she does, and that knowledge could end their lives, unless Mac ensures the powers-that-be have no choice but to keep him around.

3) While youre writing, have you discovered a character that you where developing feelings of love for? And was there a character that gave you headaches?

I love all my male leads and some of my supporting characters. Wait until you meet Winn in After Dark. He is adorable. But there's a side character ... Suze, who's a bit ... um ... different but who makes your head and heart spin through the whole series ... in a totally different way.

4) How have you done your research for this novel?

I made it all up. :) Well most of it. Little bit of greek mythology and mythological creature research more to see what we humans believe exists more than what to create. There I decided to go with opposites ... if someone believes it from past stories or whatnot, I tweaked it for my own purposes.

5) Is there a book that inspired your writings?

There isn't per se. Then again, all books inspire me because they are stories I didn't think of and can fall in love with characters I didn't create.

6) In the end, would you like say some words to your fans from Romania?

Thanks for being fans! I think it's super cool to have fans around the world!