Castles on the Sand

1. What type of books do you write?
As E.M. Tippetts I write chick lit and YA novels, all of which have a strong romance element. As Emily Mah I write science fiction and fantasy, but I've only ever sold short stories with this name (so far.)

2. What is the latest book you have written?
The latest book I've released is Castles on the Sand, which is a YA coming of age story about a sixteen year old girl who is discovered by a long lost brother she never knew she had. She's used to being alone and having no one in her corner, so when big brother starts to tell her she's lovable, beautiful, and worthy of better treatment than her "friends" give her, it rocks the foundations of her world - ultimately in a good way.

The latest book I've written, which will be released January 5th is Nobody's Damsel, which is the sequel to my top seller, Someone Else's Fairytale. Fairytale is about a young woman who gets hit on by a mega-famous movie star, yet isn't into movies or popular trends. She's the woman every other woman in America is dying to be and it's not the sort of thing she would ever have asked for. I won't say much about Damsel, so as not to spoil the end of Fairytale. Suffice it to say these books are about every day life, with an absurd twist.

3. Is it part of a series, if so which one?
Yes, both books are parts of series. Castles on the Sand will have a sequel called Personal Demons, and Nobody's Damsel is the sequel to Someone Else's Fairytale (and there will be more books in the Fairytale series.)

4. When did you start writing?
When I learned to hold a pencil, I guess. Before that I just came up with really creative lies I told my parents.

5. Why did you start writing?
I'm one of those people who literally has to. No matter where I am or what I'm doing, stories will start to appear on my hard drive or on scratch paper left lying around. Given I have this compulsion, I figured I should learn how to do it well enough to generate some income, because otherwise it is a very time consuming hobby.

6. Who are your influences?
Too many to name. I am a graduate of the Clarion West Writer's Workshop for Science Fiction and Fantasy, where I was taught by Octavia Butler, Bradley Denton, Nalo Hopkinson, Ellen Datlow, Connie Willis, and Jack Womack. I was in the Critical Mass writer's group for ten years and there workshopped with Daniel Abraham, Yvonne Coats, Ty Franck, George RR Martin, Victor Milan, John Jos. Miller, Melinda Snodgrass, S.M. Stirling, Ian Tregillis, Sage Walker, and Walter Jon Williams. Before I got any training I corresponded with my favorite author growing up, Orson Scott Card. He's the one who helped advise me where to go to learn how to write.
But needless to say, whenever I pick up a book or watch a movie, I'm influenced. I'm that annoying person who mutters all the way through a movie about whether or not the scene structure was effective or the dialogue worked.

7. What can we expect from you in the near future? Book signing events, other details
Just book releases for now! I'm not adverse to doing signings, but rarely do they pay off for bookstores until the writer is able to move some serious volume. My sales are climbing and I've been ranked very high on Amazon, but all in all, I'm a newbie still breaking in.
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"A fast-paced blend of high-stakes drama and average teenage concerns (sex, appearance, friends), capped with a welcome message of hope." - Kirkus Review of Castles on the Sand
Castles on the Sand | Someone Else's Fairytale | Paint Me True | Time & Eternity
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Further details on my blog
Further details on my blog