24 May, 2020

#Interview with Sasha Lane, #Author Girl, Conflicted - @sashalaneauthor



About the Book:
Check out the Book on Amazon
I live in South Yorkshire and work full time in the finance industry but write in my spare time allowing my imagination to have a whole lot of freedom as I write Chick lit novels with a bit of added depth. They’re everyday women, dealing with trying to balance family, friends, careers and relationships, that hopefully readers can associate with. There’s plenty of humour added in there too.

I grew up in a small village and my writing came from always daydreaming about living somewhere exciting and doing something different. When I was about thirteen my friend and I used to write stories on her computer (which was really old and basic back then!). We wrote about boys and being grown up. It was probably just overactive teenage imagination but I was hooked on story telling from then on!
I didn't dare believe that people from where I came from could ever achieve anything as exciting as writing a book. I'm glad I proved myself wrong.

Although the main character is completely fictional, she does bare some of the characteristics that I do, and I’ve actually included in the last two books, some true stories as some of the funny things that happen to Emma have unfortunately happened to me in real life too, but that’s also part of my writing style – I can laugh at myself, and add humour into the stories.

I always wanted to write a series about a character as I hate it when you get to the end of a book, close the last page, and that’s it – it feels like you’ve lost a friend.  I love the fact that the series follows Emma’s life over a period of eight years and really lets the reader get to know her, and see how her character grows over the four books.

It’s a romantic comedy that addresses serious life issues.  Throughout all of my books I wanted to write about everyday issues that women face.  I hope that this helps readers to connect with the characters and their storyline, and associate with some of the topics that I raise.  I keep the books light-hearted, and with humour, despite some more serious storylines, as I want them to be an enjoyable, fun read, and a bit of escapism from reality for my readers.


Interview with Sasha Lane



When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer/ a storyteller?

I’ve written stories since I was a small child. I’ve always loved delving into a fantasy world and being completely absorbed by a character and their story.

What inspires you to write?

For me, writing is an escapism. It’s what I do to wind down and destress from the day job and our crazy busy lives in general.

How did you come up with the idea for your current story?

I used to drive a lot for my job and spend a lot of time alone in my car. The first story is basically a written version of my overactive imagination from those car journeys. I used to stop for lunch and get my laptop out and write as much as I could before I needed to set off again.

Are there some stories tucked away in some drawer that was written before and never saw the light of the day?

Yes, and no. I originally tried to write a crime/thriller type of story, as I love crime books as much as romance, but my writing style is too light-hearted for that type of book. Only my editor has seen that book, and it’s probably for the best!

Tell us about your writing process.

I love to write in a coffee shop as for some reason the buzz of people around me enables me to really focus on my thoughts. I try to write every day when working on a book, maybe 500 words on a workday and a few thousand words each day at the weekends. I usually get my work edited in three sections, so I send the initially 30,000 words to my editor while working on the next 30,000. This helps me to see areas that may need developing etc as I’m working on them.

What is your favorite scene in the book? Why?

Without wanting to give anything away, I love the scene where Emma realizes who Connor really is….

Did any of your characters inherit some of your own quirks?

I think Emma definitely has some of my characteristics, whether I intended that to be the case or not. She has my outlook, my clumsiness, and my general ‘lots of crazy stuff seems to happen to me’ kind of life!

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I always write the last chapter first. When I start working on a book I already know how I want the story to end.

Do you read? Who are your favourite authors and how have they influenced your writing style?

I love Lindsey Kelk for a good Rom Com. She grew up not far from me which is nice. Her books are a similar style to mine so I find them easy to read and associate with, like my own characters.

What is the best piece of advice you have received, as a writer, till date?

You have to love what you write, and that’s not narcissism. If you don’t love your own book then you’re not going to convince anyone else that it’s worth reading.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

Don’t stress over the process, writing in chapter order etc, just write what comes into your head and you can edit it later.  Read books by authors you love and take note of their style, character introductions etc. You don’t need to copy anybody but you can learn from other authors.

If you were to be stranded on the famous deserted island, what three things would you carry?

A book, another book, and gin!

How do you spend your free time? Do you have a favorite place to go and unwind?

I live in a village so love going for a jog and taking in the scenery – this really helps me relax. We moved to a new house last year and I’m lucky to have a room that is my ‘reading room’ which is filled with all the books I own. It’s a really calm and quiet room so I love to sit on the sofa in there and read.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?

I would love to go to Italy and travel around experiencing lots of different areas. I have Italian heritage (a few generations back) and would love to visit the birth places of my Great Grandparents. Italy also has a really strong pull for me as I love pasta, bread, and Italian wine so I would probably come back a fair bit heavier!

Tell us three fun facts about yourself.

I have a Criminology degree, I make amazing cupcakes, I’m actually a keen gardener!

What do you have in store next for your readers?

Having written four books about one character I’m now working on something new. It’s still ‘chick lit’ but I’m adding in an extra layer, maybe something crime related.


About the Author:
Author's Amazon Page
A funny, feel good romcom that will have you laughing out loud as you follow unlucky in love Emma and her quest for the perfect romance...

Emma is thirty-two, trying to balance her love life, friends and work. She has been in a relationship with Chris for two years and is eagerly anticipating his proposal over a romantic meal. But the proposal doesn't go quite to plan and Emma's world is flipped upside down. To make matters worse, Emma’s best friend, Sophie, is full of the joys of a new relationship with her new man, Connor.

Weeks later Emma is still feeling sorry for herself, so her two work friends, Jenny and Lola, take her out for an evening of tequila. There she meets a cute guy at the bar, who introduces himself as Johnny. He easily charms a drunken Emma back to his apartment for ‘coffee’ but this proves to have devastating consequences as Johnny turns out to be more than Emma bargained for.

A chance meeting with a handsome stranger makes Emma realise that true love may be possible after all. But she is then left to consider whether to keep her secret or risk losing everything.

Hilarious, heart-warming and romantic! Will Emma find her happy ever after? An addictive read that is perfect for fans of Bridget Jones and for lovers of romantic comedy novels by Sophie Kinsella, Paige Toon, and Lindsey Kelk.


Sasha on the Web: