Author Interview - Amber Lambda
Reigning from the dreamy plains where tornadoes and imagination roam, Amber Lambda has always been filled with a creative streak, and you’ll never catch her without a notebook. (A pen, however, is a different story.
Though she adores the endless possibilities of a blank page, Amber's author heart belongs to YA love stories, often including low fantasy and soft sci-fi elements. Her mission is to create clean stories laced with themes and ideas that teens (and adults) will love and relate to.You can follow Amber's life, writing, and caffeine adventures at her social links, and her debut novel Halos is available on Amazon.
Genre: YA romance and fantasy
Q&A:
Q1: What
is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My debut novel Halos
is about almost-sixteen-year-old Faye, who is an avid dreamer with recurring
visions of a certain boy and a world in the sky—and it actually was first
inspired by a dream I had of three main characters of the story! Of course, the
story itself changed completely, but the dynamic between the characters stayed
intact, which was pretty fun. As the story grew, it also became inspired by
themes I felt like most young adults can relate to, when things aren’t quite
going as expected, and you have to make a choice to keep going and believing
anyway, or let the world drain your dreams.
Q2: What’s your favourite and least
favourite part of publishing?
My favorite part has been hearing
from readers. It’s been so cool to know that people relate to Faye’s daydreamy
personality, to hear what they took from the themes woven in, and that Icarus
is growing a fanclub haha! On the flip side, my least favorite thing was formatting.
I wished I’d had the skill to make the pages prettier, and someday I’d like to
expand that skill and release a special edition with maps and fancy things.
Someday.
Q3: What
authors, or books have influenced you?
Though I haven’t read her books in a
long time, I remember Cassandra Clare being really inspiring to kicking off my
writing journey. Her Mortal Instruments series was the first one that I’d read
with multiple POVs and where I felt like I got to know individual characters on
a deeper level. Likewise, I love a lot of manga for the same reason, especially
series like Fruits Basket, where the characters’ arcs and the themes of the
books are a huge focus. I definitely enjoy writing character-driven stories
where the plot wouldn’t exist without them and their growth.
Q4: What is your schedule like when
you’re writing a book?
As a homeschool mom and a freelance editor, my schedule is pretty tight most
days! My writing schedule can be quite erratic and is often squeezed into small
bits of time throughout the day, or late at night when I should be sleeping.
Q5: What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book?
Even if you’re not a plotter, at least knowing what your character wants (even if it’s obviously not what they need) can make a huge difference in the story. It gives them a focus to work toward and can help give you an idea of what they might do to work toward it when you get stuck.
Q6: What
do the words “writer’s block” mean to you?
It means that inspiration isn’t flowing the way I’d like it to
and writing life has become difficult! I might take a break to fill my creative
well with some reading or kdrama, or dabble in a different project in a while.
But I’ve learned that if I really want to finish my books, sometimes that means
pushing through even when I’m not exactly feeling it.
Q7: What part of the book was the
most fun to write?
My favorite parts of Halos
are the building hints of romance and scenes where the characters grow closer. They
made me feel super sappy and embarrassed at first because I hadn’t ever
imagined being a romance writer when I first started out my writing journey! It
was a learning experience, but I learned I really loved creating the romantic
plot, and it started my journey into the realm of clean romance!
Q8: How would you describe your
book’s ideal reader?
I write for other hopeless romantic young adult readers who love sweet couples
to cheer for, a dash of whimsical adventures and dreams to chase—but who also
want these elements rooted in deep themes that speak to real life, leaving them
with something to think about even at ‘the end.’
Q9: What
are you working on now?
Right now I’m about a third through this draft
of another YA fantasy romance called Comets Fade with Summer. It follows
Halley, who is forced to start her social life over after a cross-country move,
and is about making true connections, battling peer pressure—and maybe about
not falling in love with your imaginary friend. I’ve decided I’m actually going
to jump into the querying process with it this summer! I planned on trying to
be a hybrid author, but I hadn’t really planned on querying just yet, so I’m a
little terrified and excited all at once!
Q10: What are you currently reading?
I’m currently reading though a stack of some fun YA books I borrowed from the
library. Including Once Upon a K-prom, which makes my inner kdrama
fangirl super happy! I also love to arc read for other indie authors and am
reading Belonging With Her Best Friend by Kristin Canary, a cute romcom!
The boy at the door quirked his brow. Not Andrew. Unruly dark hair, unreadable grey eyes, freckles speckled heavily across his face.
Faye’s heart stopped rigid, and her legs wobbled beneath her. Her jaw fell open, quivering. It was—
“It’s you,” the boy’s level voice stated the words her own mouth wasn’t forming.
Every bit as handsome as she’d dreamed and taller than imagined, he towered close to a foot over her. She moved her gaze down his iridescent silver jacket to his macho combat boots and back to the cool swoosh of bangs across his forehead. An awareness of her puffy, red eyes and the faded denim dress she’d thrown on flushed over her.
“M-me?” she squeaked. “You? What are you doing here?”
“I came for you.”
She searched his attractive features again for good measure, not a crease of joking in his tight lips.
“Wh-what?” Lightheadedness flooded her brain, and she braced against the doorway.
Somewhere, way deep down, she should be skeptical, confused, maybe even afraid. Instead, overwhelming wonder shivered through her with so many questions.
One blurted out as most important: “Why?”
“You’re needed,” he answered matter-of-factly.
Needed? Faye Wallace, the professional daydreamer? She blinked, unable to imagine. “For what?” He put his hands in his pockets and glanced over his shoulder. “I can’t say here. They’ll explain when you arrive.”
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