Jeromebtches interviews SarahQuinnMcGrath

Requested by me.

Books they available on their Wattpad account:
Martin & Marcella
Hilltop House
The Dreaming
Tír na nÓg Trilogy, Book 1: The Trials of Cuchulian
And many more!!!

If you haven't already, go and give them a follow!

1. What genre/s do you love reading?
I actually love reading old, classic literature. I don't read much contemporary lit.  I also like anything with a dark angle, something that makes me wonder about the shadowy corners of the world, or anything that includes Biblical and mythological allusions.

2. What genre/s do you love writing?
I am currently writing mostly YA / general audience, but whenever I have to pick a genre for a given book, I stumble a little, because maybe it's YA, but it's also got elements of fantasy or romance or sci-fi or horror--always elements of mystery. I will say the one thing I DO NOT write is straight-up realistic fiction.

3. Who inspired you to write?
I really don't know. I loved reading Lloyd Alexander as a kid. Maybe he inspired me, and I'm sure some teacher somewhere encouraged me.

4. Would you consider a career in writing? Please elaborate on whether you would or wouldn't.
Well, this is a sticky question. I don't think it's so much about considering a career in writing, as if you get to choose--for the majority of artists in this world, you essentially have to get chosen. I mean, I write all the time. Would I love to get paid for that and make it my career? Uh, yeah. But you can't just pop into a writing career. You need an agent, and agents never even read your stuff before they reject it. I firmly believe that most really artistic people are never seen / heard / read, because their industries are so incredibly difficult to get into. There are a lucky few who do, but the rest of us just have to keep at it as a hobby and get other jobs.

5. Do you have any other hobbies outside of writing?
Sure. I play a few instruments and sometimes write music. I am trying to grow some houseplants. I collect taxidermy and curiosities. I really wish I had a huge house with lots of weird rooms in it. Someday, I want to be that old lady on the street that all the kids think is a witch. Wouldn't that be fun?

6. How old were you when you wrote your first book?
I wrote what could be called my first book as a senior in high school. I did that thing where I gave it to my English teacher for feedback. I totally appreciate her for it, looking back, because as an English teacher myself, now, I am very used to excited students giving me their novels to read, and I understand the pressure of having the ability to encourage or crush a young person's writing aspirations.

7. Who is your favourite Wattpad author/s?
I have only been here a few months and have a difficult time finding stuff that would suit me. I prefer instead to reciprocate and read the work of others who take a look at my writing. To that end, I have enjoyed everything I've read by the various people on here.

8. How do you deal with negative reviews on your book/s?
I haven't been read enough to receive many reviews! However, I have a very thick skin. I don't care if people don't like my stuff. I like it, and I will keep writing, regardless of others' opinions. Also, though, who would write a negative review? Everyone on here is courageous to put themselves out there. We should only be encouraging each other. If someone doesn't like something, just stop reading it.

9. If you would write a book about your life, what would be the book's title?
Oof. I couldn't say. My life is really uninteresting. Isn't that why we write? ;)

10. What's the hardest thing about becoming an author?
If we're talking "becoming an author," then everyone's answer should be breaking into the industry. It's nearly impossible. You need that one person out of a million to believe in you and also be able to promote you. If we're talking "becoming a writer," well, then I think the hardest part is keeping it up. I went through a really long stretch where I just couldn't anymore with the novels. Instead, for a few years, I switched to poetry, because I knew I had to keep writing, even if I couldn't commit to longer works. That tided me over until I found inspiration (and time) to work on the novels again.

11. How has writing affected your life?
It's given me something that's mine when this real world is just too much or too little. As I tell students, when you write, you are a god. You create and control your world, and no one can tell you what to do or not do with it. Who else has power like that? I also don't want to live and die and leave nothing behind. Even if no one ever sees or reads my stuff, I created something that wasn't there before I came to this planet.

12. Do you prefer writing Mature content or not? Why or why not?
I don't write graphic or gratuitous sex or gore. However, I am unafraid of heavier topics and include many in my books, but I am respectful, and if there is sex or violence or self-harm or suicide or whatever, it is purposeful to the story itself.

13. What would you like to say to your readers?
Thanks. :)