Ask the Author: Sally Green
Answered Questions (36)
Sally Green
Hi Sausan,
Thanks for the question. I've recently answered a similar one from Michael about what I'll be working on next so do take a look at that.
But in essence I'm planning on starting a new book in September 2015 though this probably won't be published until March 2017, which sounds a long way off but that's how long these things take.
I'd like to write a stand alone next to give myself a break from trilogy/series writing, and I've got an idea for what that might be, but I've got an idea for a series too. I'll have to see how I feel nearer to the time I start the new project.
I'd like to write a fantasy but most of those ideas I have would be fore a series - fantasy stories do lend themselves to series because it takes a lot of time (more than a book) to build this 'other' world.
I can't give any details about any of the ideas - though I'll probably write from a young man's point of view.
Thanks for the question. I've recently answered a similar one from Michael about what I'll be working on next so do take a look at that.
But in essence I'm planning on starting a new book in September 2015 though this probably won't be published until March 2017, which sounds a long way off but that's how long these things take.
I'd like to write a stand alone next to give myself a break from trilogy/series writing, and I've got an idea for what that might be, but I've got an idea for a series too. I'll have to see how I feel nearer to the time I start the new project.
I'd like to write a fantasy but most of those ideas I have would be fore a series - fantasy stories do lend themselves to series because it takes a lot of time (more than a book) to build this 'other' world.
I can't give any details about any of the ideas - though I'll probably write from a young man's point of view.
Sally Green
Hi Michael,
I'm currently editing HALF LOST. Then I'm hoping to write a short story related to the HALF BAD world, but will have to see how that goes. In September I'll start on a completely new novel. I've got a few different ideas but haven't decided which one to follow yet - I think it will depend on the mood I'm in. That book will probably be a stand alone, just because I want a break from trilogy/series writing.
Great to hear you're looking forward to HALF LOST. I'm really excited about it.
S
I'm currently editing HALF LOST. Then I'm hoping to write a short story related to the HALF BAD world, but will have to see how that goes. In September I'll start on a completely new novel. I've got a few different ideas but haven't decided which one to follow yet - I think it will depend on the mood I'm in. That book will probably be a stand alone, just because I want a break from trilogy/series writing.
Great to hear you're looking forward to HALF LOST. I'm really excited about it.
S
Sally Green
Hi James,
HALF LIES is printed in the back of the Waterstones edition of HALF WILD. This is, as far as I know, the only place it's available in print and the only place it's likely to be. I'd just check to make sure it's in there if you get the Waterstones version - I don't think it says on the cover and I'm not sure how many of those editions were printed/made available.
Thanks. Hope you enjoy it however you read it.
Sally
HALF LIES is printed in the back of the Waterstones edition of HALF WILD. This is, as far as I know, the only place it's available in print and the only place it's likely to be. I'd just check to make sure it's in there if you get the Waterstones version - I don't think it says on the cover and I'm not sure how many of those editions were printed/made available.
Thanks. Hope you enjoy it however you read it.
Sally
Sally Green
Hi Zoe,
I think I'm fairly unusual as a author in that I only started writing recently (when I was in my forties - yes, I'm that old). I never thought I had much imagination - a notion that I got from rather poor teaching of English at the school I went to - and so it never occurred to me to write stories. But I've always enjoyed playing around with words and enjoyed words (not sure if you know what I mean) and I would dream up stories or adapt them in my head, for example I'd watch a film and then in my head work out how I'd change it to improve it. I read a bit but not a huge amount and as an adult because of my career I didn't have time for much reading (poor excuse but true).
But then one day I had some time free and an idea for what I thought would be a short story (I thought it would be maybe 3 or 4 pages). I wrote the story but had only just got going after 4 pages and so the next day I added more and then more and then more. After 2 weeks I realised I was writing a novel. After 3 months I'd finished it. That's when I knew I wanted to be a writer.
The novel was ok but I knew it wasn't publishable so I did some creative writing courses to learn how to improve.
Thanks for the question. Glad you love the HALFs.
I think I'm fairly unusual as a author in that I only started writing recently (when I was in my forties - yes, I'm that old). I never thought I had much imagination - a notion that I got from rather poor teaching of English at the school I went to - and so it never occurred to me to write stories. But I've always enjoyed playing around with words and enjoyed words (not sure if you know what I mean) and I would dream up stories or adapt them in my head, for example I'd watch a film and then in my head work out how I'd change it to improve it. I read a bit but not a huge amount and as an adult because of my career I didn't have time for much reading (poor excuse but true).
But then one day I had some time free and an idea for what I thought would be a short story (I thought it would be maybe 3 or 4 pages). I wrote the story but had only just got going after 4 pages and so the next day I added more and then more and then more. After 2 weeks I realised I was writing a novel. After 3 months I'd finished it. That's when I knew I wanted to be a writer.
The novel was ok but I knew it wasn't publishable so I did some creative writing courses to learn how to improve.
Thanks for the question. Glad you love the HALFs.
Sally Green
Hi,
I sent the first 50 pages of my first manuscript to 8 agents and got:- 4 rejections, 3 didn't reply at all ( a ruder rejection) and 1 asked to see the full manuscript and then rejected it.
Only the 1 person (Claire) who saw the full manuscript gave me a tiny bit of feedback, the others gave me none.
I was a bit downhearted about this but not very much. I continued to work hard and develop my writing. I knew I was improving. I knew I could do better. I'm now glad my first manuscript was rejected as if it hadn't been I'd never have written HALF BAD.
Claire is now my agent - I sent her a completely rewritten manuscript, called it Half Bad and she signed me up immediately.
Rejection is tough but it doesn't mean that you won't get accepted one day. And equally being published now doesn't mean that I've got a guaranteed publishing deal. I have to continue to write to the best of my ability but there is no guarantee that my next book after the trilogy will be published.
I sent the first 50 pages of my first manuscript to 8 agents and got:- 4 rejections, 3 didn't reply at all ( a ruder rejection) and 1 asked to see the full manuscript and then rejected it.
Only the 1 person (Claire) who saw the full manuscript gave me a tiny bit of feedback, the others gave me none.
I was a bit downhearted about this but not very much. I continued to work hard and develop my writing. I knew I was improving. I knew I could do better. I'm now glad my first manuscript was rejected as if it hadn't been I'd never have written HALF BAD.
Claire is now my agent - I sent her a completely rewritten manuscript, called it Half Bad and she signed me up immediately.
Rejection is tough but it doesn't mean that you won't get accepted one day. And equally being published now doesn't mean that I've got a guaranteed publishing deal. I have to continue to write to the best of my ability but there is no guarantee that my next book after the trilogy will be published.
Sally Green
Glad you're looking forward to Half Lost, which is the final book of the trilogy. It's due out in the UK and some other countries in March 2016.
Sally Green
Ha, what a question!
I'll answer for Nathan and all Black Witches. They would refuse to have anything to do with any school or system and so would not be in any Hogwarts house.
As for the Whites - I'm thinking about it...
I'll answer for Nathan and all Black Witches. They would refuse to have anything to do with any school or system and so would not be in any Hogwarts house.
As for the Whites - I'm thinking about it...
Sally Green
Hi Deanna,
Glad you're a fan of Gabriel and Nathan together! Yes, I pretty much knew from when I started writing their first few days together in the flat in Geneva (in HALF BAD) that Gabriel and Nathan would have an intense and intimate and loving relationship. Gabriel is such a great character to write that it had to happen! I don't want to say much more about how their relationship develops, though perhaps this says a little more https://www.waterstones.com/blog/boys...
I've always know the ending of the trilogy - had the final chapter planned out for a long, long time - and can't say more about that until HALF LOST is out.
Glad you're a fan of Gabriel and Nathan together! Yes, I pretty much knew from when I started writing their first few days together in the flat in Geneva (in HALF BAD) that Gabriel and Nathan would have an intense and intimate and loving relationship. Gabriel is such a great character to write that it had to happen! I don't want to say much more about how their relationship develops, though perhaps this says a little more https://www.waterstones.com/blog/boys...
I've always know the ending of the trilogy - had the final chapter planned out for a long, long time - and can't say more about that until HALF LOST is out.
Sally Green
Gabriel plays a major role in book 3 but it's always going to be Nathan who has the stronger Gifts. I don't' really want to say more about book 3 yet. Sorry.
Sally Green
Oh dear this is so hard to go into as I may well write this story at some stage, which means I don't want to spoil anything and I may well change it. But in essence I see Cora as being a kind, gentle person who sees good in Marcus (very much as Annalise did) and Marcus is fascinating and powerful and not at all bad looking. Cora knows she shouldn't spend time with Marcus - but wanting something/someone that's forbidden, well, that's part of the attraction perhaps.
Sally Green
Thanks for the question and for 'making' two other people read HALF BAD (or HALF WILD).
I'm currently mulling over a few ideas for the book I'm going to write after the HALF BAD trilogy ends. I want to write a stand alone book to give myself a break from the series 'thing'. I can't say what it will be other that it will be a YA book.
And no it's definitely not wrong that Marcus is your favourite character - he's a man with hidden depths and a lot of pain behind him. He's great fun to write too!
I'm currently mulling over a few ideas for the book I'm going to write after the HALF BAD trilogy ends. I want to write a stand alone book to give myself a break from the series 'thing'. I can't say what it will be other that it will be a YA book.
And no it's definitely not wrong that Marcus is your favourite character - he's a man with hidden depths and a lot of pain behind him. He's great fun to write too!
Sally Green
Hi Helen,
Thanks for the message. I'm delighted you're enjoying HALF WILD and hope you're still managing to revise for your exams.
I came over to Dublin last year but I don't have any plans to visit there in the future, I'm sorry. I wish I did as I had a great time in Dublin!
I try to tweet about events I'm going to so keep an eye out and look on www.halfbadworld.com too.
The only event I've got coming up in the UK is YALC in London from 17th-19th July 2015 (I'm not sure yet which day I'll be 'doing'). If you happen to be in London at that time I can only suggest you get tickets and come - the event is brilliant fun and there there will be lots of great authors there (and me too).
Thanks for the message. I'm delighted you're enjoying HALF WILD and hope you're still managing to revise for your exams.
I came over to Dublin last year but I don't have any plans to visit there in the future, I'm sorry. I wish I did as I had a great time in Dublin!
I try to tweet about events I'm going to so keep an eye out and look on www.halfbadworld.com too.
The only event I've got coming up in the UK is YALC in London from 17th-19th July 2015 (I'm not sure yet which day I'll be 'doing'). If you happen to be in London at that time I can only suggest you get tickets and come - the event is brilliant fun and there there will be lots of great authors there (and me too).
Sally Green
Hi Hailei,
Send my thanks to your father for passing HALF BAD on to you. I'm delighted that you enjoyed it and that it's inspiring you to write.
The good news is that you've got a long time to hone your writing skills before you need to worry about getting published and that is always the first step - hone your skills by reading and writing as much as you can, and always enjoy it.
It's possible for anyone to get published but there are a lot of great writers who aren't published too. The main thing is to write and to love writing. You are lucky to know you want to do this at a young age so that you can experiment with your writing - try different styles, poetry, scripts and short stories… Try to learn as much as you can but don't be in a rush. I only began to write when I was in my late forties - getting published isn't a race. Having said that I'm sure you won't want to wait another 30 years before you think about getting published!
There are lots of books about getting published, and it might be worth getting one from the library at some stage (or read up online) to get a feel for the work involved (it's a lot of work).
Best wished for your writing, whether you are published or not.
Sally
Send my thanks to your father for passing HALF BAD on to you. I'm delighted that you enjoyed it and that it's inspiring you to write.
The good news is that you've got a long time to hone your writing skills before you need to worry about getting published and that is always the first step - hone your skills by reading and writing as much as you can, and always enjoy it.
It's possible for anyone to get published but there are a lot of great writers who aren't published too. The main thing is to write and to love writing. You are lucky to know you want to do this at a young age so that you can experiment with your writing - try different styles, poetry, scripts and short stories… Try to learn as much as you can but don't be in a rush. I only began to write when I was in my late forties - getting published isn't a race. Having said that I'm sure you won't want to wait another 30 years before you think about getting published!
There are lots of books about getting published, and it might be worth getting one from the library at some stage (or read up online) to get a feel for the work involved (it's a lot of work).
Best wished for your writing, whether you are published or not.
Sally
Sally Green
Hi,
Sorry it's taking me so long to get to your question, but I've been a little busy over the last month or so and now I'm not even going to answer your question! I did start to write the story of Cora and Marcus at one stage and may well do it at some point, so I don't want to give anything away about it (and indeed I may tweak it).
Sally
Sorry it's taking me so long to get to your question, but I've been a little busy over the last month or so and now I'm not even going to answer your question! I did start to write the story of Cora and Marcus at one stage and may well do it at some point, so I don't want to give anything away about it (and indeed I may tweak it).
Sally
Sally Green
Hi Amanda,
Thanks for the question and I'm so glad you enjoyed HALF BAD.
In Half Bad I mix the use of first person for the bulk to the book with some second person (in the opening and again later in the book but in the same period of Nathan's life in the cage). I guess the second person sections are those you're referring to?
It's a major decision to write in first person for a start - and another major decision to use some second person.
First person was a perfect choice for me here as I could really get inside Nathan's head and show how he was thinking. However, that meant I couldn't show things that I would have loved to include - for example a Council Meeting at which he is being discussed but doesn't attend.
Second person is tricky and some people hate it, but I love it. I wanted to use it to show that Nathan was very disturbed and almost going mad and was alienated from himself. I was influenced by how Iain Banks used it in his book 'Complicity'.
Hope that answers your question.
Sally
Thanks for the question and I'm so glad you enjoyed HALF BAD.
In Half Bad I mix the use of first person for the bulk to the book with some second person (in the opening and again later in the book but in the same period of Nathan's life in the cage). I guess the second person sections are those you're referring to?
It's a major decision to write in first person for a start - and another major decision to use some second person.
First person was a perfect choice for me here as I could really get inside Nathan's head and show how he was thinking. However, that meant I couldn't show things that I would have loved to include - for example a Council Meeting at which he is being discussed but doesn't attend.
Second person is tricky and some people hate it, but I love it. I wanted to use it to show that Nathan was very disturbed and almost going mad and was alienated from himself. I was influenced by how Iain Banks used it in his book 'Complicity'.
Hope that answers your question.
Sally
Sally Green
Hi! Thanks for the question.
The vision happened when Nathan was talking with Mercury and it was not a prophecy, but it was Mercury messing around with Nathan's head. She knew Nathan hated Kieran and wanted to kill him so that was a game of hers - to put a vision in Nathan's head. Mercury genuinely believed that Nathan was meant for killing - and perhaps she was right there…
The only real prophecy was that Nathan and the Fairborn will together kill Marcus.
There are more dreams and visions coming in HALF LOST (in the draft so far) but again I use them to show what Nathan wants, feels and remembers rather than what is going to happen.
Good question.
Thanks. S
The vision happened when Nathan was talking with Mercury and it was not a prophecy, but it was Mercury messing around with Nathan's head. She knew Nathan hated Kieran and wanted to kill him so that was a game of hers - to put a vision in Nathan's head. Mercury genuinely believed that Nathan was meant for killing - and perhaps she was right there…
The only real prophecy was that Nathan and the Fairborn will together kill Marcus.
There are more dreams and visions coming in HALF LOST (in the draft so far) but again I use them to show what Nathan wants, feels and remembers rather than what is going to happen.
Good question.
Thanks. S
Sally Green
Hello Romania!
Thanks for the question.
Each book takes about a year - maybe a little more. The first draft takes only about 4 months, but then there's lots and lots of editing.
So glad you love HALF BAD and HALF WILD.
Sally
Thanks for the question.
Each book takes about a year - maybe a little more. The first draft takes only about 4 months, but then there's lots and lots of editing.
So glad you love HALF BAD and HALF WILD.
Sally
Sally Green
If I have time I'll probably write one more short story to come out in the autumn. But time is a bit of a problem at the moment.
Will do my best. So glad you liked HALF LIES - I really do appreciate it. :-) Thanks.
Sally
Will do my best. So glad you liked HALF LIES - I really do appreciate it. :-) Thanks.
Sally
Sally Green
Thanks for the question but I'm not really sure what you mean. A prototype? A forerunner?
No. Gabriel arrived in my story almost fully formed. I knew I wanted a gay character who was the typical male (heterosexual) hero in every way except that instead of being attracted to women he's attracted to men (and unfortunately for Gabriel he falls in love with Nathan). Women and men adore Gabriel because he's gorgeous.
I was inspired by Aiden Turner playing Mitchell in Being Human. That HAIR!!!! And also the smile and the way he can turn from looking sweet to looking evil.
Hope that answers the question.
Thanks
Sally
No. Gabriel arrived in my story almost fully formed. I knew I wanted a gay character who was the typical male (heterosexual) hero in every way except that instead of being attracted to women he's attracted to men (and unfortunately for Gabriel he falls in love with Nathan). Women and men adore Gabriel because he's gorgeous.
I was inspired by Aiden Turner playing Mitchell in Being Human. That HAIR!!!! And also the smile and the way he can turn from looking sweet to looking evil.
Hope that answers the question.
Thanks
Sally
Sally Green
It's not intended to be suspicious. Are you thinking he's related to someone else? No. It's just that I haven't needed to mention his surname.
Sally :-)
Sally :-)
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