Today I’m welcoming Sally Ann Philips whom I’ve met through our work for “You’re Not Alone”, an anthology in aid of MacMillan Cancer Care.
This interview is part of a series of blog posts to introduce my colleagues in this endeavour. The anthology is available for pre-order and will be released on July 11.
Twenty-seven writers from around the world, including myself have entered an assortment of short stories for your pleasure, show your support by liking the new page on Facebook and expressing an interest in buying the book.
You’ll find the book on your Amazon for per-order via these links:
http://smarturl.it/YoureNotAloneAnth
http://bookshow.me/B00Y5RCOOE
You’ll find the Facebook page here:
https://www.facebook.com/yourenotalone2015
And here is the fund, in loving memory of Pamela Mary Winton
https://macmillan.tributefunds.com/pamela-mary-winto
Tell us a little about yourself as writer and as person.
I’m a wife, mother, and homemaker. I’ve been married 25 years, and have 2 grown up children and 1 granddaughter. I run the family home, and can be a little bit of a drill sergeant about how it’s looked after. When I’m not housekeeping I spend a lot of time walking my dog Cain, who’s a German shepard cross Husky, or on my laptop writing.
When I’m writing I’m a different person. I can be snappy when I’m on a role, and live a little inside my imagination and miss what’s going on around me. My children tell me often it’s like having two mums.
Tell us about your writing history. When was the first time you decided to write and when was the first time you did?
I’ve written, and published, 2 books now. They’re both part of the Angel’s Blood series. The first is named Angel’s Blood, and the second is Hybrid Justice.
I wanted to write for years, and always hoped that one day I would, but I never really found the time with 2 growing children. Then, almost 3 years ago, my family got together and bought me my first laptop. They’d been listening to me saying I wanted to write for years, so they bought me the very means to do so. I started the very same night they gave it to me.
Did anyone influence you / encourage you to become a writer?
No one really influenced me, or encouraged me to write, but my dad was the one that introduced me to books. Once I realised there was a whole new world within the pages I was hooked. So you could probably say he influenced me, and the encouragement came from reading all the books I’ve read to date.
When did you decide to write in your chosen genre(s) ?
I knew what genre I wanted to write the same time I knew I wanted to put pen to paper so to speak. From a very young age I’ve read as much of the genre as I can get my hands on, and I’m still doing so.
Tell us about the concept behind your books. How did you get the idea?
The concept behind my books was to get the story out of my head and onto paper, and hopefully read by like-minded people and enjoyed. The idea itself came from recurring dreams I’ve had throughout my life. They gave me a good solid basis for my books, and it almost feels like I’m writing about a friend.
Silly things make me laugh. Like my cat herding my dog who is at least 20 times the size of him. Or my granddaughter copying dances she sees on the Disney films she’s so fond of.
Who would you like to invite for dinner?
I’d have to say Jason Statham, just so I could sit there and look at him, and make a prize fool out of myself.
What song would you pick to go with your book?
The song I’d pick has more to do with the title than the actual song itself. It’s The Thunder Rolls by Garth Brooks. It always reminds me of my main character Tavi’s temper. I imagine it builds like rolling thunder, before she strikes like lightening.
What are you working on now?
At the moment, besides the charity anthology, I’ve been working on book 3 in the series, along with something that started off as notes and an idea and has become more.
You have created great characters. Which one is your favourite?
I have 2 favourites. Of course Tavi is one, she’s gentle and honest, and a little lost, but when you get her temper up she blows sky high, and the girl seriously knows how to handle herself. The fact that she needs nobody to fight her battles for her is a great draw. The second is Mack, who’s a little lost himself, and feels a bit of an outsider even in his own Pack. Yet he’s a whole lot more, and has a hidden strength and moral code that would make any mother proud.
What do you like best about writing? What’s your least favourite thing?
What I like about writing is getting it down in words and seeing it come alive, and of course having someone else read it and want to know how long it’ll be before they find out what happens next.
What I least like is editing, I even call it the dreaded edit. By the time you get to the 4th or 5th time around, your eyes are seeing what should be there and not what is.
What is your advice to new writers?
If you really want to write then never give up. Don’t write for the money, there isn’t any in it, but write for fun, even if you write for free. Do it because it makes you feel good, nothing else.
My Website is – www.angelsblood.co.uk
My Goodreads page is – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8420365.Sallyann_Phillips
My Amazon author page is – https://www.amazon.com/author/sallyannphillips
Great interview! Mrs. Phillips, I concur. If Jason Statham sat at my dinner table, I’d act just as foolish, maybe even more. 🙂
🙂
Shh! I agree with you ☺️
Reblogged this on Author Alley.
Thank you 🙂
I didn’t even know who Jason Stathan was until my husband nudged me at an event and told me. That’s Jason Stathan.’ Sorry Sallyann, I didn’t want to make you jealous. He was sitting about two seats ahead of us; I mean, I was literally ensconsed in his aura. Just kidding…about the aura part. Snap on the laptop part too. My husband bought me my first laptop. It’s now an ultra notebook and is heavy with novels trying to escape. The poems are already beginning to start a rebellion.
Now I’m jealous lol. What a hottie! If it happens again you have to get a quick snap lol.
It’s surprising when you get the laptop and fill it, isn’t it? But it’s a good feeling to know you can get it out of your head.
Reblogged this on Barrow Blogs: .
Thank you!
I am with you on the edits, worst part about writing. Nice interview.
It’s always my down side. I put it off then get cross eyed lol. It helps learning as you go so you don’t find half the mistakes you made the first time writing ☺️
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
An anthology for a very worthy cause in aid of MacMillan Cancer Care and today Christoph Fischer interviews one of his 27 co-authors Sallyann Philips about her writing and the project.
Thank you 🙂
Thank you so much 😊
A wonderful interview Christoph. It was a pleasure talking to you, and working with you, and everyone else involved. Let’s hope that You’re Not Alone flies high, and makes lots of money for Pam’s fund ion aid of MacMillan.
Again thank you for taking the time to put all these brilliant interviews together.
Best wishes,
Sallyann.
Thanks for taking the time to be my guest and for your great answers 🙂
Fascinating interview. Thanks Christoph for introducing us to Sally Ann Philips’ work. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this post. 🙂
Thank you. I’m glad to hear it 🙂
You are more than welcome.
It was my pleasure. I had a great time answering ☺️
Happy New Year! 😀
Happy New Year!
😉
Sallyann, great interview! I read the paragraph about getting lost on a roll and being two different mums, to my daughters…they nodded sagely. Lol! And we’ve got a German Shepherd! Glad you got the laptop and are writing. My third book is with betas right now, so there’ll be a few more edits once they’re done!
I’m happy to know I’m not the only one with the ‘two mum’ thing going on. I tell mine at least they have a fifty fifty chance of getting the one they want lol.
I’ll bet you do the same about of walking I do too lol.
Good luck with your future works ☺️
I echo the others, Christoph, great interview. Thanks for sharing Sallyann with us… Particularly liked her comments about writing. Most entertaining. 🙂
Thank you BillyRay! It’s nice knowing I’m not the only one in that boat 😊