Author Interview and Giveaway: Friendship on Fire

I am so excited about this post! On Monday, I reviewed Friendship on Fire, the debut novel of Danielle Weiler. (Read my review HERE.) I really liked the book, and I am very much looking forward to reading more of Danielle's writing. Danielle has been super nice to work with, and she is kindly giving away a signed copy of Friendship on Fire through Reading Lark! So enjoy getting to know a little more about this new author and her first book... and don't forget to enter to win the signed book! (Giveaway ends on Friday, May 6th.)

Insights into Friendship on Fire by Danielle Weiler

What inspired you to write the book?

I was given a challenge in my mind and I took it. More than that, Daisy’s voice was very strong in her eagerness to have her story told. You see, she’s the school captain of a very conservative school, and she’s accidentally dyed her hair red because her dad chose the wrong colour of hair dye (there’s a lesson to be learnt there). So she’s in trouble with the principal AND her peers are calling her a ‘Ranga’ – urban language for red head or orangutan. I started writing about her and it was really fun, so it only took me 3 months to finish.

How did you start writing?

The story? I got out of bed and got my laptop and started writing on the couch – and wrote about 10,000 words that Sunday. It was only RSI that stopped me from writing more at times.

In general? I’ve always kept a diary and I also used to write really bad stories as a kid that never got finished. Hence my initial apprehension about this idea. But this one was a winner and I desperately wanted to finish it in a week, which was near impossible as I was teaching full time as well.

What is your favorite part of the book?

Ahh that’s a hard one to answer. It’s like asking what body part is your fav. Probably the romance that builds between Daisy and Nate, and some of the arguments/misunderstandings between Daisy and Roman, and Daisy’s awkward brotherly conversations.

What was the hardest part to write?

Daisy’s heartbreaking moment and how she has to pick herself up off the floor and start again.

Does music influence your writing? Do you have a writing playlist, and if
so, are you willing to share a sample or two from it? *Special Note: Next Monday we will be featuring a song from Danielle's playlist on Music Monday!*

Absolutely. I made a list of songs for my book launch of favourite artists that I listened to while I was writing. Bands like Leeland, Sixteen Cities, Tenth Avenue North, Anberlin etc. Especially ‘You Are’ from Tenth Avenue North.
The chorus goes like this:

I give you all of me
For all you are
Here I am
Take me apart
Take me apart

It’s really simple but profound and beautiful.

Which comes first? The character's story or the idea for the novel?

Probably the character’s story. I mean she was the idea for the novel but the story surrounds her so it’s more about her as a character than an overall idea. Besides coming-of-age, of course. I knew what was going to happen to Daisy from start to finish in her last year of school so it was just a matter of getting those ideas down on ‘paper’, if you will, and adding in support characters to spice things up.

How personal is your writing?

Very. It’s like standing naked in front of an auditorium full of people, just in a literary kind of way. Although I didn’t write directly from experience, I did mould and shape some of my high school angsts and friend/boy/assignments/work issues as well as excellent family life and charming boy’s one-liners. It also came naturally for me to have Daisy keep a diary. I write very much like that – witty, circular, random, deep etc.

What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a
published writer?

Read what’s out there already. I wasn’t reading at the time I was writing, which was a good and bad thing. I didn’t know about literary stereotypes or contemporary ‘buzz’ writing styles or lengths or blogs or whatever. I wrote my second novel after reading a string of novels and the idea just hit me and it’s completely different (stylistically and main character) to how I wrote before but you can learn a lot from how others write – not to copy, of course, but to increase your own motivation and try new things. Also, get the manuscript assessed by a few different people (expensive but they have perceptions about your story that you didn’t even know were there) and just apply to as many publishers as you can. You can get discouraged at times but don’t give up.

What are your favorite authors/books?

Mmm well I liked the Earth’s Children series until the last book…
As a teenager I loved Tamora Pierce’s Alanna series and the ripple series from there (Daine, Kel, Ali etc).
I love Melina Marchetta’s books – Saving Francesca, On the Jellicoe Road, Finnikin of the Rock, The Piper’s Son.
I don’t mind Jodi Picoult’s for the style of writing and the suspense – how she drip-feeds the reader every step of the way is amazing.
Simmone Howell’s Everything Beautiful is one of the funniest books I’ve ever read.

Thank you Danielle for the great interview, the song, and of course the signed book for our giveaway!

This is a fun coming of age story - don't miss out on it! Complete the form below for your chance to win!