Author Interview and Giveaway: Oblivion by Sasha Dawn

Today kicks off the Oblivion Blog Tour. Oblivion by Sasha Dawn is described as "Lisa McMann's Dead to You meets Kate Ellison's The Butterfly Clues" This description immediately hooked me and I knew I had to read it. Both of these books messed with my head and had me on edge. I can't wait to discover what a mind scramble Oblivion will be. 

 For my tour stop, Sasha Dawn shares her thoughts on writing and tells us a few random things about herself. Find out some of her likes and dislikes and then enter for a chance to win a copy of Oblivion.

  Oblivion
by Sasha Dawn
Published by EgmontUSA
Paperback Publication Date: May 27, 2014
  400 Pages

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About Oblivion

Lisa McMann's Dead to You meets Kate Ellison's The Butterfly Clues in a psychological thriller full of romance, intrigue, and mystery.

One year ago, Callie was found in an abandoned apartment, scrawling words on the wall: "I KILLED HIM. His blood is on my hands. His heart is in my soul. I KILLED HIM." But she remembers nothing of that night or of the previous thirty-six hours. All she knows is that her father, the reverend at the Church of the Holy Promise, is missing, as is Hannah, a young girl from the parish. Their disappearances have to be connected and Callie knows that her father was not a righteous man.

Since that fateful night, she's been plagued by graphomania -- an unending and debilitating compulsion to write. The words that flow from Callie's mind and through her pen don't seem to make sense -- until now.

As the anniversary of Hannah's vanishing approaches, more words and memories bubble to the surface and a new guy in school might be the key to Callie putting together the puzzle. But digging up the secrets she's buried for so long might be her biggest mistake.

Welcome Sasha Dawn!!

Have you always been a writer? Did you keep a journal or write stories when you were younger? I have been writing since I could hold a pencil. Words have always made sense to me, despite the fact that I didn’t start speaking as early as my parents thought I should’ve. But by the time I was seven, I was combing through dictionaries to broaden my vocabulary when the rest of my classmates—except Alan N**n, who was working alongside me—were putting lists in alphabetical order. I am an advocate for journaling, and I don’t remember a time I wasn’t writing a story…or eleven or twelve.

How long do you think about a story or characters until you finally decide what you want to write about it/them? Usually, characters and their plights haunt me for a week or two before I start mapping out a canvas on which to tell their tales. In the case of Calliope Knowles and Oblivion, however, I thought about her for decades before I found the appropriate milieu for her story. Sometimes, paths are clearer than others, but I always want to write the stories. It’s trial and error for me. Some characters take hold; others don’t.

What is your favorite writing environment? Is it also your most productive?

I’m a busy girl. I teach, I volunteer, I take tap and ballet. I have a family, extended family, pets, and neighbors and friends. My favorite writing environment is a quiet one, but that rarely happens. Often, I’m jotting a few sentences here, a few phrases there, throughout the course of the day, amongst the general hullabaloo of motherhood: while waiting for one of my girls to exit the dance studio, when the water is just about to boil, but I can’t yet put the linguini in the pot, when I’m on hold with the insurance company.  The White Sox are probably on the television, Joshua’s on a conference call in the next room, I’m late to pick up my dad for his doctor’s appointment, and someone can’t find the right hair tie or leotard. But I manage to write productively, regardless.

That said, I’m an insomniac. I often write between 2 and 5 a.m. And it’s heaven.

What is the best piece of writing advice you've received? 
People may love your work. People may hate it, misunderstand it, or shred it. It doesn’t matter. Write from the heart.

What one piece of advice you would give to aspiring writers?

Write. It’s that simple. You won’t improve without constant effort, and I don’t know of anyone’s who has finished a novel while avoiding the act of writing.

Tell me five random things about yourself.

· I’m afraid of frogs. Don’t judge me. They’re creepy.

· When I was a little girl, I dreamed of dancing on television. If I’m ever famous, I’ll try out for Dancing with the Stars. Or maybe I’ll just continue dancing at the grocery store.

· I could really use a chocolate shake right about now. I’d love a cherry on top, too. Nice of you to offer to deliver one to my door, as I don’t feel like going out.

· The television show Friends never bores me. I own all ten seasons and I watch them over and over again. Joey Tribiani has to be one of the most entertaining characters ever! “How you doin’?”

· My favorite color is pink. Our master bathroom is a lovely shade (Tara) of Pepto Bismal.

 About Sasha Dawn

Sasha Dawn teaches college composition to America’s youth at McHenry County College and the College of Lake County. She’s drawn to suspense, the survival instinct in people, and has a crush on Thomas Jefferson. She lives in a suburb of Chicago.

Giveaway Details

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Giveaway ends May 31, 2014

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