Sophie Masson Interview
1.How much of the book is realistic? Well, as far as Venice is real--and I've
visited it--the setting
is realistic. Emilia Lanier who appears at the beginning is also a real person,
as is the Doge of
Venice. Otherwise, the other characters and of course the events are fiction!
>
> 2.Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life? No.
But inspired by
Shakespeare's plays 'The Merchant of Venice' and 'Romeo and Juliet.'
>
> 3.What books have most influenced your life most? I've read so many books it's
hard to say! But
basically as a reader I was very influenced by Shakespeare--by Agatha
Christie--by Alexandre
Donne--by
Enid Blyton--really, all kinds of influences! I devoured everything as a child
and still read hugely
now.
>
> 4.If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor? If you could
at all, I'd choose to 'shadow' Shakespeare back in his own time--how wonderful
would it be to time-
travel!
>
by Barbara Vine-
-a very creepy suspense novel.
>
> 6.Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest? Well, I enjoyed
reading Anna
Godbersen's series of 'Luxe' books not long ago!
> 7.What are your current projects?
I'm working on three different projects at once! A novel set in World War One
about a girl whose
soldier father goes missing; a novel about the adolescence of Australia's most
famous 'bushranger'
or armed robber, Ned Kelly; and a thriller set in Russia.
>
English teacher in
high school, Mrs Leaf, was absolutely encouraging and very inspiring. Though I
was already a
great reader, she opened me to a world of wonderful literature I might not have
come across
otherwise, and I am very grateful to her. I contacted her much later when I was
a published
author and invited her to the launch of one of my books--she was thrilled!
>
> 9.Do you see writing as a career? Absolutely! It is a wonderful career and one
I wouldn't change
for the world!
>
> 10.If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your
> latest book? Not really. I'm pretty happy with it as it is!
Comments
Post a Comment