I was lucky to get an interview with Sarah K. L. Wilson, the author of Fly With the Arrow, and one of this year’s #SPFBO8 semifinalists.

Please, tell us a bit about yourself…
I’m a Canadian indie author who turned to writing in a desperate attempt to stay indoors during the worst of the cold months and because this is one of the few ways to convert daydreaming — my only real skill — into something marketable. I am woefully boring outside of my writing and any other hobbies or accomplishments are not worth noting.

What was the first thought that popped into your mind when you found out you had made it to the semifinals?
I thought, “Really?” because this year I went in with no expectations. I know perfectly well that the majority of the bloggers for this competition seem to prefer their fantasy, epic, somewhat grim, third-person POV and with a strong main character. Bonus points for a jaded voice. My book has none of those things.

Why did you decide to take part in the SPFBO?
I’ve participated in SPFBO twice before with Dragon School: First Flight and Summernight, neither of which made it past the first round. This time I decided just to do it for fun with zero expectations.

Aside from your SPFBO8 book getting the stamp of approval by being in the semifinals, why should I buy it?
If Alice went to Wonderland and fell in love with the Cheshire Cat, it would be this story. It has a severed head best friend, an absolutely mad unpredictable world, riddles, poems, dark tongue-in-cheek humor, and a sensible heroine who is watching it all with disapproval while finding herself slowly becoming infatuated with the whole thing.

What got you into writing? And how long have you been doing it?
I started writing in my late twenties. My rural bookstores and libraries had very little fantasy book stock and I — fool that I was — thought there weren’t more fantasy books out there than what was available to me so when I ran out of things to read I began to write my own.

Why did you choose to write fantasy? And why pick this particular fantasy subgenre?
I adore fantasy and while I may stray from time to time into scifi or romance, it’s really all I ever want to read. I write in many fantasy subgenres, but this particular one —fairytale fantasy suits my particular penchant for the absurd and fantastical.

Which other author has had the biggest influence on your writing?
Probably Terry Pratchett (who was a god among men and wrote perfect books) though Juliet Marillier and Robin McKinley are hot on his heels.

What’s the best thing about being a writer?
I get paid for sharing my daydreams with everyone else. I get to hear from readers about how those stories made their lives better. And I get to work out my own issues in the form of fiction.

What’s the hardest thing about being a writer?
Never being as skilled as you want to be.

How do I get into the semifinals? Just kidding! No seriously, might you be willing to share a tip, a scrap of wisdom, or perhaps an app, tool, or resource that you can really recommend to authors?
If you’re just starting out and you want to get grounded on plot, tension, and pacing, I’d recommend listening to the StoryGrid Podcast. The more recent stuff is maybe a bit technical, but if you go back and listen from the beginning there are some great conversations that will light ideas in your mind to help with your own stories.

What new projects are you working on?
This year I’m working on wrapping up my Phoenix Heart novella series and my Bluebeard’s Secret series (Fly With the Arrow is book one of that series) as well as continuing my Seven Swords series and putting out a stand-alone fantasy romance called “Married by War” as part of a group themed project I’m working on with several other indie fantasy authors. Next year I’ll be working on a series of stand-alone fantasy books about a group of paladins.

Anything else you would like to say before we close?
I’m hosting a read along of Fly With the Arrow on my Instagram. We’re reading through a chapter a day and I add little behind the scenes thoughts and tidbits as I go. If you think the book might interest you, feel free to join in!

I just might! Congratulations on the semi-finalist spot and best of luck in the competition, Sarah.
Thanks for doing the interview!