Interview: Sarah Ahiers author of Assassin`s Heart

Assassin`s Heart

Author: Sarah Ahiers

Published On: 2/2/16

Publisher: HarperTeen

Page Count: 400

Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

In the kingdom of Lovero, nine rival Families of assassins lawfully kill people for a price. As a highly skilled member of one of these powerful clans, seventeen-year-old Lea Saldana has always trusted in the strength of her Family. Until she awakens to find them murdered and her home in flames. The Da Vias, the Saldanas’ biggest enemy, must be responsible—and Lea should have seen it coming. But her secret relationship with the Da Vias’ son, Val, has clouded her otherwise killer instinct—and given the Da Vias more reason than ever to take her Family down.

Do you relate to Lea in personality?

Ah, a little bit I guess. Lea is very loyal to the people in her life and I can be that way, too. But she’s also haughty and a bit entitled and I hope I’m not so much of either of those.

Where did you come up with these awesome names?

I spent a lot of time researching Italian names, both for places and for people or surnames. I wanted to get a feel of the sound. The place names I tried to make up (though later I found out a few of my made up place names actually are places!) and many of the people names I tweaked from their base name to try and make something new, since this is a fantasy world that isn’t earth

Combining The Godfather and R&J sounds interesting what made you write them together?

Well, it wasn’t fully intentional when I started out. I just really like mafia and mob families, and families at war with each other, which both R&J and The Godfather have in spades. And then I wanted to go for an Italian renaissance-esque feel for the setting which further evoked R&J I think.

When you write do you plot or just let it flow?

Oh I am very much a plotter. I have an outline and everything and even spend a bunch of time prewriting things before I build the outline. BUT! Nothing is strict. I’m allowed to change things and I almost always have to rewrite the outline once or twice while drafting to account for changes that are happening. And for ASSASSIN’S HEART I didn’t actually know the ending until I got there, which was new for me because I almost always know how things will end before I start writing.

How's the companion novel coming ;)

Hah! The draft is finished and sent in to my editor and I expect we’ll be working on it steadily during 2016

What brain foods help you with writing?

I try not to snack while writing because I just won’t stop eating anything that’s in front of me. I will eat it all and not even realize it. But I absolutely must have water on my desk at all times when writing.

What books should we be on the lookout for in 2016?

Oh man, I’ve read so many great ones so far, and I have so many more to look forward to! For YA contemporary I really loved Rahul Kanakia’s ENTER TITLE HERE because it was so meta, or Parker Peevyhouse’s WHERE FUTURE’S END which is a collection of four stories that has a sort of fantasy-sci-fi twist. Or for horror Kali Wallace’s SHALLOW GRAVES and Janet B. Taylor’s INTO THE DIM for fantasy (though I’m really looking forward to getting my hands on Michelle Modesto’s REVENGE AND THE WILD even though I haven’t read it yet). Seriously, though, 2016 is going to be a GREAT year with some awesome reads.

About Sarah: 

I was born on a February afternoon 2 minutes before my twin sister. Angels wept or something, I suppose.Besides writing and reading, I enjoy dogs, animals, my family, board games, yard games, video games, cooking, gardening and dressing up for the MN Renaissance Festival.

Hope you Enjoyed the interview. Look forward to Assassin`s Heart Review sometime in the near future.

TTFN,

Ashley