Interview: Ami Blackwelder YA author of Shifter Evolutions series

Interview with author Ami Blackwelder

We have the pleasure of having Ami Blackwelder stopping by for a guest interview today

1. How did you come up with the concept for this book?

I as in Thailand teaching and working outside in the front garden when my Siamese cat Lotus jumped around in the trees and I just had this idea of what it would be like if human beings could transform into animals? Cats? Then I thought about how that could be and came up with an alien race...and then shifters becoming hybrids....and then I also wanted to incorporate themes of prejudice and oppression. And I developed the characters and plot lines from there...into 6 books.

2. How did you come up with the names for the characters?

There are combinations of names or names I know.

3. How much are you and the characters alike?

We aren't really alike...but I do draw from real life, real people, and personalities...but characters are usually a blend of those.

4. Do you read a lot and what are you reading now?

Yes, and Divergent.

5. What made you decide to go shape shifters?

Well, really the initial spark of the idea with my cat and then playing around with alien races. I do like shifters. But my stories are unique. They aren't your typical YA or adult novels in the scifi or paranormal genres. Everyone says they are different, but good. So, that about says it.

6. How did the cover come about?

I designed them with graphic designs, symbols of the characters...the plot.

7. So what is your next project and when is it due out?

The MERS, a Mermaid dystopian is out Oct 1st-Oct 15th! Exciting!

8. Do you have a daytime job or are you a full time writer?

I am a Montessori Intern now and will be in the Montessori Teaching soon...before that I taught overseas for eight years. I do want to be a full time writer though.

9. How did you get into writing novels and were you worried about peoples reactions to your books?

Since I could hold a pen, and yes/no. Partly, I wanted to improve my writing and wanted other's opinions and partly I just wanted to share my work regardless.

10. One last thing do you collect anything personally?

I collect books written by independent authors;)

Thanks to Ami for letting us get to know her a little better!

Ami's Bio

Ami Blackwelder is a forbidden romance writer in the paranormal and historical romance genre. Growing up in Florida, she went to UCf and in 1997 received her BA in English and teaching credentials. She travelled overseas to teach in Thailand, Nepal, Tibet, China and Korea. Thailand is considered her second home now. She has always loved writing and wrote poems and short stores since childhood; however, her novels began when she was in Thailand.

Having won the Best Fiction Award from the University of Central Florida (Yes, The Blair Witch Project University;), her fiction From Joy We Come, Unto Joy We Return was published in the on campus literary magazine: Cypress Dome and remains to this day in University libraries around the country. Later, she achieved the Semi-Finals in a Laurel Hemingway contest and published a few poems in the Thailand’s Expat magazine, and an article in the Thailand’s People newspaper. Additionally, she has published poetry in the Korea’s AIM magazine, the American Poetic Monthly magazine and Twisted Dreams Magazine.

Find out More about Ami and her books Here:
Goodreads
Blog
Amazon