Q&A with Megan O'Russell, author of Girl of Glass

Now available from Fiery Seas Publishing is the young adult novel Girl of Glass by Megan O'Russell.

The author has taken a few minutes out of her busy schedule for a Q&A about her newest novel.

When did you become interested in storytelling?

I’m an actor by trade, so writing was just a natural extension of that love of storytelling. My direct interest in writing came from seeking an outlet where I could choose which story I wanted to tell. The chance to create characters from nothing instead of building upon what is already in a script was too in alluring to resist.

What was your first book/story published?

The Tethering—a young adult Urban Fantasy novel—was published in 2014.

What inspired you to write Girl of Glass?

The original appeal was in blending genres. I didn’t want to write a straight dystopian or sci-fi. I wanted to play with vampires, but not the supernatural world that goes with them. Finding the niche I wanted to explore made the world of Girl of Glass. Once I knew what landscape I wanted to work in, I knew that I didn’t want to look at the end of the world from the bottom up, but rather from the upper 1% down. What would it be like to know that you’re safe and secure but that the people through your window are suffering? If you see them in need, what would you do to help them? How long would your conscience let you watch people die before you needed to do something, anything, to help?

What character in Girl of Glass is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

I think I’m most like Raina. A little bitter, a little snarky, but I’ll save your life in a pinch. I just wish I had her skills with a knife.

What is your favorite part in Girl of Glass?

Watching Nola transform from a girl who is terrified of the unknown outside world into a person who understands the danger around her and knowingly takes risks to protect the people she loves.

What was the hardest part to write?

The final fight in the book. It’s a lot of moving pieces and action coordination, but I am really pleased with how it turned out! What would your ideal career be, if you couldn't be an author?

The one I have: stage actor. Best day job in the world.

Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

I mean…yes? I don’t stalk my reviews. I don’t have the constitution for it. But I do read some and do try to absorb the comments. Sometimes there’s nothing you can do. A part that one person hates another person loves, and you just have to leave it a game of balance. Occasionally you find something really valuable though. A loose end you need to tie into the next book, a perspective you’ve never considered. I even had one reviewer say that they didn’t like that I had moved on from a location so quickly and they wanted to read a whole book that took place there. I ran with the idea, and that new series will be released in 2017!

What well-known writers do you admire most?

Madeline L’Engle is my writing idol. I love all of her work. There is a huge list that goes on from there, but Madeline L’Engle is always at the top.

Do you have any other books/stories in the works?

I do! The Tethering Series is YA urban fantasy series, and Nuttycracker Sweet is a Christmas romance novella. Coming in 2017 there will be two new series as well!

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About the Author: Megan O’Russell is the author of the young adult fantasy series The Tethering, and Nuttycracker Sweet, a Christmas novella. Megan’s short stories can also be found in several anthologies, including Athena’s Daughters 2, featuring women in speculative fiction.

Megan is a professional performer who has spent time on stages across the country and is the lyrist for Second Chances: The Thrift Shop Musical, which received it’s world premiere in 2015. When not on stage or behind a computer, Megan can usually be found playing her ukulele or climbing a mountain with her fantastic husband.

To find out more about Megan, visit her website at meganorussell.com.

You can follow the author on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.