So, today, I have an interview with author S.T. Sanchez where she discusses her new book, Sunwalker.
Tell us a little about yourself.Thanks so much for the interview, Lauryn. I am from Dallas, TX. I love Texas. I am married and have three kids. I have a Bachelor of arts in Spanish from the University of North Texas. Mexico is my second home, I love the people, the culture and of course the food. It’s nice that my husband is from there and can show me things most tourists might miss. Reading had always been a passion and I love hiking and being outdoors. And of course, I write!
What are some things you’ve learned from publishing your first book?
I have learned so much from publishing Sunwalker. First, the saying really is true, the work truly begins after you publish. Also, don’t pay a company to publish your book. I wanted to do self-publishing but started with a company that I paid to help me out with the cover and formatting. Well, they took my money and ran. Since then I have learned that although I am not super techy, I was capable to do everything they could do and more. It took a lot of research and some time, but I did it. I love being in control of everything and not having to answer to anyone.
What’s something you had to edit out of your last book?
I really can’t remember having to take anything out. I am sure it will happen. There was a lot of clarifications I had to add, and some things my beta readers caught that I hadn’t been consistent on, but I can’t recall taking anything out.
How did you pick your character names?
I love names. Especially names that I think are unique but not weird, or too hard to pronounce. Lilly is just a name I have always liked. I actually think I have used it in some of my drafts that didn’t turn into a novel. Tread I am particularly happy with. I wanted a story to go along with how he was named, and when I was bouncing through ideas I hit on Tread and loved it. It was a close one though. He was almost named Koyt, which I ended up using for another character.
Tell us a little bit about your main characters
Lilly is a sunwalker—a vampire born from human parents, able to walk in the daylight. She lives life as a human, hiding her true identity from all those around her. Her one secret desire is to meet another one of her kind and learn about her kind.
Tread is a vampire. He was raised in darkness. He loathes humanity. They are nothing more than cattle to him, food to be taken when hunger hits. He is intrigued by Lilly and the life she chooses to live and stalks her in order to make sense of the way she lives.
Share a short excerpt from your novel
Normally Lilly would never think of going there. She knew her mom would never let her out again if she found out, but there was no way she was going to leave Lex alone in a place like that.
She shoved her phone into her back pocket and started jogging slowly toward the beach. She wasn’t exactly sure where this new hang-out was but thought she knew the general area based on a few conversations she’d overheard from people at school.
Finding it wasn't actually that hard. Getting past the wall was the difficult part. There were two entrances to the beach. Each manned by two guards and contained a special scanner designed to prick a finger and test the blood. Lilly had to wait until the power was switched off in a section of the fence and then speed through the door when it was opened, all without being seen. Lilly had never tried to get through before. She didn't foresee a problem in making it through the gate in time, the problem lie in the fact that few people were crazy enough to venture out on the beach, so she had to wait. It was past eight when she finally arrived at the place.
It reminded her of a bigger version of a beach shack she’d seen before in a movie. It was made up of white wooden planks with a wide deck and steps leading up to a big red door. The roof was made out of straw. She didn’t think it would withstand an East Coast storm. It looked more like it belonged in Tahiti or Jamaica or some other tropical location. There was a big wooden sign that someone had painted “The Broken Coffee Pot” on. It was painted in black and whoever had painted it must have done it in a hurry. Big black drips hung dried at the end of each letter. Next to it, someone had actually driven in a nail, and hung a broken coffee pot. All in all, she bet this place could have been built in a day and could fall over any minute. Lilly didn’t understand the appeal. She started up the steps two at a time when she heard some giggling around the back. Lilly slowed and headed toward the back of the building.
She heard a male voice whispering, “No it’s completely safe, we’ll just have a little more privacy back here.”
A giggle came from behind the building. It was definitely Lex, though how she knew that, Lilly had no idea. She would never have even been able to imagine Lex giggling. Lilly approached quietly and saw a man with his arm wrapped around Lex, kissing her as he pushed her up against the back wall of The Broken Coffee Pot. Then, in a flash, he had her neck at an angle. He pushed her hair off her neck and had his hand around her mouth.
“It’ll be so quick you’ll barely notice anything,” the man said. Then he winked at her and his eyeteeth extended into long fangs.
Lilly would never forget the look of terror in her friend’s eyes. Without even realizing what she was doing, she lunged at the man and sent him flying.
The man stood up inhumanly fast, and dusted some sand from his shirt. He seemed amused.
“Listen doll, I don’t know you, but generally speaking, when someone has their dinner ready and is about to eat, you go find your own. You don’t try and steal theirs.”
Lilly turned to Lex. “Run!” she yelled.
Lex stared hesitantly at Lilly for a brief moment and then took off in a mad dash, tripping on the sand as she tried to get away.
Lilly spun to block his pursuit. Her fangs slid out and a growl ripped through her teeth. She was taken aback at first, realizing the sound came from her and not the vampire in front of her.
The man stared at her, confused. Then he took a few slow steps forward with a look of awe on his face. “You’re a sunwalker,” he said with a hint of amusement.
“Yeah, and I’m stronger than the scum like you who are bitten into existence. So stay away from my friend,” Lilly spat with all the spite she could muster.
Before she realized what was happening, the vampire had her now pinned to the wall.
“You listen to me, little girl. You are nothing but an infant,” he scoffed. “You will watch how you talk to me,” he ordered as he squeezed her wrist tighter. “I have been around a long time. I’m smarter than you, faster than you, and stronger than you. Sunwalkers might be rare. But don't ever assume you're the only one.” He shoved her one more time hard against the wall, gripping her hand with one arm and using the other to hold her across the chest. Then, he released her.
“Ow!” Lilly said, rubbing her wrist. “That hurt.” She looked at him, dumbfounded. He was not just another vampire, but a sunwalker.
“That was the point,” he said, shaking his head, still trying to figure something out.
She rubbed her wrist. “It’s just, I’ve never been hurt before. I didn’t think we could get hurt.”
His jaw dropped. He opened it to speak, then shut it again. He shook his head.
“You do that a lot?” Lilly asked.
“Do what?”
“Walk around and shake your head.”
“I just don’t understand you…” He started to shake his head and stopped himself. Stifling a laugh, he asked, “Where are you from? What hospital were you born at? I don’t understand how we missed you. You must not have been born around here.”
“Hold on, as much as I’d love to stay and chat,” Lilly replied sarcastically, “you just tried to murder my friend.” She turned and started walking back around the building. She heard him muttering "friend" as she stalked off.
“Wait!” the stranger called.
Lilly didn’t bother turning around. “Yeah, I don’t think so,” she called, and then almost walked smack dab into him as he appeared in front of her.
“That was me asking politely, as a courtesy because you are my kind, and I fancy myself as a gentleman—” he began, but stopped as Lilly rubbed her wrist. “Well normally I am a gentleman. Someone stealing my dinner and then letting it run free seems to have put me in a foul mood. Nevertheless, as you've seen, I can make you stay.” He stepped back, holding his hands up non-threateningly and then added, “Just answer a few questions and then I’ll let you leave.”
Lilly wasn’t thrilled with this. She knew Lex must be going out of her mind right now. But after feeling his strength, she knew she really didn’t have a choice. Some kind of gentleman, threatening but polite, she thought.
“Fine,” she huffed. “Ask away. It's not like I really have a choice.”
What are you currently working on?
Presently Nightwalker, book 2 in the Sunwalker trilogy, is going through its first edit and is also in the hands of my beta readers. I also just finished my first draft of The Portal Keeper, a fantasy novel about a secret world, filled with magic and mayhem. It was really fun and easy to write. I finished my first draft in just a few weeks which is crazy fast for me.
Who designed the artwork for your cover? Or did you design it yourself?
I wish I had the talent to design covers. Sadly I tried and it looked like something a kindergartner would come up with. So I found an amazing designer who also happens to be my editor. Courtney Johansson. You can contact her at [email protected] just don’t keep her too busy. Lol
Share something with us not a lot of people know about you.
I did a live radio commercial when I was in my early twenties. It was for a blockbuster grand opening, and my boss made me do it. I was super nervous and got tongue tied. It was a fun experience even though I bombed it. It’s always better to try and fail than not attempt something.
What is your favorite book?
There are so many phenomenal books out there. I can’t pick one. I loved Harry Potter. I absolutely adore anything by Brandon Mull. If you are a fantasy fan pick up Fablehaven, the Beyonders or the Five Kingdom series. All are amazing.
Any last words?
Thank you for having me on Lauryn. I just want to thank all the readers out there. We appreciate you. Without you, I wouldn’t get to do something I love. Whether you pick up my book or Lauryn’s or another author, please take the time to review it. Reviews are not only important to authors but readers as well. They can give great feedback to an author or let a reader know if a book is worth their time and money. So please do reviews. Happy Reading!! Thanks again:)
Website www.facebook.com/sunwalkertrilogy
Blog www.sunwalkertrilogy.blogspot.com
Email [email protected]
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Sunwalker-Trilogy-S-T-Sanchez/dp/0999001612/
Barnes and Noble www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sunwalker-s-t-sanchez/1126407829
