Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with Amy L. Sauder

What inspired you to write “Unfixed”?

Sauder: It began with an Uncanny Literature course. We studied the uncanny and abject, from Freud and Kristeva’s analysis, Cixous’ dreams, and stories like Hoffman’s The Sandman and Kafka’s Metamorphosis. By the end of that semester, Julia Trencher had taken up residence in my brain, the girl who couldn’t be fixed. That story grew into a whole world with a multitude of endearing characters that you see in Unfixed, but it started with a dozen or so other students excited to talk about words and what makes a story uncanny and why.

How did you come up with the names of your main characters?

Sauder: Mostly names just come to me, sometimes right away and sometimes after a few scenes as I learn more about the character. When they don’t come to me right away, I put a placeholder in, many of which you find in some format in the book (the Mask, the Shadow, the Forgettable).

When you encounter writer’s block, what do you do to break yourself out of it?

Sauder:   I get a markerboard and map it out: everything I do know and everything I don’t. Then I find my way through, alongside the characters.

Are there any tips that you would like to share with other aspiring authors on how you plan your book?

Sauder: Don’t write every day! Or at least, what I mean is, don’t put that unnecessary pressure on yourself. Instead pick a routine that works for you, and maybe that’s weekly or monthly writing. But the claim that you’re not a writer if you don’t write every day is putting yourself on the fast track to burnout and defeat. Slow and steady, you’ll get there.  

What is your favorite genre, book, and/or author?

Sauder: It is so difficult to pick just one! I love books with an interesting premise, twisty plots, deep characters, unique story structures, and a touch of magic. Some recent reads that gripped me were “Murder Your Employer” and “The Impossible Girl.”

What are you working on next?

Sauder: Picked Up Pieces, the sequel to Unfixed, releases on February 27, so my focus is on prepping for launch. In the meantime, I’m just beginning to dabble with a new idea or two, and we’ll see what it leads me to next! 

Want to Learn More about Unfixed?

Website: AmyLSauder.com

Facebook: /AmyLSauder

Twitter/X: @AmyLSauder

Instagram: @AmyLSauderCreations

Interested in submitting your book for review? Visit my review page for guidelines and submission requirements.

review