Wendy Willett 

Ms. Willett has written, illustrated, and published a fantasy fiction for mid-grade to young adult genre called, Amber Shadows and the Missing Wands. She is in the process of writing/completing three additional books to complete the Amber Shadows series. I have been writing for several years, as far back as grammar school. While growing up I wanted to be an actress, but never pursued my dream because of the responsibility I felt I had to my parents. I couldn't abandon them knowing my brother needed constant care. He was born handicapped due to a doctors' negligence.

I attended catholic school, graduated, and joined the working force. Back then, the local college where I lived did not have a Performing Arts department, so I left college after three months. I felt taking courses other than those I truly wanted to take was pointless. Shortly thereafter I found work managing a printing business. Later, I found employment with a wholesale sign company. In 1996 I got married, which ended four years ago.

My influences would have to be my love of live theatre, comedy classics on TV and reading other fantastic books of fiction (time permitting). Violin and chello concertos, The band the Hooters, Eric Bazilian (solo), Rick Springfield, Brian Adams, and various love ballads have always played a major part in my life too.

I'm a romantic soul in my late thirties who loves old movies (even in this day and age where everything is High Definition and in color). The Black Adder series, Sherlock Holmes, and I'm a Doctor Who fan since the 70's, (David Tennant is brilliant!). I long to someday visit London, England, possibly live there a couple months out of the year. Alan Rickman has my heart forever, so guys don't go there! And yes, for those who have asked, I have two children who have influenced my writing as well.

Numerous people have told me they can envision Amber Shadows and the Missing Wands as a movie just from reading the book, and truthfully, I'm hoping it happens for all four books. Realistically though, I know my book series may have to wait a bit before this becomes a reality.

My first book, Amber Shadows and the Missing Wands has only been available on Amazon.com and most online stores, but it will be coming to stores very soon! So check with your local book stores like Barnes and Noble and Borders Books and Music for date of availability. If they have enough inquires about Amber Shadows and the Missing Wands, they will have to order it sooner than planned by me and my publisher! So let your voices be heard! Visit Wendy Online at http://www.authorsden.com/wendywillett

 

 

PageOneLit.com:  Where did you grow up and was reading and writing a part of your life? Who were your earliest influences and why?

Wendy Willett: I grew up in a few places in Illinois. Believe it or not, I was more into the arts and sketching. I didn’t do a lot of reading unless I was in a play or writing one. Of course that was when I was a teenager. When I was very young, though, reading comics got me interested in reading and then I moved on to reading fiction. In junior high I wrote for the school newsletter. I wrote a column informing the school of the latest plays and I wrote the reviews. I did not have any influences growing up other than watching old movies and role playing with my friends. My parents supported me in whatever I chose. My parents, and everyone we knew, believed I was multi-talented. I could sing, act, and write. As a teen, I dreamt of becoming an actress or singing. Writing was never something I gave serious thought to until several years later, when I was expecting my daughter. After I graduated from Children’s Institute of Literature, I began to write all the time. It was then that I made the decision that I wanted to become an author/writer full time. I was more comfortable contributing to the arts by working behind the scenes. So I focused on writing novels for mid-grade to young adult. Writing articles was my greatest strength according to my professor at the Children’s Institute. In fact, she encouraged me to do articles for my final exam. When I told her I wanted to write novels instead, she encouraged me to do both, and told me upon graduating that I should write for mid-grade–young adults.

 

PageOneLit.com: Why do you write? 

Wendy Willett: I’ve never actually thought about why I write. I just do. For me, it’s my escape from the real world. It’s my comfort zone where only I can spend time with my characters and block the hardships of the world outside. It’s a place where I can have time to myself while the kids are off playing or at school.  Once my book is written and I have to proofread, I read and act out the dialogue aloud. In doing this method, I’m able to make and keep each character’s personality third-dimensional and unique, just as actors do on stage or the silver screen, when they step into a characters’ role. This helps me to edit dialogue and keep the story real for the readers.

 

PageOneLit.com: Who is Amber Shadows?

Wendy Willett: Amber is a young girl who steps into a world of grown up issues. She has to be a grown-up before she’s gotten through being a teenager. In a word, she’s “me”. While growing up, I had the responsibility of helping my parents take care of my handicapped brother. I had to be more mature and responsible than those I knew, and spent most of my time staying home instead of running with the crowd. In Amber Shadows and the Missing Wands, Amber is given the responsibility of keeping and protecting the Legends, Spells, and Enchantment book she is led to. She goes through a transformation that makes her wise beyond her years, although she doesn’t completely understand how or why. She has good intentions to protect her loved ones and everyone in Magia. She’s too curious for her own good, a leader who would give her life for those she loves, and she’s determined to succeed, yet vulnerable. I think the most important thing she is looking for is love and acceptance . . . to never be held back from her dreams. She wants to prove to everyone she’s perfectly capable of having what she wants, and that her opinion and dreams do matter.

 

PageOneLit.com: Discuss briefly your new book Amber Shadows and the Missing Wands. Is this a book of journey or mystery, or both?

Wendy Willett: Wendy Willett: The book is definitely both. The story is not just based on the unknown, Dark Magic vs. White Magic, and danger. It's about three mates revealing their true persons to each other . . . learning what the true meaning of friendship is. All three experience their own and each other’s fears, as well as their own weaknesses and strengths. They have to make life or death decisions most teens in today’s world would not have to make. This book is not a "chick-lit" book or fanciful tale of lace and gossip. Rather, this is a book that both girls and boys can relate to in their own way. It's an unfortunate truth that most young people go through loss or a period of finding themselves . . . we've all lived through it, and it's very difficult. Young people face fears they'd rather remain oblivious to just to face another day . . . and let us not forget there's the good old "peer pressure" each one comes across at some point in their young lives. Growing up is the hardest thing to do when the world expects so much from young people in today's world. These same issues, although dealt with in a magical world, are what my main characters experience throughout the Amber Shadows series. Amber and her brother and sister have fears of abandonment at the beginning of the story. Then Amber faces her childhood fears of the attic, and her friends not supporting her when she decides to go off on the quest to find her missing family. These characters are facing real issues while in a fictional world, yet young people can relate to them, and that is what makes this book more than just a mystery, drama, adventure, and so on. It's basically a multi-categorical book that can not be labeled one way or another. Everyone will categorize it as they see it, after reading it.

A brief description of the book: Amber’s curious nature leads her and her mates on a dangerous journey into the Dark Magic world of the unknown. Not only does she have the responsibility of protecting three secrets, she has to rescue her missing family, deal with her own fears and that of her friends, face the wrath of Lady Gondara, and still manage to retrieve two wands of the highest White Magic powers, without getting herself, her family, and her mates killed in the process.

Dark Magic beasts beyond the Nomagian's imagination, set the dark atmosphere and bring about a magically dangerous journey for the reader to experience along with Amber and friends. Journals written and hidden away are brought to life as Amber reads the memoirs of Jocelyn when she was only thirteen. The reader will learn of and experience with Amber, things a thirteen-year-old should never have to read or write about . . . scary things meant to be kept secret. Although this book is for midgrade to young adult and beyond, this spinetingling story will keep you on the edge. The characters are third-dimensional when introduced in the beginning of the story, and the plot increases in spellbinding events, leaving the reader wanting to read the next book. Each book is a "chapter" in Amber Shadows life as she, along with her friends, progress in age and life experiences. Book two, Amber Shadows and the Crystal Locket promises to be even more intense and magically spellbinding than Amber Shadows and the Missing Wands.

To give each illustration a dramatic effect, I wanted the reader to feel as though they are looking into a glimpse of Amber’s world. To do this, I used a black, textured frame that gave the illusion of looking into a dream world.

 

PageOneLit.com: Amber Shadows and the Missing Wands would make a great film -- If Hollywood called and asked you to cast your main characters who would they be and why?

Wendy Willett: Firstly, it would be a dream come true if Hollywood called and made me an offer for my book series to be brought to the silver screen. A film series is what I’ve always wanted to see happen for the Amber Shadows series. If they asked me who I would choose as the actors, I would ask them to let me help determine the actors by seeing photos, and performance background/experience, because truthfully, I haven’t a clue as to who should play Amber, Jasper, Marianna or the others. Alan Rickman would be the perfect fit for Mr. Shadows. I actually had him in mind when I described the character of Mr. Shadows. Having a bit of acting experience myself, I would love to play Amber’s mother, but would be fine for someone else if Hollywood thought it best. David Tennant or Richard Armitage would be a very good fit for playing the part of Professor Whittlesworth. Although young, they could manage it quite nicely with a make-up artist’s magic. The cast would have to be gifted with the ability to speak, or be of English nationality for authenticity, because the books’ story is based in the hidden lands of England.

 

PageOneLit.com: Amber Shadows and the Missing Wands won the Spinetinglers' Book Of The Year Award -- As the author how does this recognition make you feel?

Wendy Willett: When I first found out in 2007 that it was going to be short-listed for book of the year, I was surprised.  I hadn’t even thought of submitting my book for Book of the Year in any competition. When I found out in June 2008 that it had actually won after a tough competition, I was . . . well, let’s just say extremely happy. It was an achievement I never expected. I’ve managed to remain down-to-earth about it, although it’s not an easy thing to do when you want to tell everyone you meet about the award.  

 

PageOneLit.com: Not only are you the author but you are also the illustrator. Discuss your artistic background and how writer and artist work together? Have you been an artist/illustrator longer than a writer or the other way around?

Wendy Willett: When I was a child, I was very curious about painting and used to watch an artist on channel 11 do painting techniques. Having carried my love and interest of art I took an advanced art class in high school. I still love to draw, sketch, and paint and enjoy playing around with shading techniques.

How I came to do the illustrations is almost unbelievable. I was determined to have chapter drawings heading each chapter. The publisher wanted to charge me to have a professional do the images.  Since I had already put out more than I cared to spend financially on publication, I chose to sit and do the illustrations myself. I wasn’t certain how the illustrations would turn out, but I had a lot of enjoyment creating them and determination to perfect them as best I could. And when I finished the illustrations, I was actually surprised at how well they turned out. I hadn’t sketched for over 25 years! Sketching made the characters more real to me and gave me that edge I needed to keep them third dimensional and unique.

To give each a dramatic effect, I wanted the reader to have the feeling of looking into a glimpse of Amber’s world. To do this, I used a black, textured frame that gave the illusion of looking into a dream world.

I have been writing longer than sketching over the last four years, yet I believe writer and illustrator work hand-in-hand. If you have the ability to do both, it’s worth doing especially when you get a lot out of it. It gave me satisfaction to sketch as well as write, and I hope to do the illustrations for all my books in the series.

 

PageOneLit.com: What advice do you have for unpublished writers/authors?

Wendy Willett: Follow your dreams, be persistent, and perfect your craft. Don’t blindly rush ahead, be your own worse critic when it comes to creating, editing, and writing that final draft before submitting your work.

Make your characters come to life by making them third-dimensional and unique. Most importantly, don’t give up when you receive a rejection. Instead, look at it as one step closer to publication with another publisher. What I used to do was work on my book every time I received a rejection. In doing so, my first book developed into something much better than what it was originally. I firmly believe some of my best work was born out of my frustration and disappointment.

As long as you remain determined and never give up, you will eventually wind up with what you want to accomplish. It is part of the business to receive rejections, so don’t take it personally. We’ve all been through it more times than we care to admit. Develop tough skin, learn from it, and continue improving your writing. If you are too sensitive to handle the rejections, then perhaps it would be best to find another career more in line with what you love to do and go for it.

 

 
PageOneLit.com:   What’s next?

Wendy Willett: I’m working on revising Amber Shadows and the Crystal Locket. The series consists of four books, however this may change. I’m hoping to publish the second book by 2009. After the series, I have a few other stories bubbling and brewing in the back of my head for new books, so we’ll see.

 

PageOneLit.com:  What was the last book you read?

Wendy Willett: Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling.

 

PageOneLit.com:   Do you have any hobbies? What are they? How do they enhance your writing?

Wendy Willett:  Acting, singing, and curling up in front of the fire with a good book are my hobbies. Singing helps me to relieve stress. Acting helps me to stay focused on my characters and the storyline. Reading a good book is a rarity for me to enjoy, what with having two kids home during the summer holiday, and currently going through a divorce. We’re also in the process of moving to Spring Grove, IL this August, and school starts shortly thereafter, so finding time to read is very difficult right now. Hopefully once things are settled, I can find the time to read and write.