Meet the Author: Annie Oldham

Even with our stop along the Infraction Tour earlier this week, I just couldn't get enough Annie Oldham. So, I'm excited to announce that she is with us again today to answer a few questions for us. She's the author of The Burn, Infraction, & Bound. She's also working on a new trilogy!

How long have you been writing?
For as long as I can remember. I wrote my first novel after college, but I definitely wasn't a serious writer. I dabbled in it off and on. I started pursuing writing seriously about two years ago.

What inspired you to write your first book?
I just wanted to write a novel--almost to prove to myself that I could. That novel was horrible. The story was bad, the characters were pretty one-dimensional, and the pacing was atrocious. But I did it. And so I knew I could do it again.

When you first started writing The Burn, did you plan for it to be a series?
I planned for it to be a stand-alone, but the story just begged to keep being written.

Which of your characters do you relate to most and why?
I relate to all my characters because they're all pieces of me. I relate to Jane's insecurity and Madge's sense of justice. I relate to Terra's loyalty and Mary's strength.

What is a secret about you that nobody else knows?
If I told you, then it wouldn't be a secret ;)

If your real life as a teenager was a Young Adult book, what would you, the main character, be like?
I'd probably be the good girl. I made my parents' lives as the parents of a teenager pretty easy.
What book have you read too many times to count?
The Lord of the Rings

What is the best piece of writing advice you ever received?
Write and don't worry about making it pretty. That always comes later.

If you could hop into the life of any fictional character, who would it be and why?
Hermione Granger. I mean, she's the smartest witch in England. Who wouldn't want to be able to do magic like that? Although Ron's not really my type...

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
The organic nature of writing. After writing my first three published books, I thought I had my system down. Then I started writing Infraction and all that went out the window. I wrote my first three from start to finish, but that just didn't work with Infraction. I ended up writing a scene as I thought of it and then threading them all together.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Spend time with my family, read, play the piano, and bake treats.

Are any of the things in your books based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?
They all have some basis in reality--that's what makes good fiction. If it's completely out there, no one will be able to relate to it. But if it speaks to people emotionally, then they'll be hooked.


To read more about the author and her books, visit Annie Oldham's website. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.

Ready for more?? Check out my reviews of The Burn and Infraction by Annie Oldham, plus an excerpt from Infraction!!Also don't miss my review of Bound!