Author Interview: Gabi Stevens (The Wish List)

Today I'm so happy to post my interview with Gabi Stevens, who wrote the fun magical story The Wish List.  To read my review of The Wish List, click here.

Can you tell us about your journey to becoming a published author?

It was a long and tiring journey. I had to walk two miles every day in the snow up hill both ways to school. Nah, I’m just kidding, but it wasn’t easy. I’m not one of those writers who knew she was a writer at the age of six. I did tell stories, but that was because I acted them out. But I’ve always been a voracious reader. I started writing books when I realized the stories that I continued to tell myself through adulthood were actually novels. Eight years from when I first started writing my first book I sold my first novel.

How did you come up with the idea for The Wish List trilogy?

 

I’ve always loved the paranormal. As a kid I read anything with magic in it: Half-Magic, by Edward Eager, Five Children and It by E Nesbitt, Escape to Witch Mountain by Alexander Key. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. In high school I took a class on Science Fiction, and I loved the lighter paranormal fare by Jill Barnett and Teresa Medeiros. But I don’t write dark, so vampires and werewolves were out for me. One day a title popped into my head—How to be a Fairy Godmother in Ten Easy Steps—and I thought, “I have to write this story.” Well, the title changed halfway through, but the idea of fairy godmothers and a world with magic was already born.

Did you have any input on The Wish List's cover?

 

My editor sent me a questionnaire regarding the cover: what would I like to see on it, did I have any covers that I liked on other books, what elements did I picture on the cover, etc. Basically I sent descriptions of the hero and heroine, a brief synopsis of the story, said that I’d love to have the heroine be slightly more dominant on the cover because it is more her book, I’d love for her to have a wand, and somewhere I’d love to see a little fairy. I also mentioned that I like all colors except blue (Don’t know why, but I don’t do blue). The artist, Anne Cain, incorporated all that. I was thrilled. I think the cover is spectacular.

Do you have any must-haves while writing?

 

Music is always nice. I find it’s easier to shut everything else out with the music going, although I will admit to belting out some of the tunes when I’m not focusing enough. I love working in my office, but day-to-day life requires that I write in some weird places sometimes, like in the car or at the dentist. I write by hand to get the flow going or when I’m having trouble with a scene or away from my computer. A Coke every now and then is good, and bubble gum. Love to chew gum while I’m working. And not the new soft stuff—that old hard pink bubble gum. That’s the best.

What's next for you?

Currently I’m working on the third book in the trilogy (Book 2 is already done) and thinking about possible future projects. I also have an essay coming out in Filled with Glee, a book on the TV show Glee. That’ll be out in November. And we had to rename Book 2 and 3, so after brainstorming, I’m waiting for marketing to tell me what the next book will be called. It comes out in April 2011, so keep an eye out for the title. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me! 

Thanks so much for having me. I always love to hear from fans. You can contact me at www.GabiStevens.com or through Facebook or Twitter.