Featured Interview With Sharon Haste
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Queensland, Australia and currently live in Darwin in the Northern Territory. I love animals and currently have two dogs- staffordshire terriers; and a black cat. I have always been passionate about reading and sharing my enjoyment with others. I love writing about young people and showing them the strength and resilience that’s inside. Through my stories I hope to empower others to find their inner strength and never give up. I write about what’s real in people’s lives, but like to keep a tiny touch of magic to inspire the imagination.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I cannot remember a time when I did not read. As a child I read a variety of books and often spent time in the library at school. It was my escape from reality and ignited my own imagination. I began writing stories in my teens and wrote fairy stories for my older children when they were young. Then life and work got in the way until I was in my thirties when I began to study writing and reignite my passion for writing fiction.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favourite books are so wide and varied. I love young adult fiction, but also thrillers and murder/mystery as well as historical novels. Authors I really enjoy are; Kate Morton, Robert Dugoni, JK Rowling,Robert Galbraith, Tim Winton, Robert Galbraith, Steig Larson, Veronica Roth, Lauren Oliver, Stephanie Meyer and Jodie Piccoult. I also like many individual books and have read a lot of indie books. My writing comes from real life and imagination. My favourite authors are JK Rowling and Kate Morton and these writers inspire me the most.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
The idea for my novel ‘The Last Time’ came from a combination of real life events – as seen every night on the news – and the thought of how one young girl may react to a heartbreaking situation. Sixteen year old Charli Richter has everything until her mother and brother die in a terrible accident. When the police treat it as suspicious, and she is the number one suspect, she goes into survival mode. At first she panics and runs, but after hooking up with some new friends and finding out that the pendant her mother gave her can actually take her back in time, she switches into fight mode. I created Charli’s character around real life people that I know and my own experiences. She could be anyone faced with a tough situation. I like to make the characters in my books as real as possible and let them take on a life of their own. The Last Time is a story of heartbreak, time travel, friendship, mystery and a little bit of love.
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