Author interview: Anna Waterworth and young adult romantasy

Ready for some romantasy? What’s romantasy you ask? Well, it’s a perfect blend of romance and fantasy, a relatively newly named genre that’s surging in popularity because who doesn’t like a fantastical world in which to romance and be romanced?

Enter: Anna Waterworth, an internationally acclaimed and bestselling author of Young Adult and Middle Grade novels who writes as Anna Waterworth, Anna Rainbow and Anna Day, phew! Her books have been published in twenty-four countries and nominated for several awards. Amazing!

Her latest book is a Young Adult Romantasy inspired by Greek Mythology, called The Girl Who Grew Wings. It’s been described as 'A gorgeous and deeply heartfelt Greek mythology-inspired fantasy complete with sweeping romance, thrilling adventure and tender explorations of trauma and sisterhood.'

I’m so pleased to welcome Anna to this space and to offer one winner a copy of her new book! Scroll down to comment and win!

What has writing taught you about yourself? How has it helped you grow as a person?

Writing has made me realise just how long I can concentrate for, and how stubborn I am. I can write for hours, and simply refuse to give up and the story's down the way I want it. I've got a bit of a grasshopper brain, so this was so good to know about myself.

As a young writer, what was the biggest challenge you faced?

Probably finding time to write. I started writing seriously when I had my first child, and squeezing in writing between all my mum responsibilities was tough. I think it was especially hard to keep going when I didn't know whether or not I'd get a contract, but I kept going because I loved doing it.

Was there a particular influence, person or situation who helped you to believe in yourself as a writer?

My first agent, Ajda from LBA, gave me loads of confidence. Also, my parents, and more recently, my partner.

What do you love most about writing?

I really like writing the beginnings of stories, where I get to know the characters, the world, and setting everything up. The problem of course is I now have lots of beginnings that I need to finish. I also like the power -- there's no other circumstance where I get to decide who falls in love, who falls out, or who lives or dies. I swear I don't have God complex, but in a messy world, it's satisfying for characters to bend to your will.

What do you find most difficult about writing?

I would say it's the uncertainty I struggle with the most. Not knowing if I'll get another contract, or if readers will gel with my newest book, that sort of thing. My other job is as a Clinical Psychologist and it's much steadier.

How would you describe the creative process?

For me, it's just a process of letting my imagination run wild and ping all over the place until something emerges that could eventually be shelf-worthy. But then running alongside the imagination and creativity is discipline - and by that I just mean sitting down and writing frequently.

Where do you write? What’s your writing space like?

My favourite place to write is in my summer house or outside, but I'll write anywhere and everywhere.

Do music, films or visual art support or nurture your writing in any way? How?

Definitely, especially music and film. I like to play gentle music when I'm writing, mostly folk and country, and watching films can be a wonderful break that recharges the creative batteries. Also, films tend to use the same story structure as books, so I learn a lot from films.

If you could give the young writer within you some advice knowing what you know now, what would you say?

Don't worry about negative reviews. Don't even read them. Writing is subjective and not everyone is going to like your book.

If you weren’t a writer, what would you want to be?

I'd still be a Clinical Psychologist I think. I also love singing and writing music, so maybe I'd make more space for this.

Win a copy of Anna’s new book!

To win a copy of The Girl Who Grew Wings, let me know, if you had to choose (and obviously you don’t) but if you had to choose between romance and fantasy, which one would you choose?

Comment below or email me at jodiebenveniste@substack.com by 06 October 2023 to be in the running.