Maggie Walton

Tell us a little bit about yourself, your hobbies and interests.

I love reading, going to the movies, (I'm a fan of action and adventure films), and of course, writing.

When and why did you start writing books?

I've been writing creatively since the 5th grade, but it wasn't until 2012 that I started to feel like I had something that I wanted to market. The encouragement of my family and friends ultimately convinced me to put my work out there.

What made you decide to tackle writing as a career?

I have had a love affair with words and language ever since I can remember. I like the idea that with skillful manipulation you can make the simplest things sound beautiful. I guess I just always admired people who could do that and wanted to join that club.

Which one of your books or characters is your favourite?

I have only published one book (novella) so far, but I really like the character Cassandra. She is strong-willed and smart. She reminds me of some good people I know.

Which one of your books was the hardest to write and stretched you the most as a writer?

Writing Hallowed Ground was tough because of the subject matter. It was difficult to envision some of the violent scenes I had to write, but I had to go there in my mind to make it authentic.

Who is your favourite author and book?

I would probably have a different answer every week if I were asked because there are so many stories I love, but I'm a huge fan of Toni Morrison. Sula is an amazing story! The title character is so complex and vividly written that I felt like I knew this person.

What book are you reading right now?

I'm reading How Long Till Black Future Month by N.K. Jemisin. It's a collection of sci-fil/fantasy short stories. I've only read a few so far, but Jemisin is excellent at world building. It's amazing!

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

It's a combination of life-experiences, history, other literature, and movies. Oftentimes when I try to describe my story ideas to other people, I'll tell them it's a cross between a certain book and a certain movie. I find inspiration all over the place.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Hanging out with my daughter. She's so imaginative! We just create stories and act them out. I'd forgotten how much I loved doing that as a kid and now I get to do it all over again.

Do you have any new books in the works?

I have three projects I'm hoping to complete this year. One is a collection of poetry, the other is a children's book, and the last one is a vampire novel. Three very different genres, but that's the way my mind works.