Welcome Sharon Ledwith. Thank you for visiting this blog. We're thrilled to have you here. I'm thrilled to be here, Robyn.
1. How long have you been writing, Sharon?
Honestly, I have to admit I was a late
bloomer. I didn’t start writing seriously until 1995. That’s when I took two
college courses that changed my life. The first one was called Planning your Novel, which was an
introductory workshop for, Writing your
Novel. I met a couple of wonderful would-be writer gals, and we formed a
writing circle after the classes were done.
2. Where did you get your idea and inspiration to write The
Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis?
Both the idea and inspiration came to me
through a dream I had around 1998. In this dream, I saw seven arches, and there
were seven people (five kids, two adults) with crystals in their hands, walking
up to these arches. It definitely had an “Indiana Jones” feel to it. At that
time, I was writing a paranormal romance (before there was a distinct genre)
and had no intention of writing a middle-grade/young adult book like The Last
Timekeepers. But this idea kept growing in my mind, and wouldn’t leave, like
some mystical force pushing you from behind. So, I thought I’d challenge myself
and write a novel—a series—that would appeal to my son, who at the time was the
target age of my audience. I’ve always loved the time travel genre, so I imagined
the arches I saw vividly in my dream as time portals. It was a no-brainer for
me.
3. What sets The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis
apart from other books in the same genre?
Keyword: Atlantis. I wanted to create a
book series for middle grade/young adults that had a different slant to the
time travel genre. I love history. I also love myths and legends. There’s many
time travel series out there, but nothing that has roots leading back to
Atlantis—at least what I know about and have read. And since there’s no
concrete evidence that Atlantis did exist, then that left the door (or arch)
wide open to possibilities.
4. As an author, Sharon, what is your writing process?
Cut a vein and write. Kidding. I have
many notebooks and pads at my disposal. I also have a file full of ideas. I
guess I start with the characters and build the story around them. My
characters must carry the story to completion, give my readers closure. It’s a
must. In order to do this, I begin writing out character tracking sheets (stats
on characters' appearances, clothing, likes and dislikes, etc.) which have
served me well throughout the writing process. Then the fun begins. Research,
research, and still more research. When you’re writing time travel, you’ve got
to know your facts to create the fiction. I love this part of the journey too.
Only when I have enough facts, and I feel my characters are fleshed out
sufficiently, then I begin to start the novel. Sometimes I’m a pantser (writing
by the seat of my pants), sometimes a plotter (outline entire storyline)—it all
depends on the tone of the book and where my imagination directs me.
5. How long did it take for you to start and finish The
Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis?
Groan. I started gathering ideas and
writing the first draft in 1999. I signed the publishing contract with Musa
Publishing in September, 2011. Now, this was a back and forth project. During
the last eleven years, I wrote a second book in The Last Timekeeper series,
created and penned another young adult series (a teen psychic mystery series),
worked on my paranormal romance, took a writing correspondence course, and
worked at the local animal shelter. I finally picked The Last Timekeeper series
back up in 2010, transcribed and polished it, and kept sending it out until I
struck gold with a publishing contract offer. And even then, after all that,
there were major revisions on changing my point of view over from five
characters to one character. But I was determined, and did it.
6. Do you have any advice for other writers, Sharon?
Never stop
investing in yourself. Invest in the best. That’s in yourself, and in your
readers. Your readers deserve the best of what you have to offer them. Surround
yourself with the best possible team. Never stop learning. As you grow, so will
your readers, so be prepared for this. Oh yeah, and never give up. That’s a
given and should be part of any author’s credo.
7. What’s next for Sharon Ledwith, the author?
Currently, I’m
working on the prequel to the Last Timekeepers series, entitled The Legend of the Timekeepers. I also
have a completed manuscript of the second book in the series entitled, The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret,
but there’s the fun job of revising it into Jordan Jensen’s point of view. I’ve
written a master plan for the series with possible titles and premises, so I’ll
be one busy gal!
8. My novel, Maya and the Crystal Skull, features ancient
Mayan ruins and the legend of the crystal skulls. The crystal skulls, in
particular, allow heroine Maya King to momentarily glimpse the past. As the
author of The Last Timekeepers and the
Arch of Atlantis, do you believe in past lives and our ability to
momentarily glimpse those lives?
Oh, yeah! In fact, I believe we’ve known each other in a
past life too, Robyn! Think about it. We were probably scribes who chiseled out
glyphs or created wonderful hieroglyphics on the walls of pyramids. Do I think
it’s possible for us to receive a glimpse of a past life? Most definitely. But
you have to be open-minded about it. Especially if you have a memory flash of
another person in another time period, don’t dismiss it. Even your feelings
about another place or person are wonderful guides. Just remember to trust your
inner voice – that’s where answers are found.
Sharon Ledwith is the author of
the middle-grade/YA time travel series, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS, available through
Musa Publishing. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys
reading, yoga, kayaking, time with family and friends, and single malt scotch.
Sharon lives in the wilds of Muskoka in Central Ontario, Canada, with her
hubby, a water-logged yellow Labrador and moody calico cat.
The Last Timekeepers and
the Arch of Atlantis:
When 13-year-old Amanda Sault and
her annoying classmates are caught in a food fight at school, they're given a
choice: suspension or yard duty. The decision is a no-brainer. Their two-week
crash course in landscaping leads to the discovery of a weathered stone arch in
the overgrown back yard. The arch isn't a forgotten lawn ornament but an
ancient time portal from the lost continent of Atlantis.
Chosen by an Atlantean Magus to
be Timekeepers--legendary time travelers sworn to keep history safe from the
evil Belial--Amanda and her classmates are sent on an adventure of a lifetime. Can
they find the young Robin Hood and his merry band of teens? If they don't, then
history itself may be turned upside down.
Connect
with Sharon Ledwith:
Thank you for an interesting interview, Sharon, and all the best with your books.
Love and Light,
Robyn Opie Parnell
