Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi Everyone! Thanks for the interview! I am from a city called Johannesburg in Southern Africa. I am a light horror/thriller writer who enjoys some old school stories. I started writing at a young age but only recently published my books. I have two books out – The first book I released was Ensnared and the second was Tatum. I am releasing my third book in February.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Kallista is the book that is coming out in February. It is the sequel to Tatum, my second book, and it was inspired because I was originally going to write it all as one book but then decided it didn’t work and made Kallista its own book.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I can’t write for longer than 15 minutes without taking a break but I type insanely fast. When I do get in the zone of writing I can type up to 9000 words in 2 hours which might not sound like a lot, but it really is. If I’m not in the zone I pumped out about 200-300 words every 15 minutes in short bursts before taking a half hour break.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have a lot of great authors that I love to read but the authors that have greatly influenced me to include Ashleigh Giannoccaro, Toni Cox, JK Rowling, JRR Tolkien, Stephen King, Clive Barker and Rick Riordan.
What are you working on now?
I just finished the first draft of Kallista so while it is being edited I am working on my next book titled The Culling which follows a world overrun by demons with pockets of human civilization barely surviving. They cannot leave their little towns except each year one town sends it middle born children out to Nirvana – a heavenly place that only middle children can go to.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I promote a lot of my facebook group – Sian’s Little nightmares. This includes teasers twice a week, a live video chat with me every Monday amongst other things. I also have an Instagram account, twitter account and website. I do weekly blog posts and newsletters.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write. Just write. Don’t go back and check your writing constantly, it will instil a fear in you. Write it finished and then edit.
Also, reviews are for readers, not authors, don’t look at them.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The advice I just gave.
What are you reading now?
At the moment I am cycling between three books. My main focus is on Elemental Betrayal by Toni Cox but I am also reading Clive Barker’s Books of Blood and Ashleigh Giannoccaro’s Written in Flames.
What’s next for you as a writer?
As a writer I want to publish four books this year before mid-year and have them all available at the Cape Town international signing event I Read Him First in September!
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
1. Elemental Rising – Toni Cox
2. Cirque – Ashleigh Giannocarro
3. Tangled Weeds – Sarak Key
4. The Shining – Stephen King
Author Websites and Profiles
Sian B. Claven Website
Sian B. Claven Amazon Profile
Sian B. Claven’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account