Author Interview: Susan Ee

Tonight as a break from all the Christmas features on the blog, I have an interview with American author Susan Ee whose second book World After has just been published here in the UK.

In this sequel to the bestselling fantasy thriller, Angelfall, the survivors of the angel apocalypse begin to scrape back together what's left of the modern world. When a group of people capture Penryn's sister Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken.

Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans, where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go.

Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?

Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book World After?
The first story in the series, Angelfall, takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where angels have destroyed the modern world. A 17-year old girl named Penryn has to partner up with an injured enemy angel to find the angels' lair. She wants to go there to rescue her sister who has been kidnapped by the angels, and he wants to get his wings back after they've been brutally chopped off in an attack. Along the way, they only have each other to rely on against street gangs, freedom fighters, and the new monsters that roam the night.

In the second book, World After, Penryn learns more about the angels and what they're up to. We'll see more of the monstrous creatures that are being released into the world, and a glimpse of what has happened to her sister.

What made you decide to write about angels?
Biblical angels have been known to destroy entire cities and turn people into pillars of salt. Yet, we tend to portray them as cute cherubs and sweet guardian angels. If they came down to earth in force, I figured they would be warriors and badass street-soldiers. It fascinates me to think about what might happen then. Would there still be room for humanity? For love? For adventure?

How did you decide on Penryn as the name of your central character as it’s not exactly a common name?
In Angelfall, Penryn explains to Dee-Dum how she was named after a highway exit. It's actually true. :)

Are there plans for any more books in the series?
Yes. I'm guessing there will be 3-5 books total in the series.

This series appears to be cross-genre, who would you say your target audience was? I didn't have a target audience in mind when I began writing. I figured the right audience would find it, and fortunately, they have!

Susan Ee has eaten mezze in the old city of Jerusalem, surfed the warm waters of Costa Rica, and played her short film at a major festival. She has a life-long love of science fiction, fantasy and horror, especially if there's a touch of romance. She used to be a lawyer but loves being a writer because it allows her imagination to bust out and go feral.

Did you always know you wanted to be a writer? 
I didn't know I wanted to be a writer until I was well into my career as a lawyer.

Do you have a set daily writing routine?
I have the anti-routine. I've tried repeatedly to instill a routine but it has yet to happen.

If you could invite any three authors, alive or dead, to a dinner party who would you choose and why?
Stephen King, Cormac McCarthy, JK Rowling. I'd love to hear their in-depth thoughts on writing!

Author links:

Website: http://susanee.com
Facebook: Susan.Ee
Twitter: @Susan_Ee
Goodreads: Susan Ee