Getting Personal … with Simone Pond

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Getting Personal … with Simone Pond

This beautiful girl smiling at you from the page is Author Simone Pond.

In 2013, Pond released The City Center, the first book in her dystopian fiction series. A fast-paced tale of love and adventure that will appeal to young adults and seasoned readers alike. The City Center is a bestseller in Amazon’s post-apocalyptic science fiction category and was the recipient of a gold medal award from Reader’s Favorite.

The second book in the series, The New Agenda, was published in May of 2014, and a third, The Mainframe, is scheduled to be released in December.

As a young girl, Simone always loved writing in her journal and making up stories, but after reading S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders, everything changed. Amazed that a woman could write so convincingly from a teenage boy’s perspective, Pond became determined to become a writer as well.

So, welcome, Simone, to Getting Personal. It’s a pleasure to have you with us, today. To the readers, Simone and I met because our novels have received an Award at the 2014 edition of the Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards.

Simone, you’re writing the third book in the “New Agenda Series” in time for the holidays, I believe. So, how many books have you written, and which one is your absolute favorite?

In this current series, I’ve written three books and there will probably be more. I loved writing the second book, The New Agenda, because it’s from the bad guy’s perspective.

Refreshing change from the hero’s point of view. I bet you had lots of fun being nasty

What is the single most powerful challenge when it comes to writing a novel?

Sitting down to write. Once I’m there, it’s great, but getting in the chair sometimes requires a lot of mental cheerleading.

I can relate. I’m writing my fourth novel at the moment but I won’t be able to hit holidays. The myth of the inspiring muse sitting, invisible, near the writer and whispering the words is… a myth. It’s hard work, discipline, and lots of self-doubts. Do you research your novels?

I spend at least a month developing my main character. I use a fantastic book called Wired for Story to help me dig deep. Then I spend a good chunk of time outlining the story beats. They always change, but I like having a road map before I get started. While I’m writing I have to do a lot of research on how things work. If the NSA every tracked my search history, they’d think I was a terrorist.

We don’t want details here, I think NSA might be watching. What are the most important attributes to remaining sane as a writer?

Realizing you’re insane. Anyone who spends that much time up in their head with make believe people must be crazy.

We hear voices, and our minds conjure visions. Writing is probably the only accepted form of madness in our society. It allows to call ourselves ‘creatives’ instead of meeting with a shrink twice a week. What is your favorite genre to read?

Speculative fiction. Dystopian fiction.

Do you have any favorite books or authors?

This changes all the time, but at the moment I love Margaret Atwood and Suzanne Collins.

I wonder why… What’s your drive for writing?

I love making stuff up.

…and how do you react to a bad review of your stuff?

I read bad reviews for my favorite authors. If the most amazing authors get bad reviews, I’ll be okay.

The perfect story will never be written. The only things that will touch every reader are the usual cliché of taxes and death. Every immortal classic novel has its own load of naysayers and comments lambasting the author and the readers who loved the story. Books are like mines, with gems hidden that can be found by certain readers at certain moments. And each mine is not for every miner. So, is there anything you want to make sure potential readers know?

I love hearing from my readers, but only the nice ones.

Ahh, if only, Simone, if only What are books for you?

For me, they can be a great escape. I love sinking into the pages of a novel and forgetting the world around me, especially when the story is so good I keep telling yourself I’ll be okay on four hours of sleep, or maybe three, two is good enough . . .

They can be. A book is a space and time machine. We see and hear things, live out of this world experiences, visit times and places, and planets (with science fiction.) And what do you get from being a novelist?

My back and shoulders are in constant knots.

That’s a kind of occupational hazard. I wonder whether we could apply to Social Security support. Have you ever read or seen yourself as a character in a book or a movie?

I sprinkle parts of me throughout all of my characters. I especially like acting out through them.

It’s part of the insanity thing we mentioned before. A writer keeps an inner child alive and kicking. What do you want to be when you grow up?

I have to grow up?

Not at all, I fear we’d stop writing when that’ll happen. Are you fun to go on vacation with?

Probably not.

I wonder why. Your picture shows someone anyone would like to go on vacation with To hear your stories, of course. Have you ever found true love?

Many times and each time it ended poorly.

Oups, how poorly? So, if you were going to commit the perfect murder, how would you go about it?

I’d get them to do it for me.

We are all wondering who you’re referring to with that ‘them.’ Are they expensive? Never mind, NSA is watching. Since we are in the theme, how many times a day do you think about death?

At least five times.

I wonder whether you keep track of those thoughts for your novels… Death and dystopia seem to be inseparable. On the other side of the spectrum, what’s the loveliest thing you have ever seen?

Sunset from the top of Meditation Mount in Ojai, CA.

With this picture of serenity, it’s time to thank you, Simone, for your visit and all the best for your imminent release of the third novel in the New Agenda Series.

Check Simone Amazon Author’s Page to purchase her novels, or visit: simonepond.com