Author Sharon Wood will talk about her books Oct. 4 at BookSmart
Published in the September 17-30, 2014 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Staff Report
Photo by Marty Cheek
Morgan Hill resident Sharon Wood shows off the first two novels in her young adult fantasy series featuring the zodiac.
Sharon Wood works for a start-up in Santa Clara. But when the Morgan Hill resident is not working or mothering her two sons Landon and Rylan, she sneaks in a few hours writing her young adult fantasy novel series which reveals the secret lives of characters holding powers based on the signs of the zodiac. “Keepers of the Zodiac” came out last year and “The Dark Council” was recently released.
Wood will be talking about her books at BookSmart at an author chat 1 p.m. Saturday October 4.
Morgan Hill Life asked Wood about her series and why she enjoys writing for young adults.
How did you get started as a novelist with your two Zodiac books?
I got serious about writing “Keepers of the Zodiac” three years ago, when I was on maternity leave with my younger son, Rylan. I always wanted to write a book and figured that no other time would be more convenient. I heard somewhere that about 90 percent of the people who say they are going to write a book don’t end up finishing it. It motivated me not to be the larger part of that statistic. Plus, I felt like I had a great idea and wanted the story to be told. “Keepers” ended with a cliff hanger, so naturally, I had to write a follow-up, which ended up being “The Dark Council.”
Describe the theme of the series and the basic story-line.
“Keepers of the Zodiac” and “The Dark Council” both follow the chaotic lives of a half human, half bird named Syrie, the four Zodiac High Council members, and their 13 trainees/keepers. In the first book, we learn that the Earth is in chaos and that everyone’s zodiac signs are out of whack because of it. “The High Council” sends their Herald, Syrie, to Earth to deliver invitations to the individuals chosen to represent each sign. They arrive at the Isle of Oriba for their training, and a story of love, heartbreak, destiny, and betrayal ensue.
How were you inspired to write your Zodiac series?
I love young adult fiction. I read a lot of YA books, so I knew I wanted to write in that genre. As much as I love a good vampire and witch story, I wanted to write about something that had not been done too much before. The zodiac popped into my head as something relatable that could also be mystical.
What’s your opinion of age ranges in YA fiction?
The typical YA age range of 12 to 17 years old happens to bug me. In my opinion, what a 12-year-old should be reading is very different than what a 17-year-old should be reading. I really feel that there should be two categories of YA — one for 12 to 14 and one for 15 to 17.
What advice do you give fiction writers in the YA genre?
My advice to fellow YA fiction writers would be to try out new topics. We need more fresh ideas out there, because the same things have been done to death. Also, YA fiction writers should remember what it is like to be young and write from that perspective. Make sure you are up to date on the teenage slang, the trends, and the other books within the genre. Most of all, have fun!
How would you describe your style of writing your novels?
My style is simple. I just write — no outlining. Sometimes I don’t even have a storyline to go off of. I have a topic/title, and just start typing away. It is amazing to see where your mind takes you when you just let it flow. Once I have established the story and characters, I will start talking out loud to myself. It’s like a Sharon, party of one brainstorming session. I also look for signs in everyday things. For example, I was at an amusement park with my kids and saw the most vibrant flower. It ended up being mentioned in the first book.
