ℚ Between Two Worlds - Christy Santo

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Christy Santo to talk about her newly published book, Between Two Worlds (15 June 2015, 63 pages), a sci-fi time travel novella where a student from 2006 Indiana has her world turned upside down following an accident.

Rebecca finds herself in 1983 Fanwood, New Jersey, reliving the past as another woman who shares her name and birthday.
Can she find a way to return to her present time or will her past become her future?

Author Q&A | Synopsis | Trailer | Teaser | About the Author | Tour Stops & Giveaway

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Hello Christy and thank you for joining us on BooksChatter.

What was the inspiration for your book "Between Two Worlds"?

"I got my inspiration for Between Two Worlds from watching the 2006 UK series "Life on Mars" on DVD.   I didn't want to write a carbon copy of the program nor have it be a mystery/police procedural.  Instead I wanted to take parts of my life growing up in Fanwood, NJ and combine it with elements from the show."

How much of yourself is reflected in the book, and how?

"I would say a reasonable amount of who I am is reflected in "Between Two Worlds".  Yes I know that isn’t giving a percentage but I can’t really put one on it.  One specific part of the book that is clearly me is the guilt Rebecca feels about pretending to be someone else.  When I was growing up I was very hard on myself and lacked confidence.  Sometimes I would feel something I did or thought was wrong and I would confess it.  I was often told it wasn’t wrong and I should ease up on myself.  I am glad to write I eventually listened and I go so much easier on myself.

Another part of me that is reflected in the book is through Anne Marie.  She is very driven to see that a person is reasonably happy.  I like to see that someone’s mood is improved; also like Anne Marie I can be pretty determined."

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover.  Can you tell us about your cover - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"The artist who created "Between Two Worlds" I found on 99designs.  It is an Online website where writers, business people, and others can have professional artists design what they need for promotions.  The winner then receives payment for his or her design; the winning artist in my contest was Ivan Zanchetta of DeviantArt

I provided the book’s description to all the designers in my contest.  I also offered ideas including having a clock with years on it and a modern woman looking in a mirror and seeing herself with big hair and wearing 80s clothing.   Ivan created the clock I had in my head from scratch.  He also placed a woman in a purple top in front of the clock with her back to the reader.  I had him make one change toward the end of my contest to a woman falling.  I had no idea who would have the winning cover until I saw the woman in black falling in front of the clock.  Once I saw that I knew Ivan had captured my book."

Why should we read your book and what sets it apart from the rest?

"I am well aware that there have been numerous books where an accident or a health incident sent the main character accidentally back in time.  Yet I think that if I told someone about parts of my life and the Between Two Worlds' story, he or she couldn’t write what I did.  He or she didn’t live or perceive my home town as I had or experienced the culture of that time as I had. "

Can you tell us something quirky about your book, its story or characters?

"I don’t know if this is quirky or not but I combined two people from my life to create David.   They both have a love of caffeine.  The first individual is not in my life any more but he would drink way too much soda, we're talking a bottle or two a day.  He had a hard time keeping still and was often in perpetual motion especially his right leg and foot would be going up and down like a piston.  The other individual I know from social media.  He loves coffee and likes to share now and again his experiences making a pot of coffee and whether he nailed it or not."

Who would you recommend Between Two Worlds to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"Do not expect Rebecca to have to fix aspects of her past to be able to return to her present time.  She has a good life, is close to her friends, her family, and largely enjoys university life.  I wanted to tell a story where the main character has all this good taken away and her fight to get it back. "

If you could / wished to turn your book/series into a movie, who would be your dream team?

"This is an extremely long shot but if my book was turned into a movie I would want it set in my hometown even if it couldn’t be set in my actual hometown, the state has to be New Jersey.

The director would have to be the writer of the script and I would choose Chris Chibnall.   He also wrote scripts for Life on Mars, Dr. Who, and Broadchurch.   I also think I would give him the easiest time if I had to work with him in development of the script and reading the drafts before the final one.

Gosh, I think who the actors are is best left to the professionals.  I really couldn’t pick who they would be unless I was given a list and got to see them audition."

What do you like to write about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"I like to write about whatever peaks my imagination and interest.  So far I have published in the area of science fiction and fantasy with dashes of horror.  It isn’t that I haven’t written in other genres, I have, they just aren’t published on Amazon or Barnes and Nobles.  I have written action and adventure stories, mystery stories, and a swashbuckling tale.  At some point in the future I will choose one of these again or a new genre to write a whole new story."

What is your writing process?

"The main part of my writing process is to just let my imagination do its thing whether I am consciously thinking about the idea or not.  Then later when I am ready to write these thoughts down I need music type on my computer and I have to be away from people or my inner muse freezes up and my ideas pop out of my head."

What is in store next?

"I am finishing the first draft of a kidnap story and then I would like to begin another manuscript in the same vein as "Between Two Worlds" but it won’t be a follow up.  It will be a separate tale and the main character will be a man with a fractured family who builds a new and much better life in the past.  Then his present and past collide after he is in a car accident."

Between Two Worlds - available NOW!

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