Last weekend I had the opportunity to interview the incredible Angie Sage. She is most well known for writing the "Septimus Heap" series and the "TodHunter Moon" trilogy.

I've been reading her books since I was in elementary school, so when she agreed to let me interview her, I was beyond excited (and nervous). But she was beyond kind and open when we were able to Skype, and I was able to ask my questions about life as an author and writing in general.

Q: "What inspired you to start writing, and what inspired you to start thinking about publishing your first book?"

A: "Well the very first one, it wasn't Septimus. It was ages ago. It was when my kids were really little. And I don't know I just love books. I just wanted to have something out there. And so I tried lots of things. I mean, I went to Art School and I did book illustration and then I was illustrating other people's books. Because my style was that simple, I mean I wasn't doing that great as an illustrator but I was getting work. And I just wanted to have my own book out there. So when my daughter was about three or four she started doing drawings and I said 'let's make them really big and put them around your room.' and make a story around them. And that's where I started. I mean it was a really simple book called Monkeys in the Jungle, and it was just the thrill of getting a book out there for other people to read really. So, that was where I started.. And it just slowly developed and it developed really really slowly.... It took a long time to get to the stage where I was just writing which is what I did always want to do but I didn't think or I wasn't sure if I could do it... It wasn't a straight career path."

Q: "What's your favorite part about writing in general?"

A: "I think, often I don't really like the process very much. I sometimes don't like the pressure of feeling that I have to deliver everything perfectly and on time. And that's just me. Because the people I work for are fabulous and they don't really think that way, but I do. The best thing is just that feeling of just being able to create a different world. For me it's about the worlds and the people in them. And then, you know, to discover things. It's the thing of discovery I think. And I'm still really pleased that it works. I still can't quite believe that it seems to work."

After this, I told Angie how the world she had created in her "Septimus Heap" books was so incredible. She said that when she began the Septimus books the idea she had was very vague. She said that it sounded like a contradiction, but there was such a strong atmosphere that she really hoped if she just went along with it she would discover what was going on it the world of her book. "So I guess I learned then that you just have to trust your instincts really."

Q: "Going along with the writing process, do you have any habits like listening to music that you do while your writing?"

A: "I'd love to listen to music. I'd love to, but I can't. It's really boring I just have to be very quiet and not have anything else going on. So, if there's anything else going on in the house, if there's building stuff, it's really difficult. It's really just being able to escape. Being allowed to go into the worlds. No, I'd love to have music. I'd love to have a whole soundtrack to it but for me it doesn't work. Now I think some people do have music on when they write but I can't do it unfortunately."

Q: "If you could bring one of your characters from the Septimus Heap series to life, who would it be? And you can only pick one."

A: "Only one, that's so mean! You know, I was going to say Marcia but I don't think I would. Well, uhm, this is really difficult. Yeah, it would probably be Septimus. Because I feel like I still want to know where he's going and as Marcia's older I kind of feel like maybe I know where she's going. Septimus I think still has some unfinished business."

Going along with that, Angie also said that while she's not currently writing any Septimus for HarperCollins, she does still have ideas and she doesn't think it's a finished story yet. "I think he's interesting he's still got stuff we could discover."

Q: "Kind of along the same lines, do you ever pick favorites between your books?"

A: "There have been books that were easier to write than others. Flyte was the one I looked forward to the most because with Magyk I jumped into the world and had that amazing experience of finding that it really seemed to exist and I could write about it. And then I left Septimus and Jenna and I think they were a year older in life and it was quite a long time I was really looking forward to going back and seeing them as much more confident people and Septimus would be less damaged and happy with what he was doing. So I think that's one I looked forward to the most and probably did enjoy writing the most. The funny thing is really each book is different and special in its' own way. And I mean I don't honestly have a favorite but they all do have different atmospheres. They're all special really."

Q: "Branching away from writing, when you're not writing what's your favorite passtime?"

A: "In an ideal world, I'd just like to be wandering along on a beach and looking at the sea. But that doesn't happen a lot. I mean, just being on the water somehow is great. Whether it be on a kayak or in a boat, just anything really. Being by that water, I just love it. That feeling of escape, being part of the world. You know, being part of stuff."

Q: "What was your initial reaction when you first saw your very first published book?"

A: "Well the first one was that Monkeys in the Jungle thing, and it was fantastic actually. But it's funny because it's been a slow thing. I was illustrating other people's books and then it was my own but not quite what I wanted to do. So I mean the big big thrill was seeing Septimus, seeing Magyk. And it felt so so good it was unreal. You know that feeling of this can't be happening it's really really amazing? And I remember Katherine Tegen is such a brilliant editor and we really get along well I think, like we're on the same wave length. And it had come out in the UK but I think it was more exciting and big over in the USA. And I remember Katherine phoning me up and saying 'It's number one' and I think she found out really late at night and I just couldn't really take it all in. I said 'What do you mean it's number one?' It was amazing. And nothing quite felt real because the book looked so beautiful as well and just working with all the people that were putting it together and with Mark and his illustrations and the covers and the whole look of the book, it just looked different. That to me is my first book. It was the first book that really made me feel something. Magyk is still so special."

Q: "Where do you like to write and where do you feel like you write the best?"

A: "My kind of home is my laptop. And I really do take it anywhere. So I don't mind. Ideally I like to sit by a fire and be warm but I really don't mind where I write as long as I've got my laptop and a bit of peace and quiet. Sometimes I like to think of going away and writing in a cottage on a cliff somewhere but it doesn't usually happen. I'll write anywhere as long as it's quite peaceful."

Q: "What's your go to solution for writer's block?"

A: "I did an article about this, and I said 'I don't believe in writer's block'. And that is true. What I mean is, I think writer's block is a fancy way of saying 'I'm just really tired, and I've run out of ideas, and I just really need a break'. I think that's the key really. Often, if you really grind to a hault it's because you're really pushing yourself too much and expecting too much and you've really lost sight of what it is that you need to do to write. So I guess what I'd say is, stop writing for a bit. But if you're desperate, I mean it's different. If you are a writer writing a book I would say you just have to step back and just not do it for a bit. If you're writing a story, and you're in school and you're teacher's saying 'your deadline's tomorrow you've got to do it' I'd say there are some tricks that you can do to make it work. There are things like you can bring another character in out of the blue. Often, if you send your characters somewhere else that will work. Change the landscape or change the characters that you're writing about. If you're totally desperate, kill one of them off. You know, you've got to be desperate but maybe one of them isn't working anymore. And I think with writer's block and it's that stage and you're in a short story, you need to be changing what you're doing so that you're not fed up with it anymore. But, if it's a long term project, and you really can't write and it's dying on you, I think you need to accept that you need to walk away and give it a break. Because really we're not just about writing it's about living your life and doing other things as well. Writer's block isn't always about lack of ideas it's about changing your ways. Shake it all up and see what happens. It's like life, you get stuck in a rut sometimes and the rut doesn't always work. And you're going to find another rut."

Q: "My last question is, what advice can you give to aspiring writers or authors?"

A: "Really don't listen to anybody who's going to tell you you're not good enough, or you can't do it, or it's a really competitive world out there. I mean it is true, it is very competitive and there's no doubt about that. But they don't know about your capabilities. I think probably people are more positive now then maybe they were when I was starting off but you've really got to be confident in yourself. And to do that first of all, you need to make sure you're writing what you really want to write. And that it's exciting you as well. And then just keep doing it. But you need to also find yourself a group of people that you trust. I mean, once you feel that you're getting somewhere with your writing I think the next stage is to find yourself a writing group. A group of people that you can exchange your writing with and begin to show it to other people. Because that's the next step. The first step is to get comfortable with what you're writing and be excited by it and feel it's right and then you need to kind of creep out the door with it and take it to other people. And then start listening to what people have to say. It is a long process. Listen to what people say, you can always fix it. And I think don't take it too much to heart. Don't feel too emotionally involved with it either because a lot of it is about craftsmanship and learning how to make it right. It's a whole mixture of stuff. I suppose what I am saying is don't give up. If you really feel you have something, keep getting feedback, keep asking, and keep listening. And don't expect it to happen quickly. Some people get really early success and that must be amazing, but most people have to really write for years and just learn about it. You'll be surprised really, you do learn even when you think you're not. And another thing is keep reading as well. Keep yourself immersed in other people's works so that you keep learning what it's all about. I do believe that if you have something that you believe is working, only you can be a judge of that. And then if you go out and show it to other people and they like it, just keep on with it. It's persistence as much as anything. I mean it's not always easy, but I do think support of other writers is very good too."

Once again, I must say a huge thank you to Angie Sage for taking the time to answer my questions and for being so kind every time we interact.