Hi, Cheryl! Welcome back! How has the past year been since we last spoke?

Busy but fulfilling. I really appreciated the reception that The Unfinished received from readers. It has been a pleasure to connect with them and hear about the nightmares I’ve saddled people with! I think people underestimate how happy writers are to know that readers enjoy their stories.

The Others is the sequel to your debut The Unfinished and it’s out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Eerie, nerve-wracking, mind-bending, sweet and hopeful.

What can readers expect?

Definitely expect some surprises. The sequel has the same flavour as The Unfinished – creepy, unsettling and tense – but the plot goes in a different direction and then just when you think you know what’s going on, takes another hard right. It’s some of the same characters and the same setting, but a whole different problem.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring further?

I really enjoyed writing more of Frank and Foster. They’re such an unlikely but charming pair. Although they initially seem to not have much in common, we get to learn more about their shared past and how it’s shaped their lives.

I also loved revisiting Key, because he’s a more complicated character than maybe readers thought based on the first book. He’s full of surprises in The Others – you’ve been warned.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing the sequel? How did you overcome them?

They say second books are hard and I’m here to report the legends are true! Writing a sequel required a balance between referencing the events of the first book without dragging down the pace and becoming repetitive, and setting up the new story. I also wanted The Others to be enjoyable for readers who may not have read The Unfinished, which made it even trickier.

I tried to manage the process by using a lot of visual planning, which I don’t normally do. In this instance it helped by letting me see a map of the book – what was new and what might need to be explained or refreshed briefly – it definitely gave me some confidence that the book was going to continue the story in a clear way.

What’s next for you?

Definitely more horror! I’ve just finished a new dark and twisty YA book that I’m excited about. I’m also working on some adult horror that is haunting my brain.

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?

I’ve just started reading The End of the World as We Know It, which contains stories from a lot of horror writers that I love. The stories are all so different but each one is satisfying in a different way. I’m trying to ration it and savour because there’s nothing worse than getting to the end of a great book and realizing there’s no more. Big sad.

Will you be picking up The Others? Tell us in the comments below!

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Hi, Cheryl! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

I’m a writer and educator from southern Ontario. I spend a lot of time outdoors, believe that coffee is a food group, and the book is always better than the movie.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

My childhood was full of books, so I think that introduced the idea of creating stories and other realities very early. I remember playing in the back yard and creating characters and plots even before I knew how to write.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: I don’t know the title but it was a picture book about bugs who were friends.
• The one that made you want to become an author: I’d have to say The Unfinished, because I’ve been a lifelong reader/writer but publishing was never really on my radar until I wrote this story.
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Usually whatever I’ve read most recently. I tend to think about and process books for quite a while after I finish reading them. Most recently was Cold by Drew Hayden Taylor.

Your debut novel, The Unfinished, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Unsettling, atmospheric, compelling, funny and sweet.

What can readers expect?

Readers can expect to be creeped out but also drawn in by the warmth of the relationships. It’s a sometimes very scary story about being honest about who you are, what you want, and being brave enough to do something about it.

Where did the inspiration for The Unfinished come from?

This book came from a single image, of a pond that isn’t a pond in the middle of the forest. I wondered what might emerge from such a pond. It just popped into my head during a run and everything followed from that.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I really enjoyed writing the main character’s besties, Stella and Key. Although they’re secondary characters, they’re central to the story and are both adorable in their own ways.

The Unfinished is another addition to the Native-focused imprint Heartdrum. What’s it like being part of an imprint that not only highlights Native American authors, but more importantly provides an avenue for stories to be read by Native American children and teens?

Being part of Heartdrum has been an amazing, very supportive experience that I don’t think I could have replicated elsewhere. It’s gratifying to know that young people who grew up outside the culture through no fault of their own can see their experiences represented.

This is your debut published novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?

I wrote for a long time with no aim to be published, which I think served me well in the end. Once I decided to try I was lucky that my book sold pretty quickly. Still, the length of time that the average book takes to get from selling to publication has been both eye-opening and frustrating at times.

What’s next for you?

The one thing I think I can talk about is a sequel to The Unfinished is due out next year!

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?

I really loved A Constellation of Minor Bears by Jen Ferguson. Very real and engaging as always.

Will you be picking up The Unfinished? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Cheryl Isaacs, Author of ‘The Unfinished’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.