DEBUT AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: Sara B. Elfgren & Mats Strandberg “The Circle” (Horror)
‘Debut Author Spotlight’ is a new feature here at Book Chick City. We will be showcasing a debut author each week from the genres of horror, urban fantasy and paranormal romance. We will give you all the relevant book information as well as an insight into the author.
THE AUTHORS
Sara B. Elfgren started her career in the film industry as a screenwriter. As a script doctor, she has been involved in several Swedish film and TV-productions. She has a Master’s Degree in Film Studies.
Mats Strandberg is journalist and a regular columnist for Sweden’s biggest evening newspaper Aftonbladet. The organization Sveriges Tidskrifter (Sweden’s Newspapers and Magazines) awarded him the title Columnist of the Year in 2004. In 2008, Sara B. Elfgren met Mats Strandberg. They quickly realized that they shared a passion for supernatural stories about young adults. Soon the idea to write together was born. In August 2009 they began working on what would become the novel The Circle with its two sequels.
THE BOOK
RELEASE DATE: 7th June 2012 | PUBLISHER: Hammer | GENRE: Horror
One night, when a strange red moon fills the sky, six school girls find themselves in an abandoned theme park, drawn there by a mysterious force. A student has just been found dead. Everyone suspects suicide. Everyone – except them. In that derelict fairground an ancient prophecy is revealed. They are The Chosen Ones, a group of witches, bound together by a power, one which could destroy them all. But they soon learn that despite their differences they need each other in order to master the forces that have been awakened within them. High school is now a matter of life and death. Because the killing has only just begun.
THE INTERVIEW
What’s THE CIRCLE about?
It’s about a group of very different high school students who find out that they are witches, chosen to stop the apocalypse. They have to learn how to control their newly awakened powers. Also, someone is trying to kill them, one by one … But The Circle is also about friendship, forbidden love, self-acceptance, bullying, homework, parents and parties.
Tell us a bit more about the hero/heroine
The main characters are very different from each other, but in order to survive, they must learn to get along and work together for the greater good. This is easier said than done. Especially when you have grown up in a small, depressing town like Engelsfors, where everyone has known everyone since kindergarten. We loved having these different characters to play with. We also gave them magical powers that would challenge them on a personal level. For instance, what happens when the girl who has been bullied all her life suddenly gets total control over others? All of the main characters are very human, they have both good and bad in them.
How did you research THE CIRCLE?
We are huge fans of urban fantasy, horror and teen drama. So in a way, it feels like we have been researching for this trilogy our whole lives. Some of our greatest inspirations have been TV shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Veronica Mars, Twin Peaks and My So Called Life, and books like Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld and Let Me In by John Ajvide Lindqvist.
Is THE CIRCLE the first in a series or a stand alone?
It is the first in a trilogy, but it hasn’t got a cliff-hanger-ending. We had the plot mapped out for all three books before we started writing the first one. We wanted to be able to create long storylines for the characters and allow them to grow throughout the books.
When is your favourite time to write?
Mats: It depends on the scene. If it’s something scary, or very emotional, I prefer to write late at night. It’s easier to fantasize when it’s dark outside, and no-one calls and interrupts you. It can ruin my sleep cycle, though.
Sara: I seem to be working all the time, constantly. But I’m less nocturnal than Mats. I like the calm of early mornings.
Where is your favourite place to write?
Mats: Again, it depends. But I like to write at cafés or hotel bars. Somewhere not too loud, but still with people around me, so that I feel somewhat a part of normal life.
Sara: I mostly write at home. There are many advantage like free coffee, getting to choose my own music and being allowed to talk to myself.
What was the last book you read and enjoyed?
Sara: I just finished reading Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury. I’ve only read his short stories before. He’s was an amazing writer. Today I picked up The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker.
Mats: Dark Matter by Michelle Paver. Right now I’m reading How To Be A Woman by Caitlin Moran and laughing a lot.
Which authors do you admire?
Sara: There are so many – too many. Some of them are (in no particular order): Neil Gaiman, Octavia E. Butler, Elizabeth Hand, Holly Black, N.K. Jemisin, Philip Pullman, Curtis Sittenfeld, Edith Wharton, Alice Munro, Lev Grossman and Erin Morgenstern.
Mats: Gillian Flynn, Curtis Sittenfeld, Richard Yates, 80’s Stephen King, A.M. Homes, Dorothy Parker, Chuck Palahniuk, Philip Pullman … does Joss Whedon count as an author? If so, he’s on the top of my list.
Describe yourself in five words
Sara: Perfectionist (at work), nerd, creative, organiser, dreamer.
Mats: Perfectionist (at work), slob (in private), worrier, pop culture addict and a teenager at heart.
What’s next?
Mats: We’ve just started writing the third book, and I already feel separation anxiety – both from our characters and from Sara. But I have a few plans. One of them is something completely different, that I always wanted to try. I might have finally have the confidence for it now.
Sara: I’m right there with Mats on the separation anxiety. I have many exciting projects. But first and foremost I would like to write a novel on my own.
SARA B. ELFGREN & MATS STRANDBERG ONLINE
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25 Comments
This book looks great! Cover is fab too! I always wonder how joint writing teams write. Do you take sections at a time each? Do you each write bits & then come together and collaborate or do you sit at a laptop and write together?
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Hi Laura!
Thank you!
We’ve spoken to other writing teams and everyone seems to have a slightly different method.
Mats and I started with planning the storyline for the whole trilogy. Then when we begin writing a book, we plan the plot in more detail. Of course we can’t think of everything from the beginning, new ideas must be allowed to take form, but we’ve got a pretty good idea of where we’re going from the start.
Then we plan four chapters in even greater detail. We write two chapters each, then we switch and edit (no mercy!). Then we switch back and go through the other person’s edits. After that we go through our comments: “I didn’t like that change so much, how about this instead” or “This was really great, maybe we should take it even further in the next chapter” and so on. After that round we have a “common” version that we put in a master document. Then we plan the next four chapters, and so on …
Sometimes we get stuck and then we take a break from the text, read it again and hopefully find a solution (so far it has worked out).
If we have different ideas about what should happen, we either go for the best idea, or we find a third, and superior idea.
When we have a complete manuscript and are editing it, we sit side by side and sometimes write together.
I hope that answered your questions!
Sara B. Elfgren
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Thanks for getting back to me Sara. That’s really fascinating. I’m trying to write a novel myself, trying being the operative word! But I have been intrigued by the idea of trying to write with a partner and whether that might be more effective. So your technique is really interesting. I wish you the best of luck with your book’s release
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It is more effective if you find the right partner. And less lonely. My best advice would be: Make sure you share the same vision. So discuss the project thoroughly before you start writing. That way you also get a taste of what it’s like to work with the other person, for example if you’re equally motivated.
Writing together is like having a relationship. So never let conflicts fester, solve them, and be honest, humble and generous. And have lots of fun!
Thank you so much, and good luck to you with your writing!
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Thank you! I agree with everything Sara said. It’s fantastic to see what happens with the world, the characters and the text itself when you work with it together. You get to the ideas that are twice as good in half the time!
(the final editing process probably takes twice as long, though, since we are both perfectionists…)
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Ok you had me at abandoned theme park, witches and apocolypse. Though abandoned theme parks freak me out a bit! That and empty buildings. I think I’ve watched too much horror!
And I am with you on Veronica Mars! I loved that show. was most upset when it was cancelled. I was never a huge buffy fan, but did love Angel.
Also Joss whedon just rocks!
Its great to read about how you came up with your ideas and I will definetly add it to my wishlist to buy after my book buying ban is over!!
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Oh, that’s great! Thank you!
And yes, Joss Whedon rocks.
Mats and I like Angel too, but we’re more into Buffy.
I think that the pilot that they did for the fourth season of Veronica Mars looked so promising. It’s a huge shame that it didn’t happen …
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I’m lucky as I have all three seasons of Veronica Mars on DVD. Whenever I’m in a viewing slump, I can rely on putting this on and enjoying it all over again. (Did you notice that Joss Whedon was in an episode of Veronica Mars??)
Side note:- Kristen Bell, who played the title character is now in a series called House of Lies…. Looks interesting.
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Gemma: have you seen Cabin In The Woods yet? Me and Sara loved, loved, loved it. It’s Josstastic!
Also, have you seen K Bell and the sloth? If not, Youtube it!
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Ooh, I really feel like rewatching Veronica Mars now (I also own them). Haha, yes, it’s a classic moment when Joss appears!
Thanks, I’ll look for it!
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I started singing ‘these are a few of my favourite things’ as I read your interview as I loved Buffy (and Angel), Veronica Mars, Twin Peaks and My So Called Life. I also love anything by Ray Bradbury especially ‘Something Wicked This Way Comes’ and Dark Matter was the only book that creeped me out I couldn’t read it at night!
I will be looking forward to reading your trilogy.
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I’m planning on borrowing “Dark Matter” from Mats one day when I feel very brave.
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its not blood and guts scary it’s just spooky. I haven’t read another book that has been so creepy. I am pretty much of a chicken so you are surely braver than I am. go for it!
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Melanie: I read Dark Matter on a sunny beach, and it felt like I was trapped in that cabin in the icy landscape the whole time… and I loved it.
Really hope you’ll enjoy The Circle!
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Thanks Matt….ordering now. I know who to blame if I end up with nightmares or have to hide under the covers!
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Melanie: But spookiness is the worst! No wait, I take that back, beacause now I got gory flashbacks from reading Halfhead by Stuart B. Macbride … I think scary books are much worse than scary movies because you create your own pictures. In any case – I will definitely read “Dark Matter”.
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Oooh I love the sound of this book, the setting of an abandoned theme park sounds really interesting, there’s a lot of opportunity for creepy things to happen there!
Like Laura, I’ve always wondered how writing partnerships work, because it always seems like such a solitary job! You guys seem to have it all worked out though!
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It’s WONDERFUL to write together! You actually get to be a reader too – I love seeing what Sara has written, and I love seeing how she has rewritten my chapters. It’s very cool when we do all these rewrites and edits on each other’s texts and see how it gets better and more “us” each time.
Plus: you have company when you do book tours!
So happy for all this feedback – I really hope you’ll enjoy the book!
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What Mats said!
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@Matt Strandberg – I couldn’t reply to the original post, but to answer your question. Yes I have watched Cabin in the Woods and even reviewed it for the site
. I’m a total Whedon fanatic!
Loved Firefly and Serenity.
Didn’t watch Dollhouse as I didn’t really like the actress in it.
Downloaded Dr Horribles-sing-a-long-blog.
Dying to see his Shakespeare film “Much ado about Nothing”.
Lol!
P.s. I crumbled and ordered The Circle…..
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You’re not o fan of Eliza? Oh but there are so many other great actors in Dollhouse. It’s really worth watching. It gets REALLY good halfway through s1!
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I did realise that both Wesley and Fred are in Dollshouse. I did like Eliza in both Buffy and Angel (had hoped for a Faith Spin off, which would have been awsome! I’ve read the Buffy season 8 comics). Might splash out and get the box set.
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I agree with Mats, give Dollhouse a chance! There are some really genious episodes in it. And great characters! Like Topher! (Played by Fran Kranz, Marty in Cabin in the Woods!)
Oh, you broke your book buying ban! I know I speak for both Mats and me when I say that we feel very honoured.
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@Sara BE + Mats Strandberg- Well feel doubly proud. I crumbled and ordered the box set of Dollshouse too. I need something to fill in the summer nights with the olympics being on.
I’m so weak *Hangs head in shame*
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Oh I hope you enjoy it!
And, like you said, it’s all the Olympics’ fault.
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