An Interview With Vanessa Dunn
Thank you so much for sharing your book with me and agreeing to do a Q&A for my readers.
Give us a quick summary of Sebastian The In-Between!
Sebastian is a young biracial boy who finds out that he is from a supernatural family, that is his mother has been keeping secrets from him, and that he has evil entities trying to kill them all. It is about his journey to learning how to use his powers to kill this evil, coming out of his shell, and figuring out who he can trust in the process.
Your main character is a young boy who doesn’t fit anywhere and even struggles to like himself. What made you feel compelled to write this sort of character?
I wanted to write a story about a boy who had the same concerns as I did growing up. I wasn’t a loner, but I didn’t feel like I belonged a lot of the time. Sometimes I faked the funk, as a kid, just so I would have friends or to fit in. I also became friends with people who reminded me a lot of Sebastian. They were smart, misunderstood, and bullied. Also, I am biracial with a Black mom and a white dad, like Sebastian. I wanted to see more representation of me and my kids out there. All the stories I used to read as a kid never had main characters like me in them.
Your book starts out with an exciting and unique bang, Sebastian’s mom having an out of body experience watching her son being born. How do you come up with beginnings that really hook the reader and set the stage for the story?
I revised this book so many times. I wanted to have the story show right from the beginning how tramatic her experience was, which will explain her behavior with her son later on. I also wanted to scare people right from the beginning.
This was your first novel. Did you have any major hurdles in getting this book published?
Yes. I wanted to do this traditionally, and I still do. However, after querying a lot of agents, and working with an editor. I decided to self-publish. It was not my first choice. Also, because of the pandemic hitting right when I published my book it is hard to get a lot of sales. I do not have the financial backing or ability to really advertise my book. So it has to be word of mouth for right now. People are struggling financially. I am grateful though because I have great reviews so far on Amazon and Goodreads. I also have great supporters in the horror genre on Twitter helping me get my book out there. My goal is to still be published traditionally, so I can reach more people.
How long did it take you to finish your book, from first draft to publication?
It took me 5 years. I went from third person, to first person, back to third, and then settled on first again. Then it went from New Adult to YA, now I am bring told it could also work as MG. I had a lot of eyes on it while at SNHU since it started as my thesis. Then I friends, and family give me feedback before I sent it to an editor that used to work for Harper Collins to help me with it.
We were lucky enough to attend the same MFA program. Do you feel like receiving your MFA helped you in crafting and finishing your novel?
Yes because I had a lot of great classmates and teachers give me amazing feedback as well as my mentors. It was a great experience meeting all the people I have met, and seeing their success now. I also loved reading their work and not feeling alone that I loved to read and write. That I can have a crazy idea, and it be accepted and not judged. I felt safe to be me.
Your book in self-published. Can you share with us why you chose this route and what about it has worked well for you?
I chose this route because I didn’t feel like I had any luck with getting an agent. I also had people who had read it asking me why I didn’t self-publish. I was afraid that I would not get a traditional publisher, or an agent to look at this book if I did. I waiting 2 years before I made the decision to do it. What has worked well is how I have met a lot of people on Twitter that write horror, and show me love. Also, the reviews make me feel better even though they are not for me, but for other readers. It helps me not regret wanting to be a writer. There was a point where I doubted my writing. Twitter, and the readers I do have make me feel better about my work. I have also had self-doubt about everything I do. I am never cocky about anything. I am always a work in progress.
Your book features a new and unique type of supernatural species. How did you come up with that idea?
They came from dreams, and from me just writing. Getting my thoughts down allowed the story to play in my head. I thought about species that could be deceiving and scary, and they just came to me.
What do you hope young readers take away from your novel?
I want all of the young readers to know that it is okay to be different. To know you are special in your own way. Also, looks can be deceiving, so be careful not to judge people right away. Be a leader and not a follower. You could save the world someday. God made all of us for a reason, and we all have a purpose on this earth. If you are a bully stop it. You never know who or what is protecting that kid you’re harassing. JK....am I though? ;)
To my young Black boys and girls who read this book. Know that we matter too. That we can be leads in stories, be super heroes, and main characters. We don’t have to be the supporting cast. We rock! We are amazing! We are beautiful, we come in many shades, and from all over the world. God made us with this beautiful color. Love whatever shade God gave you. Never forget or lose who you are.
Sebastian: The In-Between is available now. What are you working on next?
I am currently working on Book 2 of Sebastian’s story. I am also getting back into querying again to try and get an agent for Sebastian: The In-Between.
