What is your most recent book? Tell us a bit about it.
The sky above. It’s a dystopian story about a religious war raging in Europe and how two normal teenage boys cope with having to fight for survival.
Tell us something about yourself.
I grew up in East Germany and always wanted to travel, which wasn’t possible because of political reasons. So, I used to write a lot about far away places which, of course, had nothing to do with reality. But when I moved away to Cologne and met my British – now husband – I fell in love with the English language and finished my first book after we moved to the UK. I stayed there for twelve years and now I live South Africa.
What inspired you to write this book?
Recent political events which scared me.
How did you celebrate when you finished writing the book?
I had a bag of jelly babies. Just love them. It was published on the last day in December 2019
How did you know you wanted to be a writer? How did you get started?
I always wrote stories but didn’t think much about becoming a writer. Even after I finished my first book I still saw it more as a hobby I was passionate about. I’m slowly starting to accept that I am, in fact, a writer. It’s still a transition I have to get used to.
Are you a pantser or a plotter?
Definitely a pantser. I just jot down what comes to my mind and either I throw it away and start again or something is right and it’s worth editing.
Do you have a daily or weekly writing schedule, or do you write only when you are inspired? How many words or pages do you complete in a typical day?
It really depends on the day and what else I have to do, but I try to write every day, even if it’s just ten minutes. However, my new years resolution was to write in a more organized manner.
How many drafts did you write before publishing your most recent book?
Five.
What software do you use to write?
Just good old Word.
If you were doing it all over again, what would you do differently?
Maybe finish it quicker. Just sit down and concentrate but I guess, that’s not me.
Do you read reviews?
Yes, I’m guilty of that. And if it’s constructive criticism I try to implement it.
What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?
Well, I’m not an expert but I would say, pay a lot of attention to marketing. Writing is only half the job.
Do you have friends who are writers? How do you help each other to become better writers?
Not close friends but I’m a member of a few only writing groups. So, it’s usually posting a question online and a lot of writers will try to answer.
Who is the perfect reader for your book?
Someone who reads the synopsis and likes it, is attracted by the cover and is curious about indie authors. So, I guess anybody who just buys books by one specific author without caring about the book, isn’t really the reader I’m looking for. Unless, of course, I’m that specific author:-)
Where can readers learn more about you and your book?
Under www.agr-goff.com, Amazon, Goodreads, Smashwords
