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We recently had the chance to talk to aspiring author Erin Mills and review the first installment of her new series, Mutant High. (See the SG Suggests review by SG Author Marissa!)
SG M: Where exactly did you get the inspiration for Mutant High? I wouldn't have thought to give characters any special abilities, and ones so diverse at that.
EM: I’m a huge superhero fan. When a teenager, while Joanne (younger sister) was reading Sweet Valley High, I was reading X Men and sci fi as well as books about magic. Loved The Little White Horse – still do. I designed and drew all my own superheroes, gave them names, powers, costumes. Also wrote a book about my friends and me (and some of the cute guys in my class) having superpowers and fighting crime when I was 10. (when I wasn’t pretending to be a horse). Actually, my power was that I could turn into any kind of horse – which one character is able to do in a later book, though he is a guy.
SG M: What influenced you to give your characters the abilities they have- why can Michelle be extremely persuasive, or Claire make it rain?
EM: I made up the powers first, then created characters around them and they sort of fell into situations. I mean, if I could control with my voice, and I was at high school, what would I do? I was pretty plain until I was about 16 – awkward with boys, a geek, and didn’t get a boyfriend until then, hence Michelle. If I had that power now, yikes. I seriously don’t think I could be trusted. I’d either want to be Lady Gaga or the President. ….Also, you know how it is with inspiration – you have an idea and another idea comes and it almost seems as if it writes itself. I knew Pete was going to make Claire sad in book two, because of what power he develops and when I’m sad I cry and being miserable is much better under a duvet with bad weather outside and Buffy on the DVD…you get it, one thing leads to another. By the way, I like naming characters after people I know – with their permission, so think up a power, descriptions and name and I will slide you in to one of the books.
SG M: Why did you make the decision to put characters such as Lake and Claire in your story when they play such as minor role? I'm not trying to criticize, but I'm not seeing your point.
EM: Aha! It’s supposed to be a tease – as
Lake and Claire feature heavily in book two, and Michelle fades out
to background. You will get another couple of characters introduced
in book two that have their own stories in book three and so on. I
plan on writing a lot of these – thanks for the tip though – maybe
I’d better release a few at the same time? Or be clearer?
Or beef them up?
SG M: What's your preference in your writing method- first person, third person, different tenses, etc. ? I usually like to write in first person, present tense but I vary sometimes.
EM: I’m not good at POV – I’ve been told off about that and am working on it. I like third person because then I know everything, though it is not as up close and personal as first person
SG M: Is there a reason for Michelle to bewitch Leo into loving her? I'm just saying- that seems kind of...I don't know, forceful.
EM: Did it? Thanks for the tip. You are obviously much more together and aware than I was at your age – whatever it is! Sane & secure girls and women realise that they need no magic or manipulation for a guy to realise how amazing they are and if the guy they like isn’t into them – well, their loss. And manipulation is abuse – I may go back over that and re look at it. As for me, despite being very evolved, I would still be tempted to put a spell on Jacob (as in Twilight) if he was older and if I was magical (and single) which is completely immoral and I will go talk to someone about that, I promise. She was just young & silly & a bit bitter and feeling left out and wanted some payback.
SG M: What type of books do you like to read? I'm talking historical fiction, non fiction, science fiction, fantasy... you get the idea.
EM: Off topic, i.e. it’s DVDs, but I’m totally addicted to Buffy The Vampire Slayer, despite is having been off air for years and if I ever have a daughter, will name her Buffy. I adore Jane Austin, can read that over and over. I like Charlene Harris, anything with a vampire in it, loved the Twilight books, love Sci Fi, Harry Potter, any superhero stuff, comics, love books like Narnia, love humour. Love animals but don’t tend to read much about them as they usually have sad bits. Sobbed at Marley & Me. I’m not keen on sad bits. I also love Medium, Bones, Fire Fly, Angel, Glee,
SG M: What kinds of things do you do when you're not writing? Is there anything that you do to get your mind going when you hit writer's block?
EM: Don’t get writer’s block, but do wander off story line and did take me a long time to get back to what I first wrote when I was 10, which is what I’m loving writing now. I’m a lousy typist, was scared of being told I sucked, and spent a lot of time sorting my life out. Now I have a great life and I write because it makes me happy – and I will keep writing, even if no one ever buys a book. Good reviews though, do send me dancing around the room – yours made me do the cha cha! I like dancing. Oh, sorry – you asked what I do. I foster animals – usually kittens and puppies, sometimes ducklings, rabbits, whatever, jog with dogs, play with cat, watch DVDS, read, hang out with friends, sister, work, volunteer for stuff, breed mice (long story) write and have amazing boyfriend. I have a great life.
SG M: Do you have any other tips for me to improve my writing?
EM: I think you are a natural writer and will get better and better with practice.
Just don’t stop. Try to write a little every day. Life is about the happy.
Warmest wishes,
Erin
