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The Interview - Ana Sofia Brito

Can you explain your writing process? Do you prefer to create an outline and plan beforehand, or do you prefer to write more spontaneously and organically?

I am the most disorganized person you will ever find. I don´t have a process for writing, I write spontaneously, sometimes a place, photograph word or some random stranger on the street can trigger a story. I can spend months without writing or write compulsively in one day or week.

What have you found to be most challenging about writing in [genre]?

I find writing in genre quite limited. Because I have got a chaotic taste in literature I end up always not staying in the genre I started to write in. I love to write for young people because I can experiment with different styles and they tend to be very open to it.

Have you been able to incorporate your previous experience in [jobs/education] in your writing?

I am a Primary School Teacher and did my degree in Drama and Theatre Studies. I love telling stories and reading books to my students. I come across with many children who do not like to read, I have them in mind when I write my stories.

Did you have any say in the cover design?

My partner, Bruno Rodrigues, designed the cover and the illustrations. I have always admired his work and I gave him total freedom to create the drawings and the cover. 

Do you have any movie or tv adaptations in the works?

I don´t have any movies or TV adaptations in my work but I get some of my ideas from the movies and plays I have watched.

How long did it take you to write this book?

It took me one year. I am a slow writer and very visual. It has to make sense in my mind before I put it on paper. The characters need to become my friends before I can bring them to life.

What other hobbies do you have outside of writing?

Reading and traveling are my other two passions. I love the British classics and Latin American literature. I also enjoy cooking for friends and family.

Are any of the characters in your book based on people in your real life? If so, can you tell us more about that process and how it influenced your writing?

I wrote this book after my Grandma passed away. I dedicated this book to her. She was very important in my life and this book helped me grieving her departure. Nanny Manuela is based on my Grandma. She always told to write my stories. She was an avid reader and filled my childhood with books. I owe everything I am today to her.