Hi Sim, welcome to my blog. Can you tell us something about yourself?
I’m Sim and I make words into adventures.
I was born and raised in the county town of Dorchester, Dorset, I began scribbling away stories on scraps of paper since before I can remember. I spent a lot of my childhood on adventures, walking the dogs in the woodland surrounding Thomas Hardy’s cottage with my family. Something about the cottage and ‘the man what wrote stuff’ who had lived there sparked a fire inside me. It was from there I began to focus on writing more seriously.
In 2012, I signed up to Open University to study Creative Writing alongside working full time. I’m not quite sure how I made it out alive, but I graduated with honours and began using the skills he had acquired to edit and redraft old work.
In 2019 along with some talented friends, I set up the first-ever literary festival in Blandford Forum, Dorset. The events were a huge success with both writers and readers alike.
As of 2020, I’m now a member of the National Association of Writers in Education and was named Indie Author of The Month (October 2020) by Chantelle Atkins. I’ve since become part of the team at Chasing Driftwood Writing Group CIC.
What’s your earliest writing memory?
I actually still have what I believe to be the first story I ever wrote. Albeit it doesn’t really make any sense. It was a thriller which switched perspectives between the pursuer and the victim in an abandonned warehouse/museum. It left the reader wondering who was actually the predator and who was the prey in the end. I have never shared it with anyone but I might rework it and post it someday.
What was your favourite childhood book and why? And do you still read it?
My favourite book from childhood was called The Babysitter by R. L. Stine. It is a 4 book series and I absolutely loved the suspense. The story line was pretty basic… babysitter all alone receiving creepy phone calls and being watched… but I was hooked. Stine is a phenomenal children’s author and I still have my copies!
I used to carry my copy of The Babysitter around in my bag to keep me focussed on my dream of publishing my own work someday. I know, I know… We all have weird quirks!
Can you visualise your characters? If so – which actors would play your two favourites?
I can! I have always said I would love for Rachelle Lefevre (Victoria, Twilight 2008, New Moon 2009. Julia, Under the Dome 2013) to play Abi Millar. In fact, my artist for The Willow graphic novel has used her likeness as inspiration.
I think Aja Naomi King (Michaela, How to Get Away with Murder 2014) would make a great Taylor!
How does the location of the story impact on them?
Denver Falls is full of mystery, echoes from the past ripple through the town and the ancient woodland surrounding it. But the things that go bump in the night aren’t the only things to be afraid of. Sometime people can be just as terrifying.
Will there be a sequel?
There will certainly be a sequel. Books 2 and 3 are currently in the planning stages. These will share the same title and be split between the two books.
Return to Denver Falls: Part One
Return to Denver Falls: Part Two
I am hoping to have book 2 ready for Summer 2021.
Thanks Sim, that sounds great. And finally, where can we find your books and media links?
Sim Sansford Amazon Author Page
Website: Simalecsansford.com
Twitter: simsansford
Facebook: SimAlecSansford
Chasing Driftwood Writing Group
