Mia
asked
Alwyn Hamilton:
I have read your book twice this year and I'm in love with your writing;I love all the characters and I really can't wait for the sequel! And any other book you decide to write. My question is what inspired you to write Rebel of the sands? And any tips for a young writer? Thanks.
Alwyn Hamilton
Thank you so much Mia! I'm so glad you enjoyed REBEL enough to read it twice. I'm really excited for Traitor to be out in the world soon!
Rebel of the Sands was inspired by wanting to write about a young female sharpshooter. As YA fantasy started to get big, I’d seen a few people online saying that female characters shouldn’t be playing the role of the weapon wielding fighter in fantasy novels because they were physically weaker then men and it was "unrealistic". Cue a million eye rolls from me, and an “I’ll show you” idea to create a female fighter whose weapon relied on skill over strength: A Sharpshooter.
That character very clearly belonged in a Western. Only I didn’t want to write a historical western. I kept trying to think what twist I could add to turn it into a Fantasy. I was working in Islamic Art at the time, and the idea hit me to combine the mythical world of the 1001 Nights with the Wild West and after that everything started to come together and Amani, and Jin and the world of Rebel were born!
Rebel of the Sands was inspired by wanting to write about a young female sharpshooter. As YA fantasy started to get big, I’d seen a few people online saying that female characters shouldn’t be playing the role of the weapon wielding fighter in fantasy novels because they were physically weaker then men and it was "unrealistic". Cue a million eye rolls from me, and an “I’ll show you” idea to create a female fighter whose weapon relied on skill over strength: A Sharpshooter.
That character very clearly belonged in a Western. Only I didn’t want to write a historical western. I kept trying to think what twist I could add to turn it into a Fantasy. I was working in Islamic Art at the time, and the idea hit me to combine the mythical world of the 1001 Nights with the Wild West and after that everything started to come together and Amani, and Jin and the world of Rebel were born!
More Answered Questions
Natalie Ann
asked
Alwyn Hamilton:
Alwyn, Rebel of The Sand has kick started off my 2016 with a Blue Eyed Bandit BANG! I loved this book and I wrote a little blog about it which should be going up this Friday on www.upyourvlog.com Thank you so much for creating what to me is a new generation of awesomeness? Sorry had to add in the question mark to make it a question! Natalie-Ann x
Shalini
asked
Alwyn Hamilton:
Hi! I'm a huge fan of your books. I finished the Rebel of the Sands trilogy in a week and I LOVED it. I was really curious about your writing process, especially in the planning stages. How do you do your background research? Also, how do you come up with your characters' names? (I'm having a hard time doing that.) Do you have any tips/advice for a young writer?
Scarllet
asked
Alwyn Hamilton:
Hi Alwyn, how r u? I'm brasilian, and I just like to thank you for writing a such good book as Rebel of The Sand and its sequence. Thank you SO MUCH! You're amazing, and not just by writing <3 P.S: I can't wait to know you in person at the event you're coming! See you there! Love ya!
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