
Here at I'm With Geek books, we like to help out all authors, famous or unknown, book veterans or those just starting with their debut novels. We don't discriminate here and this leads to some great interviews with interesting people, but because they aren't 'famous' no one wants to know. Well we do.
Author Gwen Selix is releasing her debut novel this week! Look out for her book from Saturday 22nd March. To celebrate the release of Shadows of Pandora, book one in her Evermore Trilogy, she has kindly agreed to participate in an interview.

When Pandora’s Box is opened after centuries of lying dormant, it’s up to Ariana, a young woman whose nightmares might be the key to everything, to save the world of Evermore from an inescapable darkness. With the fate of the world thrust upon her shoulders, will Ariana and her friends be able to overcome the hordes of legendary monsters causing chaos and destruction worldwide, or will the human race be doomed to extinction as Pandora’s army razes the land?
2) This is an interesting concept. I've always been fascinated by the story of Pandora's Box, myself. What was your inspiration for this?
In the days following my Grandmothers death, I had a dream. I continued to have the same dream over and over again for a week. It was after about the fourth day of the same dream that I knew I had to write this.
3) Are you 100% pleased with the outcome of your story?
I would love to say yes to this, but what Author is ever fully satisfied with how their story comes out. I am very happy with how it turned out and I am so happy I did what I did with it.
4) It takes writers varying amounts of time to write their stories. Some manage it within months, others in years. How long did it take you to finish this?
This was the first full length novel I have written in years. I wrote a few in the past but they never became anything because I was too afraid to share them. Shadows of Pandora took me a full year to write but it was so worth it.
5) I believe this is to be a trilogy. Some writers have it all planned out before they start writing and others let their characters direct the story. Have you already got the entire story planned out?
I do actually. I already know how book two ends. I have the twists for it planned out as well as the ones for book three. The ending of the whole series is still up in the air. I have two endings I like. We will have to see which one actually happens.

Book two, honestly. Premonition is where everything really starts to happen. Ariana learns more about herself, and starts to realize that her dreams are very important. I cannot wait for the readers to find out all the exciting stuff that is about to happen to Ariana and her friends.
7) How did you come up with the name for your book and the trilogy?
Shadows of Pandora actually came out with help from my amazing husband. I was really struggling with just how to title it and he just said it out loud and it was perfect. The trilogy's name comes from the world they live in Evermore. Evermore became the place I could escape to over the last few years. I can only hope it can do that for my readers as well.
8) It's impossible not to have preference of someone you're writing about in a story. Who’s your favourite character in Shadows of Pandora?
You would think I would say my main character Ariana. But it is actually Ariana's best friend Pearl. She is such a warrior and free spirit; she has lost everything and yet continues to fight for her friends. She was named after my Grandmother and I would like to think I added some of her spunk in there.
9) What made you want to be a writer?
I have been dreaming about being a writer since I was a little girl. I started reading at the age of three and I just remember thinking how much I would love to create other worlds for people. Reading was my escape growing up and I wanted to create worlds for others to escape into as well.
10) I believe you use a pen name. What made you decide to do that?
I love getting asked this question because I love telling the story.
The first name Gwen is short for Guinevere *King Arthur’s wife.* It has been my favourite name since I read The stories of King Arthur. I read this when I was like four. I have always though the name was beautiful and often used it as my main characters’ name in short stories I wrote in high school and college.
In September of 2011 I found out my Grandma was really sick. I wasn’t dealing with it well. I found an escape and some peace in the world of Harry Potter. My best friend and I would text back and forth about having characters in the Harry Potter world. We created stories and ideas. One day MJ told me I should start writing down these stories and ideas so I did. I was suddenly writing again and the character I picked was Gwen Redfield who would later be Gwen Malfoy. I started an account on DA *Devart* and I was Gwen Malfoy. I started building a small fan base for my Harry Potter Fan Fiction. People loved it. I was told by several people there, as well as MJ, that I should think about writing my own book. And I did. I was so excited to be writing again. I stuck with the name Gwen because people already knew me as her.
Selix is my favorite part of this story. Selix is my Grandparents’ last name. Two people who always supported me in whatever I did with my life. The world of Evermore and most of Shadows came to me in the weeks after my Grandma had passed away. I still to this day believe she had a hand in my imagination creating that world. I decided to use their last name to keep them close always. I know they would be beyond excited about me using their name.
So my pen name Gwen Selix takes two of my favourite things and creates one beautiful name.
I decided a while back that if I have to do initials for my book I would be known as G. H. Selix which stands for Gwen Helen Selix. Helen was my Grandma’s middle name.

I usually either write in a journal or on my surface. It depends on the book on how I write. I often have music that is set for each book and write to that as well.
I vary between writing start to finish, and writing chapters as they come to me.
12) Have you got any tips for aspiring authors?
Never give up your dream. Dream big and reach for the stars. This world needs writers and it needs books. Keep writing and never give up. I did and I have spent years regretting it. Now I am doing what I love every day and it is magical.
13) Are you working on any other projects?
I currently have three WIP going. Book two in the Evermore Trilogy, titled Premonition; A YA/Paranormal/ Dark Fantasy novel titled House on the Hill (that pushes every boundary I have ever had as a writer and I love it); and the last one I am working on is titled The One. It is a YA/Romance novel.
14) What’s your favourite book, not in your series?
My all-time favourite novel is The Great Gatsby. It is just a beautiful novel. My favourite series would be Harry Potter.
15) Finally, please tell us, why should we buy and read your book?
This is a hard one because as much as I love my novel, I am still terrified to let people read it, but in a good way. I have been told it is original and different. Whether it is or not, I leave that up to you as readers to decide. I just hope that I have written something everyone will enjoy and characters people will love.