Author Interview: Slated's Teri Terry

Welcome to today's author interview with the amazing author of Slated, Teri Terry! I (Farah) absolutely loved and adored reading Slated! Definitely one of the best dystopians I have ever read! Read my review of Slated HERE!

Teri has lived in France, Canada, Australia and England at more addresses than she can count, acquiring three degrees, a selection of passports and a silly name along the way. Past careers have included scientist, lawyer, optometrist, and, in England, various jobs in schools, libraries and an audiobook charity. The footpaths and canal ways of the Buckinghamshire Chilterns where she now lives inspired much of the setting of Slated. She hates broccoli, likes cats, and has finally worked out what she wants to do when she grows up.

Follow Teri on her: Website || Goodreads || Twitter

Kyla’s memory has been erased,
her personality wiped blank,
her memories lost for ever.

She’s been Slated.

The government claims she was a terrorist and that they are giving her a second chance - as long as she plays by their rules. But echoes of the past whisper in Kyla’s mind. Someone is lying to her, and nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust in her search for the truth?

Describe yourself in a tweet (less than 140 characters)

Stationery-obsessed insomniac writer & reader of weird & wonderful stories; part introver/part extrovert. Avoider of reality & paperwork.

When exactly did you realize that you wanted to be a writer? 

The first time I admitted to myself that I wanted to be a writer, I was 17. It took me quite a few years to believe I could do it.

If writing didn't work out, what job would you image yourself having instead?

I'd always write, whether or not it was my job. Though lottery winner is pretty high on the list! Otherwise, apart from being broke, I liked working in a library.

What inspired the idea of Slated?

The story actually started from a dream that I had, so it is really hard to say there was a particular inspiration behind it, apart from my murky unconscious mind. Though there are things in it that are obsessions of mine: identity and how it is defined; crime and punishment; why somebody becomes a violent criminal, can they change, were they born like that or made that way.

Where do you usually write or read? (Provide pictures if possible)

 

I love writing first thing in the morning, half awake, in bed in my PJ’s (no photos of that will be provided)! It’s funny as I’m SO not a morning person. When it is warm enough in afternoons I love writing in my Writing Shack in the garden, or on nice days on a table in the garden - this is the photo, with neighbourhood cats coming to help inspire me (the Writing Shack is in the top right corner). I don’t write well away from home; I have no idea how people write in busy cafes. I can’t do it.

What is the one thing you always do or need when writing?

To start a story I need the absolute ‘right’ notebook, and even though once I get going most of what I write is straight on the laptop, I always have it with me. I often write by hand when I’m planning or if I’m stuck, or to draw relationships (character trees with lots of arrows and scribbles that wouldn’t make sense to anybody but me). I also have music on low most of the time: almost always Mark Knopfler. It’s like I hear certain tracks and my brain automatically switches to writing mode.

 

Do you have any pet peeves while writing?

I really can’t stand clocks that tick: they drive me to distraction. Indistinct background noise or low music is ok but NO radio or TV: the talking drives me up the wall.

To end this, what is YOUR personal favorite book, movie, show, and song?

I’m not good at favourites: my brain doesn’t work that way, and they change all the time. So this is a little vague. I love the Lord of the Rings (books and movies); I always have an endlessly rotating list of favourite books that isn’t in any real order – current favourites include: Quicksilver by RJ Anderson, The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E Pearson, Heart Shaped Bruise by Tanya Byrne. Favourite shows? Not in any particular order – Wicked, Phantom of the Opera. Songs? No surprises there! Mark Knopfler – I love Let it all go; 5:15 a.m. Loads more.

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Also, the UK cover reveal for the third book, Shattered was revealed very recently and it looks GORGEOUS! Below are the covers of the full trilogy together! PERFECT!

Have you read slated? If not, what do you think of the synopsis? Also, what do you guys think of these covers and which are your personal favorite?