Here are three interviews with Vera, in which she talks about writing and publishing the Sand Runner series, and the literary, scientific, and technological inspiration behind it.
Buttonholed Book Reviews (2017)
The science and technology behind prosthetic limbs is fascinating, and advancing so fast that reality is starting to look like science fiction. But to me, the human side of the story is even more interesting. If we have technologies like bionic limbs, how would we use them and misuse them? And how would they change the way we live our lives?”
Liz Loves Books (2017)
In terms of what the readers can expect? High stakes, a fast-paced plot, and lots of suspense. SAND RUNNER was inspired by science and technology—specifically 3D printing and bionics. But that’s just the background. The story is really about a group of characters who have to learn to trust and rely on one other in life-or-death situations, even though they don’t always see eye to eye. And Kai is at the center of this. The story is about him finding out what he’s made of. And also what he wants in life, what he values, and how far he’s willing to go to fight for his dreams.”
Painting with Words (2018)
Writing is an amazing activity. You start with nothing but a blank page and your imagination & life experience, and you can create whole new worlds. I love that creative freedom, and the feeling that there are no limits to what I can imagine and write about.
I also love the surprises that come in the process of writing fiction. For me, writing is half careful, deliberate construction, and half a discovery process. The initial idea for a story or a novel can come from anywhere, and that’s always a thrill. (My advice: Write all the story ideas down. You may think you will remember them, but you won’t.) But after the initial idea, it can take me a good while to figure out the logic of the story and to fill in the details, and the final draft can be completely different from that original spark of inspiration.”
