Dishing it up with Saffina Desforges

I have the pleasure of having Saffina Desforges on my blog today. Saffina is a crime fiction and thriller writer who lives in England and has been writing since school.


First, it was stories about ‘what she did in her summer holidays’, then it was a “rather too imaginative” Halloween short story in Primary School that scared her classmates! She once got grounded when her mum received a call from a neighbor, complaining that the story she had told their son had given him nightmares; he still talks about it today!

Teachers described her as “talented, but easily distracted, with a vivid imagination!” There really was no other path for her.

It went from there…

JET: Can you tell us about your most recent book, Sugar & Spice?

Saffina: Well, it is not an easy read, that’s for sure! It is a hard-hitting, crime thriller that delves into one of THE taboo subjects; Paedophillia and explores the inner-workings of a paedophile’s mind, whilst also following the race to catch a serial killer.

JET: What drew you to the thriller genre?

Saffina: I have always read crime/forensic thrillers and so it seemed only right that I should write in that genre. Having said that, we are also working on many other projects that cross genres.

JET: What’s been your most challenging hurdle on the road to publication?

Saffina: Hmmn, it hasn’t been too bad a process to get it onto Amazon and Smashwords, the hard part is getting people to read it!

JET: What was your favorite moment in the journey?

Saffina: It is pretty cool when you see your book on Amazon and on Kindle for the first time and the nicest part is getting a great review, you know that you have written something that someone has enjoyed reading then.

JET: Which authors had the most influence over you growing up?

Saffina: Well, my co-author will say Enid Blyton and I have a hard time arguing with that. Her Magic faraway tree and the Wishing Chair series really do stick in my head from my youth. I mentioned before in a blog also that one of the first ‘proper’ mystery books I ever read was The Mystery of the crimson ghost by Phyllis A Whitney and that will stay with me always too.

JET: When did you know you wanted to take the plunge into the writing world?

Saffina: I have always written, right from being a child, but it was only really in the last two or three years that I believed I might actually be able to make a living out of it.

JET: What’s the craziest thing you’ve done in the name of book research? Most interesting fact you uncovered?

Saffina: That’s really a question for Mark, my co-writer, he did most of the research for Sugar & Spice, but the research for the third book in the series; Cold Blood, which is going to be about necrophilia should be interesting!

JET: Of all the novels and stories you’ve written - which one is your favorite? Why?

Saffina: That’s easy. Equilibrium: First blood, which is due out in the autumn is ‘my baby’ and is something that I have worked on for some time. Although it is a million miles away from the original draft, it has been in my head and my heart for many years. I just love the characters, even though some of them are very dark, they have lived with me for so long now, that I know them inside out.

JET: Any advice (from a writer’s standpoint) for the novices out there?

Saffina: Hey, I am still a novice myself! All I will say is, man up! It is a cut-throat, tough business and the competition is over-whelming. Do not expect an easy ride. Read, read some more and learn the basics of IT and social networking. Writing is very little to do with writing these days!

JET: All right - now that I’ve hammered you with the big questions, let’s tackle my favorite (and geeky) quick ten. . . starting with: Paper or Plastic?

Saffina: Plastic. And that may surprise you from a writer, but presently, I am a H&S manager in a plastics manufacturing facility, so I have to say that! ;-)

JET: Steak or Tofu?

Saffina: Steak!

JET: Beach or Mountains?

Saffina: Beach

JET: Country or Rock-n-Roll?

Saffina: Country

JET: Leather or Lace?

Saffina: Leather

JET: Angels or Demons?

Saffina: Demons!

JET: Paper or Digital?

Saffina: Digital – it’s the future

JET: Silent Film Classics or Cheesy B Rated Horror?

Saffina: Cheesy all the way!

JET: Classic werewolf or Modern werewolf?

Saffina: Modern

JET: Dark chocolate or White chocolate?

Saffina: White

JET: Thank you for indulging me. Before we wrap this up, can you tell us what you're working on now? What's next?

Saffina: Well, we have just released the US edition of Sugar & Spice, so we have been working on that:

http://www.amazon.com/Sugar-Spice-US-Thriller-ebook/dp/B004W0IJCU/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sugar-Spice-US-Thriller-ebook/dp/B004W0IJCU

The first book of the Rose Red crime series, Snow White is due out this summer and then Equilibrium should be coming to a Kindle/Nook near you in the Autumn. After that, a sequel to Sugar & Spice; Puppy Dogs’ tails and then who knows?

JET: Thank you so much for taking the time to chat on my blog. Folks, you can find out more about Saffina Desforges and her work at the following places:

http://sugarandspicethenovel.com/ (all editions can be bought from Amazon & B&N here)

http://saffinadesforges.wordpress.com/

http://sapphicscribe.wordpress.com/

http://roseredtheinsidestory.com/

http://www.saffinadesforges.com/

Thanks for swinging in and reading a little about Saffina and her books. Next week I’ve got Manic Monday with Misty Parker on the 16th and then I am dishing it up with Tracey Alley on Friday the 20th. Don’t forget to comment on these as well as the places I’m visiting for a chance at the Hunting Season Blog Tour Giveaway!

Until next time,

Ciao.

JET