Interview with author Simone Pond

Do dreams ever inspire your writing? What did you last dream about?
Absolutely! I have very strange dreams that stick with me throughout the day. The last dream that inspired me was about me consoling my friend who was crying about her failures and I told her, "We're all sinners saved by grace." I kept hearing that in my head all day long, so I had one of my characters use it.

When did you first start writing? And when were you first published?
I first started writing when I was twelve years old. I published my first book when I was thirty-six years old. I took the long way around.

Can you tell us a little about your latest book?

The current book, The Mainframe, follows two main characters. The first one is Ava and she’s been around for the entire series. She started out naive but highly intuitive, but by the third book she’s a powerhouse. The other main character is her rebellious daughter, Grace, who wants to do things her own way to prove her independence. She’s fearless and courageous, but her desire to be independent pushes others away, including her mother. They both have to go up against the bad guy, Chief Morray.

What inspired you to write it?
It's the third book in my series and I came up with the idea while I was working on the first book, The City Center. I wanted to bring another female lead into the mix, hence Ava's daughter, Grace.

Who designs your covers?
Damon Za

If your latest book was made into a film, who would you cast?
I'd love to see Michael Fassbender as Chief Morray. For the younger version of Ava, I picture Bonnie Wright. For the older version of Ava, I think Byrce Dallas Howard would be great. For Grace, I'm liking Elizabeth Gillies.

What were the last two books you read?
The longest books I've ever known: Under the Dome and The Stand (almost finished...)

Name one female author you think deserves to be better known.
Margaret Atwood.

Where do you write?
At the dining room table most of the time. But I'll hit up a coffee shop at least once a week to see other humans.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I have OCD and my house is super clean and organized.

Who would play you in the movie about your life?
I hope nobody ever makes a movie about my life!

Tell us an interesting fact about where you live.
I live in a city that celebrates Botox.

What are your (writing) plans for the future?
I'm working on a collection of short stories inspired by my book series. After that I'll write another book, just not sure about what. Maybe a fourth book in the New Agenda Series.

Tell us one thing that's on your bucket list.
Take a road trip through Italy.

Name one of your all time favourite songs.
Pete Yorn's cover of Never My Love.

What do you listen to whilst writing?
I keep my iTunes on shuffle so anything goes from hip-hop to classical.

Who (or what) did you want to be when you were a kid?
A writer.

As a young girl, Simone Pond loved writing in her journal and making up stories, but after reading S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders, everything changed. Amazed that a woman could write so convincingly from a teenage boy's perspective, Pond became determined to become a writer as well.
In 2013, Pond released The City Center, the first book in her dystopian fiction series. A fast-paced tale of love and adventure that will appeal to young adults and seasoned readers alike. The second book in the series, The New Agenda, was published in May of 2014. The City Center and The New Agenda are best sellers in Amazon's post-apocalyptic science fiction category, and The City Center was the recipient of a gold medal award from Readers' Favorite.
The third book in the series, The Mainframe, is scheduled to be released in December 2014.
Pond currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their Boston Terrier. Learn more about her and her writing at simonepond.com
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