An Interview with Danielle Carpenter

Danielle Carpenter is a fiction and non-fiction writer living in Miami, FL. Her work often explores the relationship between technology and the natural world, futuristic societies, and the human condition.

Danielle holds a degree in creative writing and journalism from the University of Tampa. She is a passionate cat mom, a skeptical Sagittarius, and a self-proclaimed burrito connoisseur. Some say her best trait as a writer is not being afraid to kill off a main character by page eleven.

When she is not frantically typing on her keyboard, Danielle can be found traveling abroad with her husband, playing with her two cats, or thinking about what the world will be like when robots become sentient.

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

Coming up with a title for my book was something I thought about before I even started writing it. Over the course of my first, second, and third drafts, I went back and forth with title options. It wasn’t until I was ready to start submitting my manuscript that Fleeing Sanctuary came to me. It was an “aha” moment. A sanctuary is usually a place people run towards in times of trouble, but in Zeke’s world it’s a place he cannot wait to escape.

How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?

I was in awe! Ronaldo Alves did a phenomenal job of designing my book cover. I remember describing my novel’s themes and genre, as well as providing a few examples of other book covers I really liked. He provided several options to choose from, one of which was his own interpretation of my description and theme, that I instantly knew was Fleeing Sanctuary’s cover.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

The first time I remember wanting to be a writer was in fourth or fifth grade. I’ve always had a shy and reserved personality, so writing was an easy way for me to express myself to a larger audience without the pressure and anxiety that came from public speaking. I’m (a little) less shy now, but still love telling stories.

I’d also love to share some of my past and present influences! For writers, I really enjoy the writing styles of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Ray Bradbury, and Anne Rice. For art, I’ve always loved van Gogh and Banksy. Lately, I’ve also been really inspired by glassblowing and Turkish mosaics.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

Currently, I work as a Marketing Manager for a biotech company out of California. It’s a phenomenal day job, and I am just as passionate about my 9-5 as I am about being an author. Before that, I worked as a Content Writer, Agency Recruiter, Brokerage Assistant, and News Reporter. Briefly, I even considered a career in law, but am glad life redirected me—I think late-night case building would’ve really cut into my writing time!

What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

Knowing that the words I wrote may outlive me. I know it’s a little morbid, but the idea of connecting with readers now and in the future, and sharing the human experience, is so rewarding.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

It’s funny that you ask! Whenever I write, I always have music on—and I listen to a bit of everything. When I was writing Fleeing Sanctuary, I listened exclusively to The Glitch Mob’s Drink the Sea album on repeat. It’s moody, a little futuristic, and the limited vocals helped me focus while crafting dialogue.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

I hope they’re entertained! I’ve always loved reading and it has been a great way for me to “escape” to a different world for a while. Reading allows us to slip into another person’s shoes—try their life out for a bit—and return to our own world a little wiser, kinder, and understanding of different perspectives. I hope Fleeing Sanctuary can do that for anyone who picks it up.

What new writing projects are you currently working on? Or, other projects that are not writing?

A lot of my writing time has been spent outlining and planning my next novel in order to hit that 1,667/day word goal starting November 1st. Most people don’t know this, but Fleeing Sanctuary started in NaNoWriMo a few years ago, so I’m hoping to harness some of that momentum to start something new!

How was working with Atmosphere Press? What would you tell other writers who want to publish?

Atmosphere Press is a wonderful publisher backed by a professional, knowledgeable, and friendly team. I appreciate how collaborative the process is and how consistently I’ve been supported as an author, while retaining my creative freedom. I wouldn’t hesitate to work with Atmosphere Press again (maybe once I am finished writing Fleeing Sanctuary’s sequel)!

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.