Fixer received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Sally Vedros.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
My novel’s name is Fixer and it was published in June of 2020. You can learn more about Fixer here.
What’s the book’s first line?
“On the day she met Diego, Meghan lost her job.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Here’s the official pitch!
Diego and friends navigate the booming tech culture of post-millennium San Francisco as they build the ultimate life hack app that will change the world forever. As they establish their startup, real life bites back, and each must make tough choices to commit to his or her own ambitions.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
Love it or hate it, the tech industry has shaped San Francisco over the past 25+ years or so. My life and career (and my world view to some degree) have also been shaped by it for just as long. I’ve reflected deeply on tech culture, and my experience of it, for so many years now, that I just had to get it out of my head and onto paper. Although none of the characters are based on me or anyone I know, they all share some of my personal experiences. And to be honest, there is a little bit of me in all of them. Writing can be like a therapy session!
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
Curiosity – who are the people behind those seemingly magical apps that you depend on every day? What motivates them to do what it takes — essentially, go “all in” — to make their vision a reality? What toll does it take on their personal lives and the people around them? All is revealed through the twists and turns of each character’s circumstances and choices.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
Diego is a maker and a visionary. He is unshakable in his desire to build something that pushes the limits of what’s possible and changes the world as we know it. He is so caught up in the promise of it all, that he doesn’t think about the ethics of his creation. I think of him as part Steve Wozniak, part Dr. Frankenstein.
If they made your book into a movie, who would you like to see play the main character(s)?
I’d pick Diego Boneta to play Diego and Emma Stone to play Meghan.
When did you first decide to become an author?
I’d written short stories in the past, but never something as lengthy and complex as a novel. It’s a project that requires a huge commitment. A few years ago, I got laid off from my job and suddenly found myself with the time and energy to start working on a draft that eventually became Fixer.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
Yes! And hopefully, it’s not the last!
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I write for a living, so I’m always writing! As a content marketer, I help startups and corporate clients tell their product or brand story. You can learn more about me at: www.sallyvedros.com
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
I’m very inconsistent with my personal writing. I tend to binge-write when I have big chunks of free time. That said, recently I participated in NaNoWriMo for the first time. I was delighted to discover that I could make good progress by focusing on only a couple of pages at a time during short writing sessions. That has been quite a revelation for me!
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
Self-publishing is fairly straightforward, but marketing your book is tremendously challenging. It’s so hard to rise above the noise out there. You feel in control, but also like a commodity. The whole process is also really expensive and time-consuming.
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
Don’t give up — it really is worth it to see all your hard work reach its full potential.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
I would definitely consider going traditional. It would save me loads of time and worry. I would no longer feel torn between having a relaxing weekend or working on a slew of book marketing tasks.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
I think my first book was really just for myself. I wanted to see if I could do it at all. Eventually, I would love to be known for a distinctive body of work.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
My all-time favorite writer is Jeanette Winterson, author of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, The Passion, Written on the Body, and many other novels. She is a true master of language and unconventional storytelling.
Which book do you wish you could have written?
I just published the book that I wish I had written years ago!