Book: The Last Sane Awoken : Freedom

Q1. Hello Ma’am, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
My name is Stephany Barcomb. I was born in Puerto Rico and raised in Central Florida. Obviously, I love to write, but I also am an artist, an intermediate sewer, and love gaming and streaming casually. My lifelong dream was to write a book, then it upgraded to publish a book. My new life long goal is to make writing and drawing my work. There’s no better way to support yourself, family, and friends than doing exactly what you love most!
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘The Last Sane Awoken : Freedom’ book?
The book itself is different. I was worried people may find it too off putting, but after years of pushing myself, I finally got to a point of just doing what I love.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
The two books that stick out to me are Speak and Child Called It. While one is fiction and one is more of a biography, the impact those two books left on me was immense. I read them both in eighth grade, about 13 years old, because a teacher made us. Both focused on a different form of abuse and the survivor aspect of it. Reading such raw content helped me feel like I was not alone and the world truly was cruel to most. While it’s broken comfort, it is something we should keep bringing to light and make an active effort to better the lives of the next generation and those alive today.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
Within my own state, I love going to St. Augustine. Seeing the forts, the old jail, the fountain of youth is cool, but learning about life back in the day and seeing it with your own eyes is incredible. Many forts were built in Puerto Rico, which I have yet to see, and it can feel like I’m getting a taste of home and familial history while there.
My all-time favorite place has to be New York City. Manhattan has so much to offer. I love to eat and walk, so I can walk more than 14 miles and eat samples of delicious food all day long. The diversity is beautiful and being around a mix of people is where I am most comfortable. The city never sleeps, the food is amazing, fresh M&Ms are the best, and central park is simply gorgeous.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?
I think this depends on the person. My inspiration comes from movie scenes, games, but mostly seeing scenes to my music or dreaming scenes up. I started by writing the scenes that came to me, even if it was not chronological. It helped me get to know the world and the story so much more than outlining ever did. Once the story began to piece together, it was easier to start the book properly and string the events together.
My sister on the other hand outlines much more. She outlines all her chapters with lots of detail and follows her guideline. If she was told to sit and write a scene out of the blue, it would be difficult. We’re all so different in how we think, so I think if anyone were to look into getting into writing, try storyboarding, character development, outline, or just start writing random stuff and see what you like!

Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘The Last Sane Awoken : Freedom’ book?
The book itself took me less than a month. At the time, that was when the first and second book were together as one. Through editing, the entire book was split into Freedom, book 1, and Hope, book 2. I have up to book 7 written, but not heavily edited, so it’s possible the series may end up much longer than I originally anticipated.
Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘The Last Sane Awoken : Freedom’ book to buy?
Amazon and Barnes & Nobles are my two main sources to buy the book.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘The Last Sane Awoken : Freedom’?
The cover was drawn about 4 times by me. I tried a few different styles and none of them spoke to me, nor did I think it resembled the tone of the book exactly how I wanted. The final cover was a blend of few ideas. I wanted the main character on the cover, and I wanted this greyscale look to feel a sense of dread, a bit of horror, and a strange mix of hopelessness and ferocity.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
I let my characters tell me the story. Life is not predictable, so I want the book to mostly feel that way. Of course, to allow some events to happen there are small coincidences and I can see how people might say ‘But why didn’t they just do (blank)’? Think about it. When faced with real life, decisions are difficult. You do not always know what someone else is thinking or what their priorities are. Allow the characters to be themselves and there’s your story.
Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
There are many secrets in the entire series, which will be revealed in small doses. I will say this: the ancient Master Necromancers were a deadly, notorious bunch. The ancient Master Necromancers were among the first children created by the remains of Death’s flesh, the first few families of death sorcerers, necromancers. To ascend to masterhood grants the necromancer eternal life, so if they can protect their body from harm, they will live forever. Many of them are over 5,000 years old and from small tribal families. A couple of the main characters are related to a few of these ancient ones, bringing the descendants of these ancient ones much closer than they original thought.
Book Is Available On Amazon