Amanda Pillar is an USA Today Bestselling author and award-winning editor who lives in Australia. Amanda has had numerous short stories published and has co-edited the fiction anthologies Voices (2008), Grants Pass (2009), The Phantom Queen Awakes (2010), Scenes from the Second Storey (2010), Ishtar (2011) and Damnation and Dames (2012). Her first solo anthology, Bloodstones, was published by Ticonderoga Publications in 2012 and was followed by the sequel, Bloodlines in 2015.
Amanda is the author of the Graced Series, the Heaven’s Heart series, and co-author (with K.V Adair) of the Moonlit Hills series.
In her day job, she’s an archaeologist.
1. Tell us about your recent publications/projects?
I am currently working on the fifth book in the Heaven’s Heart series – a paranormal romance series featuring, angels, gods, demons and plenty of action and adventure. The fourth book also had an archaeologist character, in response to my many author friends and readers wanting to see my day job expressed in fiction. Side note: the character’s job is way cooler.
I am also working on a soon-to-be announced charity anthology featuring a range of exciting international authors.
2. What has been the best publishing experience of your career so far?
It’s so hard to say. The moment I signed the contract for my first novel with my former publisher was pretty special. But so was working on the numerous anthologies I’ve been lucky enough to edit. Winning the Aurealis for Bloodlines was amazing, too.
One of the biggest highlights is meeting so many great people. I love my author network and have many close friendships as a result.
As for recent good things – in February, I attended the author signing called Ballgowns and Books Event (BABE), which was fantastic. It had a number of Australian and international authors, and I met so many great people there. Plus, ballgowns.
3. Which recent Australian/NZ work would you recommend to international fans interested in expanding their Antipodean spec fic knowledge?
I’ve barely had time to read lately, so I don’t have any recent publication recommendations. And I’ve seen so many great recommendations by the other Snapshot authors I don’t want to just repeat, as there’s so many talented Aussie authors.
So I’m recommending a new author to me – who I met at BABE. I’ve just started Grace McGinty’s Newly Undead In Dark River series and I’m loving it. She’s a paranormal romance author, and I’ve been expanding more into that genre myself in recent years.
Australian SF Snapshot Project 