Can you please share with us when
you knew you wanted to become a writer and how you got started?
I was always the kid in the corner
with a book, just wanting the world to leave me alone so I could read, and I
liked to write little poems and stories, but I never much thought about being a
writer as my main job. In high school and later, in college, a couple teachers
really encouraged my writing. I was there originally for math and computers,
but I switched over to English Literature. It was sort of a gradual process,
and I was always concerned about how I would pay the bills being a fiction
writer, but luckily I got the opportunity to develop my skills as an
advertising writer, so that’s my “day job.”
As for being published, that journey
took a while! I wrote 3-4 full finished novels before getting a book contract.
I’ve always been a writer who writes “neither fish nor fowl,” books that don’t
really have a niche. But I just kept at it. I just believed it would happen. I
think handling disappointment is as important a skill for a writer to learn as
comma placement.
How where you inspired to write the
Justine Jones: Disillusionist Trilogy?
The way I first got the idea was
that I had just read a hugely depressing sort of philosophical book that
takes a super dark view of humanity. It made me feel really awful, and I
thought, if I had an enemy, I
would give them this book as a gift,
so that they could feel as disillusioned as I did. (In fact, I actually
recommended it to somebody I was mad at. LOL I am a terrible person!) Then I
thought, what if there were people who disillusioned other people for
money? Hey, that would make a great book!
You knew this was coming- Can you
tell us will Justine ever forgive Packard for not telling her ALL the details
about joining the Disillusionist team?
Packard definitely has a lot of
groveling to do! “Certain writers” might even put Packard through a little bit
of hell for what he did. Though, I believe people deserve a chance at
forgiveness if they try to make up for a thing they are sorry for. That’s all
I’ll say!
What are some of your favorite TV
shows and/or movies?
I have been enjoying the excellent
cable shows out in the past few years: Breaking Bad, The Wire, Dexter, The
Shield, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Office. Loved that recent Star
Trek movie, too! I’m also a big Buffy and Star Trek fan girl.
If you could collaborate with any
author who would you pick and why?
Wow, this is an interesting
question. I think it would be fun to collaborate with Nicole Peeler, because
she has some really smart and interesting ideas on the genre. Also, I love
reading historicals, but could never write one, so I’d imagine I’d enjoy
working with a historical writer I love, like Carolyn Jewel, Deanna Raybourn,
or Meredith Duran. Writers like that would make up for my deficiency in writing
intelligently about the past. And I guess I can offer…errr….a way with mutants?
LOL
Can you give us a few teasers for
Double Cross?
Ooh!! Okay: There is more of Simon,
and he gets a love interest. So does Shelby! And, it will become crystal clear
who Justine is destined to be with. And somebody does something very bad. And
there is a major secret thing that happens in it, and I am really paranoid
about it getting spoiled in reviews. And finally, don’t read the ending first.
It will really screw things up for you!!
I really appreciate you taking the
time for the interview! I am a huge fan and I can not wait for Double Cross to
be released.
Thank you SO much for having me
here! I’m really happy and excited that you invited me.
