- What is your “day” job if you are not
a full time author?
-
I’m
a full-time graphic designer, who tries very hard to squeeze writing in on the
weekends.
- If you wrote a book about your life
what would the title be?
-
I
actually stumbled on the perfect title in a blog post I wrote a few weeks ago
where I tried to describe the ups and downs of my
life-balancing-writing-process. “Fear and Fever.”
- What is the hardest thing about being
an author?
-
It
can be hard to keep track on things. I’m currently in the middle of revising
the second book of the THREE WILLOWS series, and whenever I make changes, I
have to make sure it’s reflected in the rest of the manuscript, as well as the
third book. The revision ripple effect is something I struggle with, for sure.
- What is the best thing about being an
author?
-
I
will say the best thing about self-publishing is you get to make all the rules.
Set your own deadlines. Explore your own niches, regardless of market trends.
There’s a real freedom in it, as well as a risk.
- Have you ever been star struck by
meeting one of your favorite authors? If so who was it?
-
I
believe the first (and only) author I’ve met was Avi. We were at a school
book-themed event, and he spoke to the students about writing his novel
CRISPIN: THE CROSS OF LEAD. This was in 2002, so I was 11. If anyone remembers
this book, please let me know!
- What book changed your life?
-
I
was in a rather dark place in my life. I was struggling to settle into a new
city and new job, there wasn’t a lot about my life I was enjoying. In an effort
to motivate myself to take longer walks with my dog, I re-downloaded the
Audible app and found a book I’d forgotten I’d purchased. THE CLOCKWORK SCARAB
by Colleen Gleason. Sherlock Holmes’s niece and Bram Stoker’s younger sister
team up to solve supernatural mysteries in steampunk London. I devoured all
five books. They reminded me that reading could be FUN and stories could be
exciting and inventive and cool. These books got me back into reading, which,
by extension, pushed me to write. Thank you, always, Colleen Gleason.
- What were some of your favorite books
growing up?
-
I
was a high fantasy fiend when I was growing up. I used to buy books based on
whether they included interior maps. A book from my childhood that I will go
back to time and time again is DRAGON RIDER by Cornelia Funke. Read it if you
haven’t. Or better still, listen to the audiobook. It’s an experience. That may
be the first instance I can think of of encountering a found family story, and
it warms my heart to this day.
- What books are currently in your to be
read pile?
-
Ohhhhhhh
so many. Immediately next on my list is THE DECAGON HOUSE MURDERS by Yukito
Ayatsuji, HEAVEN by Mieko Kawakami, and HEX by Rebecca Dinerstein Knight. I’m
also very much looking forward to Kalynn Bayron’s THIS POISON HEART.
- Which do you prefer ebooks, print, or
audio books?
-
It’s
a tie between print and audio, for sure. There are some books I can’t imagine
experiencing the other way. Tara Sands performance of FOUNDRYSIDE and Robin
Miles performance of THE FIFTH SEASON sucked me into their respective worlds
completely. But there is nothing quite like the feeling of holding a book, is
there?
- If you could live inside the world of
a book or series which world would it be and why?
-
Now
that I’m thinking about that book, I think I would pick the world of Robert
Jackson Bennett’s FOUNDERS series. I’m very intrigued by the notion of magical
technology, and being able to “convince” objects to behave in ways they usually
can’t.
Excerpt
A throat-clearing sound brought Jessalyn’s attention back to the man who was looking at her with an expectant eyebrow raised. She’d been quiet for too long. “Right,” she said. “Please come in.”
Samuel Brooks dipped his head like a gentleman and crossed the threshold into her home. He removed his hat and ran a hand through his slightly wavy light brown hair. Something about the way he moved bothered Jessalyn. He stepped smoothly, effortlessly, without any of the hesitation one would expect to read in a stranger entering uncharted territory. Yet he was already looking past her, at the space he had been assigned to live in, and he seemed comfortable. He filled it up, like water pouring from pitcher to glass, easily taking shape as if he was always meant to be there. Jessalyn felt her lips tighten. She straightened her spine, the way she commanded her students’ attention. He still had about two inches on her. Damn. Opportunities, Jessa. Opportunities.
"This is the house," she said, gesturing to their surroundings. "You'll take the spare room, just over here, beneath the stairs. You're welcome to use any of the common spaces. You are responsible for your own meals and washing." While she spoke, Samuel Brooks followed along, but was mostly looking at her. She fought back an urge to roll her shoulders again. "Rent will be due on the first of the month. If you have any questions about the town, I will do my best to answer them. Regarding work, there are many ranches that are always looking for extra hands. I'd be happy to put in a word for you, if you like." Jessalyn reached the end of the speech she had prepared for this morning.
Samuel Brooks took a moment, then said, "I'm sorry, this is overwhelming. I feel like this entire town is bending over backward to curry favor with a man they just met."
From his demeanor of comfort, Jessalyn hadn't expected this sort of a reaction at all. "We like to be hospitable here in Three Willows. Anyone who comes here ought to feel welcome. We're glad to have you," she said, echoing Ebenezer's token greeting.
Samuel's mouth turned up in a crooked grin. "You know, it's gotta be the third or fourth time someone has said that to me. But coming from you, it doesn't seem like there's an ounce of truth in it."
Jessalyn stiffened. She did not appreciate being analyzed. "Did you need my help at all with your bags, or...?" If Samuel Brooks was the sort of man who needed a clear boundary set, she was more than happy to do that.
Yet still, he grinned. "No, I'm all right. Again, thank you, uh... Jessalyn, was it?"
"Ah-"
"Do you prefer 'Lyn?'"
"No, I think-"
"Or just 'Jessa?'"
Jessalyn flinched. No one had ever shortened her name as a sign of endearment until she'd met Amos. She'd never been dear to anyone until she met Amos. Hearing that nickname come from another man's mouth sent chills up her spine. She hated hearing it. "I think ‘Mister Brooks' and 'Miss Joy' will suit us for the time being," she said coldly.
"That right?"
Was there nothing she could say that would wipe the smile off this man's face? "It's the name I'm most used to hearing. I'm 'Miss Joy' to my students."
Samuel stuck a hand in his pocket and leaned back. "Right, right. The good mayor mentioned you were the schoolteacher." He chuckled, shaking his head at the floor.
"Something funny?"
"I was just remembering my teacher. Missus Hughes. Old, crotchety woman, armed with a ruler at all times." He set his pack down and nearly doubled over, shaking his fist in a pantomime of brandishing a ruler, then laughed again at his own impression. Straightening up, he said, "Maybe if I'd had something as nice to look at as you, I would have paid more attention in class."
Jessalyn stared at the man in a mixture of shock, horror, and anger. Did he think at all about the words that left his mouth? Was he such a free spirit that he imagined he was liberated of all consequences? Perhaps his days in the desert burnt away his knowledge of manners. "Mister Brooks-"
"I really wish you'd call me Sam."
"Mister Brooks!" Jessalyn was nearly shouting. Shouting at a stranger in the middle of her own house. Ridiculous. "Do you require anything else from me at the moment? If not, I'd like to resume my work."
"Just one last thing."
"And that is?"
"An answer."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Why the sudden desire to take on boarders?" Samuel asked. "Are you so hard up for money in this paradise town of yours?"
"I don't think that's any of your business, Mister Brooks."
"Isn't it?" Samuel spun in a slow circle, taking in the house again. "Young woman, whole house to herself? How am I to know I'm not being set up? Maybe I'm lodging with the Black Widow of Three Willows and tomorrow morning will find me with my throat cut and my pockets emptied." He lifted his hands and wiggled them like spider legs.
"I am doing you a favor-"
"You're doing me a service. There's a difference. I am paying you, you know. You have to see how suspicious this looks."
This man was a clown. A rude clown. Heat rose in Jessalyn's chest as she listened to him. This wasn't how this was supposed to go.
Amos wouldn’t have fought back. A hospitable lady of town wouldn’t have fought back. But Jessalyn couldn’t stop herself. "No more suspicious than a man who moves to a town with nothing but a horse and a name and manages to sweet talk his way into my home."
Samuel narrowed his eyes, the grin drifting to one side, sly. "You don't trust me."
"I do not know you, Mister Brooks."
"Well, there'll be plenty of time to remedy that."
That was it. "I think not," Jessalyn said in her strongest reprimanding tone. "Mister Brooks, I have acquiesced to providing a roof for your head, but this does not entitle you to a window into my personal life. We are not friends. We are not even familiar. Keep your distance." With that, she flew up the stairs to her own room and slammed the door.
A low whistle echoed throughout the house.
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