Interview with Author Jessica James:
Hi Jessica. Thank you for doing this interview. I would like to welcome you to the Romance at Heart Interview and Author Grilling session. *bg* We are interested to find out as much about you as we possibly can, so lets get started...
- Please tell us about your latest book.
Shades of Gray is a historical romance novel set during the American Civil War. It has won numerous awards, and has twice climbed to #1 on Amazon in the romance/historical/U.S. category, temporarily moving ahead of Gone with the Wind.
In a nutshell, the novel follows a Confederate cavalry officer and a Union spy as they grapple with their convictions, principles and love for one another.
- What can we expect from you in the future?
I’m working on a second Civil War novel called Above and Beyond, in which the heroine plays the part of a strong Unionist in Virginia while secretly spying for the Confederacy. I chose this plotline because I can’t imagine the courage and strong will it would take to work alone, and be despised and maligned by family and friends who think you are siding with the enemy. I think it could be argued that it would take more strength and fortitude than fighting an outright battle with hundreds of your comrades surrounding you.
- How do we find out about you and your books?
www.jessicajamesbooks.com
www.jessicajamesblog.com
Book Trailer
- How may readers contact you?
My email is writefromthepast@yahoo.com, and the basket is what I am giving away on my blog tour.
- How many readers/fans contact you?
A good many readers are able to find my website and then email me. Most of them want to tell me that I kept them up all night because they didn’t finish Shades of Gray until the wee hours of the morning.
- Do your fans' comments and letters influence you in any way?
Yes, when I hear readers compare Shades of Gray to Gone With the Wind and Cold Mountain it gives me confidence to keep writing – even when I’m having a bad day.
- Do you have a favorite comment or question from a reader?
In addition to the “you kept me up all night” comments, I’ve also heard from a number of readers who say Shades of Gray made them laugh AND cry, so I know they were emotionally involved with the characters. For some reason, hearing comments like that come from male readers touches me even more.
- How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?
Sometimes I think there is a lot of a past life in my writing, but none from this one.
- Generally, how long does it take you to write a book?
Judging from Shades of Gray… 20 years.
- Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?
No schedule, but I write better in the morning.
- What is your writing routine once you start a book?
If I have no other commitments, I write from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and have to be reminded to eat. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen very often, so I write when I can.
- What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?
I enjoy gardening, horseback writing, visiting Southern plantations and driving down dirt roads in Virginia.
- Where do your ideas come from?
Everywhere. Dreams. Conversations. Epitaphs on tombstones. Lyrics from songs.
- Do you feel humor is important in women's fiction and why?
Absolutely. I think a mixture of humor and drama is essential to keep things from getting too serious.
- What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels, do you find them difficult to write?
Yes, I find them difficult because I try to show love through romantic gestures and intense emotions, not sex.
- Would you like to write a different genre than you do now, or sub-genre?
Yes, I have a few ideas for some contemporary novels, including one with a NASCAR setting.
- What does your husband think of your writing?
He’s very supportive, though I think a little mystified by the whole thing.
- Do you ever ask him for advice?
All the time, He’s my sounding board.
- Please tell us about yourself (family, hobbies, education, etc.)
My first love was always animals, especially horses, so I earned a degree in veterinary technology and started working as a vet tech at a state-of-the-art horse hospital. Unfortunately, I found that to be a pretty depressing career, so I went back to school and earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations/journalism. I worked as a newspaper reporter, and then an editor, and also went to grad school at night where I earned a master’s degree in communications. I left the newspaper profession after 18 years when I was hired as a spotlight operator for a Broadway show that was performing for three months in my town. (A slight change of career, right?) I continue to work part-time as a stagehand as a way to offset the long sedentary hours I spend at my computer.
- Fill in the blank favorites -
Dessert - Cheesecake
City - Charleston S.C.
Season - Autumn
Type of hero - Strong/mysterious/masculine
Type of heroine - Independent with a vulnerable side
- Do you have a favorite author? Favorite book?
No, I don’t have a favorite, but I admire Kenneth Roberts, author of Northwest Passage.
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
Would love to be writing full time.
- After you've written your book and it's been published, do you ever buy it and/or read it?
Sometimes I think I would like to sit down and read it again – but it’s a little scary. I’m afraid I’ll find things I want to change.
- Among your own books, have you a favorite book? Favorite hero or heroine?
I have a number of novels started, but my favorite will always be Shades of Gray and my favorite hero will always be Colonel Alexander Hunter.
- What are the elements of a great romance for you?
A slow-building romance that involves a lot of conflict and just enough ups and downs to keep the reader turning pages.
- Are you in control of your characters or do they control you?
They control me.
- What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?
There are two things that I really do thank goodness for every day. One is getting to hear the traffic report when I’m home in my pj’s sitting at my computer. The other is hearing from readers who were moved to tears by Shades of Gray and continue to think about the characters. I’m not sure there could be anything more rewarding to a writer than that.
Thank you very much for taking the time with us and answering our questions. I really appreciate this interruption to your busy schedule. Good Luck, and we will be looking forward to the next delightful creation from your talented imagination!
Yours in good reading,
Rose!
Author Links:
Website Email Blog Book Trailer
RaH Links:
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Purchase Links:
Buy Jessica's Books At Amazon