Second author Q&A in a week!! I’m spoiling ye! 😉
Today, I have the lovely Jack Jordan answering my questions. Jack is the author of Anything For Her, which I read, loved and reviewed last month and you can read my review here.
Without further ado…
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
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(Photo Credit: www.TitusPowell.com)
I am an introvert disguised as an extrovert, an intelligent person who can say very unintelligent things, and a self-confessed bibliomaniac with more books than sense.
I have been writing for nearly six years now, and published my debut novel, Anything for Her, in June 2015. I am currently writing my second thriller, My Girl, which will be published in 2016.
How did you get into writing? Is it something you’ve always wanted to do?
Ever since I can remember, I have adored writing. My favourite school assignments were creative writing projects, but I never considered that writing could and would be my career.
I began writing novels by accident. I was seventeen and housebound due to severe anxiety, and began to write a short story to pass the time. That short story turned into a novel of 100,000 words. I didn’t even have the goal of writing a whole novel; I was simply engrossed in the story and cherished the stimulating distraction. Once I finished the novel, I realised what had happened: stuck in the overpowering gloom of anxiety and depression, I had found my career.
Ever since then, I have been unable to stop writing!
Where do you get your inspiration?
I constantly have about twelve or more projects whirling around in my mind, and decide to write the one project that is the most insistent of the lot! Many ideas spawn from TV shows, other novels, true stories, and my dark imagination. Something that may be the smallest plot point in one book/show/documentary/true story can inspire me to write a whole novel – and from there, my imagination takes it further and further until the story is completely different from what I first imagined – but better!
With Anything for Her, I was inspired by the strength of the love that mothers have for their children. The bond between a mother and her child is unbreakable, and the love is unconditional. Most mothers will tell you that they would do anything to protect their child. When writing Anything for Her, I wanted to explore just how far a mother would go to protect her child, and at what cost.
I loved Anything For Her, the twist towards the end was brilliant. Had you worked that out before you began or did the story develop itself?
Thank you – I’m so glad you liked it!
Looking back, it is quite hard to remember where and when the story changed during the whole writing and editing process, but as for the twist/outcome of the story, I learned early on that the twist had to happen to stay true to the story and the characters involved.
How would you describe your writing to anyone who hasn’t read your book?
If I were to describe Anything for Her in one word, it would be: dark.
When it comes to genres, my writing falls into the brackets of: thriller and crime fiction (and mystery/psychological), but if I were to describe my work, I would call it a chiller, rather than a thriller, due to the how dark my stories can go.
As a reader, I love books that genuinely scare/thrill me. The books I remember and recommend the most are books that have shocked me and disturbed me. I think my reading preference really influences how and what I write. I want readers to remember my characters and my stories, just like I remember such books that have shocked me.
Your next book, My Girl, comes out next year. Can you tell us a bit about it? 😉
Due to exciting book-related events happening in 2016, I feel I should keep my mouth shut – but the moment I can spill the beans on my next project, I will let you know immediately!
I often wonder if authors are voracious readers. Do you read much, and if so, what kinds of books do you enjoy?
I read at every available opportunity – which can annoy those who love me! Reading is my absolute favourite pastime, and probably my only hobby. By the end of 2015 I will have read over sixty books – and I must have read my own books over a hundred times each, too!
I read for work and pleasure. When I’m writing, I read books in similar genres to mine with an editor’s eye, and thoroughly enjoy the emotions that thrillers evoke.
As a reader, I love stories of all age and genre. I go through phases: for a few months I will read literary/contemporary/classic fiction, other times I will read commercial fiction, and read non-fiction books as research for my own work, as well as subjects that I feel passionate about.
I love books that scare me, thrill me, shock me, make me laugh, make me cry, and educate me (I also adore the smell of new books – could this be a hobby in itself? This would mean I have two hobbies – hooray!).
Do you think social media helps in regards to promotion and drumming up publicity for new book?
Personally, I feel it is absolutely essential. I have found that social media advertising is the most direct, cost-effective, and one of the most influential ways to promote a book. For writers like myself, whom don’t have the marketing budget of ginormous publishing houses, social media is the way to promote a book.
If people want to keep up with you, where can they find you?
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jackjordanofficial
Twitter: www.twitter.com/_JackJordan_
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jackjordan_author
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/jackjordan
My website: www.jackjordanofficial.co.uk
Massive thanks to Jack for answering my questions. I’m waiting patiently for details on My Girl!! 🙂
