Today, we have an interview with the lovely Jennifer Eaton. We've been on a library panel before, and let me tell you, Jennifer knows her stuff!
Hello Nicole! Thanks so much for having me!
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
I’ve read a few books by Jocelyn
Adams that have blown me away. She has a
crisp, fresh style that is really easy to read.
I hope that I can soak up a little of her talent by reading her books.
Linda
Caroll Bradd is also someone I have my eye on.
She writes Romance at the moment, but I’m hoping she will branch
out. She has a knack for making the
reader really care about her characters.
Great choices! What are your current projects?
I recently finished a Young Adult Urban Fantasy called FIRE IN THE
WOODS. It is an exciting high-paced
chase novel that takes place in the woods of New Jersey. I’m currently looking for a home for it.
I am
also working on a New Adult Dystopian called OPTIMAL RED which is a prequel to
my story LAST WINTER RED from the “Make Believe” anthology. OPTIMAL RED also has a taste of a “chase”
theme. I’m really enjoying getting deeper into the world that I created in the
first book.
They sound great! What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Finding the time to do it. I have a full time job, and I am also a full
time wife and mom. Finding that one hour
or so a day is tough sometimes, but I make it a priority. I just have to cut out other things, like television.
So true! Making time for writing is hard every day, but it's necessary. How long does it take you to write a book?
That depends on what you consider “writing a book.” I can get a first draft done in a little over
two months. Now, that is not to say that
I would let anyone READ that first draft.
At this point I have about two months of editing where I will insert setting and
emotional response (which I usually miss the first time around.) Then I send this draft out to 2-3 Beta
readers. They come back with their
comments in about two weeks. I then
revise off their comments and send it out again to another 2-5 beta
readers. The total time ends up being
about seven months of actual work on that title, and I take breaks to write
shorts in between drafts, so in calendar time it’s about a year total. I could
speed myself up if I wrote on weekends, but that’s my family time.
My rough drafts are very ROUGH. How did you come up with the title PAPER WISHES?
PAPER WISHES is about a family that writes their wishes on a piece of
paper, and then folds them into origami stars.
After a few weeks, they open them and see if their wishes come true.
PAPER WISHES seemed appropriate, not only for the obvious reason, but also
because wishes, in general, are blank like a piece of paper. It is the journey of making that wish come
true that really makes the difference in one’s life.
Is there a message in PAPER WISHES you want readers to grasp?
There are a lot of messages in
this book. Far more than I ever really
intended when I started writing. I’m always surprised when I get feedback on
this story what people get out of it. My
original intent was the message that wishes always come true, just not always
as you may have planned. But there are
also gentle themes of morality, family, regret, friendship, love, and so many
other simple messages that people can really relate to. All in all, I’m pretty proud of PAPER WISHES
from that respect.
BIO: While not off visiting other worlds, Jennifer calls the East Coast of the USA home, where she lives with her wonderfully supportive husband, three energetic boys, and a pepped up poodle.
Full time team leader, full time mom, and full time novelist... what more can you ask for? Writing help did you say? Well, sure! Jennifer hosts an informational blog aimed at helping all writers be the best they can be. Stop on by and chat. She loves to hear from fans! http://www.jennifermeaton.com/
Her contemporary sweet romance, Paper Wishes is currently
available in ebook format. The Dystopian
novelette “Last Winter Red” is available as part of the “Make Believe”
Anthology. Each title is available from
Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com and Smashwords.
Paper Wishes: Jill
has no idea what she wants for Christmas, but when it looks like her best
friend Jack is going to get exactly what he asks for, Jill makes a Christmas
wish that will change both of their lives forever.
Last
Winter Red: In search of a husband,
Emily leaves the safety of the city and risks her life stepping into the outside
world. What she finds there will
question the foundations of everything she believes in. Available as part of
the Make Believe anthology.
The
First Day of the New Tomorrow: Maya dreams of having everything she wants,
but when she gets it, she can’t give it back fast enough. (Coming in September,
2013 from Muse It Up)
Full link to Amamzon: http://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-M.-Eaton/e/B00BEP9L1E/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&qid=1375545914&sr=8-4&tag=jennifermeato-20
Full Link to Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/jennifer-m.-eaton
Thank you very much for having me today! I appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview. I hear you on fitting writing into the life of a working mom. Yep, television went from my life too. :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the interview. I understand what you mean about finding that done hour a day to really focus on your writing. When you've got so many other things going on, it can be difficult.
ReplyDeleteGlad you've got a great support system so you can pursue your writing dreams. Best wishes with each new release.