1. Tell us about your book/books?
I have two series currently
available. The Legend of Oescienne
series (The Finding, The Beginning, The Awakening and Tales of Oescienne, a
short story collection). The Oescienne
books are a middle-grade, high fantasy series about Jahrra, a human infant
found and raised by dragons in a world where her kind no longer exist. The Otherworld series (Faelorehn, Dolmarehn
and Luathara in the original trilogy, and Ehriad, Ghalien and soon to be released
Lorehnin, all companion books) is a young adult, paranormal romance
collection. The trilogy tells the story
of Meghan Elam, a junior in high school who learns she’s immortal only after a
young man from the Celtic Otherworld rescues her from a pack of monsters. The other books in the Otherworld series are
told from the secondary characters’ points of view.
2. How did you get started as a
writer?
While in grade school I wrote
poetry, but I didn’t seriously get into writing until my final year in college. My entire life, I’d spun stories around in my
head, sketching characters and maps and creatures in my sketch books, but never
writing anything substantial. Then, at
the end of my college career, it dawned upon me that I wanted to write these
stories down. Maybe it had something to
do with finally being done with school.
I love learning and loved my Celtic Studies classes, so writing might
have been my way of continuing with that scholastic way of life.
3. What’s a typical day like for
you?
When I’m on a writing rampage, my
typical day consists of getting up around 4-4:15 so that I can get to Starbucks
by 5 am or so and write. I hang out at
Starbucks for two hours, then I go on to my day job. I work there until 3:30, then I get home and
take care of all my pets and get ready for the next day before relaxing for a
bit. I often check my email, check my
Facebook page, that sort of thing, before going to bed and getting up to do it
all over again. I also try to squeeze in
some time for reading. On the weekends I
try to sleep in J. Of course, I don’t do this every week. Eventually I burn out and let my mind
recharge before diving into another project.
4. Describe your workspace.
There is a room in the house that I
use for writing and my other art projects.
I call it the Renaissance Room and it is often cluttered (I’m a bit of a
pack rat) with books and fabric and many other things related to my creative
side. Sometimes, I like to get up early
and simply go into the Renaissance Room, with my tea and instrumental music,
and write until it’s time to go to work (or time for a break on my days
off). The walls are decorated with some
paintings I did in college, and some banners I sewed for my books. My grandparents’ old piano stands against one
wall and my long bow hangs above the closet on the other side. An old metal desk stands in front of window
that faces west, and looks out into my front yard.
5. Favorite books?
Pretty much anything by Sharon
Shinn (The Thirteen Houses series, the Archangel series etc.) and Ilona Andrews
(the Kate Daniels books and the Edge series).
I also love Crown and Court Duel
by Sherwood Smith and the Study books by Maria V. Snyder. And of course, I loved the Harry Potter books
and still count them among my favorites.
6. Tell us 3 interesting things
about you.
Honeybees are my favorite insect
and I have hive in my backyard, I threw the shot put and discus for the
University of California at Berkeley, and I’ve never ventured outside of the
United States (though I’d love to go to Ireland, Scotland and England).
7. Favorite quote:
Imagination is more important than
knowledge. Knowledge is limited, but
imagination encircles the world. – Albert Einstein
8. Best and worst part of being a
writer?
Best part: the birth of a new story
or series idea.
Worst part: not having enough time
to write and daydream (daydreaming is important to us authors).
9. Advice to writers?
Write down everything. An idea can come to you and you might think
it’s brilliant, then in the next second, stupid, so it gets thrown to the
wayside. Write it down anyway. Many authors fluctuate between loving their
books and hating them, so don’t give up so soon on a new idea. Perhaps it just isn’t ready to be cultivated
yet. Jot it down, put it away for a day
or a month or a year or more, then revisit it.
Jenna Elizabeth Johnson
Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Author
I love being able to learn more about Authors!
ReplyDeleteThanks for telling us about this author. I enjoy learning about new authors and their books.
ReplyDelete