NYT bestselling Author of Dark Fiction: July 2012

Readers! Check it out:

Win an eCopy of THE MAYFAIR MOON

THE MAYFAIR MOON on Amazon

&

An eCopy of the Awesomely Anticipated sequel KINDRED

KINDRED

HERE!

*one week*

Winners chosen by Random.org on July 27, 2012:

Rules:

Post your comment here with an email contact included.

Get extra points for:

Fanning/friending Jessica on Goodreads

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Chatter with Author J.A. Redmerski:

Jessica, you've blown it out of the park with your dark urban fantasy, “new adult” novel, The Mayfair Moon. To what do you attribute to your growing success?

Well, it was a combination of a lot of different things, of which most Indie authors also already do: hardcore promoting, contacting book reviewers, etc. I even quit my job so that I could spend the majority of my days writing and contacting reviewers. But I’m going to be completely honest when I say the one thing that actually made the biggest difference in the ‘shortest’ amount of time was when I had the new cover made for THE MAYFAIR MOON. I guess it’s really true that books are greatly judged by their covers. The very day I uploaded the new cover, it seemed that more readers were willing to take a chance on the book itself. Lastly, I made author and blogger friends and not just tried to network with people for the sole purpose of promoting my book. And it’s very easy to spot the difference!

What made you choose to go Indie? What is your advice to other authors that don't wish to go the “legacy publishing” route?

I chose to go Indie for the same reason a lot of Indie authors do: a long, treacherous road of agent rejections. I got tired of my books sitting in my computer collecting digital dust knowing that when I finally did land an agent that it would be months or even years more before I landed a publisher. THEN it would be another 1-2 years before I ever saw my work in print. I have nothing against the traditional publishing route, but ultimately my choice became Indie and I’m happy about my decision. My advice: Do what you feel you need to do, but if you go Indie, remember that editing is very important!

Where did you get your idea(s) for your novel, The Mayfair Moon?

I’ve been asked this question a lot so I might sound like a broken record, but here goes: I searched and searched for a YA werewolf book that depicted werewolves in that beastly, terrifying, Underworld-style sort of way, but to no avail. That’s what I wanted to read! When I couldn’t find any YA books out there like that, that’s when I just decided I was going to have to write my own and so The Darkwoods Trilogy was born.

What type/style of a writer are you? Seat-of-Your Pants? Outline Queen? Master Plotter?

I start out as a Seat-of-My-Pants writer, diving right into whatever feels right, but by the time the first book is over (if it’s a series) I become a sort of Master Plotter as far as details go. But I never outline anything and half the time I’m not sure where I’m going with a scene (or an idea – my adult contemporary dark fantasy novel DIRTY EDEN is the perfect example!) until the light bulb flashes over my head.

Did you model any character after a real person? Is there a character that resonates with you?

No, I didn't model any of the characters after anyone, but I can say Adria turned out a little like me as far as growing up in a troubled life, but her life was totally different than mine was.

What is your hope for readers to experience by reading your novel?

I just want people to enjoy it. I’ve been writing since about the age of thirteen and all I ever cared about was writing something enjoyable and somewhat memorable. I love stories. I love to tell them, read them and be a part of them. And with THE MAYFAIR MOON, I really wanted to create something that I loved because I think you have to love your story before anyone else will.

Is there a playlist that you listen to that inspires you while you're writing?

I never listen to music while I write – I have to have complete quiet – but I do have several CD’s I made full of music that I’ve sort of dubbed THE MAYFAIR MOON soundtrack. So, usually I’m driving down the street thinking about scenes in my books. Some songs that inspired scenes in THE MAYFAIR MOON are Arcana – Wings of Gabriel, Florence and the Machine - Howl and Godsmack – Serenity. You can see a good list I recently made with scene detail here: http://wefancybooks.blogspot.com/2012/07/playlist-monday-4.html?showComment=1341842260033#c8641649566827647334

Who is your favorite author? Is there a certain genre you read [in] exclusively?

My favorite is a toss-up between Neil Gaiman and Anne Rice, but their styles are so different that I can’t really say I prefer one more. And I tend to read a lot of genres and don’t really have one I read more than another, I guess. It’s all about atmosphere with me and I read whatever I’m in the mood for at the moment.

Are you a DTB (Dead Tree Book) reader, or do you use a dedicated reader? What do you predict for the future of these two formats?

It scares me to think that physical books will be obsolete one day – I love books! Like a lot of people, I love the smell of them, the way they rest in my hand and I love to hang out at bookstores. I guess I’m contributing to the fall of books by having a Kindle, but I like the Kindle, too, for all of its obvious uses.

You have just released book #2, Kindred. What are a few things the reader can expect from book three? Do you have ideas for a different series?

Book three, THE BALLAD OF ARAMEI, will tie up all of the loose ends and I have to say that it will likely be the most action-packed of the three. There’s a lot to sort through and I can guarantee that at least one of two things I have in store for book three, no one will see coming. As far as a new series, the next two-book story I intend to publish is more-so an old story I’m resurrecting (those two are finished novels, but need extensive editing). Though, it will also be a ‘Praverian Chronicle’. And I’m thinking of writing a side story on a key character revealed in KINDRED, but I’m not sure.

How has your experience as an author been different from what you expected?

I didn’t expect to be as stressed out as I have been. Sometimes I wish I was back in my own little world, writing stories for myself and not throwing myself to the sharks every day. But at the same time, I’m glad to be able to put something out there that some people enjoy and I appreciate all of the praise and kind words I’ve received for my work.

Lastly, now that you've written three, full-length works, how long do you think it would take you to write a full-length novel to the rough draft stage? When do you expect to release book three?

KINDRED took me about three months and that was to the rough draft stage. After editing and re-reading (about five or six times) and going through beta readers, it took about five months total, I guess. I can’t predict when book three will be released, but I’m hoping for some time around November or December, but don’t hold me to that!

Click HERE for my review of THE MAYFAIR MOON~

J.A. (Jessica) Redmerski is a Contemporary Fantasy and New Adult (17+) writer - author of THE MAYFAIR MOON and DIRTY EDEN. She's a werewolf & zombie fanatic, book addict and a happy hermit obsessed with the Universe and AMC's THE WALKING DEAD. She lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas with her three children and a Maltese.

Some authors that inspire Jessica are Neil Gaiman, Anne Rice, Cormac McCarthy, Max Brooks, J.K. Rowling, Richard Matheson, William R. Forstchen, Carrie Ryan and Lisa Smedman.