![]() Welcome…well, me. What better way to get to know me than to let you ask me the questions? I recently gave a shout out to my facebook crew, and they’re looking for some answers. Here goes… When did you first realize that writing was what you wanted to do? (From Brenda C.) I’d honestly finished In the Dark just for myself, but when my hubby encouraged me to submit my story, I was hooked. Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your most recent book? (From Amy K.) It’s difficult because I don’t see them as anyone other than who they are. The closest for Faith would probably be Michelle Monaghan, so long as she portrays a sweet, strong, grown woman. Soren? Well, he’s a vampire, and he’s also his species version of a cop. How could he be anyone other than David Boreanaz? Were you good at English? (from Amy K.) Not at all! I got decent grades, but had no interest in the subject, and therefore never put forth a true effort. How much research do you do? (From Amy K.) I did do some research to know where vampire lore was the most saturated, but other than that, not much. The world my characters live in, for the most part, is within an underground city. It’s all in my head, and impossible to research. ![]() Did someone or something inspire you to write? (From Brenda C.) I was part of an online book club and someone started a thread called ‘pick a picture and write a scene’. I had no interest in participating because, well, I didn’t write. At all. With some gentle prodding, my book club friends encouraged me to give it a shot. So Ms. Colly, how did you get the idea for your books? (From Sigrun O.) The initial idea for this series was a complete accident. I’d picked my picture (same picture from the above question), and wanted badly to write about a pirate. I love pirates, but I couldn’t get a word out, until I realized the guy in the picture was not a pirate. He was a vampire. Once I’d figured that out, the story snowballed. From there, the many people that my vampire came in contact with all had their own path, and wanted their voices heard. Do you worry people who read your books in decades to come won't understand your references to movies or shows ? (from Amy K.) I hadn’t thought about it before. I did reference Peaches & Cream Barbie, and for those old enough to remember, they get an insta-image. Yes, I just gave away my age. Generations to come will recognize Barbie, but not the specific reference. Further down the road? Who knows? I don't usually understand the references thrown around today! What do you think of 'book trailers'? (From Amy K.) The concept is good, and I understand the marketing aspect, but I haven’t seen a good book trailer yet. If you’ve watched a decent one, send it my way. Seriously. ![]() What was your first romance novel? Did it change you as a reader? (From Jenn B) Wow, that’s digging back some years. I don’t remember the exact first one, only that mom hid a handful of Zebra romances under the bed. The only one I remember impacting me was The Pirate’s Captive by Dana Ransom. A pirate with a secret identity plotting revenge on the fiancé of the woman he loves? That is my kind of story. After that, I was always waiting for other books to live up to the complexity of this story. It made me a picky reader. Do you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser? (From Jenn B.) For those who don’t know the terms, plotter is exactly what you'd expect. An author creates an outline and basically follows the directions. A pantser is someone who writes by the seat of their pants, starting at the beginning and going straight on through to the end. Whatever happens happens. I’ve found over the years that I’m neither. I’m more of a quilter. When I dig into a story with the intent to finish, I already have over a dozen awesome quilt squares, or scenes. I read through them all, place them in sequence order, then sew them together as I fill in the gaps. I rarely have a beginning or an end planned out when I kick things off. Weird, right? Any tattooed, badass women? (from Amy K.) A couple heroines down the road do have tattoos. Baddass women? Only a few. In the world I’ve created, women do not take part in any sword swinging, gun toting, or law enforcement in general. I have to gradually introduce you to the ground-breakers so you can watch their world change. ;) Ladies, you had some great questions! Thanks so much for participating. Jen Colly
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![]() I recently took the time to interview an avid reader. Why, you ask? Because perspective is a beautiful thing. What draws you to a book? Spiffy cover? Back of the book blurb? Certain genre? When I look for books online, I hunt for reviews of a 4+ star. I do look for certain genres like adventure, paranormal, or romance. Typically, if I'm in the mood for a certain type of reading material, I search it out. Is there a genre you'd like to see more of? More sci-fi romances, please! I love science fiction and it seems like there are a few steampunk books that are just okay but not really well done. Fluff romance, flirting, and sex are a given, but I'd like to see more with technology and wit. Biggest heroine pet peeve? The woman that, even if she's a virgin, claims to be oblivious to everything. Come on. You can still be a virgin and know how sex works, especially in modern stories. How can one live under a rock for so long and be in your mid twenties? Hero pet peeve? Men do not always have to be ripped with muscles. Men can be so attractive intellectually that it's more of a turn on than rock hard abs. A man with a regular build and intense intelligence would be nice. Do you have an all time favorite hero? I really do. Wulfgar of Normandy. He's a favorite because he didn't understand women right away. He had to learn her. Had to ask help for how to woo her. He was humble enough to realize he didn't know everything. They grew together. ![]() All time favorite heroine? Jane Eyre, but close calls are Hester Prynne, Hermione Granger, Eowyn, Janie Crawford, and Lisbeth Salander. What's that book you can read again and again, and still fall in love with the story? On the Decay of the Art of Lying by Mark Twain. Loving the techno kindle/nook, or crave those pages in your hand? Both. The e-readers are great for me because I’m a mother of three. Sometimes I just don't have hands for holding and flipping pages. I turn the 'text-to-speech' on so the book gets read to me as i cook or clean or do dishes. For pure relaxation and for books I want added to my personal library, I want pages. I want pages wrapped in beautiful bindings. Fly that geek flag high! What is it you're currently obsessing over in the book, tv show, or movie world? Can't put down Crime and Punishment right now. Movie world would be Austenland. I could watch that over and over again and still laugh! My current TV show addiction is Continuum. Time traveling female cop. How much better can it get? :) Your reading diversity in genres, old and new, is so awesome to see! Thanks Amy K. for visiting us today. |
AuthorJen Colly is the author of the paranormal romance series: The Cities Below. Follow the Blog!Archives
February 2023
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