JeanzBookReadNReview: AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Thursday, 3 January 2013

AUTHOR INTERVIEW - JULIE CROSS

Did you always want to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?

I just began writing in May of 2009 and before that, I wanted to be a gymnastics club owner.

When did you first consider yourself as a "writer"?

It took me awhile to actually admit to being a writer. I probably didn't really call myself that until I had a book deal. Before that I was writing as a hobby.

Which of your books were easier/harder to write than the others?

The books I wrote before Tempest were mostly realistic teen novels with no supernatural or paranormal/sci-fi aspect and those are all much more simple to write. Tempest is so complex and takes many, many proof reads to get everything right. But Tempest is also such a fun plot to build and sometimes that makes it easier to write.

Do you have plans for a new book? Is this book part of a series?

Tempest is part of a trilogy. The second book, Vortex, releases in January 2013 in the US and UK . After the third Tempest novel, I do plan to keep writing but I'm not sure what I'll write yet.

If you had to choose to be one of your characters in your book/books which would you be? and why?

I wouldn't be Jackson , that's for sure...poor guy has so much to deal with. I'd probably be Adam because he's super smart and that does come in handy.

Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?

With Tempest, my editor actually helped come up with the title and that happened when the first draft was almost complete. Titles are not my strength but every once in while I come up with a good one.

Have you ever suffered from a "writer's block"? What did you do to get past the "block"?

I have had some minor problems with writer's block occasionally, but nothing too severe. I think that's because I write fast and sloppy on the first try and I'm usually okay with changing nearly everything. A lot of people who have writer's block tend to be more of a perfectionist than I am. I work to get things perfect in the end but not on the first shot. There's nothing wrong with either method, but one comes with more blockage than the other. I do like to write secret diaries for my minor characters and side-kicks if I'm stuck. It gives you a break from the main story but still keeps you with the characters.

Is there a certain Author that influenced you in writing?

Young Adult author, Courtney Summers, was an early influence in my writing journey mostly because she rarely has an extra word on any page and she pushes the envelope with the edgy content and truly making the readers feel what her characters are feeling without worrying about playing it safe. Ally carter's books also helped me grasp the concept of voice.

Do you think children at schools these days are encouraged enough to read? and/or do Imaginative writing?

I think imaginative writing is great for young kids but it's good for them to tie it to reality at first, schools probably do a good job of this but reading and writing become so essential to nearly every school subject that more is always better.