I'm a 2nd Dan Black Belt in Tang Soo Do. I have been on mission trips, one to Haiti and the other to a
Native American Reservation/Camp in Oklahoma. I loved both
experiences.
I am in the Army Reserves. And I volunteer at Camp Sunshine each August. I also work in Security for Farmer's Insurance. And I was a victim's advocate for the YWCA.
My passion is writing and I love to
read. I wrote a books, A Place for Me, and most recently, Soul Searching.
When I was 19, I made an independent
film (wrote, directed and starred in it) called, Weight of the World. I wrote A Place for Me when I was 20. Published it at 21. When I was 22, my cousins and I made a indie movie out of it.
Now at 32, I wrote another book. Soul
Searching.
Author Links -
I also have a facebook page for me, Jamie-Jo Brenner as well as Soul Searching novel page.
Book Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Self-Published through CreateSpace on Amazon
Release Date: July 16, 2014
Buy Link(s):
Book Description:
Brent Harper is the perfect guy. He's
Max's hero--the boy she's had a crush on since the school year began.
But when Brent goes missing, Max must face the truth that she really
doesn't know him at all. In order to find him, she will first need to
learn everything she can about him.
After Brent wakes up without any
memories, his only choice is to trust the first person he sees.
Alison, the girl who finds him, promises to help him remember. But
what if he doesn't want to remember? When his memories start to
return, Brent is confronted with the hardest decision of his life.
How do you choose between who you thought you were and who you want to be?
Excerpt:
Prologue
Brent
There is no easy way from the earth to the stars.
-Seneca
Images of the fight flooded my mind.
I'd considered Lucas and Mark my friends, but I wasn't so sure
anymore. I stopped them from picking on my best friend, Max, and the
next thing I knew I was shoved against a locker. The cold metal
rattled loudly when my body slammed into it. My head throbbed in pain
at the contact.
"Stay out of it for once," Lucas
growled.
"Maybe it's time you learned your
place," Mark spat at me as his fist knocked the wind out of my
lungs.
Lucas's knee connected with my ribs,
and I winced in pain. They alternated between knees to stomach, and
punches to my face. I fell to a clump on the ground. I knew I
should've defended myself, but I made a promise to someone--a
promise that I swore I'd keep. I took the beating without
complaint, because I knew I deserved it. I always deserved it.
Between kicks, I heard Mark say, "Dude,
fight back."
It sounded like a plea. But I lost
consciousness before I figured out the significance of it. It'd
been hours since that fight, but even now my ribs hurt and my face
ached. Even with all the blood washed away, I bore evidence of the
fight, and had feared going home.
I wandered the streets and watched the
sky darken around me as I prayed for answers that never came. If they
had come, I wouldn't have done something that I already regretted.
I made my choice. And even if I didn't remember this in the
morning, the truth of it weighed heavily on my mind tonight. My
demons always found a way to haunt me. Somehow, I knew they'd
follow me this time as well. I just wished I hadn't chosen to start
this journey alone.
I reached my destination, and had I
taken one last look at the sky. I found my favorite constellations,
and recalled all the times I'd admired this same sky. I always felt
at home among the stars--they were the only good thing about the
darkness. Their presence harkened the depths of imagination. They
were ageless as they gazed back at us. We were mere fragments in the
lifetime of a star. I longed for that kind of immortality. Even now,
I yearned to exist.
I collapsed onto the grass, and fought
off sleep for as long as I could. I was terrified of tomorrow.
Exhausted, I dispelled one last breath of hot air, and I resigned
myself to my fate. Things were finally going to change, I'd seen to
that. I couldn't run forever. And with that thought in mind, I had
closed my eyes, and allowed the spell to take me.
Author Interview:
What inspired you to write Soul Searching?
The idea that no one really knows everything about anyone always intrigued me. We can be empathetic and kind to those around us, but we can't really understand what they've gone through. I didn't do anything with the idea until I had a dream about losing my soul. Anyway, when I woke up I was inspired to write a character study about learning to find yourself as well as learning to let others really see all of you.
When or at what age did you know you wanted to be a writer?
First I wanted to be a professional baseball player. But when I was around 10, I watched Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. For years I wanted to be Lois Lane. A world-class reporter. Now, I just want to write novels.
What is the earliest age you remember reading your first book?
My mom always read to me when I was little and I remember that being really important to me. But the first book I remember really enjoying was Bridge to Terabithia (I read it in grade school).
What genre of books do you enjoy reading?
I enjoy thrillers like Grisham and Patterson, and some fantasy, but I love Young Adult novels.
What is your favorite book?
Currently, my favorite book is 13 Reasons Why by Jay Ashur.
You know I think we all have a favorite author. Who is your favorite author and why?
I honestly don't know if I have a favorite author. I love authors who write strong women characters. And my favorite series is the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. I loved how he wrote the women characters. His character Nicci remains my favorite character in literature. I love complexity. But Ayn Rand is among my favorite authors as well.
If you could travel back in time here on earth to any place or time. Where would you go and why?
I'd like to go to Rome or Greece back at the height of their civilization. I love history and that time period. Women had power back then. At least among the Romans and Greeks. I would love to be part of that. Paving the way and being someone that people spoke about along the lines of Cleopatra and Theodora. If not then, I would love to live in the early 1900's. I think I would have been a part of the Women's Suffrage movement. To be among the first women to vote is something I think would be amazing.
When writing a book do you find that writing comes easy for you or is it a difficult task?
I don't usually start writing until I have a story pretty much mapped out. I have notebooks dedicated to character development, motivations and stuff like that. I have timelines or plots outlined before I even open a word document. So by the time I start writing, I just do it. That part has never been difficult for me.
Do you have any little fuzzy friends? Like a dog or a cat? Or any pets?
I have a dog. An Australian Shepard named, Rosin.
What is your "to die for", favorite food/foods to eat?
Rueben sandwiches, pea soup and anything chocolate. But not all at once.
Do you have any advice for anyone that would like to be an author?
Write. There are so many platforms where you can share your writing. But you can write for yourself, you don't have to share everything. I started out writing poems for family and friends. And as clichéd as it sounds: read. Reading the work of people who inspire you is the best way to develop the kind of writing style that works for you.
Schedule
August 24 - October 13
August 24 - Introduction at VBT Café Blog
August 26 - Guest Blogging at Coffee, Books & Art
August 28 - Spotlight at Cherry Mischievous
September 2 - Reviewed at Give Me The Books
September 4 - 6 Besties at BK Walker Books
September 8 - Guest Blogging at Bikers With Books
September 10 - Spotlight at Mom With A Kindle
September 12 - 5 Things I Know For Sure & Favorite
Recipe at
CAT Magazine
Recipe at
CAT Magazine
September 15 - Reviewed at AG LANG Writes
September 17 - Interviewed at Ghost Rider Book
Promotions
Promotions
September 19 - Interviewed at BK Walker Books Etc.
September 22 - Guest Blogging at Black Coffee, Brown
Cow
Cow
September 24 - Reviewed at Debbie Jeans
September 26 - Review & Interview at Deal Sharing Aunt
September 29 - Review & Guest Blog at
October 1 - Interviewed at The Avid Reader
October 3 - Guest Blogging at Lori's Reading Corner
October 6 - Author 2 Author Marketing at BookIt BK
October 10 - Interviewed at Immortality & Beyond
October 13 - Reviewed at BK Walker Books
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