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Interview with Author Erin A.
Jensen
As a writer, what would you choose as your
mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
I would
definitely choose a dragon. There are dragons in all of the books in my Dream
Waters series. I always love it when people share dragon-related items or
pictures with me on social media and say that it made them think of me.
How many hours a day do you put into your
writing?
I don’t
have a set daily goal. I’m a mother and a pharmacist in addition to being a
writer, and there are days when the time just isn’t there. If I held myself to
a set goal, I’d feel like I was failing each time I wasn’t able to achieve it.
I devote whatever amount of time I’m able to on a particular day. Some days, I
spend so many hours at my computer that the day seems to vanish before I know
it. Other days, after I’ve worked a ten hour shift at the pharmacy, I don’t
have the energy to write at all. That approach works for me. I know the writing
will eventually get done because it’s what I love to do.
Do you read your book reviews? If yes, do
they affect what you write in the future?
Yes,
I do read them. Reviews don’t always affect what I write in the future. Some
things in my storylines are set in stone from the beginning, but I’ve
definitely made some changes based on readers’ reviews or verbal
feedback.
Do you leave hidden messages in your books
that only a few people will find?
I don’t
know as I leave hidden messages, but I do leave a lot of clues about what’s to
come. The books in my Dream Waters series contain plenty of hints about the
characters, their pasts, and what’s going to happen in the future. Not everyone
picks up on those, but I love it when a reader mentions them.
Can you tell us a little bit
about the characters in Benevolent?
Benevolent is different than my other books. It’s a more intimate story
with just a handful of characters. Abigail is the main character in the story,
which is told from her point of view as she nears the end of her long life and
reflects on the moments that defined it. She starts out as a timid, lonely
teenager who is bullied in school and takes comfort watching the characters in
her favorite television show, Supernatural, fight to protect those who can’t
protect themselves. The other main character is Abigail’s guardian angel who
comes to comfort her throughout the difficult times in her life. When the story
begins, Abigail is fifteen and her best friend is losing his battle with
cancer. Her guardian angel appears to her in the form of her favorite angel
from Supernatural and offers to take her to say her goodbyes to her
friend.
Can you tell us a little bit
about your next books or what you have planned for the future?
Right now, I’m finishing up the first draft of Book Four in my Dream
Waters Series. There will be one more Dream Waters book after that. I’m not
sure what will come after.
Do you allow yourself a
certain number of hours to write or do you write as long as the words come?
I write
for as long as the words come and time allows. I’m a part-time pharmacist and a
mom in addition to being a writer, and some days carving out enough time to
write is the biggest challenge.
Do you have a certain number
of words or pages you write per day?
No, I write
as much as I’m able to each day. There are days when I don’t get to squeeze in
as much writing time as I’d like, but I fit it in whenever I’m able to.
What inspires you to write?
Everything
inspires me. You never know what little details from my life might find their
way into the story I’m writing. Benevolent was inspired by a character from the
television show I was binge watching while writing the fourth book in my
series. Castiel found his way into my heart. The more I learned about the
character and Misha Collins, the actor who plays him, the more the concept of
the story solidified. I was also inspired by the show’s unique ability to
comfort its fans through difficult times when they might otherwise have given
up hope and the show’s miraculous ability to turn strangers into family.
Would you rather
Read fiction or non-fiction?
Fiction.
Read series or stand-alone?
I love both, and
I’ll read anything that sparks my interest. But if I had to choose, I guess I’d
say a series. I enjoy getting the chance to revisit characters I’ve come to
know and love and finding out what happens to them next.
Read Science fiction or horror?
Horror
Read Stephen King or Dean Koontz
Stephen King
Read the book or watch the movie?
Read the book.
Although, if the movie stays true to the book and is done well, I love watching
the movies too. I do prefer to read the book before watching the movie though.
Read an ebook or paperback?
I like both. ebooks
are convenient because you can load tons of books onto one device and slip it
in your purse. But there’s just something about holding a paperback in your
hands and sinking your toes in the sand or curling up under a blanket on a
snowy day that you can’t get from an ebook. So, I guess paperback trumps ebook
for me.
Be trapped alone for one month in a library
with no computer or a room with a computer and Wi-Fi only?
If there’s a comfy
chair in the library to curl up in, I’d choose the library. Unplugging for a
month to curl up with great books sounds pretty amazing right now...assuming
that there’s coffee in that library somewhere.
Do a cross-country book store tour or blog
tour online?
Definitely a
cross-country book store tour! Blog tours are great for connecting with new readers
around the globe. But traveling across the country and meeting the readers in
person would be an adventure. I love to travel and chat about my books!
2 comments:
thanks for hosting
sounds interesting
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