Author Spotlight: Jessie G.

October 1, 2018 • News

CJC: How did you get started as an author and what made you want to pursue that field?
JG: I was 13 when I drafted my first story and have been attempting to take them from half-baked musings to full-fledged novels ever since. That was a gazillion years ago, back when the dinosaurs roamed the earth, of course, but in 2014 something clicked. An idea came to me and wouldn’t leave. Thirty days later, I had my first fully realized novel and had no idea what to do with it. Some research later, I went the self-pub route for three reasons 1) control, I like to have it; 2) it was less scary then submitting and being rejected; and 3) turnaround. Past Hurts was better received than I expected and has a following that doesn’t want me to fix all the (many many many) errors in that book. I’ve come a long way since then, but that first baby has a special place in my heart too.

CJC: What hurdles have your overcome while striving towards your goals?
JG: I could talk about the changing environment of publishing, dwindling sales, uptick in pirating, and the struggle to sell in a KU world, etc., etc., etc., but the truth is, the biggest hurdle is myself. There are days when I sit at the computer and hammer out 5K words. Others when I’m lucky to write 5 and still others where I start deleting whole passages and chapters. Just when I think I love what I’m writing, I realize I hate it. When I get in my own head, everything little becomes a big obstacle and it snowballs from there. Overcoming the outside influences are a walk in the park compared to battling what’s in my head.

CJC: Which novel has been your favorite to write and why?
JG: Oh man, this is going to stir up a hornets nest. My favorite book is Tricking Chase. Bikers, BDSM, Suspense, Snark…I love everything about that book from the first word to the last. I’ve joked that if I could write Ty into every new book, I would be happy. On the other hand, my readers are loyal For a Reason fans. It was my second book (after I learned what not to do) and remains my top seller, the most referenced, and recreating that magic is my elusive Eleanor. Every book I put out gets compared to FaR and that’s a double edged sword when I hear a reader say that the new book I just spent 9 months writing doesn’t measure up or the characters are great but they’re no Red and Bull. It’s a gut punch and at the same time, I’m so happy that they love FaR. Strange, huh?

CJC: For those looking to become an author, what advice would you give them?
JG: Develop thick skin. I haven’t learned that trick myself yet, but I’m told it helps a lot 🙂

CJC: Favorite motto?
JG: Chocolate makes everything better

CJC:  In one word, how would you describe your writing style?
JG: Descriptive-madness

CJC: Which author inspires you the most and why?
JG: Authors with longevity. Nora Roberts, Sherrilyn Kenyon, JR Ward, Lori Foster. They’ve been doing it so long; they’ve written the formula.

CJC: What is your writing process like?
JG: I’m what they call a panster, mostly. I have a general idea in my head, but I don’t outline in advance. I keep a spreadsheet as I write and make note of the things that really click. Instead of writing through a whole draft, I tend to write a few chapters, read back, rewrite, edit, make more notes, until I have what I consider a first draft and a list of points that worked for me in the moment. Sometimes, it all comes together just right and most times I realize that I lost the plot. This can go on for three or four drafts before I think it’s ready for another set of eyes.

CJC: What are your goals for the remainder of the year and what projects are you currently working on??
JG: I have 4 WIPs in progress: Taking the Top (Devils Pride MC #4), The Moments that Define Us (my first MF spinoff of Sizzling Miami series), the sequel to Brewing up Trouble (untitled), and the next book in my Forgotten Soldier series (also untitled). If I could finish one of those this year, I would be thrilled.

CJC: Any final thoughts you would like to share with the CJC Photography readers?
JG: My latest release and our first book together wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t shown me the photo of Joey and Connor. So keep doing what you do because you inspired this book and I can’t wait for us to do it again.

CJC: Thank you so much Jessie for taking part in this interview. I have loved collaborating with you and I can’t wait for our future projects to release as well.

Rebuilding Hope is now available for purchase here!

Stay up to date with all of Jessie’s releases here.

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