1 . What drew you to YA Fantasy writing?
I like creating things—worlds within on our own, creatures, rules and etc. There are no limits to what you can do in fantasy.
2. Can you tell us some of the authors that have inspired you?
Growing up, I read a lot of Ritchie Cusick, RL Stine, Christopher Pike and LJ Smith. They were who inspired me to write.
3. Are there any books coming out in late 2011 or 2012 that you’re looking forward to reading?
Oh my. A lot. Toxic. Hallowed. Before I Wake, Demon Trappers 3, Everneath to name a few.
4. What inspired Obsidian (Book #1 of the Lux series)?
Obsidian started off as an email between me and my editor at Entangled. I’d turned in my adult novel, and Liz jokingly said that since I could write a novel in a week (which I usually can’t) did I have any ideas involving aliens in high school. Yeah, I know, strange conversations, but this is the kind of conversations you have when you’re a writer I think. Obsidian sort of spawned from that email and here we are.
5. Can you tell us a bit about Katy & Daemon?
I think Daemon and Katy are more alike then you see in Obsidian. Both of them show the world one face while hiding who the truly are. Katy is very stubborn, but she’s a normal girl who loves reading and the escape it provides. I like to think she’s got a good head on her shoulders. Daemon is different. He’s a complex character. I had the hardest and most fun writing him. He’s definitely hot and cold. He’s an asshat. And he knows it. But that’s not who he is. The reader does get to see glimpses of the “real” Daemon. His actions are usually in contrast to what comes out of his mouth. So he’s tricky.
6. You also have another fantastic series called Half Blood, can you tell us a little bit about that?
The Half-Blood series is a take on Greek Mythology, especially the demigod myth. In book 1, you don’t see a lot of the gods but they are always there, and in the following books, they actually interact with the characters. Fate, need and love are big aspects of the story and how they affect the main characters. There’s a lot of action and romance. Someone who read Half-Blood said they hope to see a Love Pentagon instead of Triangle. That cracked me up.
7.Tell us a little about one of your favorite scenes to write?
Kissing scenes of course! I’m big on romance. So my favorite scenes are usually the scenes that lead up to that. My second favorite is fighting scenes.
8. Is music part of your writing process? If so, does Obsidian have a playlist?
I listen to music while I right on and off, but don’t usually do a playlist until after a novel is written.
9. Is Obsidian part of a series? If so, can you tell us when we’ll see a sequel?
Obsidian is book 1 in a 3 book series at this time. In the second book, you can expect to see a …. very different side of Daemon, a very determined side of Daemon. Also, Katy faces even more life changing events over the course of book 2 and 3. Daemon’s family and hers are turned upside down, and well, something huge happens in book 3.
10. What advice would you offer aspiring YA fantasy writers?
The best advice is the most cliché advice—never give up. Study your craft. Keep writing. Practice does not make the closest thing to perfect.
Jennifer lives in West Virginia. All the rumors you heard about her state aren’t true. Well, mostly. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time, reading, working out, watching zombie movies, and pretending to write. She shares her home with her husband, his K9 partner named Diesel, her hyper Jack Russell Loki, and her pet turtle called Michelangelo. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent her time writing short stories. Therefore explains her dismal grades in math. She writes Adult and Young Adult Urban Fantasy and Romance.