My goodness, the holidays are fast approaching!! Thank you for taking time out of this busy season to come visit with this week's guest, author Hunter Jones. Hunter is in the midst of a collaborative romance series - but I'll let her tell you all about that. First, a brief self-introduction ...
The art form I create when writing is much more interesting
than anything you will ever know or learn about me. However, since you ask, I
have lived in Tennessee and Georgia my entire life, except for one “lost
summer” spent in Los Angeles. I was always a complex kid. My first published
stories were for a local underground rock publication in Nashville. Since then,
I have published articles on music, fashion, art, travel and history.
Hunter, please tell us about your journey in writing. What made you decide to try to be published?
Oh, I’ve always written something, as far back as I can
remember. Most of my published works have been articles on bands or music
events, an occasional travel or art column for a newspaper or magazine—that
type of writing. Then, a year and a half ago, I ruptured my Achilles tendon. In
a split second my entire life changed. The injury led to two painful surgeries.
I was bedridden until six months ago. During that process, I decided to try
self-publishing. The writing gave me a creative outlet, it still does. The
title of my blog, Exile on Peachtree Street, came from a conversation with a
friend who asked me what it was like to be a recluse in Midtown Atlanta.
I was fortunate enough to meet Dean Walker of ExpatsPost.com
via social media networking. He and MZ, the organizers of Expats Post, have
given me a music/entertainment blog which has enabled me to meet, virtually,
some of the top rising stars of music and theatre.
My debut novella was written during this phase. It was going
to be a short story, became a 40,000 word novel, which I slashed to a 16,000
word novella two days before it was published. So, there you have it. I became
a self-published indie writer to keep from being bored and depressed.
Tell us one thing about yourself that you think might
surprise us.
I can read upside down.
Do you remember what it was like, the feeling you had when you
learned your first book “Fables of the Reconstruction” was out there in the
world? Tell us about that book and the
experience.
Well, Fables was not what I expected my first book to be,
that’s for sure! It was initially written as a short story for an anthology. My
concept was rejected, which was okay because The Story wanted to be told at
that point. So the research began for the rest of the book.
I love the entire book process—how the characters “find”
you, the creative aspect is my favorite. I hate edits, but they have to be
done, don’t they? Choosing a cover is also great fun. That’s my visual guide
for the entire story—whatever book it is. When Fables launched, I had no idea
what to expect. It was all very surreal. When people bought it, I was
absolutely amazed that in such a golden age of publishing, people actually
wanted to read something I created. I’m so thankful for that—as thankful then
as I am now.
Your latest release is “September Ends”, can you tell us a
bit about it?
October 2013 sees the launch of a novel collaboration,
SEPTEMBER ENDS, a contemporary romance with erotic and supernatural elements
bound by poetry. This novel is written in collaboration with an anonymous
English poet. It reveals the intricate web of passion and desire which
entangles Liz Snow, Pete Hendrix and Jack O. Savage. The story is told through
Liz Snow’s diary, Jack O. Savage’s poetry, and from letters sent across the
Atlantic. Traveling throughout the lushness of a summertime in Tennessee and
Georgia, September Ends journeys into the elegance of London’s West End and is
finally settled in the countryside of Cornwall, England, a decade later. September
Ends is a story of sin, redemption and salvation through love because love
happens when we least expect it.
“September Ends” is your first foray into publishing a book
for print. How was that experience?
Thank you for asking. The paperback journey is much more
detailed than I ever expected.
What do you have coming up next?
In January or February, the anonymous poet and I will
reconnect to start working on the next September Story, Book 2 in the September
Ends saga. In the meantime, I am attempting to write a Happily Ever After short
story, which is a real stretch for me. Maybe I’ll publish something bizarre and
Fablesque.
If there is one character you’ve written or are writing that
you would really like people to meet, who would it be and why?
Pierre von Minzle is just crazy and I love him! Jack O.
Savage is such a beautiful character, too. The Fairy Godmother in my Happily
Ever After is really unexpected, so stay tuned.
What other ideas do you have bouncing around in your head?
Are you sure you want me to answer this?
What about being published and the book industry in general
has most surprised you?
The one thing you cannot overlook is the outpouring of
support from other writers, authors, cover designers, editors, and bloggers. It
is the most amazing part of this journey.
It’s obvious from your blog that you are a huge music
fan. Do you have some favorites to
listen to while you are writing?
Great question Aaron. All the wires get crossed when I
listen to music when writing. The listening has to come before or after the
writing process.
To close the interview, I have ten questions for you, plus
one. Here they go!
- What is your favorite word? Love
- What is your least favorite word? Hate
- What turns you on? Music, good food, great red wine, Spain. Tall men with dark hair.
- What turns you off? Negativity
- What sound or noise do you love? Chimes, running water, Tennessee rain, acoustic guitar.
- What sound or noise do you hate? The sound of a Life Force helicopter.
- What is your favorite curse word? Hmmm. I’m not really into colorful language so generally a well-emphasized damn or hell gets the needed reaction.
- What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? One that makes money!
- What profession would you not like to do? I could never be a nurse. They have to have a special place in Heaven.
- If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? The party has already started...
- What question have you never been asked, that you wish someone would ask you? Will you take $5 million for the screen rights?
Hunter, thanks so much for spending time with us. Can you let us know where to follow you, and
where we can go to purchase your work?
September Ends:
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Rudy and Trish are the main characters in Patricia and my published short stories in the "Evernight: Romance in a World of Darkness" anthologies. You can get to know them as well as get 23 other great stories! Here's where you can find them:
Thank you for hosting me today, Aaron! PS...I really like your book covers-they are gorgeous!
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