Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Interview With Author Jenny Gilliam

Today we have an interview with Author Jenny Gilliam, who has two books coming out this month, The Truth About Roxy, from The Wild Rose Press (this week!! Friday!!) and Under My Skin from Amira Press at the end of the month. Welcome, Jenny, and thank you for being here today. Let's get right to the questions :)
Who are you?
Hmmm. Who is Jenny Gilliam? I suppose I’m a lot of different things, the most important of which is a wife and mother. A writer, of course. And a smart-ass, most definitely. I’m pretty sure I was born with what scientists are calling “the Wise-Acre” gene. So, it’s in my blood.

What type of stories do you like to write and why?
I love to write stories about unrequited love. Probably because nobody wanted to date a 5’11 “big-boned” (big-boned, my patootee, I was a little overweight) Amazon with braces and freckles. Call it therapy, call it cathartic—it works for me. Also, I love reunion stories, or more commonly known as “the one that got away.” Something about re-falling in love with your childhood sweetheart tugs on my heartstrings (Ouch).

What type of stories do you like to read and why?
When do you write (daytime, nighttime, on your lunch hour, before the kids get up, after everyone is asleep? In large chunks of time or stolen snippets?)
I usually write in the morning after I’ve put my daughter on the bus, and my son is playing “let’s destroy the house.” I sit on the couch with my laptop (to ensure the safety of said son and said house) and write to my heart’s content for about 2-3 hours. Then, if I’m feeling particularly ambitious, I bring my laptop to work and write when it’s dead. Oh, crap. I’m gonna get fired now. Thanks, Liana. (YVW. Anytime. ~L)

Where did you get the inspiration for your current book.
The book I’m working on right now is Book One in the Moonlight Bay Witches series. There will be six total. As a witch myself, and having read books where Wicca is grossly misrepresented, I feel it’s my duty to inform the public. Plus, I just like writing about magick. And writing.

Where do you go to think?
I sit out on my back porch and smoke, staring at the mountainous range that is our backyard. I used to read, but I get a lot of good ideas. Like where to bury my father-in-law when he makes me mad. Just kidding. (Not really)

How did you come up with your title and main characters’ names?
My creative writing teacher in college gave me this one. The phone book! There’s TONS of given and surnames in there! Have you checked it out? It’s big, yellow and has lots of numbers. As for my titles, I get the inspiration for those when I’m about halfway through the manuscript.

How long did you write seriously before your first book was published?
Writing is always serious for me. I wrote when I was ten, twelve, twenty—you get the picture. But I really started writing towards publication about 3 years ago. I was lucky enough to be published two years later, and voila! Here I am.

Why do you write?
Because I have to. Plain and simple. I’m pretty sure my head would explode if I didn’t. I have all these characters and story ideas, my head is literally floating five feet from my neck. My husband has to check my pulse regularly.

Jenny began writing at the age of twelve, when she realized the voices talking in her head were characters, not a result of pre-teen induced psychosis. She’s been writing on and off for almost twenty years, but actively pursuing publication for the last three. She lives in Oregon with her husband and two children. She is the author of four novels.

Jenny loves to hear from her readers. You can visit her at http://www.jennygilliam.com/

The Wedding War (Available Now)
Letting Luce (Available Now)
The Truth About Roxy
(Available November 7, 2008)
Under My Skin (Available November 28, 2008)

12 comments:

Margaret Tanner said...

Hi Jenny,
Great interview. Oregon stands out in my mind. I remember years ago, I read a book, I think it was called "The Splendid Journey" and it was about a family on a wagon train going along the Oregon trail. the parents died and the oldest boy and girl battled to keep the family together.
Regards
Margaret

Laurean Brooks said...

Thanks, Margaret. Liana had some great questions. I had a lot of fun answering them!

Jenny Gilliam said...

Oops! Signed in with the wrong name! That's my comment above, Margaret and Liana.

Jenny

Sheryl Browne said...

Nice interview, Jenny and Liana. They won't fire you, Jenny. They'll just say, hey, that's that famous author. I used to know her when...
Keep writing! :)
xx

Jenny Gilliam said...

You're right, Sheryl! That's what I'll tell my boss. LOL

Jerri said...

Great interview, Jen!

Jenny Gilliam said...

Thanks, Jerri. BTW, I'll have your chapter to you tonight. Sorry! Thanks for stopping by and checking the blog out.

Debra St. John said...

Great interview, Jenny. I sneak writing in at work, too. I guess if I get fired I can write full time. (Of course I'd have to move into my car, but, hey...)

Jenny Gilliam said...

As long as you have your laptop with you in the car, you can write, too!
LOL

Unknown said...

I wish you lots of sales! Great interview, Jenny :)

Carol Ann said...

Enjoyed reading the interview Jenny and Liana! I see there are others who sneak in writing at work, too. I take my flash drive and plug it in, so when I'm struggling with finding something to keep me busy, I can write away and no one is the wiser, especially since I can shut my door!

Carol Ann Erhardt
www.carolannerhardt.com

Jenny Gilliam said...

Thanks, Jodi and Carol Ann! I work until 8pm, and we're dead from 5:30 on, so I get A LOT done. LOL.