The Kid Interview Series #8 - J.F. Jenkins as interviewed by her 3-year old son

J.F. Jenkins and I became friends on facebook because we are both published with the same house: Astraea Press.  I was intrigued first because she had the coolest email address (c'mon, Jilly, what exactly does babytoaster mean?  LOL).  Then I became intrigued because her book looked so cool.  I was in love with the cover and the name.  How can you go wrong with anything that included dragons?  Communicating with her only made me like her more.  A seasoned author of several fantasy books, I am wowed not only by her writing, but her world-building both knocks my socks off and worked like a tutorial for me when I started spinning my own series-yarn.  And the cool factor increases because she got her THREE YEAR OLD to participate in this kid series.  His answers are frank, adorable, and well, three year old fodder.  Hope you enjoy them as much as I did!
And for more cool points, check out the end of the interview:  She even made a video!  Now, that's cool!

THE KID’S INTERVIEW

Jamie, age 3, interviews his author mom, J.F. Jenkins

Q.  Can you name all your Mom’s books?

Jamie:  Yes. She has eight. Four dragons. Two aliens. Two nymphs.

(The Dragons Saga: “Legend of the Oceina Dragon” “Legend of the Inero Dragon” “Legend of the   Touched” “Legend of the Forbidden”. Battlefield: “Battlefield” “Control”. Vala: “Agendas” “Heritage”.)

Q.  Which is your favorite and why?

 Jamie:  I like the dragons. ROAR! They're like dinosaurs.

Q.  When does your Mom write?  Where in the house?  Describe her writing area.

Jamie:  During the day time on the couch. She sits by me and we cuddle. At night she writes in the bed while we watch Olympics and The Goodnight Show or a movie.

Q.  What are you doing when Mom is writing?

Jamie:  Playing with my cars, playing Olympics, and sometimes playing with my puppies on the Gameboy.

Q.  If Mom got rich and famous, what would you want her to do with the money?

Jamie:  I want a scooter and the biggest TV ever!

Q.  Do you read your Mom’s books?

Jamie:  I like to look at the letters. I can't read yet, but she reads to me sometimes while she works.

Q.  Do you think you do better in school because Mom is a writer?

Jamie:  I'm just starting school, but yes!

Q.  Do your friends know what your Mom writes?  Do you tell them?

 Jamie:  I don't tell them, but their mommies and daddies know.

Q.  Do you want to be a writer when you grow up?  If not, what do you want to be?

Jamie:  Yes, I like to write in my notebook and on the computer. I write about my cats Ushi and Tibu, and about my cars.

Q.  If you could dedicate a book to your Mom, what would you say?

Jamie:  Thank you Mommy for helping me write, letting me use her computer, and loving me.

I included a cover of my favorite book of hers.  If you have a favorite, or would just like to comment on her sweet little boy and this post, leave one here, or use any of these contact options.  You know us authors, we just love to connect!

Contact Info

Address	55122
Screen Names	mamaxpanda(AIM) popcornflavoredjillybean(Yahoo! messenger)
Website	http://jfjenkinswrites.wordpess.com
Networks	Bethel MN
Facebook	http://facebook.com/jenkinsjf VIDEO!:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9GcX-fDvlc&feature=youtu.be

My Personal Path To Publication - Jillian Jenkins

On the blog today, I am welcoming another talented author from my publishing home at Astraea Press.  Jillian Jenkins is also an author after my own heart in more ways than one.  We both write for Astraea, we both have chosen thus far to write for the young adult audience (except for my occasional and unexplained dalliance with the horror genre) and we both made the same career path to write for independent publishing houses.  So we have a lot in common.  Except Jilly has the cutest email address ever.  She wins there, hands down.  Plus, she has been writing a lot longer than I have, as well.  You'll notice though, as you read through her journey, and those of the other authors, that one theme remains consistent.  Don't give up.  If you have a true passion for your writing and your goal isn't money, prestige or fame, just keep at it.  If you do, and you love writing with all that you are, those things may follow.  But write because you just have to, like breathing air.  The rest is secondary.  Read on about Jillian Jenkin's journey and you'll see what I mean.  Enjoy!

1. How long have you been writing?    I would say I started writing consistently about thirteen years ago

2. Are you published and if so, how long have you been a published author?   If not, what’s your plan?     I'm a published author through Astraea Press. This happened in February so it's only been about six months, but it's still awesome.

3. Which route did you choose for becoming published, the traditional route, with an agent, the “indie” route, going directly to the publishers yourself, or deciding to self-publish?    I went the "indie" route and published through an e-press.

4. Why did you choose that particular route?    I figured it'd be good to get some experience as a writer, plus with how the industry is changing so much it made sense to take a leap. There's plenty of time to get an agent later if I so choose to.

5. How long did it take you to write your first novel?    Around a year.

6. How long did it take you to publish it?    Two or three.

7. How many times did it get rejected before it got published?    Zero, but I also didn't actively pursue the idea until recently.

8. What was the best news you ever got in your writing life and how did it make you feel?    That my book was selling well and consistently.

9. What’s the worst piece of advice you ever got?    To give up writing because "it just isn't your thing".

10. Now, tell us the best!    Keep writing because you love it.

11. What’s the one thing you would want an aspiring writer to take away from your personal path to publication?    To just keep going no matter what.

12. Where can we read your blog? Buy your books? Connect with you on facebook? On Twitter? Your website?  

Blog: http://jfjenkinswrites.wordpress.com

My books are on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and every other major online e-book retailer. 

Also check out the publishers website: http://www.astraeapress.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jfjenkinsauthor

Twitter: jfjenkinstweets

Blurb for Vala: 

Cheyenne Loveless was just a boring sixteen-year-old girl. Then Denver Collins bit her and everything changed. Her plants start talking to her, she finds out she’s a Nymph, and a witch and the angel of death show up at her doorstep to take her away to the prestigious Vala School and Seminary. Oh, and she has no choice in the matter.

 

All she wants to do is blend in and return to being invisible, but the more time that passes, the harder that 

becomes. Plus she’s a daughter of the Divine, an exclusive secret society which rules the world of myth, and discovers she is a key ingredient to an ancient covenant created before she was born. A covenant that will reshape the order of the world. 


Cheyenne must learn to see through the lies in order to find her place — and possibly even love — in this new world. Adjusting to a new school is difficult enough, but adding on everyone else’s hidden agendas is the icing on the cake. 

Jilly also has a link for the blurb to her other book here:  http://jfjenkinswrites.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/lod.jpg?w=105&h=163

Thank you for getting to know Jillian.  She is a wonderful addition to the Astraea family and as all the authors there, she'd love to hear how you enjoyed one of her books, or just chat with you about an ongoing project you are working on.  Connect with her at all the usual haunts and get ready to make a new writing friend!