Friday, August 3, 2012

Jaye Frances Author Interview & Giveaway

Today at The Jeep Diva, author Jaye Frances has agreed to swing by to give us an interview. Let’s give a big welcome to Jaye Frances! Thanks for coming by.

1.         Tell us a little about yourself?

Thank you, Rachel, for having me on The Jeep Diva today. I really appreciate the opportunity to visit with your followers.

First, the basics. I was born and raised in the Midwest, eventually deciding that my unconventional approach to life was better served in a less traditional environment. So off I went, heading west until the smell of hot dogs was lost to the salt-laced air of the ocean and the subtle scent of a pine forest. I’m an animal lover, take tons of pictures wherever I go, and appreciate a vintage cabernet. I currently live on the gulf coast of Florida with four computers, a closet full of cameras, and my husband-partner, who thinks my shoe collection is obscene.

In addition to my independent writing, I also write a monthly column for the NUSA Sun magazine, published in Florida and distributed internationally.

2.         I see that you also like to travel. Do you have a favorite place to visit?

The islands and resorts of the Caribbean top the list. I’m partial to St. Martin because of the French influence and beautiful, sandy beaches. I’m hoping to revisit France in the near future, and have plans in the making for a trip to Thailand (all in the name of research, of course.)

3.         When did you know that you wanted to become an author and what made you decide to pursue this full time?

I’ve been writing full time for over ten years now, with my early efforts geared primarily toward ghostwriting. Four years ago, when I began to develop the storyline of a paranormal-occult romance series (which eventually became The Kure) I knew it was time to establish my own brand. Even though my research for the series took me to some pretty dark and unsavory places in our history, I knew I could never look back. I currently have several book projects simmering at a low boil, so it looks like I’m in it for the long haul!

4. What are you currently working on and are you able to tell us a little about it? When do you think it will be released?

I’m putting the finishing touches on my next book titled The Beach. It’s scheduled for an August 15 release, and will be available on Amazon. The story is a sci-fi fantasy about Alan, a self-resigned loner, who is given the opportunity to obtain his heart’s desire, then is horrified when his wish actually comes true. The Beach includes a bonus novella called Short Time, the story of a bored, middle class executive man who exchanges his future for six months of excess and extravagance, only to discover the price he must pay for his hedonistic indulgence is beyond anything he could have imagined.

5. What inspires you to write or where is your favorite place to write?

I have a bedroom converted to an office that is my girl-cave for about ten hours a day. And although I’m surrounded by a few creature comforts (a cushy chair, wine, and chocolate), it’s a place where I can control the distractions and concentrate on being productive (maybe that’s why they call it work). If I’m in need of new ideas or inspiration, the best place for me is anywhere near or on the water. During my “work-cations,” I’m often approached by strangers wanting to know why I would ruin a perfectly good holiday by bringing my work with me (typically, I’m banging away on my laptop while sitting in a beach chair a few feet off the shoreline). But in fact, it’s exactly why I’m there, and I often evaluate how much I enjoyed the time by how many pages I was able to produce.   

6. What do you like most about writing and what do you like the least?

What I like most:  I can set my own hours, wear whatever feels comfy, and stay up as late as I like. Of course what this really means is that I’m writing 24/7 (whether it’s on a computer or in my head). And the late hours are usually the result of my protagonist keeping me up at night, anxious to know what’s going to happen next. Not that I’m complaining, as it seems these late night collaborations are a necessary part of the process.

What I like least: Having to explain my erratic and uncompromising lifestyle to family and friends, not having enough time to keep up with correspondence and marketing (enter my husband-partner), and having to skip a yoga session because one of my characters is having a crisis.

7. What is the first book or author that you remember reading and enjoying?

My earliest and most memorable reading adventures were penned by Ray Bradbury, Orson Wells, and Dean Koontz. Among many others, these authors allowed me to develop an appreciation—and an insatiable appetite—for alternative universes and quirky characters set within a realm of clever paradox and intelligent irony.

8. What is one thing that people would be surprised to know about you?

     I’ve always wanted to learn how to sing, and after taking the stage one night at karaoke (after four shots of tequila), I reluctantly admitted to myself that some dreams are just never meant to come true. Oh, and I occasionally allow my alter-ego to rise to the surface and wander out in public, complete with dark tresses, skimpy outfits, and 6” heels. 

     9. What else do you enjoy in your spare time?

My top three interests would have to be travel, photography, and cooking (not necessarily in that order.)  Any talk of a vacation that takes me to the sea will have me packing in a heartbeat. And taking pictures of all those places and the people I meet is an added bonus. One of the benefits of visiting new and sometimes exotic locations is learning about the local customs and cuisine—the latter of which often becomes a dinner experiment to be evaluated by my brave and Pepto-Bismol-protected husband.

10. If you could visit any time period and location (past or future) when and where would you go?
I’m a fan of science fiction, especially those stories set within a futuristic time and place. For example, I really love H.G. Well’s The Time Machine (and the original 1960 movie.) And while I’m not adverse to traveling through wormholes or having a cup of coffee with a three-eyed beastie, I’d probably prefer to stay on planet earth, as I’m pretty sure any other world wouldn’t carry my brand of lipstick.

11. Do you have a favorite supernatural creature and if so what is it?
 Hopefully, you’ll forgive the shameless self-promotion, but I’m really partial to Efil, one of the main characters in my upcoming release, The Beach. And while I can’t tell you who he really is (to avoid spoilers), I can tell you that he might be a galaxy-hopping alien sent by God, a mother race, or an ever-vigilant overseer responsible for maintaining collective balance in a chaotic universe. Only time, and the sequel, will tell.

Thank you, Rachel, for the thought-provoking questions!

Author Bio


Jaye Frances is the author of The Kure, a paranormal-occult romance novel, The Possibilities of Amy, a coming-of-age story of high school romance, and The Cruise-All That Glitters, a humorous adult satire about a single guy hoping to find romance, or his version of it, aboard a cruise ship. Her upcoming work, scheduled for an August 2012 release, is titled The Beach, a sci-fi fantasy about a man who is given the opportunity to receive his ultimate wish and lives to regret it. She is also a featured columnist for the NUSA SUN magazine. Born in the Midwest, Jaye readily admits that her life’s destination has been the result of an open mind and a curiosity about all things irreverent. When she’s not consumed by her writing, Jaye enjoys cooking, traveling to all places tropical and “beachy” and taking pictures—lots of pictures—many of which find their way to her website. For more information, visit Jaye’s website at www.jayefrances.com, or Jaye’s Blog at http://blog.jayefrances.com.

Jaye is offering an awesome giveaway for an ecopy for Kindle of The Possibilities of Amy. Please enter the rafflecopter. The contest will end on August 9. I will forward the winners email to Jaye so that she may send the winner the ebook. Happy entering!



4 comments:

  1. I can certainly see the possibilities and pitfalls of this read ;) Thank you for taking the time to share with us today. I am now going to have a mental moment and dream about the Caribbean and blue waters and . . .

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  2. Thank you for commenting, Denise - happy daydreaming!

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  3. enjoyed the interview, its alway nice to hear the authors thoughts. the book looks like s different kind of read. the h/h look good. thanks for the giveaway.

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  4. Thank you, Julie, for dropping by and good luck!

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