Jacqueline Druga is a native of Pittsburgh, Pa and a fulltime author. She has written and published numerous novels in various genres, along with two full length feature films currently available on DVD. More than anything, she prides herself on being a kickbutt grandmother
First
thing’s first…tell us about Jacqueline Druga the author and woman. What would
you like your readers to know about The Forgotten or you in general?
I’m
very down to earth and a push over. My kids yell at me all the time because I’m
very easy going. I wasn’t always like that, though. Age has mellowed me. I’m
always writing. Always. People are always surprised to find out I have over 40
titles out right now in all genres. I live a creative life. Also, I’m very
spiritual, which was a strong basis for The Forgotten
Do you hear
from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
I hear from my readers all the time. We
have nice little chat group on Facebook. They are so super supportive of my
work, especially my series. There are times they are brutally honest with me
about characters. I listen to what they say. Their opinion is invaluable.
What’s the
weirdest question you’ve ever been asked in an interview?
I was once on live radio and asked,
would I let my mother in the shelter if she was infected. I said, ‘no’. My
mother was not happy.
Do you feel
zombie fiction is primarily a make dominated genre? What type of a response
have you received being female?
I do. But there are so many powerful
women writers in the field. Writers of Zombie fiction, often find themselves
stuck in the genre and rarely venture out of it. The response to me is because
I am female, that is the reason my stories are character driven. The zombies or
whatever end of the world scenario I tackle, are always backdrops.
I felt a
strong influence of Stephen King’s The Stand. Was this a reference you wanted
to convey?
It’s probably safe to say, The Stand
influences a lot of what I write. King does, too. Although I strive to have
better endings. My readers, though, may argue that.
How did you
come up with the concept of The Forgotten? It’s got quite a specific point of
view.
The Bible is the greatest reference tool
for me. Thessalonians II ‘The Dead in Christ Shall Rise’ sparked it. It’s
funny, people would find it hard to believe that I listen to Christian Music
while I write, it’s very motivating. I listen to other stuff too, but typically
I pick one Christian song and it plays the entire time I write. The Music of
Mark Shultz and ‘I will Rise’ by Chris Tomlin was the inspiration behind The
Forgotten.
- Pie or cake?
- Cake
- Worst job ever?
- Wife to Ex-Husband Number 3.
- Favorite TV Show?
- The Voice
- First item on your bucket list?
- Share a Bottle of Jack with George W. Bush while sitting on the porch of his ranch.
- If you realized that you got a free item by accident after leaving a store, would you go back and pay for it?
- Pay for it, without a doubt.
- Last thing you dressed up as for Halloween?
- Black Widow from Avengers
There
will be a Forgotten Book 2. Without a doubt, and more background stories as one
reader suggested. The book was never meant to end the way it did. It just
happened.
Did any
specific author(s) motivate you to begin writing?
Pat Frank (Alas, Babylon) really was a
big starting influence, but Charlton Heston really was. I wanted to create
heroes like him.
What's the
one question you wish you would get asked but never do?
I think that would be, ‘What do you
consider your least favorite book you have written?’
My book, Torn. It’s a love/hate book.
People love it or hate it, this is obvious by the star ratings. My ‘then’ husband
left me in the middle of my writing it and it totally shows in the lack of
emotion. The story is there, it just is factual and unlike my other writing,
lacks a degree of warmth. I won’t go back and fix it because it is a testament
to how far I have come. At the time I was writing it, I really was ….torn.
Who are you
reading right now?
The Road to Nowhere by Lee Argus.
Do you have
any advice for other writers?
Write. Make time for your craft, if you
want to be a writer, call yourself an author, then write. Give up an hour of
sleep, watch an hour less of TV. No excuses for not working at your dream. A
physician can have all the medical knowledge in the world, but he really isn’t
being a doctor if he doesn’t see patients.
You are
hosting a dinner party and must invite 3 famous people. Who would you choose
and why?
Wrestler, Shawn Michaels, Bill Murray and
actor Adam Baldwin. I would pick Bill because I always loved him. Adam and
Shawn, well, they are big influences on characters in my series.
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