The Bookie Monster interviews Jessica Reeves, author of The Black, the White and the Grinning Grey (The Moon and the Unicorn series).
Jessica Reeves has
been writing nearly all her life but has only recently tried self-publishing.
She has released her first book called The Black, the White and the Grinning Grey. She writes mainly Fantasy and Science Fiction and has produced a number of
short stories.
Tell us a little
about yourself, your work and how you got into writing.
I have always
written, but only recently found the time to dedicate to my hobby. Imagination
is everything to me. Everyone one needs a little bit of escapism. That is what
makes the world go round.
What five words
best describe you?
Strange, deaf,
wine, snigger, worrier.
If you were to
create a writing soundtrack, what artists would be on it?
Queen, U2 Pink
Floyd and of course David Bowie.
How do you come up
with the character names in your books?
I make up words and
the Google them to see if they mean anything. It is amazing what you can come
up with. For example I have a character named after a sacred city and another
named after a strong pain killing drug.
Do you laugh at
your own jokes as you write them?
No I don't. I have
to ask others whether they are funny or not.
Do you write full
time or do you keep a day job?
Unfortunately due
to chronic hearing lose I cannot work at the moment.
When did you decide
to make a career of writing?
Quite recently I
needed to focus on something and writing seemed the obvious choice.
What was your
favorite moment when writing your book?
When I am in the
middle of a good flow and when my hands can keep up with my head.
How long does it
take you to write a book?
Months and months
and months and months.
Is anything in your
book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?
Purely all from my
head. Be it good or bad.
What's the one
question you wish you would get asked but never do?
Would you like to
write a book with me? I would like to try being a co-author. It might be fun.
OK, so, what’s
next, do you already have a new project in the works?
Yes I am in the
middle of the second book and the third one is milling around in my head.
Do you ever suffer
from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?
I write better at
two in the morning than two in the afternoon. Typical!
Did any specific
author(s) motivate you to begin writing?
Too many to
mention. Stanislaw Lem, P. K. Dick. To name two.
What kinds of
challenges did you face when you were writing the series?
Remembering
everything and remembering which notebook I wrote what it. Memory like a sieve.
You are hosting a
dinner party and must invite 3 famous people. Who would you choose and why?
Agatha Christie,
Freddie Mercury and Steven Fry and I would like to be the waitress so I could
eavesdrop on the conversation.
In ten words or
less:
- Biggest fear?
- Spiders
- First item on your bucket list?
- Breakfast at Tiffanys.
- Happiest moment in your life to date?
- Having my son
- If you were a Star Trek® character, which one would it be? Why?
- The unknown one in the red shirt that usually gets killed in the first five minutes.
- If you could choose your last meal, what would it be?
- Miso soup.
- If you could meet anybody in history, past or present, who would it be?
- It would have to be Jesus Christ.
- If you realized that you got a free item by accident after leaving a store, would you go back and pay for it?
- Yes, have done, can’t stand that feeling of guilt
- How would your friends describe you in 3 words?
- Who is she?
- Last thing you dressed up as for Halloween?
- Never dressed up for Halloween
- Quirk that annoys your spouse/friends?
- Pardon? Pardon? What did you say?
- What is one thing that you can’t live without?
- My cross and chain
- What is your biggest pet peeve?
- Burnt toast
- Worst job ever?
- Telesales, (you have my utter sympathy.)
Where can readers
stalk you?
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jreevesjessica
Website: http://jreevees.blogspot.co.uk