Author Interview: Kristin Jacques

Each Sunday, I'll be interviewing a different author about their writing journey. If you are an author and would like to be interviewed for this series, please complete this application form. If you have any questions, or if you want to recommend an author, please get in touch by emailing me at bryony@bryonyleah.com.

About Kristin Jacques

Kristin Jacques is a Science Fiction and Fantasy author from small-town New England who got her start on Wattpad in 2013 as Krazydiamond.

Now a member of the Wattpad Stars program, Kristin has received two Watty Awards for Excellence in Digital Storytelling, has been commissioned to write for Warner Bros and the Tap story app, has published stories in numerous anthologies, and has seen her goofy Sci-Fi novel Zombies vs Aliens turned into a game through Chapters Interactive Stories. Her contemporary mythological dust-up Ragnarok Unwound will be published with Sky Forest Press in 2018.

Kristin lives with her husband and sons in ye olde Connecticut. When not writing, she is likely reading, watching a terrific B-Horror flick, or further spoiling the family cats.

Click here to read Edgewise by Kristin Jacques

Where and when did you first know that you wanted to become a writer?

I was five. I used to dictate stories to my mother, who would type them up on our old-school electric typewriter and hand them off to me to illustrate. That ritual of telling stories has stayed with me. It was also the same year I learned I could not grow up to be a crocodile.

How long did it take you to write your first novel?

I had many false starts, but my first complete novel took about three years to actually happen from start to finish. In some ways, it feels like I'm still writing it...

Do you plan out your novels or just start writing?

I used to be a dedicated pantser until I got my first real taste of the editing experience and creating story cohesion. Every year that passes, my planning becomes more and more detailed before I even jump into the actual writing. Though I will still, on occasion, belly flop right into the writing pool.

Click here to read Zombies vs Aliens by Kristin Jacques

Description or dialogue?

I love bantering dialogue. I find description easier, but I love the challenge of creating character voice and humor in speech.

Do you believe in writer's block?

I do not. I believe in writer's tangle. Writer's quicksand? I think we can strangle our creative flow but not block it. If I find myself struggling with a scene or story, I skip it, write ahead, switch stories, anything to keep myself writing. Eventually, the tricky moment untangles itself.

What has been the most difficult challenge you've had to face as a writer?

Trying to understand how social media works. Social identity has become so integral to the modern writer. I can't be a hermit curmudgeon in a yurt anymore.

What is the best purchase you've made as a writer?

My laptop. It improved my mobility and ability to write anywhere any time, which helps me on those days where I have the motivation of a cold sausage and don't want to get off the couch or out of bed for a few hours.

Click here to read Marrow Charm by Kristin Jacques

What does literary success mean to you?

My dream is to establish myself as a hybrid author. I would love to have an agent and book deal with one of the Big Five, but I don't hinge my success on it. Success to me is using my art to help financially support my family in whatever form that takes.

Are you working on a novel right now? If yes, can you tell us a little about it?

I am always working on something. Right now, I am working on an alternate history Frankenstein-inspired Horror Romance piece.

Where is your favourite place to write?

The couch. Cozy and soft, though extricating myself for anything is a challenge.

Click here to read Stitch Girls by Kristin Jacques

Do you write full-time, part-time, or just as a hobby? If full-time or part-time, how long did it take you to get to this stage in your writing career?

I am in the process of becoming a full-time writer, partially by necessity. It was my plan to eventually transition to full-time writer, but when my husband landed a job on a different shift, needing our one car, and with two boys on the spectrum needing care, I found myself seeking odd jobs online to earn income while writing whenever I could. It still took me over a year to figure out how I was going to do this before things truly started moving.

What time of day do you prefer to write?

I find myself much more productive in the afternoons, especially after the caffeine has had a chance to take affect, and at night, when my brain won't stop spinning without a good writing session.

Click here to read Zombies vs Aliens by Kristin Jacques

Do you prefer to write series or standalone novels?

I have discovered I am nigh incapable of starting a book without a three- to five-book series in my head. If I manage to condense into one book, it's a miracle.

Who is your inspiration?

My mother, a woman who taught me the love of storytelling from a young age and passed far too soon. As an adult, I learned we shared a creative streak and apt for storytelling. I think she would be proud to see me pursuing my dream.

Have you ever worked with a book editor?

Yes, I have had generally good experiences working with editors as there is just so much you can't see so close to your own work. That outside perspective really helps when you are seeking to create a clean, cohesive work.

Enjoyed the interview? Connect with Kristin!

Twitter: @Krazydiamond07

Facebook: Krazydiamondwrites

Instagram: @krazydiamond_writes

Goodreads: Kristin Jacques

Wattpad: @krazydiamond

Website: www.kristinjacques.com

If you are an author and would like to be interviewed for this series, please complete this application form. If you have any questions, or if you want to recommend an author, please get in touch by emailing me at bryony@bryonyleah.com.