Hello, dear readers... today, I'm back with one of my favorite colleagues, Jayne E. Self, author of the recently released DEATH OF A HIGHLAND HEAVYWEIGHT (be sure to catch my review over at Lilly's Book Club page). There's some things I've been wanting to ask her, so, I'll get right to it. Welcome, Jayne!
Thank you, Lilly, it's good to be back.
You are involved in so many things. Besides being an author, pastor's wife, and the Assistant Director of Canada’s largest Christian writers’ conference, Write!Canada, how do you squeeze writing time in? Do you write a little each day, or go for stretches when you put most things aside while you complete a book?
For me, writing is an addiction and I’m a binge writer. Although there are always stories tripping over each other in my brain, taking the time to sit and write them down comes in clumps. If I don’t see a large block of uninterrupted time on the horizon (like during school holidays when the house hops with comings and goings) I don’t even try to write. During the last few busy months I have applied myself to my website and blogs, which is easier to do in fits and starts.
Do you ever get time for pleasure reading? If so, what are your favorite types?
When I do get time to read, I go through genre phases. Right now, I’m into mysteries by Donna Leon and Louise Penny, and procedurals by Kathy Reich. But I will drop everything for Elizabeth Peter’s Amelia Peabody books and Diane Gabaldon’s Outlander series.
Good reading, for sure. Liking mysteries as much as you do, what is your favorite part of writing one of your own?
Discovery. I love delving into my characters and discovering what makes them them: what quirks they harbour, what hurts they hide, what faith they embrace or deny. I want to know where God is at work in their lives.
And I love discovering my settings, too. Where I’ve lived has made a significant impact on who I am. I believe the same is true for my characters. So maybe I’m back at discovering character?
Which is the most important place to be, if you ask me. What are you working on right now?
I’m in a bit of a lull. As I said, I need a big block of time to write, and I’m not sure if I see one in my near future. I want to finish working on Hit ’n Miss, which is about a former homicide detective turned pastor. Actually, it's the second in a my Dean Constable series. The first, Caught Dead, was twice short-listed for Canada’s Best New Author Contest in 2008 and 2009 and in 2010 my denominational magazine (The Presbyterian Record) ran it as an online serial.
I also have a third Seaglass Mystery percolating on the back burner of my brain. Along with another project half done. I do my best thinking, plotting, and planning while summering in Nova Scotia, though, but I did not get there this year.
Well, I hope we don't have to wait too long to see them, because they all sound fascinating. In the meantime, I want to tell you how much I liked DEATH OF A HIGHLAND HEAVYWEIGHT, and will share a bit about it with readers over on my book club page. Thanks so much for visiting with me, today, Jayne, and here's wishing you the best with all your wonderful projects!
Thank you, Lilly, it's nice to be here.
If you would like to know more about Jayne and her work, you can visit with her over at www.JayneSelf.com
If you would like to know more about Jayne and her work, you can visit with her over at www.JayneSelf.com
