Author Interview & Contest with Jess Haines

I love having guests on the blog and I am extremely happy when those authors come back time and time again!

So I am very happy today to have author Jess Haines back on the blog.  Find out more about her new release, her books and enter the contest!

Enjoy!

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Amber : Welcome back to Amberkatze's Book Blog! You have a new H&W Investigations book out! How does it feel to have the series doing so well?

Jess : Thanks so much for having me back! I’m delighted how well the series is doing. When I first started out, I had no idea so many people would enjoy my work, and I still get a thrill every time a new fan tells me they just discovered my books.

Amber : What can your loyal readers expect from this new installment, Forsaken by the Others?

Jess : Shiarra has gotten herself into hot water this time. For her own safety, the vampire Royce sends her to stay with one of his allies in Los Angeles.

While she’s gone, she has to deal with angry werewolves, back-stabbing vampires, and zombies that just don’t know when to quit. Oh, and fringe-hobo vampires with a minor obsession with karaoke.

Amber : How about the people who haven't yet tried the H&W Investigation books? Should they start from the beginning? Why?

Jess : While I like to hope that you can pick up what’s happening in each book without having to pick up the earlier ones, you’ll get the most bang for your buck if you know the history behind how she ended up in the mess she deals with in Forsaken by the Others.

Here is the read order:

Book 1: Hunted by the Others
1.5: Spark of Temptation (short story in the Nocturnal anthology)
Book 2: Taken by the Others
Book 3: Deceived by the Others
Book 4: Stalking the Others
Book 5: Forsaken by the Others

Amber : How is the series doing in regards to your ideas and plans? Is everything on track?

Jess : So far, everything is going according to plan. I’ve done some refining over time and added some unexpected flourishes along the way, but the overarching plot has stayed on track.

Amber : So how long do you want to keep the H&W Investigations open? Do you have an end in sight?


Jess : I do have an end. In a perfect world, it will end in nine books (assuming I get another contract to continue the series with Kensington after I turn in the 6th book).

Amber : How much say do you get in the publishing process once you hand in the book?

Jess : Let me see if I can demystify the process a bit. Note that not all publishers necessarily do it the same way—this is just my experience.

With Kensington, first I write outlines which go over the major plot points of the novel, long before I write it, and send those to my editor. So far, he hasn’t mentioned anything needing changes at that stage. After I write the book, I give it to my editor. He reads it and lets me know if it is accepted as it is or if it needs some changes. I’ve never had to change anything major. Mostly just adding small touches to clarify points or scenes that need it. I can always veto those changes.

After that, the book goes on to copy edits. That’s where a copy editor reviews every page, checking for spelling, grammar, and similar content-related errors. I get to review and, if I like, veto those changes, too.

Lastly, the book goes to the page proof stage—a printout of what it will look like when it’s bound up in book form—and I have one last opportunity to make corrections before it goes to print. In a nutshell, that’s how the editing process works.

Amber : How long does it take from finishing all edits for ARC's arrive on your doorstep? Do you see any versions before this?

Jess : I think the above might answer the second part of your question. As for when the advance reader copies arrive, I usually get them about 3 months in advance of the release date.

Amber : Are you working on any other projects that you can tell us about?

Jess : At the moment, aside from the blog tour, I’m working on the 6th book in the H&W Investigations series, which is as yet untitled and guaranteed to be full of drama, zombies, and inappropriate pants feelings.

Amber : Are there any projects you aren't working on but want to start up if and when you have the time?

Jess : I’ve got quite a few, actually. I don’t want to give any details because I don’t have anything else (aside from book 6) contracted and I don’t want to get anybody’s hopes up about particular stories that haven’t been written/sold yet.

Amber : What have you been reading lately? Do you have any recommendations for us?

Jess : I’ve been doing a ton of reading, catching up on my mountainous TBR pile! If you like urban fantasy, give Yasmine Galenorn’s Otherworld series a shot. If you like gritty, dark urban fantasy, Chuck Wendig’s BLACKBIRDS was excellent. If you like paranormal romance with a steampunk flavor, I strongly recommend Delilah Dawson’s WICKED AS THEY COME.

Amber : And what about TV and Films? What has been keeping you entertained lately?

Jess : I’ve recently discovered and fallen in love with Dexter! I know it has been on the air for quite a while, but I hadn’t seen it until it recently came up on my (also mountainous) Netflix queue. In the last month or so I’ve devoured the first six seasons.

I was also behind the times on the Harry Potter movies, and only recently got to watch the last 3 movies. That was a great series that only got better with each successive film.

Amber : Do you ever listen to music when you are writing? Have soundtracks for your books?

Jess : I try not to. It tends to distract me more than anything. Though I did find one particular song apropos to a scene in Taken by the Others…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giaZnIr-faM

Amber : If you could choose any location to spend a couple of months writing, where would you like to write?

Jess : I think somewhere with very few distractions. A cabin in the woods, probably. As much as I enjoy traveling, when I go somewhere new, I have a tendency to spend a lot of time being a tourist. If I was going to get any work done, I would need to be somewhere familiar but quiet. I loved the forests of New Hampshire and the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York as a kid. If I just wanted to get away from it all to focus on writing I think those would be great places for that purpose.

Amber : Thank you for being a guest on the blog again! I hope you will be back again soon!

Jess : Thanks again so much for having me back, Amber! I hope everyone enjoys Forsaken by the Others!

Forsaken by the Others Book Description: 

The Others–vampires, werewolves, things that go chomp in the night–don’t just live in nightmares anymore. They’ve joined with the mortal world. And for private investigator Shiarra Waynest, that means mayhem…  Have a one night stand with a vampire, and you can end up paying for it for eternity. P.I. Shiarra Waynest, an expert on the Others, knows that better than most. Yet here she is, waking up beside charismatic vamp Alec Royce with an aching head…and neck. 

Luckily, Shia has the perfect excuse for getting out of town–namely, a couple of irate East Coast werewolf packs who’d like to turn her into a chew toy. On Royce’s suggestion, Shia temporarily relocates to Los Angeles. But something is rotten–literally–in the state of California, where local vampires are being attacked by zombies. Who could be powerful enough to control them–and reckless enough to target the immortal? Following the trail will lead Shia to a terrifying truth, and to an ancient enemy with a personal grudge…

Find out more about the Author & Blog Tour! 


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