Author Jeannie Holmes Interview and Book Contest – LIVE Here!
BBB: How old were you when you began writing, and what was the first piece you ever wrote?
JH: I was about six years old when I wrote my first short story for a class project. It was about a young worm who lost his way and was trying to get back home. Unfortunately, I don’t remember the title, but I do recall it was fully illustrated. I wish I still had it because it would be fun to look back on it now.
BBB: Are there particular activities or places that inspire you as a writer, or does inspiration just come out of the blue anywhere and anytime?
JH: My greatest inspirations come from life. They appear out of the blue. It could be from the news, a science article online, a snippet of an overheard conversation at the airport, a museum, a song–the possibilities are endless.
BBB: What books did you most enjoy reading while growing up? As a teen?
JH: I was a strange kid because I read any book I could get my hands on. I loved Nancy Drew and Encyclopedia Brown mysteries as well as classics like Black Beauty, Treasure Island, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and of course, Tolkien. I also read a lot of mythology and natural history books. As I grew into my teens, I religiously read Terry Brooks’s “Shannara” series. They’re still among my favorites. Other favorites included Anne Rice, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman.
BBB: What genres do you read for pleasure now?
JH: Anything and everything! I honestly don’t discriminate between genres. I read what interests me, whether it’s fiction or nonfiction. However, I do admit to having a low tolerance level. If I’m not hooked in the first 25-50 pages (if that long!), then I don’t finish reading the book. Sad, but true.
BBB: What hobbies do you have, and what do you enjoy doing for relaxation?
JH: I read, of course, but I also enjoy drawing and painting. I’ve been involved with studio art as long as I have been with writing. I listen to music and attempt to sing along–much to my husband’s and cats’ chagrin. Other hobbies include making jewelry and bath products (soap, bath salts, etc.), and baking. I’m currently teaching myself to crochet. It’s not going very well.
BBB: You recently contributed the story “Seventeen Coppers” to The Mammoth Book of Ghost Romance, and have another story soon to appear in a futuristic romance anthology. Do you find the challenges of writing in short-form more daunting or kind of freeing?
JH: This may sound weird but I find short stories to be both. On the one hand, they’re freeing because I can explore new characters and worlds. On the other hand, they’re challenging because I have a finite amount of words to build this new world, describe the characters, and tell their story. It’s a daunting prospect whenever I begin a new short story, but after a while, I settle into the pace and rhythm of it and have fun.
BBB: Speaking of “Seventeen Coppers,” this story is a departure from the world of Alex and Varik. Please describe this cool story with its steampunk and futuristic elements to our readers.
JH: “Seventeen Coppers” is a steampunk-inspired romantic fantasy. Ro Vargas is a thief who’s hired to steal a man’s soul. Unfortunately for Ro, an old flame, Mason Beck, is after the man’s soul as well. It’s a huge departure from the world of Alex and Varik, which is grounded in modern police and forensic procedures. Ro and Mason live in a world of airships, ecto-orbs (special vessels for capturing and transporting ghosts), alchemy, and steam-driven mechanical wonders. I like to think of their world as being the result of Jules Verne writing Pirates of the Caribbean with Robin Hood in the starring role.
BBB: Out of all of your characters, which have you most enjoyed writing and which has proven the most difficult?
JH: I love writing all of my characters and for different reasons. Alex and Varik are great to write because of the constant threads of sexual tension and a shared dark past that pushes them together but also pulls them apart. Ro and Mason were a lot of fun because they were new. I think the most difficult character to write has to be The Dollmaker from “Blood Secrets.” It was very draining to be inside the mind of a sadistic serial killer. Writing his scenes took me to a very dark place and honestly, it took a long time for me to crawl out of that place.
BBB: What aspect of being an author do you most enjoy?
JH: Meeting readers! Yes, building worlds and creating characters are fun, but I love meeting readers and hearing what they have to say, not only about my books but any books. I’ve been a reader longer than I’ve been a published author so I always enjoy meeting others to simply love a good book.
BBB: What do you think the future holds for urban fantasy?
JH: I think urban fantasy it going to continue to grow and change as more authors add their voices to the genre. However, I do think we’re going to see a larger distinction between the darker fantasy-horror-thriller-style plots and the lighter more mystery-humor-romance books. But, with that said, I don’t see the genre going away any time soon.
Readers, don’t miss your chance to meet Jeannie Holmes and spend some time with her, as well as other awesome authors and readers at the Olde City, New Blood mini-convention this February 8-10th , in St. Augustine, FL. We’ll be spending two days chatting about our favorite stories, and meeting some of the crazy-cool people who bring them to us. Be sure to check out http://OldeCityNewBlood.wordpress.com for all the details. Also, keep an eye out on this blog, and on the official site, for a contest announcement coming very soon (hint – chances to win registration to the event!!)
Author Bio:
Jeannie Holmes is the author of the Alexandra Sabian series, and fears spiders, large bodies of water, and bad weather. She moved from the backwoods of southwestern Mississippi to the Alabama Gulf Coast where she now lives with her husband and four neurotic cats. She enjoys art, exploring old cemeteries, traveling, and when she isn’t writing or has her nose stuck in a book, she spends her time searching for a really good cup of coffee.
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Learn more about Jeannie Holmes here:
Read reviews of the author’s work here.
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Hi! Congrats on the short story in the anthology!
At least I’m not the only one with neurotic cats and a fear of spiders. Not that one has to do with the other, but you get what I’m saying.
So a question about writing short stories for these anthologies. Do you ever get attached to the characters and want to write more about the or even a full-length story about the world?
And good luck with the crocheting! I can’t knit worth a dime, but I can crochet and once you get the hang of it you’ll start doing a lot with it. My suggestion is to start with a scarf. That helps to get the movements down because you’re doing something that’s long. But it doesn’t have to be an overly complicated pattern for it to look nice.
Thanks!
Hi Rae!
Thanks for dropping in!
Lol…I understand what you mean about cats and spiders. I just *love* when the Fuzz Patrol finds a “new friend” and feels the need to “introduce” it to me.
Regarding your anthology question, yes, I do sometimes feel the need to explore the world and characters in greater detail. In fact, I’ve been wanting to work more with Ro and Mason from “Seventeen Coppers.” Their world is more grounded in fantasy than the scientific reality I try to keep in the Alex books. I haven’t had a chance to dive into that project yet, but I do have some great ideas for the continuing adventures of Ro and Mason.
-Jeannie
I do love when the introduce the “new friends”. Not only will it happen at the worst time, but the cats will have this unjustified sense of pride in the introduction! Oh yes, quite familiar with this practice!
Yes, they do enjoy their smug little “See? I can make friends.” attitudes.
Hey Jeannie!
Loved Seventeen Coppers and hoping for more adventures from Ro!
So here’s my question: Where do you stand on the things that aren’t pumpkin tasting like pumpkin debate?
Hi T’, and thank you! I’m very happy you enjoyed Ro’s story.
Ah, yes, the Great Pumpkin Debate. Here is my stance: Pumpkins should taste like pumpkins, as should pumpkin seeds and certain seasonal breads and pies. Coffee with pumpkin spice is acceptable but in moderation. Hershey Kisses, M&Ms, Oreos, etc. should *not* taste like pumpkin or pumpkin spice. Vodka is right out. Anything not mentioned here should be evaluated on a case by case basis.
-Jeannie
Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman! I had my first taste of them in high school when I was given the first book in the Dark Sword. Joram! Hubby read tht series all the way through.
I loved Raistlin and Cameron! Aww Raistlin! Sickly and dark!
Hubby and I tried the Shanannar books. My on-line brother suggested them but I couldn’t get past the first ten pages. They were just dry to me and my mind wondered off the pages.
Steampunk? Oh you caught me right there!
Hi Raonaid!
Thanks for stopping by! Oh, Raistlin…*sigh*… Such a tortured soul. He was my favorite character in the Dragonlance series. Of course, I also liked Tas and Fizban. lol
The Shannara books can be a little dry, especially the earlier books. I believe “Sword of Shannara” was first published in 1979, so that can certainly explain some of the dryness. Writing styles have changed quite a bit over the last thirty-odd years.
-Jeannie
You are not the only one afraid of spiders. As my hubby and family like to tease me I am terrified of the suckers. I once called my brother to get one of those writing spiders out of my cabinet because I stuck my hand in its web and freaked. LOL
Holy crap, I would have freaked out too!
Good thing I lived next door to my parents. My brother came over laughing to take care of the spider incident. Once seen a spider in the bathroom. I had to wait until my hubby came home, I kept going to my parents. LOL
I never wait for my husband to deal with a spider. For one thing, I was raised on a farm. Yes, spiders scare the hooha out of me, but I have no problem dispatching them to the Great Web in the Sky. Besides, my husband is a “city boy.” He usually runs to me to kill bugs since they’re part of “icky nature.” lol
-Jeannie
Who are some of your inspirations? Literary idols?
Literary idols… I have many: Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, Charles Baudelaire, Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson, Bram Stoker, Charles Dickinson, Harper Lee… This list goes on and on.
Inspirations… I find a lot of inspiration in music and art. Georgia O’Keeffe and Beethoven are two major inspirations in those categories. I’m also often inspired by the acts of everyday people, like kids who stand up to bullies or who stop bullies from picking on others. People like Gandhi, Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, and Martin Luther King, Jr. also inspire me a great deal. Even though I write some really dark characters, I’m drawn to people in real life who are examples of the better aspects of human nature.
-Jeannie
I enjoy anthologies because they expose me to authors I might otherwise miss. What is the reason you like to contribute to anthologies? Thank you.
vsloboda(at)gmal(dot)com
Hi Viki!
Great question! I like contributing to anthologies because it gives me a break from the Alex books and allows me to explore other worlds and characters. It’s a lot of fun to stretch my imagination and take a vacation from vampires, crime scenes, and dead bodies.
Thanks!
-Jeannie
Congrats! You and I read the same kind of books during our childhood days! Maybe it is a ‘Mississippi’ thing, as I was born and raised in Northwest Mississippi.
. I love your books. Thanks for all the great stories you grace us with.
Hi Angela!
Thank you so much! It’s always nice to find another Mississippian.
-Jeannie
I love anthologies. I found so many authors through them.
my question is
If you could spend a day with one of your characters who would it be and what would you do?
Hi Elaine!
Thanks for the question. That’s a tough one. I’d love to hang out with all of my characters for different reasons.
Alex would be great company for staying home, eating popcorn and watching old movies. Varik would be fun for a night on the town. Stephen (Alex’s brother) is the kind of guy you’d want to just grab a beer with and have a good laugh.
Mason would be the guy with the big plans, who would end up sitting next to you in jail, and laughing about it. Ro’s kind of quiet, more of the low-key, window shopping and grabbing a cup of coffee kind of girl.
It’s hard to pick just one character.
-Jeannie
Hi there! I have Blood Law and Blood Secrets in my TBR list. I’ll have to pick this one up too. I’ve found a new interest in Steampunk, lots to read about in this genre. What are your thoughts on audiobooks? Are any of yours available?
Hi Joani!
I have an interest in Steampunk as well–one reason I wrote “Seventeen Coppers.”
I think audiobooks are great. I know a lot of people enjoy them. Personally, I don’t absorb a story as well if it’s read to me versus my reading it, but that has always been an issue for me. Currently, the Alex series is not available as an audiobook. I certainly wish it were but the publisher controls that, not me. I’m not sure if the anthology is available.
-Jeannie
I actually loved the Shannara series, + Forgotten Realms, but I never got to the end of them. There started being so many in the “series” and I would start them over every so often vowing to read them all in order, but after a while some other book would call to me and I’d put the books down and have to start all over again.
There are a lot of books in those series. It’s definitely hard to keep up with them, and I don’t have as much time to read as I once did. Sad but true.
Hi,
I read above about the spider scare. I just had one myself. I went to get the Amazon box of the porch and a huge spider crawled across my hand. Needles to say I screamed.
Jenn
I don’t blame you, Jenn. I’d scream, too…and then use the Amazon box to smash the spider into oblivion. I do *not* like them crawling on me. I’ve been bitten too many times.
-Jeannie
I agree that urban fantasy is expanding and developing it’s own pockets of intra-genre…but this is just a reflection of the many readers’ tastes.
Do you have a favorite author or book?
ivegotmail8889@yahoo.com
Hi PC!
I agree, and that’s why I love the UF genre–the diversity. Because of the diversity, it’s so hard for me to pick any one author or book as a favorite. I do have a few authors on autobuy, though: Charlaine Harris, Kim Harrison, and Vicki Pettersson.
But my all-time favorite book is “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley. I own several copies of it and have read each one. It’s a phenomenal book.
-Jeannie
You sound very creative. All the other talents on top of the writing.
I find myself reading a very wide range of genres, more so than ever before.
Thanks, Mary!
I’ve always been the “artsy” person who has forty-seven million projects going at once. It drove my parents crazy. Thankfully, they didn’t stifle my creative side. They encouraged it. My mother studied music in college and had a lovely singing voice. Dad was more of the outdoorsy-crafty type. I think I learned a lot from both of them.
-Jeannie
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Do you have any unusual or special talents excluding your storytelling abilities?
Hi Lisa!
Thanks for the questions.
Aside from writing, I like to draw and paint, make jewelry, and attempt to sing. I don’t know that I have any unusual talents…except for an ability to retain completely random and totally useless information and facts. Hmm…maybe that’s why my husband refuses to play Trivial Pursuit against me. lol
-Jeannie
You woke up this morning and realized you had been reincarnated as a pair of shoes.
Describe yourself.
Reincarnated as shoes, huh? Well, I’d probably be a well-worn pair of fleece-lined Doc Martien boots. A little scruffy and rough on the outside, not very pretty to look at, but oh so warm and cozy and comfy on the inside.
-Jeannie
YOU are a paranormal character, what is your super power?
Pyrokinesis. Hands down. The ability to create and manipulate fire.
-Jeannie
hate spiders two.
So what is your favorite Book?
Hi Stacey!
Thanks for stopping by! My all-time favorite book is “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley, but I’m also a fan of “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde, “The Witch of Blackbird Pond” by Elizabeth George Speare, and “Dracula” by Bram Stoker. I’ve read them numerous times and own multiple copies of each.
-Jeannie
Hi, Jeannie.
I read both Alex and Varik’s books and I was so upset that the was canceled.
Still, are you workin on a new book in this series? Through this year did you had a chance from a editor to publish a 3rd book?
Hi Sonia!
Yes, I was upset as well when the publisher decided not to renew the Alex series. My wonderful agent has been doggedly trying to find a new home, but unfortunately, we’ve had no takers so far.
I didn’t publish any new books in 2012, other than having “Seventeen Coppers” included in the MBOGR anthology.
As for the 3rd Alex book, I began work on it but had to set it aside once it became apparent that the search for a new publisher wasn’t going to yield immediate results. I spent most of 2012 writing short stories for various anthologies and working on other writing projects. While it is disheartening to leave Alex and Varik in limbo, I do hope to return to their story. I’m just not certain when that may be.
-Jeannie
What books are currently on your nightstand?
Hi Donna!
Thanks for the great questions. The books currently on my nightstand are “The Haunting of Maddy Clare” by Simone St. James and “Into the Woods” by Kim Harrison, which just arrived today.
-Jeannie
If you could witness any historical event past, present or future what would it be and why?
This is a tough one, but I think I would want to be present at the party where Mary Shelley got part her inspiration for “Frankenstein.” To sit with literary greats like her and her husband, Percy, and Lord Byron would be an experience I couldn’t pass up.
-Jeannie
What is the one thing you wish you knew before you tried to get published?
I was fortunate in that I had a great mentor who imparted a lot of information and wisdom about publishing before I landed an agent. So I approached publishing with few delusions of how much work would be involved. But, having said that, I do wish I’d known exactly how much of the promotional work would fall to me. I did know that as a first time author I wouldn’t garner the kind of support as someone of Stephen King’s or Anne Rice’s caliber. However, I also didn’t realize that virtually all of it would be on me. If I had known, I would’ve signed up for a couple of marketing classes in college in addition to all the writing workshops.
-Jeannie
Hi Jeanie,
I always look forward to your stories.
I think crocheting is easier to learn than knitting so hang in there. You might try Tunisian crochet, some find it easier as you do not have to turn the piece as you go. You need different hooks though.
Hi Koren!
I’m very happy you enjoy my work, and thanks for the tip about Tunisian crocheting. I’ll have to look into it.
-Jeannie
Have you thought about self-pubbing the third Alex book?
And spiders…yeah. Tough to love those! Shudder….
Hi Julie!
I have considered self-publishing but haven’t committed to it yet. It’s a venture that I’d have to discuss with my agent before proceeding.
-Jeannie
I’m glad that you think urban fantasy will continue to grow, as it’s my favorite genre.
Hi Janie!
Thanks, and I definitely see the genre continuing.
-Jeannie
What is your favorite childhood book/series?
Hi Dovile!
Thanks for the questions! As a kid I really loved reading “Bunnicula,” “Nancy Drew,” and “Encyclopedia Brown,” but my all-time favorite children’s book was “Mr. Abracadabra” by Charonne Wali and Nannette Grill.
-Jeannie
Have you ever written fan fiction? For what fandom?
No, I haven’t written any fan fiction. I usually have too many characters and worlds of my own making in my head. lol
-Jeannie
If your mind were a house, what would it look like inside?
The house from Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho.” Since and well-kept on the outside, but dark, spooky, and deadly inside.
-Jeannie
That should read “serene,” not “since.” *facepalm* Yep, it’s a Monday.
I like what you said about the genre of urban fantasy – the book that get shoved together into that category are often so different that it is hard to justify. At the same time I’m almost hesitant to create more nuanced genre labels because there will always be that odd book out.
I hope that you are right about the genre not going anywhere though, it is my favorite
Thanks for doing the interview!
–Alicia
dmr8888 at yahoo dot com
Hi Alicia!
I agree with you about labels. I’m not a fan of the nitpicking labels. Call it “Urban Fantasy,” “Paranormal Romance,” “Thriller,” “Science Fiction,” etc. Why split hairs? Besides, a good book is going to good book regardless of the genre label.
-Jeannie
Do you have any plans to write a full novel again? Loved the Alex Sabain series and was sad to not have a new Alex book this year!
Hi Jessica!
I do intend to return to full-length novels. However, I am taking a little break from writing at the moment to work on a few other non-writing related projects. But I should be back to writing full time after the first of the year.
-Jeannie