A Question for Ms. Drake

[seth]

Greetings, Jocelynn! Wow it is so exciting to talk to you!!! I feel like kneeling before you but do not want to weird you out,

I just began "Nightwalker" and am on chapter eleven. So far, it is blowing me away. Mira is by far my favorite female vampire character I have ever gotten close to and I am only just beginning the series. I mean, the book starts right off with a bang, and an awesome fight scene between Mira and Danaus, and I loved how it played out, even the little section of domination she bestowed upon him while holding him down, sitting on top. That was . . . wow!

Danaus is just as wonderful and mysterious--more mysterious and I love how he drives Mira nuts as she continuously tries to figure him out.

I guess my question is, how did you get started and how long did it take?

I am a writer trying to publish the first book of my trilogy, a sword and sorcery fantasy. I have had a few "nos" but someone as of now is reviewing my work and said she'll get back to me in three months. Though I'm still thinking it is going to be another no. It seems so difficult to land a "yes" and oh how wonderful it must be for you to see your work published, on the shelves and reviewed by other authors and fans. May many blessings continue to come your way.

I am new to the Urban Fantasy genre. My normal reads are sword and sorcery, a little science fiction. "Nightwalker" is the third Urban Fantasy book I am trying. I have read "Blood Memories" by Barb Hendee and "Demons Not Included" by Cheyenne McCray so far and finally started yours. Last weekend at Barnes and Nobles the cover to Nightwalker caught my eye, and now so are the words

One amazing thing I find as a writer is that our characters live within us. In a sense, Mira is really real, within you, just as Sinderian is really real within Madeline Howard's "Rune of Unmaking," and my own characters within me. Do you know what I mean or am I sounding a little weird?

I look forward to finishing Nightwalker and starting on the others within the coming week.

[Jocelynn Drake]

Seth, I'm glad that you're enjoying Nightwalker. I had a lot of fun writing it. Mira is like a good friend and a sister and sometimes an annoyance all rolled into one. I've known her for many years now so it's very easy for me to get into her head.

For me, I've been writing since I was 12. I have written in many different genres and many different styles. When I started Nightwalker, I didn't intend to have it published. I was just writing it because I enjoyed it. I think that's the first priority. Love what you're doing. The story and the characters have to be important to you. And the second part is to just keep practicing. Keep writing no matter what. Even if you're waiting on a review or a response, be working on your next project. The only way to get good at it is to constantly read and write.

Getting published is a very long and painful process. It took me two solid years of gettings "no" from agents before I finally landed my amazing agent. Just stick with it.

I hope that helps. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask,

[seth]

Hihi Jocelynn!!! thank you for responding, and apologies for my typo-sounding hyperness, I just get overly excited when fellowshipping with another author whose work I love (well, you are an author, I am still just a would-be-writer, hehe)

I am now three quarters into "Nightwalker." That is saying a lot because I read slow, and the only other book I read this quickly was Tolkien's "Return of the King."

I hate / love Jabari. (He is an awesome character, in other words I hate him for his merciless mindset but love him because he feels so real. Good job.) I am still holding a grudge against him for how he treated Mira. When Danaus got back up after that blow and was barely hurt I shouted out "YES!" and my wife began laughing because she was getting ready for bed and overheard me.

I am 31 and have always loved writing stories, though it was not until eight years ago that I began my trilogy. It is not complete, only the first two are and the third probably 3/4 of a way. But while I am waiting on a "yes" for the first one I am still working on the third. The story has been read, torn apart by other readers in its early days, revised and revised and finally constructed well enough where it got a good review from another writer / author in the making. I think I revised it 7 or 8 times, possibly more. So I felt it was ready to send out.

I will keep trying as you say, Jocelynn, thank you for the encouragement.

[seth]

Reading all this urban fantasy reminds me of my teen years hehe, hanging out at clubs watching bands play, playing in a band myself, and all the nightlife. I seriously never thought Urban Fantasy would excite me but oh has it!

I love the darkness it betrays, not necessarily an evil darkness, just a unique, pleasing dark part of our minds that it awakens and soothes. Difficult to ex[plain I guess. And that is weird because I am typically a happy-go-lucky individual.

[seth]

"Getting published is a very long and painful process. It took me two solid years of gettings "no" from agents before I finally landed my amazing agent. Just stick with it.

I hope that helps. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask,"

Yeah, it does feel painful. I just got a "no" today. And, well, it hurts, especially my situation, but that does not matter.

I have had my work critiqued before, but have revised it so many times and finally got a good review from someone, so I kind of had good hopes it would go well. Not yet though, oh well.

I will keep trying, as you say, thank you, Jocelynn.

[darkdaysfan]

I was wondering Jocelynn, when you are writing your books do you write what your fans want to hear or what you really think and feel ? Are you ever afraid if you don't give your fans what they want they will hate your books ? Are you ever nervous that people won't like your books ? Obviously people have different opinions on different subjects but I don't think I could ever be able to stand someone hating something i put hard work and a lot of effort into. How do you feel when you see a negative review of your book ? (I'm not writing a book or anything I'm just curious)

[Jocelynn Drake]

When it comes to the books, I write exactly what I've been planning to write for the series. The nice thing about writing so far ahead of when books are released is that I can't react to what the fan want to put in. It's already too late. The most I can do sometimes is make sure the a certain character get a little face time when I was originally planning it, but I don't change plot or character development to suit my fans. I have to stay true to the story.

That being said, it doesn't mean that I'm not terrified a book comes out. I am constantly worried about whether my editor will like it or whether the fans will like it. Release days are both exciting and extremely nerve-wracking. You pray that people will like the work that you have created.

Negative reviews hurt. But there's no way of avoiding them. Even the greatest books and most popular books have received bad reviews. They are a part of life and you just have to push through them. If you can't learn to brush off a bad review and keep writing, then you're not going to last long as an author.

I hope that answers your questions.
Thanks!
Jocelynn

[darkdaysfan]

Yes thank you that does answer my questions ! I don't think I would be cut out to be an author ! My sisters are always telling me that I can't be an author because I don't like to be rushed and I'm bad with deadlines lol. I just thought of another question. I remember when I wrote stories for fun and for school assignments I would write whatever I felt. Like if I was in a bad mood someone would die in my story. If I was in a good mood maybe someone will find happiness, money, or a new power. If I was sad maybe someone would commit suicide. It seemed like I always took my feelings out on my stories. Do you also do that ? Like a story could be going great, the characters are happy healthy and blessed with good fortune and the next day when I come back to continue writing and I'm in a bad mood and the next thing you know someone in the story gets hit by a bus. I feel like if authors feel a certain way a certain day they just can't turn their emotions off for a book and the can't put it off because of deadlines. So before I can say anything else I'm going to stop talking and let you answer my question ;D

[Jocelynn Drake]

I outline a book before I start writing it and stick very close to that outline so it becomes a lot harder for my emotions to interfere and take over the story. At the same time, some days are harder to write than others. I have found that there are a couple scenes that I have to be in a good mood to write and others where it helps if I am in a dark mood. Unfortunately, due to having a deadline, I can't always put that scene on hold as I wait for the proper mood to hit me. Sometime you just push through and hope that you can make it better in the revision stage.

[Vikki S]

Hi Jocelynn,

Rowe is my second favorite character, and I have a question that centers on him.
My question is: Why does Rowe repeatedly call Mira "princess or little princess?

Please I'm dying to know.

Thanks, and I'm looking forward to Wait for Dusk.

[darkdaysfan]

Jun 26, 2010 11:49:09 GMT -5 @Vikki S said:

Hi Jocelynn,

Rowe is my second favorite character, and I have a question that centers on him.
My question is: Why does Rowe repeatedly call Mira "princess or little princess?

Please I'm dying to know.

Thanks, and I'm looking forward to Wait for Dusk.

Thats a good question ! But what makes him your favorite and if he is your 2nd favorite who is your first ? (Just curious)

[Jocelynn Drake]

My favorites are Mira/Danaus
Tristan
Rowe
Valerio
(in that order)

I love Tristan for his vulnerability, his grasp for hope, and his humanity in the face of overwhelming violence.

I love Rowe because he's a smart-ass, intelligent fighter with a loyalty streak a mile wide.

Rowe calls Mira princess because in the beginning she was very closely guarded by Sadira, Tabor, and Jabari -- treating her like a princess. He's also being a smart ass.

[Vikki S]

Hi Jocelynn,

I finished Pray for Dawn on Sunday and I'm ready for Wait for Dusk. I don't think La.... (spoiler free but you know who I mean) is a baddies against Mira & Danaus. My question is will you dish out any more random quotes or an early excerpt for W.F.D.?

Thank you,

Vikki

[Jocelynn Drake]

I think I will do some dishing soon, but I want to give readers a chance to catch up with Pray for Dawn first. soon.. I promise

[darkdaysfan]

I was wondering about the contest you do where people just have to leave a comment. I know you just had a recent one and I was wondering how you pick the winners. (I didn't sign up for the contest but i wish i had )