Today's guest author on Interviews with Dante is Sandra J. Jackson. She will soon join the ranks of Fountain Blue Publishing author's with the release of her first novel. Enjoy learning a bit about this wonderful author.
Please tell us a little about yourself.
I was born and raised in the province of Quebec and moved to Ontario when I was 16.
I have always been creative and so I chose to pursue graphic design in college. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to work in the field.
It wasn’t until I became a mother that story telling became a part of my life. In 2005 I started writing story ideas down but never seemed to be able to finish anything. Five years later, I finally made up my mind to stick to one idea and complete it. My first novel was completed in 2012.
Tell us about your latest book.
Promised Soul is my first novel. It was born from the idea of soulmates. The notion that you can meet someone and there’s this inexplicable feeling that you have known each other forever.
Promised Soul is the story of a young woman who just can’t seem to meet the right guy. While her close friends are getting married and having children, Krista suffers yet another failed relationship. She is determined to get her life in order and so she plans for a summer vacation to England. It is the one place she has dreamed of going to for as long as she can remember. As her plans come together, Krista begins to have strange dreams and intense feelings of déjà vu. After visiting two psychic mediums, she comes to the realization that her dreams aren’t just dreams but memories of a past life. Krista is determined to unravel the mystery and find out what it all means.
What do you have coming out in the future?
Right now I am in the process of editing a thriller. It has been taking me some time to complete because my “characters” keep changing things. I’m going to blame it on them, anyway.
I am also working on a fantasy, which is almost finished and it will be a series. It will probably only be two books as I don’t think it will go much further than that.
What genre do you enjoy writing the most and why?
I’m not sure I actually have a genre that I enjoy writing more. My first novel is a bit of a paranormal romance and a historical fiction. I’ve written a thriller and I am working on a fantasy. They have all been enjoyable in their own way.
From where do you draw your inspiration?
My inspiration comes from things I have experienced, my views and opinions, stories people have told me and things in the news.
Do you ever base your characters on real people in your life?
No, at least not up until this point I haven’t. I have, however, come across a couple of people and thought, “Hmm, where have I seen you before?” It then dawned on me that they resembled a character I’d described in one of my stories. Now, that being said, my characters certainly have certain mannerisms or attributes of people I know.
What authors inspire your writing?
Diana Gabaldon and Stephenie Meyer have inspired me because neither of them started out as writers.
What kind of books do you like to read?
I enjoy paranormal romance, historical fiction, thriller and fantasy.
How have your real life experiences influenced your writing?
My first novel has a paranormal element to it as I do believe in the possibility of past lives and soulmates. I have seen some odd and unexplainable things as a result these experiences will always find their way into my writing.
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
When I’m not writing I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, watching movies and anything that gets me outside when it’s nice out.
What was your road to publishing like? Tell us about it.
When I decided to seek publication, I wasn’t exactly sure what route to take. I looked into self-publishing but couldn’t make up my mind which service to choose. I then decided I would try traditional publishing first. I somehow found out about a well-known publishing company that was starting a new romance division in the UK. They were requesting worldwide submissions and promised to get back to everyone who submitted within three months. So I submitted my manuscript. After four months went by, I contacted them. They assured me that although they were quite busy, they still intended to let authors know whether or not they were going to publish their work. Another two months went by and I contacted them again. I told them that I understood how busy they were but that I was interested in sending my manuscript elsewhere. I didn’t hear from them again. I then sent a query letter e-mail to another publisher in Canada. While waiting, a fellow author posted on Facebook that Fountain Blue Publishing was accepting submissions. After a couple months went by and I heard nothing from the other publisher, I sent my submission to Fountain Blue. Within a couple of weeks I was sending them my entire manuscript and they sent me an agreement.
How did you come up with the title of your book?
The title for Promised Soul came from a combination of the notion of Soulmates and a promise made from my historical past life character.
I was born and raised in the province of Quebec and moved to Ontario when I was 16.
I have always been creative and so I chose to pursue graphic design in college. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to work in the field.
It wasn’t until I became a mother that story telling became a part of my life. In 2005 I started writing story ideas down but never seemed to be able to finish anything. Five years later, I finally made up my mind to stick to one idea and complete it. My first novel was completed in 2012.
Tell us about your latest book.
Promised Soul is my first novel. It was born from the idea of soulmates. The notion that you can meet someone and there’s this inexplicable feeling that you have known each other forever.
Promised Soul is the story of a young woman who just can’t seem to meet the right guy. While her close friends are getting married and having children, Krista suffers yet another failed relationship. She is determined to get her life in order and so she plans for a summer vacation to England. It is the one place she has dreamed of going to for as long as she can remember. As her plans come together, Krista begins to have strange dreams and intense feelings of déjà vu. After visiting two psychic mediums, she comes to the realization that her dreams aren’t just dreams but memories of a past life. Krista is determined to unravel the mystery and find out what it all means.
What do you have coming out in the future?
Right now I am in the process of editing a thriller. It has been taking me some time to complete because my “characters” keep changing things. I’m going to blame it on them, anyway.
I am also working on a fantasy, which is almost finished and it will be a series. It will probably only be two books as I don’t think it will go much further than that.
What genre do you enjoy writing the most and why?
I’m not sure I actually have a genre that I enjoy writing more. My first novel is a bit of a paranormal romance and a historical fiction. I’ve written a thriller and I am working on a fantasy. They have all been enjoyable in their own way.
From where do you draw your inspiration?
My inspiration comes from things I have experienced, my views and opinions, stories people have told me and things in the news.
Do you ever base your characters on real people in your life?
No, at least not up until this point I haven’t. I have, however, come across a couple of people and thought, “Hmm, where have I seen you before?” It then dawned on me that they resembled a character I’d described in one of my stories. Now, that being said, my characters certainly have certain mannerisms or attributes of people I know.
What authors inspire your writing?
Diana Gabaldon and Stephenie Meyer have inspired me because neither of them started out as writers.
What kind of books do you like to read?
I enjoy paranormal romance, historical fiction, thriller and fantasy.
How have your real life experiences influenced your writing?
My first novel has a paranormal element to it as I do believe in the possibility of past lives and soulmates. I have seen some odd and unexplainable things as a result these experiences will always find their way into my writing.
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
When I’m not writing I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, watching movies and anything that gets me outside when it’s nice out.
What was your road to publishing like? Tell us about it.
When I decided to seek publication, I wasn’t exactly sure what route to take. I looked into self-publishing but couldn’t make up my mind which service to choose. I then decided I would try traditional publishing first. I somehow found out about a well-known publishing company that was starting a new romance division in the UK. They were requesting worldwide submissions and promised to get back to everyone who submitted within three months. So I submitted my manuscript. After four months went by, I contacted them. They assured me that although they were quite busy, they still intended to let authors know whether or not they were going to publish their work. Another two months went by and I contacted them again. I told them that I understood how busy they were but that I was interested in sending my manuscript elsewhere. I didn’t hear from them again. I then sent a query letter e-mail to another publisher in Canada. While waiting, a fellow author posted on Facebook that Fountain Blue Publishing was accepting submissions. After a couple months went by and I heard nothing from the other publisher, I sent my submission to Fountain Blue. Within a couple of weeks I was sending them my entire manuscript and they sent me an agreement.
How did you come up with the title of your book?
The title for Promised Soul came from a combination of the notion of Soulmates and a promise made from my historical past life character.
Is your book a standalone or a series?
It is a standalone. Although some of my readers have asked if it could be a series or if I could write a spinoff with one of the other characters. I have started two different spinoffs but haven’t gone much further than that.
Do you read the genre you write for or do you prefer other genres?
I read the genres I write.
What celebrity would you chose to play the main character(s) in the movie rendition of your book?
Though my main character is Canadian, I have often envisioned Jennifer Lawrence playing the part. Ellen Page could also play the part as she is from Nova Scotia, where Krista is from. However she would have to dye her hair blonde and wear green contact lenses. The male lead would probably be British actor Ben Barnes. I also envision Rupert Grint to play the part of Peter.
Have you joined any writer’s groups?
Yes, I just recently joined the Canadian Author’s Association
Have you won any awards for your writing?
Not yet. I like to think positive.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
The editing, I pretty much hate it. Especially when I keep, I mean my characters keep, changing things.
What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?
When I get a new story idea, it’s the ending I come up with first. It’s the easiest part.
Which of your characters is your favorite and why
I would have to say Krista, in Promised Soul, is my favourite. She gets to remember her past life and gets to spend the summer in England. I have always wanted to visit the UK, maybe someday.
What is your preferred writing environment?
My preferred writing environment is somewhere comfortable and quiet. However, I usually end up sitting in the family room, with a laptop on my lap, and the TV playing in the background.
Do you have a careful plan when plotting your stories or do you just go with the flow?
I usually just go with the flow; however, I am starting to do a little more planning, just not all the time.
When did you know you truly wanted to give writing a shot?
I guess when I first shared my writing with others and they liked it.
It is a standalone. Although some of my readers have asked if it could be a series or if I could write a spinoff with one of the other characters. I have started two different spinoffs but haven’t gone much further than that.
Do you read the genre you write for or do you prefer other genres?
I read the genres I write.
What celebrity would you chose to play the main character(s) in the movie rendition of your book?
Though my main character is Canadian, I have often envisioned Jennifer Lawrence playing the part. Ellen Page could also play the part as she is from Nova Scotia, where Krista is from. However she would have to dye her hair blonde and wear green contact lenses. The male lead would probably be British actor Ben Barnes. I also envision Rupert Grint to play the part of Peter.
Have you joined any writer’s groups?
Yes, I just recently joined the Canadian Author’s Association
Have you won any awards for your writing?
Not yet. I like to think positive.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
The editing, I pretty much hate it. Especially when I keep, I mean my characters keep, changing things.
What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?
When I get a new story idea, it’s the ending I come up with first. It’s the easiest part.
Which of your characters is your favorite and why
I would have to say Krista, in Promised Soul, is my favourite. She gets to remember her past life and gets to spend the summer in England. I have always wanted to visit the UK, maybe someday.
What is your preferred writing environment?
My preferred writing environment is somewhere comfortable and quiet. However, I usually end up sitting in the family room, with a laptop on my lap, and the TV playing in the background.
Do you have a careful plan when plotting your stories or do you just go with the flow?
I usually just go with the flow; however, I am starting to do a little more planning, just not all the time.
When did you know you truly wanted to give writing a shot?
I guess when I first shared my writing with others and they liked it.
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