Interview with Jen Winters
Published 2015-02-25.
What are you working on next?
I am currently working on the second novel in my Guardian series. It follows the extensive life of Ambrose, a fallen angel, and his soul mate Lavinia, a Guardian. Written from Ambrose's point of view, his acerbic personality is going to make this novel completely different from the first.
Which authors have influenced your writing habits?
I started writing PNR because of Sherrilyn Kenyon. I self-published because of James Patterson, and I want to make my prose wonderful because of Stephen King.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
My problem isn't finding inspiration, it's getting the inspiration to quiet down long enough to get a few hours of rest.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
I am a mother of two and I homeschool. I also read. A lot. Don't believe me? I read eight full-length novels last weekend. That is normal for me.
How do you discover the ebooks you read?
I read and write reviews; I am part of a book club, and I have a whole slew of author groups I participate in: Goodreads, Facebook, G+, Twitter...I never have a problem finding a new book. I have a problem prioritizing my reviews.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
Yes. I was 13, and it was a love story. I named the hero Yeltzer and he kept springing back up in subsequent stories, always a new book and world, but the same old lovely Yeltzer. Hey, maybe I should write another one for him, now that I'm an adult with a better grasp on life, love, and romance...
What is your writing process?
I sit at my computer. I write until my wrists hurt. I don't have a process beyond that. Or rather, my process is all in my head, where I keep my outlines and story ideas.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
Golem in the Gears by Piers Anthony. I was addicted to reading fantasy after that. It was the first in a long line of novels I read during my pubescent years. I would say that I read seven novels a week after that. I couldn't get enough. Mercedes Lackey, Piers Anthony, David Eddings...so many authors so little time.
How do you approach cover design?
I have an idea of what I want, I tell my cover designer, and she magically puts together the perfect cover. It's amazing, really.
What do you read for pleasure?
When I am feeling sick, I tend to get my head into paranormal romance. I have recently discovered the joy of Terry Bolryder. Her world is a wonderful place to escape when I'm not feeling up to getting out of bed.
Describe your desk
Cluttered. I have a wireless keyboard that eats up AAAs, my laptop is sitting amid all the junk above my keyboard, and on a shelf above the laptop is a 32" Westinghouse TV I use as a monitor. Somewhere around here I have speakers and a printer, but things get lost so easily. Directly in front of me is a withering cup of something that should have been hot, coffee or tea, depending on the time of day.
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