Interview with Alexandra Jean
Published 2018-05-11.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in Brooklyn, NYC. Majority of all my stories take place in Brooklyn. There is just something about Brooklyn that just inspires me. I'm a Brooklyn girl.
When did you first start writing?
I first started writing when I was in the second grade. I would always jot down little stories or little poems. Fast forward to me in junior high school, and I'm writing poems all the time. Writing has always been a part of my life.
What's the story behind your latest book?
My latest book, #StreetsOnFire, is about a thief who murders someone. There's a lot of love, sex, lust, and of course street life into it. I started writing this character thinking of this ultimate gangster person and suddenly I just heard this female voice. Next thing you know, I'm writing about crooked cops, a corrupt system, and etc. It just flowed so naturally.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
A long time ago, I was dreaming about being discovered. I dreamed about a huge publication company finding me and saying that they couldn't live without my books...but that didn't happen. There's this best selling author named Tiphani Montgomery, and she held a webinar where she was talking about self publishing. I realized then that if I wanted people to hear me, I would have to make some noise.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
The greatest joy of writing is getting all the stories out of my head. I have close to 100 stories and ideas floating around in my head. If I don't write them down, they interrupt my life. Also, it's so cathartic to release all this pent up emotion onto an empty page.
What do your fans mean to you?
Do I have fans? If I do, I would like them to know that I'm so grateful to them for supporting me. I really put a lot into my writing and I'm (hopefully) getting better with every book that I write.
What are you working on next?
I'm working on this novel that is based on a famous movie. I'm really hoping to get permission to write it, if not I will sadly have to go the route of disguising it. I just would love for the original actor to read it because the movie has inspired me so much. Hopefully in the future, the book will be in publication and you won't have to keep guessing what I'm talking about.
Who are your favorite authors?
My favorite authors are,
E. Lynn Harris
Andrew M. Greeley
Maya Angelou
Sandra Cisneros
and so many more.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
I spend a lot of my time with my daughter. She's 5 right now and always with me. I like to help her master reading and writing. I'm just a mom with a dream.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
The first story I ever wrote was about a bunny. It was in the second grade and I wrote a very similar version to Alice in Wonderland. I don't think I'll ever publish it though.
What is your writing process?
It really depends on the writing. If it's erotica, I play sexy music and just let it flow out of my fingers. If it's an argument, I will say the dialogue out loud to make sure that it sounds authentic. I just try to get in tune to what I'm writing.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
The first story I ever read, or at least the first one I remember reading was "Frog and Toad together." It was one of the first books that I fell in love with. It really started my love affair with words.
What are your five favorite books, and why?
My favorite books are "Invisible Life" by E. Lynn Harris. It was his approach to bisexuality in the African American community that opened up my eyes. I've heard about closeted men, but the picture he painted didn't match the one I had in my head. It really taught me a lot about a whole other world.
"The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros is the book that made me want to write professionally. The way she captured innocence, growing up, sexuality, confusion, race, gentrification, and etc, just blew me away. I never related so much to a character like I did to Esperanza. This book is honestly one that EVERYONE has to read.
"Thy Brother's Wife" and "Ascent into Hell" from Andrew M. Greeley are just so delicious. This guy knew how to write a scandalous story that made you want to confess your sins. He just made you feel like you were a part of the Catholic Church. it wasn't like you were reading his story, but being a witness to it.
And the last book would be "Cross Roads" by Carl Paterson is just one of the best books you can read if you live in Brooklyn, NYC. It touched on the "crack era" that happened in NYC as well as the early gangs The author did a great job of holding you in because there was this unsaid secret that you just keep reading to learn more.
There are so many other books that were close to being in the top five, "Manchild in the Promise Land", "The Bluest Eye", "The Coldest Winter Ever', just to name a few. I'm obsessed with books.
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