Friday, October 24, 2014

Interview: The Asylum Tales by Jocelynn Drake

 


Do you write in different genres? If yes which is your favorite genre to write?

Yes, I do. Since I started writing stories many, many years ago, I have written fantasy, historical romance, contemporary romance, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, mainstream fiction, ménage romance, science-fiction, speculative literary fiction, and … well stories that I’m still not sure what genre they’d technically fall in.  I love writing.  When I sit down at the keyword or pick up a pen, my fingers just happily follow along the insane wanderings of my imagination.

With each genre comes a specific writing style, language, plotting and character development. I think urban fantasy and fantasy tend to be my favorite because I enjoy playing with magic in my worlds. However, romance gives me a nice break to think differently about my characters and their problems.  

Do you title the book first or wait until after it’s complete?

The title of the book always, always, always comes last.  I am horrible at titling books.  I typically don’t title the book until my editors comes to me and says that we need to finish preparations and we can’t publish this book as Book #2.  

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

I have always considered Kim Harrison as my mentor.  We met many years ago by luck and we keep in somewhat regular contact despite our respective busy schedules.  Kim has given me some advice on writing, improving my skill, but I think what I value most are her efforts to make me a better person.  She reminds me to pass along my good luck and knowledge to those authors still trying to find their place in this industry.  She reminds me to keep pushing and working hard when things look dark.   Book publishing is a hard business that will swallow you whole if you stop for a second.  You have to keep moving forward and believe in yourself.  My mentor has helped me to hold on to that drive.

What books are in your to read pile?

My reading habits tend to be quite sporadic and all over the place.  I never know when I’m going to have time to devote to a book and when I do have that time, I usually stop to spend it writing rather than reading.  However, I am working on Anthony Bourdain’s Medium Raw, Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman’s Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Scott Lynch’s The Lies of Locke Lamora, and Kerrelyn Sparks’ How to Seduce a Vampire (Without Really Trying). My next books to read will be Richard Kadrey’s The Getaway God and I want to reread Kim Harrison’s Rachel Morgan series leading up to the final book, The Witch With No Name. 


Do you have to travel much to do research for your books?

I would love to travel so I can get first-hand knowledge of the locations that I write about. My Dark Days series had books set in Peru, England, Egypt, Italy, and Hungary. Alas, sadly, plane tickets are extremely expensive, so I don’t get to travel as much as I would like.  For the most part, my research is limited to Internet research, travel books, and talking to people who have visited the places that I wish to write about.

Do you have a song or playlist (book soundtrack) that you think represents this book?

I don’t have a book soundtrack, but there are certain songs or bands that I’ve come to associate with characters from the series.   Gage, my warlock turned tattoo artist, has been largely associated with Shaman’s Harvest, Cage the Elephant, and the Raconteurs — though he has definitely had some Nine Inch Nails moments.  If I had to pick one song, “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” by Cage the Elephant is very much Gage.  

For Trixie, I associate Dropkick Murphys with the elf, particularly the song “Dirty Glass.”

Bronx the troll is far more laid back so I tend to prefer Pink Floyd when I’m working on a Bronx-heavy scene.  If I had to pick one song for him, I think he’d appreciate “Shine on You Crazy Diamond.”

What is your current “work in progress” or upcoming projects?

At the moment, I’m finishing up some edits and plotting an entirely new book.  I wrote a spin-off from the Dark Days series on a whim and I’m quite pleased with it.  I haven’t decided what I will do with it next, but it was fun to work in that world again.  I’m down to the last 15,000 words of a contemporary romance that I have been tinkering with for a few years in my spare time.  And finally, I have begun the long process of mapping out an entirely new world for a series of fantasy novels that I’d like to write.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Just keep writing. The road to publication is long and winding, filled with pitfalls.  You’re skill will be questioned.  And so will your sanity. But if you love it, it’s worth it.  Just keep writing.


Demon's Fury
The Asylum Tales
Book 3.1
Jocelynn Drake

Publisher: Harper Voyager Impulse
Release Date: October 14, 2014
ASIN: B00HYMDS8S

Book Description:

Jocelynn Drake continues her successful urban fantasy series, Asylum Tales, with Demon’s Fury, set in a world where elves, faeries, trolls, werewolves, and vampires walk free among humanity.

Powerful warlock and tattoo artist Gage has managed to escape the magical Ivory Towers who terrorize the rest of humans and monsters – but at a price.

Now he must join forces with his nemesis Gideon to stop an unknown entity who is using old magic to commit gruesome murders. And if that’s not keeping him busy enough, an investigator recruits Gage to help her track a killer … who might be targeting tattoo artists.

Available at Amazon


Demon's Vow
The Asylum Tales
Book 3.2
Jocelynn Drake

Publisher: Harper Voyager Impulse
Release Date: October 21, 2014
ISBN 006235941X
ISBN13: 9780062359414

Bestselling author Jocelynn Drake continues her urban fantasy series with the second installment of the Final Asylum Tales, Demon’s Vow.

Book Description:

Tattoo artist and warlock Gage is having a rough week. He’s trying to track down a mysterious murderer in Low Town while also chasing a powerful entity using forbidden Death Magic across the nation.

When Gage discovers the two forces may be trying to unite, the stakes get even higher. With Gideon’s help, Gage is determined to stop the murderers before anyone else gets hurt – including his girlfriend, Trixie.

Available at Amazon


Inner Demon
The Asylum Tales
3.3
Jocelynn Drake  

Publisher: Harper Voyager Impulse
Release Date: October 28, 2014
ISBN 0062359428
ISBN13: 9780062359421

Gage is a powerful warlock in Low Town, where elves, faeries, trolls, goblins, and vampires walk free among humanity. But there are two dangerous entities murdering families and children, and Gage needs to stop them before anybody else gets hurt.

When Gage discovers a demon locked away it offers him access to dark magic in exchange for its freedom – a dangerous opportunity, but one that could save his loved ones. Gage must choose between what is right and what is easy … except he’s running out of time.

Available at Amazon


About the Author:

By day, Jocelynn Drake is a clean-cut financial editor, picking apart stories about Wall Street and the global markets. But in her free time, she writes about a dark underworld where vampires and warlocks rule.

The author of Dark Days and Asylum Tales series, she lives in Florida with her husband, dog, and cat. When she's not working on her next book, she's usually hiding from the sun by playing video games.




https://twitter.com/JocelynnDrake

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1 comments:

Roxanne Rhoads said...

I have these on my Kindle- they look fabulous :-)