Monday, June 27, 2011

Up Close & Personal with Author - J.A. Campbell


Where were you born and where do you call home? I was born in Iowa City, Iowa but I now live in Fort Collins Colorado. I've lived in Colorado for eleven years and it is home.

What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or less words, what would you say? My most recent book is Senior Year Bites a Young Adult Urban Fantasy about a girl who gets turned into a vampire her senior year of high school and still has to go to class.

Do you have plans for a new book? Is this book part of a series? I'm currently at work on the second book in the Senior Year Bites series, tentatively called Summer Break Blues. I am also working on the second Arabian Dreams book that doesn't currently have a working title. Arabian Dreams will be released in November. I have a ton of other projects too.

What or who inspired you to write? And how long have you been writing? I've been writing all my life. I'm not sure anyone really inspired me to write, but one day I decided I wanted to be a published author. I do know that my sixth grade reading teacher, Ms. Fox put the idea of being a published author in my head.

Do you gift books to readers for book reviews? I have sent books to readers for reviews before. Most of the time I pick established book reviewers.

How did you come up with the title and cover design? The cover design was the publishers. I honestly have no idea how I came up with the title. I named it several years ago.

Have you based any of your characters on someone you know, or real events in your own life? Absolutely. Bits and pieces of friends and people I know show up in all my stories, especially Senior Year Bites. I pull in events and other things as well. The main character for Arabian Dreams is directly based off of my own horse.

What books have most influenced your writing most and why? Hmm, I think the authors that have influenced me the most are probably my favorites. Timothy Zahn, Michael Stackpole, Kelley Armstrong, Kristian Britian anyone I read all the time is likely to influence my writing.

Is there an Author that you would really like to meet? Kristian Britian and Timothy Zahn.

Do you prefer ebooks, paperbacks or hardcover? I prefer mass market paperback. I love my ereader though and I will tolerate hardcover if I must. I don't like trade but I have made my peace with it over the last few years. Any of the other formats out there, I won't buy unless I am dieing to read the book and there are no other options.

Are you a self published (Indie) Author? I'm with two small presses right now. I have some novellas that I am going to self publish through a publishing company me and some friends created. Those will start coming out this fall.

Have you ever read a book more than once? OMG yes. All of my favorites get read multiple times. Some books are comfort reads, things I come back to when I need something familiar and comfortable in my life.

Is there a particular movie that you preferred over the book version? Not that I can think of. There are a few I like equally as much. For example, The Black Stallion is an excellent book and an excellent movie.

What book are you currently reading and in what format (electronic/paperback/hardcover)? I am currently reading Magic on the Storm by Devon Monk in mass market paperback. After that I need to give my ereader some love and will be reading a book on it.

Are there any new Authors that have grasped your interest and why? Tiffany King who just self published Meant to Be certainly has my interest. She's super nice on Twitter and her first book Meant to Be is a page turner. I read the whole thing in one sitting, couldn't put it down.

Is there anything you would change in your last book and why? oh man, I just got done making changes to it. LOL. um... there are a few plot threads I didn't tie up as nicely as I would have liked. I'd fix that.

Who designed the cover of your book? Dara England did Senior Year Bites, but S.N. Holl is doing Arabian Dreams and will do all of my Indy covers.

Do you have a book trailer? I have the pictures I want to use for my book trailer, but I haven't had time to actually make the trailer. I did do an "about me as a writer" trailer and you can find that on my website.

What are your thoughts on book trailers? I think they can be fun, but I've never bought a book or not bought a book because of them. I rarely take the time to watch them unless my friends link them to me.

Do you have any advice for other writers? Don't give up and write every day.

What is the best advice that you have ever been given when it comes to writing? Write every day.

Do you write under a pen name? I write under J. A. Campbell, which is really my name - Julie A. Campbell.

Cats or dogs? Both with a slight preference toward Dogs. (I have three cats and one dog)

Where can your readers follow you?

My blog: www.writerjacampbell.com / http://phoenixfirewolf.livejournal.com/

My facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/Phoenixfirewolf

My Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4708012.J_A_Campbell

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/PFirewolf


Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B004RBV09S


J. A. Campbell Author of short story series Into the West Author of Arabian Dreams and Senior Year Bites

Is your book in Print, ebook or both? ebook for now. Hoping for print soon :)


J.A. Campbell
Julie writes fantasy novels. When she's not out riding her horse, she can usually be found sitting in front of her computer with a cat on her lap and her dog at her side. You can find out more at www.writerjacampbell.com

The Bio:
Julie was born in Iowa in a pumpkin patch next to the Duck Creek mall. Her parents were out Christmas shopping one day and stopped by. Somehow she managed to fool them into taking her home. They put her under the Christmas tree where she turned into a baby... Read more at Amazon's J.A. Campbell Page
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Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview with me and allowing us a glimpse into your writing word.

8 comments:

  1. Thanks so much Patti!

    Julie/J.A. Campbell

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  2. Wonderful interview! Love your books, Julie. Very well written.

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  3. you are welcome - love the book cover by the way! Patti

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  4. Devin, thanks for dropping in!

    Patti, thank you :) It is pretty great.

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  5. covers can certainly help sell a book - no doubt about it!

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  6. Whoa, you're a dog person now? I feel betrayed, madame!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Shanah, I've always been a dog person, but I do love my felines :)

    Mr Lonely thanks for dropping in.

    Patti, I totally agree.

    Julie/J.A. Campbell

    ReplyDelete

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