So let me preface this interview by saying, this is one of my favorite authors! The first time I “spoke” to her, I might have fangirled from the other side of the computer. Bullet was my first rock star romance, and if you’ve read it, you know that it’s one of those epic stories that will just stick with you (and if you haven’t read it, it’s free, so one-click it now). It was just amazing. So well written and her interpretation of the rock star life was amazing. Anyway, I read it early on in my career as a reader (OK, so maybe I wish my career was reading…) so she w
as a celebrity to me, still is. So being able to talk to her, and shoot her a message with random questions about grocery stores in Colorado, is surreal.
With no further nonsense talk from me…here’s my interview with Jade C. Jamison
About Jade, the author:
Tell us about your books/series:
I’ve started to answer this question more than three times and have stopped each time due to a sense of overwhelm, because I’m not sure where to start. Just four of my series make up over two dozen books, so I’m sure you can understand why. So, instead, I’m going to start and see where this leads me, because I thought, “Oh, let me just talk about genre” or “I’ll just talk about two books that are well-known—er, three, no, four. No, five—” Gah! Talk about a first-world problem.
So let’s just talk about one. Bullet is my bestselling book; it made me an international bestselling Amazon author, and it continues to outsell all my other books, hands down. People either love it or hate it; there is no in between. In a nutshell, it is a coming of age new adult rock star romance told in first person by the lead heroine. Oh, and she becomes a rock star. It follows her journey from teenage college student to wife of a rock icon and mother of his child.
It’s an awesome book, so it totally warrants a mention. 🙂
What genre(s) do you write in?
I mostly write contemporary romance (but I’ve even written horror). Within the romance arena, though, I write a lot of rock star romance, new adult, and romantic suspense, a little romantic comedy, and some second chance romance, a wee bit of paranormal, and I’m even working on an MC romance (but I’ve been working on it for a while now!). More than genre, though, I focus on characters: what motivates them, what drives them. I ask what they care about, what matters, what they do and think when no one’s watching. I want to know the things they hide from everyone else. I want to watch them grow and evolve.
Are any of your books your favorite?
No. Some have been easier to write, though. They’re just like kids.
Where do you get your inspiration from? How do you come up with your characters and stories?
My crazy imagination, mostly, but anymore, just about anything can inspire me—a newspaper article, a dream, real life, a movie. Anything and everything feeds into this brain.
I know exactly what you mean. The most random things will inspire a scene or a complete story line.
You’re in jail. Which of your characters is sitting next to 
you? Why? (I kind of see it being Nicki, haha.)
LOL It’s probably either Sean or Jet. Nicki’s too cute to get thrown in jail. 😉 I’m guessing Sean and it’s because he beat the shit out of someone. Wouldn’t be the first time…
Are there any pieces of you in your books?
Absolutely. In every single book and just about every character. Let’s face it—when you read someone’s books, you’re seeing the world through their eyes, and I think it’s almost impossible to not let myself get in there somehow. Me at the core, though? I’m probably a combination of Nicki (from the Nicki Sosebee series), Valerie (from the Bullet series), and—in my youth—Kaylee from Finger Bang.
Which of your books would you recommend to someone who hasn’t read your books before?
That is impossible because I want to recommend them all, but my hardcore readers would tell you either Bullet or the Nicki series.
Both are exceptional series, so as a hardcore reader of Jade’s, I’d recommend both! 😉
Why and when did you start writing?
I started writing as soon as I could hold a pencil in my hands. Words have always fascinated me and the idea that I can create an entire world on paper—and affect someone emotionally—is awe inspiring. But I’ve always written, with or without readers. I have an entire trunk full of stuff the world will never see. It’s a compulsion. It’s something I have to do.
What’s the most difficult part of being a writer?
Hmm. Carpel tunnel, I’d guess. (I know that’s not the answer you’re looking for but…)
What’s your favorite part of the writing process?
Finding out what others think about my work. Discovering that I have moved them—to tears, to anger, to laughter. That’s why I share. I love knowing that someone enjoyed my work. It makes publishing worth it.
How do you handle criticism…constructive or otherwise?
It comes with the territory. Not everyone is going to like my writing. That’s okay. Reading the first few harsh reviews helped me get a thicker skin. Negative reviews, though, I’ve started skipping over. I’m sorry a reader didn’t like my work, but I don’t need to read about how they want me to slit my wrists or jump off a cliff just because they “wasted” an hour of their time reading my story. Okay, so I exaggerate, but reviews are just that—someone’s opinion, and readers are entitled to them. That doesn’t mean I have to read them.
Constructive criticism, however, is crucial. When one of my beta readers tells me something she thinks I need to fix for whatever reason, I listen. Let’s face it—the end result is still up to me, but beta readers are people who want me to succeed, who want my story to be the best it can be. So I listen. Their words aren’t written to hurt but to help.
What’s the best advice you’ve received as an author?
Probably Stephen King’s advice in On Writing, which is his call to “read a lot” and “write a lot,” the two things he says are important if one wants to be a writer. Well…I was kinda already doing that long before I read his book. But the advice I have given writing students in my classes over the years, whether or not they are creative writers, is to “keep writing.” That’s, in my opinion, what makes a writer a writer. And that’s what I do every day. I keep writing.
Do you have any quirky writing habits?
I used to think it’s quirky but not anymore. I have a hard time writing without music. It’s hard for me to block out the world unless I’m listening to something I can tune out because I’ve listened to it a bazillion times and love it to death. I might be tapping a foot or nodding my head to the beat, but it’s playing in my earphones and tuning out the noise of the world. And, yes, it’ll be metal. Always metal.
Love this answer!
How do you handle writer’s block?
I power through it. Writer’s block is a state of mind and I write through it. I realize that sometimes you can simply walk a few yards to get around a fence, but I climb over the damn thing, even if it’s a huge pain in the ass. And, once I get over to the other side, I’m jogging again.
Do you have a current WIP, upcoming release, or other exciting book news you’d like to talk about?
Yup. Currently working on To Save Him, a May-December romance that’s a whole lot more. The male lead suffers from PTSD—or does he? And will the protagonist find out before it’s too late? I’ve explored a lot of dark realms in this book I never have before and can’t wait to share it with my readers.
I can’t wait to get my grubby little hands on this puppy!!
About Jade, the person:
What did you want to be when you grew up?
An actress. I even have a bachelor’s degree in theater.
What do you do when you’re not writing?
Work 70 hours a week. I’m also a mom, so there’s some laundry involved during my downtime.
Favorite thing about your hometown?
My original hometown…my favorite thing is that we moved just before I started high school. But the town where I went to high school which I consider my hometown? My favorite thing is that it’s small and quaint and charming—still just a neat little place.
Farthest place you’ve traveled from home?
Hmm. I think Boston!
Favorite…Food? Color? Place? Movie? TV show? Song? Band? Etc…
Veggie burger and fries. Black. San Isabel, Colorado. The Crow or Fight Club—it’s a tie. Survivor maybe? Song and band—way too many to say I have a favorite. I have lots of favorites and they rotate like a CD…
Any weird collections?
Not really.
Any strange habits?
LOL Don’t think so!
What is something you’d like the book community to know about you as a person?
They probably get tired of hearing about me as a person. 😉
Anything else you’d like to add?
Yes! I’d just like to let anyone reading this know that if they’d like to read one of my books, they can get a free one from signing up to my newsletter: http://eepurl.com/TOMCH
Links:
Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Newsletter
Amazon Author Page
Goodreads Author Page
Pinterest
Instagram
Thank you, Jade, for doing this interview, and readers…her books are amazing! I encourage you to hop on over to her Amazon page and click the heck out of her books. I’ve read most, if not all, of her books, and she is an awesome and incredibly versatile story teller.
I totally recommend her Vagabonds rock star romance series, too. You can get the whole series at Amazon for under $6. That’s less than a venti latte!