Jen Wylie

Interview with Echelon and Hadley Rille Books author Jen Wylie

First of all, what is it with Canadians? I am now convinced they must be the nicest, most relaxed folk on the planet. Every single Canadian I’ve met- virtually or in real life – they all have this niceness about them, pure and honest. No hidden agenda’s or hypocrisy.

Apart from this “racial” observation, I’m really, really happy to introduce to you today an exceptionally talented writer: Jennifer Wylie. Her writing has been the most wonderful surprise to me. I had never read anything by this lovely author until this afternoon when I found myself totally immersed in Sweet Light. Impossible to put down my Kindle, further encouraged by a the warm autumn weather that is enveloping Holland. Sunshine and a good story is all a happy reader needs. But. I had promised to post my interview with Jennifer today so I had to put her book down and get back to “work”.

Jen Wylie is an intense writer, she clothes her characters with deep emotions and give them almost impossible quests to fulfil. There is great concentration is her style and it’s immaculately edited. We’re talking bestselling qualities here. Mark my words!

Personal Questions:

Where do you live (town, country)? Were you born and bred there?

I live in rural Ontario, Canada. I’ve always lived in the country, for about ten years I lived up in the Ottawa valley (still in the country LOL I’m not a city girl at all)

What kind of food do you like? Are you a good cook? How important is food to you?

I like anything with chocolate. Sadly my food choices are limited as I’ve issues with anything containing any kind of milk product. I’m a decent cook, I guess. I make a mean pecan pie I hate cooking, but enjoy baking, especially around Christmas. Food isn’t overly important, though I try to eat healthy and make sure my kids do.

Do you do any sports? How often? What does exercise mean to you? Any other hobbies?

Sports? Um…ya…no. Exercise…hmmm…not really..no. Does cleaning and lugging kids around count? I like to write J and read. When I have time I enjoy crafts, painting, scrapbooking, card making, needle felting. I’ve craft supplies coming out my ears.

Do you have kids? If so, please tell us a little about them?

I have two darling boys. They are 7 and 9 and my sweet little monkeys. They follow me around and hang off my legs and like to cuddle (especially at bedtime). I’m very lucky they both love to read, my oldest just devours books.

Do you like travelling? Where do you go then?

I’m rather a homebody so don’t travel a lot. My family (parents, sister etc) goes away in the winter for a week (somewhere warm!) every few years. I don’t fly well, but once I recover I quite enjoy that! Now that I have a book out in print I’m finding I LOVE going to festivals and conventions. If only there were more closer (and didn’t cost so much in travel/rooms etc) I attended the Chicago Litfest and Readercon in MA this
summer and hope to go to a few more next year too.

Do you have another job apart from writing?

Currently I’m a stay at home mom.

How do your family/friends react to you being a writer? Have their opinions changed since you became a published author?

It was my mom and dad that pushed me to try to publish my stories, so they are just thrilled. My boys think it is really cool. My family has been pretty supportive.

Would you call yourself a social human being? Do you have time for going out and spending time away from the writing desk?

Hmm, well I’m social online. Not so much otherwise. I’ve a rather shy streak in me, but when I do actually get out there, I open up quite a bit and have fun. Lately I’ve been very busy with writing and editing and editing, so haven’t been out a lot.

Which character trait do you like best about yourself and why? Which trait would you rather do without?

I love to help others. Occasionally, it’s a pain being so nice- people have a tendency to walk all over me and take advantage. That rather makes me sad.

On writing:

Can you describe the place where you write + the view?

I have a desk that is too small and always cluttered with a mish-mash of things. My view is my heavy thinking wizard lawn ornament my sister gave me for my birthday one year, he sits beside my computer. Between my Bang Head Here sign and gumball machine.

Is there something you always need to have near you when you work (beverage, cigarette, mascot, music, quote, etc)?

As long as it’s quiet I’m good. For serious writing I need my gumballs. And a rum and coke if possible.

What genre(s) do you write in? How did that develop?

I write fantasy; urban, romantic, young adult, paranormal… I grew up reading fantasy. I was a total book nerd.

When was your first book released and how did that make you feel?
Have you published more than one book?

My first BOOK was Sweet Light. It came out this June (ebook and print). However my first short story  Jump was published in Dec 2010, followed by The Forgotten Echo (ebooks formats). My short story series Tales of Ever started in March and four of six are out now. The other two are written and edited and just waiting for publication.

I get rather bouncy every time something new comes out

Can you tell us some background information on the book? (How did  you get the idea, how long did it take you to write and edit it, is it part of a sequel, how does the published book make you feel now?)

My book Sweet Light I wrote a number of years ago, and then edited myself, over and over. Then I  spent a year and half looking for an agent, and ended up giving up on that and went straight to the smaller publishers. (Which worked! Yay!) I don’t remember how long it took to write, less than a year. Yes there is a sequel, Dark
Madness, first draft is done and I just need to edit it like crazy before submitting it. I just love seeing my book published. It’s still a bit unreal. Honestly, I get a little blushy sometimes when people I know talk to me about it.

What are your writing habits? (every day, number of words, etc.?)

I write when the mood hits me- or the story does. I seem to go in spurts. Which works out, as with a number of projects on the go, when I words aren’t there then I edit something LOL

Who’s been your biggest inspiration and why? Since when?

My parents inspire me a lot, they believe in me. So does my best friend.

Who is your agent and/or publishing company? What do they mean to you?

My current published shorts and Sweet Light are published through Echelon Press. I also have a few more short stories coming out this year with them. They opened the door for me and believed in my writing. I can’t put into words how much I appreciate that and how much it means to me.

I also just signed a contract for a new YA fantasy novel, Broken Aro, with Hadley Rille Books (to come out in fall 2012) I am super excited to be working with them and have had a wonderfully warm welcome!

Where do you see yourself in 5-years’ time?

Everyone will know who I am LOL and I’ll have a number of published novels under my belt. Maybe even some bestsellers!

THANK YOU SO MUCH sweet Jen!

Some more info one Jennifer Wylie en her books:

Sweet Light

Description:

When fate conspires against you and gives you three loves to choose from, what do you do? What if you make the wrong choice?

Shara is a healer, raised and trained from childhood until her unique gift manifests itself. When she gains the rank Journeyman she is hired to serve as the court healer for the barbaric kingdom of Glendor.

Untrained for war, she is thrust unmercifully into its bloody arms when the
kingdom is invaded. Ordered by her king to the front lines to tend the wounded,
she is forced to flee when their camp is attacked. Happening upon a wounded
soldier in the forest, every mile back to the capital is a struggle, and breaking the healer’s code, she falls in love with her charge.

If Shara thought that to be the least of her troubles, the appearance of a fierce warrior captain who appoints himself her protector, teaches her differently. Trouble comes in threes at the appearance of a former love and fellow healer. Faced with decisions of the heart and the sudden manifestation of her gift, there is little room for anything else to go wrong. Or at least that’s what Shara thought.

Available at:

Omnilit:
http://www.omnilit.com/product-sweetlight-550231-143.html

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/62461

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Light-ebook/dp/B0052ZB0O8

B&N: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Sweet-Light/Jen-Wylie/e/2940012590046/

Author Bio:

Jennifer Wylie was born and raised in Ontario, Canada. In a cosmic twist of fate she dislikes the snow and cold.

Before settling down to raise a family, she attained a BA from Queens University and worked in retail and sales.

Thanks to her mother she acquired a love of books at an early age and began writing in public school. She constantly has stories floating around in her head, and finds it amazing most people don’t. Jennifer writes various forms of fantasy, both novels and short stories. Sweet Light is her debut novel published in 2011 by Echelon Press.

Jennifer resides in rural Ontario, Canada with her two boys, Australian shepherd a flock of birds and a disagreeable amount of wildlife.

Her website: www.jenniferwylie.ca

twitter: @jen_wylie

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4499919.Jen_Wylie

Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennifer-Wylie/151266004895266

Smashwords author page: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jenwylie

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Jen-Wylie/e/B004HQ9XD8/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Blog: http://jlwylie.wordpress.com/