Interview - Jessica Subject

Jessica, thank you for joining us today. Before we begin, please tell our readers where they can find you.

You can find me on my website/blog: http://markofthestars.com/wp/

On Twitter: http://twitter.com/jsubject

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000373249465

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3987563

Now, why don't you tell everyone a bit about your books including buy links?
I am working hard editing my alien romance series Mark of the Stars, preparing to sub the first book out by the end of this year. Here is a summary of the first book, The Zurian Child:

After reuniting with her first love, Lindsay Montgomery believes her life to be perfect, the life she dreamed of as a teenager and finally achieved. She is now married the man of her dreams and carries his child in her womb. She does not expect to be told she is half alien and that her child is part of some prophecy made so many years ago on another planet. Although Lindsay refuses to believe, she is forced to act when her husband is killed by another alien species from her home planet. It is during this time that her husband’s best Bryce friend reveals his true feelings for Lindsay, even though he knows they are inappropriate.

Amongst the chaos surrounding their lives, Bryce’s feelings for Lindsay increase. While she wants and needs him in her life, as he is the only person in her life who knows about her alien ancestry, Lindsay is not ready for a new relationship. Lindsay tries to ward off his advances but feels tempted by the erotic visions they share. Before she loses complete control, Lindsay and her daughter move away, breaking all contact with him and the outside world.

With her perfect life gone, Lindsay contemplates whether she can keep her daughter safe in seclusion, while raising her to achieve her destiny. She dreams of Bryce by her side and must decide whether to let him back into her life and make their shared visions a reality or live a reclusive life, vulnerable to an alien species intent on killing them.

Here is also a summary of the Alien YA I am working on (still in first draft):

Sixteen-year-old Faith, an alien-human hybrid was created in the image of the woman she was meant to kill. With her creator now dead, Faith just wants to live a normal human life.

Setting out into the unknown world with her younger brother Oliver, Faith searches for the family she’s always wanted, friends who will accept her, and someone to love her unconditionally.

How long did it take you to finish, from concept to final product?
I am not finished yet, but I have been working on The Zurian Child for over three years. I have not subbed it out yet, as I have never felt it was ready. After joining a critique group and finding some online critique partners, I feel The Zurian Child is well on its way to be submitted to agents and publishers.

Are there any authors that have influenced your own writing?
Yes, several. I would not say my writing style reflects anyone, but with each book I read, I learn what I like and what I don’t like and try to integrate those insights into my own writing.

Do you have any favorite place where you feel your Muse is more apt to come and play while you write? Or perhaps you listen to music? If so, what do you listen to?
To be honest, I get my best ideas during a warm shower. My mind tends to wander freely while I’m in there and I’ve worked out so many plots and scenes under the spray of water.

As a writer, what is your greatest fear?
Rejection, although I believe that is the fear of most writers. It’s so hard when you work at something for a long time, devoting so many hours to it and you’re told it’s not good, or worse.

What normally occupies your desk while writing? Pencils? Coffee mugs? Breakfast crumbs?
Breakfast crumbs since I usually work on the kitchen table, although I usually make sure the table is wiped off first. Our house is in various stages of renovation and my office still waits to be finished.

Do you have any new projects that you are working on? If so, what are they?
I’m really plugging away at The Zurian Child, but when a new idea pops into my head, I have to write it down. Sometimes I write an entire first draft and other times I only write down notes and stick it away in my ideas folder.

I also work to keep my blog going.

What tip would you offer to a new writer who is just beginning their submission journey?
I can’t offer any as I am not in the process, but I do follow many agent blogs. Their advice is to read their submission guidelines before sending anything in. I don’t know how many times I’ve read that, so I think it’s important.

If you'd like to add anything, please do so.

On my blog, I post many book reviews and author interviews, sometimes with giveaways. Be sure to stop by. So far, I have signed up to be involved in some great blog tours and have my one-year blogoversary coming up in April.

Every Sunday, I participate in Six Sentence Sunday, posting six sentences from one of my WIPs on my blog. It is quite the community of writer’s involved. You can find the main blog here: http://sixsunday.blogspot.com/ and here is a blog post I wrote about Six Sentence Sunday for the SFR Brigade: http://sfrcontests.blogspot.com/2011/01/what-is-six-sentence-sunday.html

How about an excerpt to tantalize the readers? 

Here is an excerpt from the beginning of The Zurian Child. (Please note: It may change before I send this story out for submission)

This excerpt takes place on the planet of Alectrona, when Bryce is just a baby.
Thanks Marva for hosting me on your blog! I really appreciate it.

As Lorne approached his home, a scream echoed through the abandoned neighborhood. Running into the house, he found his daughter lying on the floor of the common room. Congealed blood covered her young, precious face, and seeped into the carpet. The guilt from arriving too late ripped his heart from his chest. Lorne reached down, brushing his hand one last time over her face. His breath caught in the back of his throat. The shock of seeing his wife tangled amongst the many moss-covered limbs of an eight-foot tall Erebus, her head bent at an odd angle, sent his senses reeling.

He already smelt the Erebus that lurked in his home, but viewing its foul figure caused waves of repulsion throughout his body. Rage overpowered his grief. He wanted to break down and cry, but the Erebus had not yet sensed him. Lorne held his breath, sneaking past the creature. With slow, measured steps, he reached the bedroom he shared with his wife.

A sound broke his concentration. A soft coo. Someone or something survived and was in the room with him.

Another coo led him to a large, rectangular object beside the bed. Lorne recognized the baby inside the portable baby bed. He was their friends’ child Bryce and the little baby slept with the destruction occurring nearby.

With adrenaline pumping through Lorne’s body, he sought revenge, his urge to protect the infant long gone. Lorne found his laser gun in the table beside his bed. Without a sound, he left the bedroom and crept up on the Erebus rummaging through the common room.

Fighting to steady his trembling hands, Lorne took aim.

Thanks Marva for hosting me on your blog! I really appreciate it.