Here is the Q&A section of the media kit for JEREMIAH. I thought you'd find it interesting. :-)
Where did you get the idea for this book?
Originally I started writing this
series with the middle brother, JAMES. Once I wrote that book, I
realized it would work well as part of a series. I decided to explore
the Rollins family and the unique relationship of werewolf gender
roles through all five brothers' perspectives. In order to do that,
it made the most sense to start with JEREMIAH. Right when I began
writing Jeremiah's story, women's reproductive rights were under
serious attack by a variety of political interests. It seemed a
poignant time to write about the kind of troubling situation teens
could face, especially considering the current political climate
regarding contraception and the right to choose.
What traits and other tidbits do you share with
your main character?
Jeremiah is the kind of person I
never would have spent any time with in high school. He's got money,
athletic ability, and smarts, but above all he is a trouble-maker and
partier. I was never very good at sports, and I never went
to parties. I followed the rules almost to a “T.” That said, I
did tend to have a new love interest every other day and I have
always been known for my impetuous decision-making (both qualities
exhibited by Jeremiah).
Beyond
personality, Jeremiah and I share something else in common. Jeremiah
is from Pittsburgh, a place near and dear to my heart. My father's
family is from Pittsburgh and so many locations in the book are real
(and much loved by my family and myself, especially Vincent's Pizza).
There really is a holy trinity of sports clad in black and gold and
half the state of Pennsylvania turns those colors whenever there is a
big win by one of Pittsburgh's holy three (especially the Steelers!).
Did any of your inspiration for this book
originate in your real life experiences?
As a woman with the rights to my own
body constantly under attack, I felt it was necessary to highlight
the current state of reproductive rights, especially in an unfriendly
state to women like Pennsylvania. Though I have never had an abortion
(or wanted one) I have friends and acquaintances who have found
themselves in situations where an unplanned pregnancy has brought the
issue to bear.
The relationship of the sexes in
werewolf culture developed by exaggerating the feeling I've
experienced in certain circles when being a woman. I can think of
several particular instances, all in college. As an undergraduate I
was the only female to pursue a thesis. While the class was small
anyway, there was a distinctly male feeling to the space and I felt
very clearly that I had to defend my abilities and my topic better
than my classmates because of this. The same year, I remember going
to a politics department party where several students of my own
department were invited. I brought a cigar (which I've been known to
smoke on the rare occasion). I was one of the only students to bring
my own (the other being the friend who came with me) and the only
woman smoking one. This instantly registered on my professor, and
gave me immediate entrance in an all male conversation. It was only
after some of the women saw this occur that they attempted to join by
grabbing some wimpy cigarillos from my professor's stash. I could
rattle off other anecdotes about being second class despite my
abilities, but the result was I understood one thing. Women are still
separate, and often less than men. The werewolf gene in THE ROLLINS
PACK allowed me to explore this in an accessible way for teens, and I
hope it will stir discussion.
What made you decide to self-publish?
I did consider selling this book to
agents and publishers, however I think the topic scared them. It's a
controversial topic and most Americans want to avoid it with a 50
foot pole. In the end, I decided I didn't want to wait around for
someone to pick it up. The themes are so important to me, I really
feel it is essential to get this out into the world and get people
talking about these issues. I don't care where people fall on the
spectrum, I want them talking!
Are there any specific authors whose writing
styles or subject matter inspired your book?
I'll be painfully honest. The idea
for the series came in direct reaction to TWILIGHT. That said, it was
also as much directed by movies like UNDERWORLD and THE WOLFMAN as
Ms. Meyer's pretty boys.
Werewolves are my favorite
paranormal creature. There is usually an ugliness about them, because
they have that animalistic side. While I didn't make my werewolves
into the half-man half-beast monstrosities of traditional monster
lore, I relish in the animal side of my pack. They are emotional.
They hunger. They enjoy the hunt and relish in the kill, splattering
blood and guts around, same as any other predator.
Do you have another project in the works? If so,
what is it?
I have
so many projects in
the works! From May through August 2013, I have a self-publishing
goal of seven books! This includes non-fiction guidebooks as well as
stand-alone adult fiction. I'm also really excited to get out the
third book of THE ROLLINS PACK, ANDREW, which will come out soon
after JEREMIAH for those chomping on the bit to find out what happens
to the Rollins family. My other YA series, KHLOE ALWELL, will also
launch book three, LILITH AND AMMON as part of my publishing goal.
It's going to be a great summer for publishing and reading!
