An interview with Jake Parent, author of Cristina.
Hi!
Welcome to Zigzag Timeline. Can you tell us about your background as an author?
I’ve definitely had more than a few ups
and downs in life, and I think that, more than anything else, provides the raw
material for my work. All my characters are struggling in some way. It could be
external or internal, but all of them are imperfect in one way or another, just
like the rest of us.
What
got you into writing?
I’ve always wanted to be a writer.
Since I was six years old at least. But deep down I’m always a reader
first. To me, there’s no better way to
stir the soul than through the power of the written word.
What was the first
idea you had for your book, and how did the story grow from there?
I used to live in a small California
beach town like the one the story is set in. The place was paradise, but there
was also a kind of seedy underbelly of people addicted to drugs, homeless, and
just barely hanging on. So it always provided plenty of fodder for imagining
strange goings on.
Among
your characters, who's your favorite? Could you please describe him/her?
Cristina is definitely my favorite
character. She’s a bad ass single mother who, despite having gone through hell,
is still able to find a way to love her daughter and life in general. The book
is dedicated to single moms, because I can’t think of anyone who is more
courageous.
What's your favorite scene from your
novel? Could you please describe it?
I’m pretty proud of the ending.
Obviously I can’t describe it without giving away a lot, but it’s always my
goal as a writer to come up with stories I’d like to read myself, and this one
certainly accomplished that.
What's
your favorite part of writing? Plotting? Describing scenes? Dialogue?
Good writing is a symphony of emotions,
one that takes patience, creativity, observation, love, and dedication. When I
find that balance, there are few things I enjoy more in the whole world. But
I’m not sure there’s any one thing that stands out. I really love everything about
it.
How
long does it take you to write a book? Do you have a writing process, or do you
wing it?
I think most good books are written in
3 or 4 months. Anything more than that and the world you’re creating gets stale
or overdone. Cristina was written in
3, most of those days spent typing away with my newborn daughter sleeping on my
chest.
As far as process, I’m definitely a wing it kind of a guy. I come up with an idea and then just start writing. I always tell people who are just starting out that it’s important to remember that writing is not just a form of communication, it’s also a method of thinking. So just open up that computer and get typing. See where your imagination takes you.
As far as process, I’m definitely a wing it kind of a guy. I come up with an idea and then just start writing. I always tell people who are just starting out that it’s important to remember that writing is not just a form of communication, it’s also a method of thinking. So just open up that computer and get typing. See where your imagination takes you.
What is it about the
genre you chose that appeals to you?
Above all else,
I write books I would want to read. And whether its Stephen King, Bukowski, or
Maya Angelou, I've always felt like a seductive setting and a compelling,
driving narrative are the things that most draw me into a story. Since these
are the fundamental building blocks to a good psychological thriller, there's
nothing I like to write more.
Are
there any books or writers that have had particular influence on you?
I read widely and books are a huge part
of my life. My storytelling is also influence by a wide array of artists of all
types. A few of them are Charles Bukowski, Stephen King, Maya Angelou, John
Steinbeck, Honoré de Balzac, Ella Fitzgerald, John Sanford, Jimi Hendrix,
Ernest Hemingway, Greg Graffin, Pablo Picasso, Rickey Henderson, and Mac Dre.
Did you ever surprise
yourself when you were writing your book? Characters who took on lives of their
own? Plot elements that took unexpected turns?
If I finish my day of writing and
haven’t experience the feeling of surprise, I consider the effort mostly
failed. Only when I’m shocking myself, trying something new, doing things I
myself never even thought of, do I really think I’m putting in maximum effort
to tell an original and compelling story.
Thanks for stopping
by!
Amazon link: http://amzn.to/2aF9M3P
Smashwords link: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/649111
Website: http://www.jakedparent.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jake Parent is the author of Cristina, a new psychological suspense novel. His first book, Only the Devil Tells the Truth, was a #1
Amazon Bestseller. His influences include Charles Bukowski, Stephen King, Maya
Angelou, John Steinbeck, Honoré de Balzac, Ella Fitzgerald, John Sanford, Jimi
Hendrix, Ernest Hemingway, Greg Graffin, Pablo Picasso, Rickey Henderson, and
Mac Dre. He grew up in San Jose, CA but now lives in the Washington, DC area.
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