Please give a warm welcome to Jessica O’Gorek, author of Gemini Rising: Ethereal Fury.
What genre is your book?
YA paranormal romance
Do you write in other genres as well?
I can write in adult paranormal and horror/thriller
Who or what inspires you?
I’m inspired by my desire to make a living doing what I love, by my family’s faith in my ability as a writer, and by watching my dad click away on his typewriter as a child.
Do you have an agent and/or publisher or are you self-published? If self-published, do you use a professional editor? If traditionally published, who is your publisher?
I am published through Cogent Publishing, NY, but I am my own agent which has put my writing on hiatus. No time! It’s all spent promoting.
What advice do you have for writer’s just starting out?
Do not wait until you are published to start marketing yourself- start 1-2 years in advance and build an audience who are excited about your release. Line up reviews for 3-6 months into the future and keep track of who says they will review your book, use a spreadsheet. Count on 50-70% of your reviews coming through. You can never have enough reviews, guests posts, or interviews!
Do you outline your stories or just go with the flow?
Go with the flow, scene by scene, the plot comes to me
What does your writing space look like?
Just my laptop and me, I can write anywhere as long as it’s kind of quiet
What are your three favorite books including the authors?
Twilight saga, Stephanie Myer / Cell, Stephen King / Under the Lake, John Saul
Who is your favorite author and why?
Stephanie Meyer- because she inspired my imagination and Stephen King because he instilled a dark side in me and deep love of horror
What project are you currently working on?
Book #4 of the Gemini Rising Series
Is being an author your dream job? If so, how long have you been chasing the dream? If not, what would be your dream job?
Yes, it is my dream job. I’ve been chasing it hard for about two years now but I’ve been writing since I was 12.
What book are you currently reading?
Ella Medler– Blood Is Power
What has been your best moment as a writer?
When I found out someone wanted to publish my book!
What challenges have you faced in your writing career?
I’m facing one right now- how to get noticed amongst the slew of authors and books that the self-publishing industry has created. I feel like I’m doing so much work, I didn’t even need to go with a traditional publisher!
Is there a message in your book(s) that you want readers to grasp?
My upbringing taught me great respect for the earth and as a kid I always held a great contempt for what my ancestors did to the Indians and how we developed America. I remember being so angry in college when I discovered what horrible people all of our founding fathers really were. Why didn’t they teach me the truth in high school? So, yes, I would say my beliefs of how we treat the environment and how it might get even with us one day comes across loud and clear in my books.
How much time a day do you spend on social media?
4-6 hours or until my eyes bleed.
What do you do to stay sane as a writer?
I’m not sane.
Do you read your reviews and if so, how do you cope with a bad one?
I read all of my reviews and I haven’t had one under three stars yet. I have had some very good constructive criticism though. I like all feedback. If it’s bad it will most likely help me in some way to better future books in the series. If there was something I left out or didn’t make clear enough, if part of the book was too slow, or too long, it always helps to get as many opinions as possible! If I get a scathing review, well, I’ll just remind myself of Stephanie Meyer’s success despite all of those who don’t like Twilight.
Has reading a book ever changed your life? Which one and why, if yes?
Yes, the Twilight Saga. It evoked my adult imagination, which was something that no other books or movies had done. I honestly thought I was done writing…
If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?
Serenity Now, and Later
I have found the writer’s community to be very supportive and welcoming. Please share three writers that you recommend for us to check out.
You can find Jessica on her website, Facebook page, Twitter, Goodreads, and blog.
Click on the cover below to buy Jessica’s novel:
