20 Questions With Author J.C. Wing

This was an interview that a fellow author forwarded to me on Facebook a short time ago. I decided to answer the questions she posed and share them with you all. You lucky, lucky readers. :) 

Twenty Questions with Author J.C. Wing

What is your author name?

J.C. Wing

What is the first book you ever published?

The Color of Thunder

What is your publiversary? (The day you released your first book)

December 18, 2012

What is your favorite book you've written thus far?

I just wrote a Gannon Family novella called A Warm Winter Skye. I hadn’t written about the Gannons in a while, and I realized how much I missed them. Having said that, though, I think maybe my favorite so far is Brides, Beasts & Baklava. I’m really proud of that book, and I’ve had so much fun writing the Goddess of Tornado Alley series.

What book took you the longest to write?

The Color of Thunder

How long did it take you?

I started it in 1997, then put it aside when my daughter was born. When I decided to pick it back up again eleven years later, I finished it in about eighteen months. Now it’s going through an extensive edit, so it really isn’t finished even now. The original is still up on Amazon, but sometime this year, a new and improved version will take its place.

What kind of music (If any) do you listen to while you write?

Billie Holiday has been a favorite lately. I never used to listen to music while I wrote, but for some reason, she helps not hinders.

Who is your favorite character from any of your books?

That’s hard to answer. I love so many of them and all for different reasons. Cheney McGillivray for one. She’s been through a lot, and she’s still so strong, sassy and sweet. I also love writing her Scottish accent. Frank is also a favorite. I see a lot of myself in Frank. We both know we’re good people, and we feel very accomplished in some ways, while we feel like failures in others. She grows a lot in the first two books of the Goddess series. By the end of the second book, she’s still a bit of a mess, but she’s also kind of a badass. She’s a messy badass. I can relate to that in many ways.

What are you currently working on?

I have a number of projects in the works right now. I’m writing a short story that will be included in an anthology that is being put together by author Terra James. That should be out in early April, and all the proceeds for that will go to Autism Speaks. Honeymoons, Harpies & House Arrest, the third book in the Goddess of Tornado Alley series is well under way, and later this year, I hope to release Under a Southern Skye, which will be a full-length Gannon Family novel. I own an editing business called Wing Family Editing. I have been fortunate and continue to have a steady stream of editing projects to work on as well as my own writing. There is a lot of exciting stuff happening right now that’s keeping me busy.

Do you have anything you snack on while you write?

I love peanut M & M’s, but I only eat them occasionally. Sparkling water. Tea. Lots and lots of tea.

What is your favorite quote or line from one of your books?

That’s difficult because there are so many, but here’s one from Brides, Beasts & Baklava.  It’s spoken by Thalia, who is a muse. It’s not a funny line - which is unusual for this series - but it means something to me in a personal way: “One thing I’ve learned over the last several centuries is that overly happy souls are oftentimes overlooked unless they are needed by those who aren’t. There are days when I am nearly invisible.”

Are you a self-published or traditionally published author?

Self-published. You can find all of my books listed on my Amazon author page.

What is your writing inspiration?

I think writing started for me because I was an only child. I had a really active imagination, and I used it to entertain myself. I still do. Now I just hope to entertain other people, too.

What genre do you write?

I was slotted into the contemporary fiction genre for a while, but I also write romantic comedy, and Goddess is now in fairy tales and mythology on Amazon. I’m also considered to be a southern fiction writer. It’s kind of a mixed bag.

Do you have any writing rituals?

Not really. If I have time and inspiration, I just write. I can shut out just about anything, and I can work in absolute chaos. No rituals. If it’s there, I just go.

Do you have a specific place you write or time?

Right here at my desk … and whenever I can.

Do you have any advice for inspiring writers?

Just keep writing. A little more than a year ago, Jesse James, a very good friend of mine - and one of my most favorite authors - told me that it’s important that I write for myself. That’s been a key piece of advice that I think about every single day. When I do that, I find that what I write is genuine. When I follow that, that's when I write my best. That’s definitely something I would  share with aspiring writers.

What are your writing goals if any?

Just to keep writing. I’d love to have some bestsellers under my belt … and wouldn’t it be fun to see a movie or two based on my books? I think so.

What authors inspire you and your writing?

I love to read, and I read a variety of genres. I like books by a great number of authors. I have written a lot of southern fiction. I think that was kicked off by the amazing Harper Lee way back in high school. It was further inspired, and continues to be inspired, by James Lee Burke.

What will be your next release?

I don’t have any dates set up, but my next book will be Honeymoons, Harpies & House Arrest. I’m shooting for a summer release, but I’ll start shouting about it when I know for sure. Instead of a release date, how about a cover reveal? 

If you aren't already a member, and would like more information about upcoming releases, or to take part in giveaways and general goofiness, join me on my Facebook Street Team, J.C.'s Wingdom.