What can you tell us about your new release, In a Haze?
It’s still romance, but it’s a romantic thriller, so I’ve wandered a little off my regular beaten path—but I’m glad I did. It’s my opinion, of course, but I think this is one of the best stories I’ve ever written. I wanted to keep readers on the edge of their seats, guessing about the various twists and turns, and, based on initial reviews, I think I can safely say I’ve succeeded!
What or who inspired you to become an author?
I’ve been writing since I could hold a pencil. The need to tell a story has driven me from the beginning. As a youth, I loved getting caught up in mysteries, trying to figure out what would come next—and I wanted to do the same for readers. So I suppose we can thank Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden for inspiring me (among many others)!
What’s on your top 5 list for the best books you’ve ever read?
Oh, my goodness. There are far too many, but I’m happy to try to pare it down! Paradise, Toni Morrison; Misery, Stephen King; Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser; Fight Club, Chuck Palahniuk; 1984, George Orwell. It was HARD narrowing it down to five, and I know there are lots of books I’ve forgotten to mention that are near and dear to my heart.
Say you’re the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask
Oh, boy. I would love to invite George Orwell and ask him what he thinks of current events. I’m, uh, I’m going to leave it right there.
What’s your favorite thing about writing?
I love when a story I’m writing surprises even me. Sure, I know where I plan to take it but sometimes it takes a turn off the path I’ve set. I love when that happens, because it makes it lots of fun for me, too!
What is a typical day like for you?
Well, much like a lot of authors, I still have a day job—so I get up really early and write for one to two hours before going to work. Then, in the evening, I do a lot of other tasks having to do with my author business (scheduling promotions, formatting books, chatting with readers, and more). There’s family time in there, too, of course. Nothing glamorous, I’m afraid, but I do write almost every single day, including weekends and holidays.
What scene from In a Haze was your favorite to write?
I don’t know that I have a favorite. I could say each was my favorite as I went along, because even though I knew what would happen, more details came to me as the story developed. Some of the finer details I wasn’t sure about fleshed themselves out as I got closer to the end and that was the most fun part for me. If I had to pick one particular scene—hopefully I can talk about it without divulging any spoilers—it would be when Anna moves from passivity to taking control, and that involves confronting a bully. Anna finds her inner strength and determination, and I finished writing that scene feeling inspired and empowered.
Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?
I am, of course, a work in progress like we all are—but I try to live with these thoughts in mind: See the good in people and be kind, because you don’t know what someone else is going through. You might be the ray of sunshine in their day. Oh, and don’t take things personally!
Jade C. Jamison is the author of the new book In a Haze.
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