A Q&A with author Jolene Perry, author of Night Sky, an amazing contemporary romance!
Fiction Freak: Going with the classic question, what first made you think of writing Night Sky?
Jolene Perry: My husband and I were talking movies in the Taco Bell drive-thru, and I wanted to know what happened to the best friend who loved the girl, and didn't get the girl. That's the starting point for the book, and it was a fun place to start from - the story really starts with a bad ending, and then Jameson gets his good ending down the road.
FF: When writing, do you often get sidetracked? And by what?
JP: I get sidetracked by other ideas, and I get sidetracked a bit by blogging, but not too much. Writing time is precious, and when I really want to write, I can tune out almost anything.
FF: What is a book/series that you'd like to recommend to everyone YA reader?
JP: Anything by John Green. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson. The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson, The Summer Series by Jenny Han, and the Perfect Chemistry series by Simone Elkeles. This is sticking with Contemporary, and there's SO many more I love.
FF: If what you happened to meet someone who resembled your mental image of your character both physically and emotionally, what would you do?
JP: Give myself a pat on the back for creating someone real.
FF: What was your favorite pass time as a kid?
JP: I rode horses. All the time. I did lessons five days a week and show-jumped all through high school and a bit into college.
FF: If you wrote a biography, who would it be on?
JP: This may sound totally sappy, but I'd do one on my Grandma, who I'm named after, but didn't get to meet.
FF: Who was/is your role model?
JP: I don't have one. I see traits in the people around me that I'd like to emulate, but I sort of pick my favorite things about a lot of people.
FF: Since these never fail to make me laugh, what was the funniest moment in your life?
JP: We were out boating with my parents, and had anchored in this small cove where quite a few people were camped out (in the rain, looking frozen) on the beaches to fish. We were staying on my parents' boat.
Both Mike and I had been daring each other all day to jump into the ocean (not recommended, BTW, it really is FREEZING). We both changed into our swimsuits, walked out into 50 degree weather in the rain, and dove off the front of the boat into the water. We got a few stares from the people huddled over campfires on the shore . . .
I don't know that it's all that hilarious, but we had a blast doing it.
(I live in Alaska - so, to give some perspective, this was in Alaska ocean. Not warm)
FF: Do you prefer HEAs (Happily Ever Afters) or the Ultimate Sacrifice in books?
JP: The ultimate sacrifice has this fabulous romantic quality to it - however, I read for escape, so I have to go with the HEA.
FF: If someone was to randomly appear in your house what would your reaction be? What would you do?Tell my husband to let them have a chance to explain before he shot him ;-O
FF: What is your favorite color, and why?
JP: Grey because it can be anything - warm, soft, hard, cold . . .
FF: What's some personal advice you'd give to an aspiring author?
JP: When you first start writing, learn the technical side BEFORE you spout that your voice is more important than rules. Once you know the rules, THEN you can break them. Also - Keep writing. It takes the right person, in the right place, at the right time, to sign your book.
JP: When you first start writing, learn the technical side BEFORE you spout that your voice is more important than rules. Once you know the rules, THEN you can break them. Also - Keep writing. It takes the right person, in the right place, at the right time, to sign your book.
FF: Were you surprised that you'd become an author, or did you always want to be one? And if not, what did you want to be?
JP: I was a high school teacher, and loved it. Being an author was always in the back of my mind, but it took me a long time to push forward and actually DO something about it. I'm glad it took me so long, because I'm sure my voice is much better now than it would have been. Also - writing tends to take over everything else.
FF: Are any of your characters based on someone you know?
JP: I'm going to cheat here and say all of them. BUT - my disclaimer is - just like I don't have any one particular person that I look up to, I also pick PARTS of people I know and put them in my characters. I will say that Jameson from Night Sky, is very similar to my husband in high school (yes, we knew each other in high school).
FF: Is there anything you'd like to say to us readers/bloggers?
JP: Just that book-loving people are the best kind of people to hang with.
FF: If you could go into any book and be any character, who would you choose, what book, and most importantly, why?
JP: I don't think anyone. Books are life with added drama. I have enough on my own ;-D At the same time, I feel like I get a chance to be each and every one of my characters as I'm writing their story, so maybe that's also an odd way to answer your question.
Thanks so much for having me!!!
~ Jolene
Night Sky Blurb:
After losing Sarah, the friend he’s loved, to some other guy, Jameson meets Sky. Her Native American roots, fluid movements, and need for brutal honesty become addictive fast. This is good. Jameson needs distraction – his dad leaves for another woman, his mom’s walking around like a zombie, and Sarah’s new boyfriend can’t keep his hands off of her.
As he spends time with Sky and learns about her village, her totems, and her friends with drums - she's way more than distraction. Jameson's falling for her fast.
But Sky’s need for honesty somehow doesn’t extend to her life story – and Jameson just may need more than his new girl to keep him distracted from the disaster of his senior year.
Short Author Bio:
Jolene grew up in Wasilla, Alaska. She graduated from Southern Utah University with a degree in political science and French, which she used to teach math to middle schoolers.
After living in Washington, Utah and Las Vegas, she now resides in Alaska with her husband, and two children. Aside from writing, Jolene sews, plays the guitar, sings when forced, and spends as much time outside as possible.
She is also the author of The Next Door Boys and the upcoming Knee Deep.
Contact Info:
