Author Interview with Denise Jaden

I have a very special post. Denise Jaden, author of Losing Faith, has agreed to do an interview with me (I reviewed her book HERE)! I highly recommend that you check it out.
Denise Jaden's website: Click HERE.
Her picture....

.....and her book.

Now, on to the interview.

1. So, is it true that "Losing Faith" is a NaNoWriMo novel? Did it really
only take you one month to write?
Yes, it's true! I actually wrote the first draft of LOSING FAITH in 21 days
during NaNoWriMo 2007. Just to be clear, I worked on an outline during
Sept./Oct. of that year and then spent about a year revising the manuscript
after NaNo, so it takes me much longer to end up with a polished book.

2. Are you working on any novels/stories right now?
Yes, I'm always working on something! At the moment I'm involved in edits on
a book currently titled APPETITE FOR BEAUTY (but I believe the title will be
changing). It's about the fragile relationship between two sisters, one, a
gifted photographer, and one, a dancer who struggles with bulimia. It will
be out in the summer of 2012.

I'm also slowly working on a companion novel to LOSING FAITH. It will be in
Tessa's point of view and is titled FINDING HOPE.

3. When you were little, what did you want to be?
I've wanted to be a lot of things, but a couple I remember are: a dancer
(I'm still very involved with my Polynesian dance troupe) and a themed
wedding planner.

4. Where'd you first get the idea for "Losing Faith?"When I was sixteen, I lost my best friend. I think the main inspiration
behind LOSING FAITH was that loss, that wishing so hard that I would have
paid more attention while I had the chance.

5. Is life any different now that you're an author?
The only real difference now is that I am often under deadlines for
revisions. I used to make self-imposed deadlines, and I still do to some
degree, but the deadlines my editors give me have to come first over most
other projects now in order to meet them.


6. Who was your greatest support while you worked on "Losing Faith"?
My awesome critique partner, Shana Silver. I could send her anything at a
moment's notice and she'd send me thoughtful feedback right away. She was
such an enormous help, in fact, that I dedicated the book to her.

7. Do you have a favourite writing quote?
"A writer is somebody for whom writing is more difficult than it is for
other people."  ~Thomas Mann

And I love this one too:
"Write your first draft with your heart.  Re-write with your head."  ~From
the movie Finding Forrester

8. Do you have a favourite author/book?
I have many, many favourite books, but I'd have to say at the top of my list
of favourite authors would be Laurie Halse Anderson. Her writing voice is
always thought-provoking and easy to read, and I also think she's just a
wonderful advocate for reading and writing.

9. What was your first reaction when you found out your book was going to be
published?
Seriously, it was a little hard to believe, after many years of rejection. I
let out a small yelp and woke up some house guests we had visiting at the
time.

10. How long have you been writing?
Around eight or nine years.

11. What's the best part of being an author?
There are so many wonderful things about it: having a group of amazingly
creative people collaborate to make it better, seeing your book in printed
form for the first time, walking into a bookstore or finding a blog where
your book is marked as a "favourite," these are all incredibly rewarding
moments.

12. What was your biggest inspiration to be a writer?
I remember reading a book by Jane Hamilton (A MAP OF THE WORLD) and it was
the first time I stopped and reread sentences because I was awe-struck by
the perfection of them. I remember thinking back then that I would love to
be able to put words together that well.

13. Do you have any hobbies? What's your favourite thing to do?I'm a professional Polynesian dancer, and love performing with my dance
troupe. Besides that, I spend a lot of time reading and hanging out with my
family.

14. How long did it take you to edit "Losing Faith" after you had the first
draft done?
I spent about a year editing it myself with the help of critique partners
and then once it sold, about another year editing it with an editor. It took
about a year and a half from selling the book to seeing it on the shelves,
which is quite normal.

15. What's your best tip for wanna-be-writers?
Read a lot, write a lot. Don't compare yourself or your journey with others.
Everyone will take a different path with writing and especially on a path
toward publication, and it doesn't necessarily mean another writer is better
or worse than you. Enjoy the place you're in now--there are rewards to every
season as a writer, even the pre-publication season.