Welcome to the Blog Tour for Everything Under The Sun by Jessica Redmerski thanks to Xpresso Book Tours! I hope you all have a chance to check the novel out we well as my below interview with author Jessica Redmerski.
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Thais Fenwick was
eleven-years-old when civilization fell, devastated by a virus that
killed off the majority of the world’s population. For seven years,
Thais and her family lived in a community of survivors deep in the heart
of the Appalachian Mountains. But when her town is attacked by raiders,
she and her blind sister are taken away to the East-Central Territory
where she is destined to live the cruel and unjust kind of life her late
mother warned her about.
Atticus Hunt is a troubled soldier in
Lexington City who has spent the past seven years trying to conform to
the vicious nature of men in a post-apocalyptic society. He knows that
in order to survive, he must abandon his morals and his conscience and
become like those he is surrounded by. But when he meets Thais, morals
and conscience win out over conformity, and he risks his rank and his
life to help her. They escape the city and set out together on a long
and perilous journey to find safety in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Struggling
to survive in a world without electricity, food, shelter, and clean
water, Atticus and Thais shed their fear of growing too close, and they
fall hopelessly in love. But can love survive in such dark times, or is
it fated to die with them?
EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN:
What inspired you to write EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN?
Daryl
and Beth on the television show The Walking Dead - If Beth had been
just a little older, a relationship between them, forced by survival and
the post-apocalyptic world they lived in, would have been sweet. But
because that could never happen, I made it my duty to tell the love
story inspired by them, that grew in my heart.
It took you a long time to write this book; were there any aspects of the story that changed as you wrote?
Yes,
definitely. I started this novel long before the 2016 election, so,
let’s just say that I had the perfect opportunity to address many things
that have deeply affected me since then. This type of book is perfect
to show what could—and likely would—happen if society ever broke down
and a dystopian world emerged as a result. Aside from all that though,
EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN, more than anything, is a story about love.
Do you personally relate to either of the main characters in the book?
I think so, yes. Thais and I want the same things in this world, so through her I’m expressing them the only way I know how.
It seems EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN isn’t a standalone; tell us about WINDS OF THE IRON FEATHER. Is this going to be a series?
It
was going to be a standalone when I started, but there is way too much
to tell in only one book – but it will definitely not be a series.
EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN by itself is like two books in one. There was
no possible way to split it up into two books, and there definitely
wasn’t a way to wrap everything up by the end. So, halfway through I
realized it was going to be at least two enormous books long. It will
end up either as a duology or a trilogy, but there certainly shouldn’t
be more than three. I’m hoping I can end it in the second book, WINDS OF
THE IRON FEATHER. In that book, Thais will become a great figure, and a
leader, who through everything she has learned and everything she
stands for will begin to change the world. This story as a whole is
ambitious, I admit, but it’s in my heart and I desperately need to tell
it.
ON WRITING IN GENERAL:
Tell us a little about why you write in so many different genres. Does it work for you?
I
can’t stick to one genre. I love writing all types of stories. Does it
work for me? Yes and no. Yes, because I’d start to feel claustrophobic
if I had to write in the same genre all the time. No, because I think it
confuses my readers that I write everything under the same author name.
I regret that decision to this day. My advice to authors considering
it: Don’t make this mistake! I’m in the process now of correcting that
error.
How do you plot your novels? Do you outline?
I
never outline because I like to let the story and the characters take
me where they want to go. Some authors can outline very well and it
works for them, but I can’t do it. It has always felt more natural to me
to just go along for the ride and see where it takes me, kind of like
in real life, I guess. Some scenes in my books were figured out ahead of
time, but not ‘planned out’ ahead of time, and there’s a big
difference. The only exception to this method is that I do always know
my ending before I begin. (Except with my book DIRTY EDEN)
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
I’m
impatient. Very impatient. It’s challenging for me to get through the
first 2‐3 chapters of every book because I have a bad habit of looking
at how much I have left to go. I just want to be done with it already so
that my readers can enjoy!
What is your favorite part of the writing process?
The
last sentence. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love getting into the
story, living out my character’s lives, but there’s nothing like a
finished manuscript. It’s a huge accomplishment and I doubt I’ll ever
tire of it.
What would you like for readers to take away from your novels?
I
just want my readers to be able to connect on some level with the
characters I create and take with them an experience rather than just a
story. I want them to think about the characters long after they’ve
finished the book. I want tears! And genuine laughter! And, I admit, I
also want them so mad at me they *almost* want to physically hurt me, LOL! If I can accomplish any of those things, then I’ve done my job.
What would you say is your writing style regarding theme?
I
tend to always write about deep issues, and even when I try to write a
‘fun’ and ‘flirty’ story with just a little average relationship drama,
it never turns out that way. Somehow, I always end up dragging my
characters through some really tough stuff before they even think of
seeing any light on the other side. So, I guess my style tends to be
‘dark, emotional, intense, with a happy ending’.
When did you first realize that you wanted to become a writer?
I
started my first novel at the age of thirteen and I’ve been writing
ever since. Writing has been the one consistent thing throughout my life
and I can’t imagine life without it.
What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
I
never stop writing for the day at the end of a scene or sentence, but
instead right in the middle of them. This helps me prevent writer’s
block and keeps my mind fresh.
Do you have a routine that you use to get into the writing frame-of-mind?
Cold brew coffee.
Do you think children are more encouraged these days to read and/or write?
I
think more than ever children are encouraged to read and write and I
LOVE it. I know Harry Potter had A LOT to do with this and that’s just
another reason why I have so much love and respect for J.K. Rowling.
When it comes to writing, what are your strong points? What are your weaknesses?
I
love to write dialogue. It feels and flows more natural to me. I feel
like I struggle a little more with description, because I’m impatient
and sometimes it feels like the description is slowing me down. But I
pace myself! If I didn’t, the entire novel would be one giant
conversation.
PERSONAL STUFF:
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
I
don’t have a favorite – I have several! Anne Rice and Neil Gaiman I
have admired for many years. I love Rice’s deep, descriptive style and
Gaiman’s unique ideas. But I also love Paullina Simons and Cormac
McCarthy – there are just so many! And, of course, there’s J.K. Rowling,
but I don’t really have to name her, do I? Isn’t she everybody’s
favorite by default? 😊
Which do you prefer: ebook, hardback or paperback?
Definitely
paperback, hands down. I have a Kindle and it’s just not the same.
Hardbacks can’t be held comfortably (yes, I bend the spines! I’m totally
guilty!). I can’t imagine a world without physical books. It’s
depressing to imagine, actually.
What is your favorite type of food?
Mexican!
Who is your favorite book boyfriend?
Shura. 😉
Besides writing, what do you like to do in your free time?
Of
course, I love to read. I also love the outdoors (hiking, swimming,
biking, tennis, etc.), and binge-watching television series’.
Is there one book that has had an impact on not only your writing, but on you personally?
That
would be THE VAMPIRE ARMAND by Anne Rice. It’s a book that I’ve read
four or five times and the one that really inspired me to try to become a
published author.
If the Earth suddenly became uninhabitable, would you rather live under the sea or in space?
In space! I’m obsessed with the Universe. Besides, the thought of living in the ocean sort of terrifies me.
What was your favorite pastime as a kid?
Playing in the wooded creek at my grandparents’ house in Greer’s Ferry, Arkansas.
On Self‐Publishing:
Do you believe that many novelists choose to self‐publish out of frustration with trying to publish traditionally?
When
self‐publishing on Amazon first became a thing, I do think most of
those going it on their own were doing it out of frustration. I was one
of them! Even though I self‐published my first book a short time after
it was becoming the thing to do, I totally did it because I tried for
almost three years to land an agent, but to no avail. But now, I think
more and more authors are doing it because they feel it’s the better
route for them, and are bypassing the query‐reject method altogether.
Personally, I like both!
How important is it to understand the basics of publishing before delving into self‐publishing?
Writers
need to understand that self‐publishing is not easy. Sure, you can
write a book and upload it and start selling, but there is so much more
to it than that. If a writer chooses to self‐publish they must commit to
some hardcore self‐promoting and spending a lot of their own money
(professional editing, giveaways, review copies, cover art,
advertisements, etc.). Bypassing all of this stuff can leave your book
buried beneath the avalanche of millions of other books competing for
the same exposure.
Can you provide a few self‐publishing best practices you believe brought you literary success?
Some
of what I’ve already mentioned are good practices, but also, I’d like
to point out two things that I believe contributed to my success:
kindness and professionalism. I’ve read a lot of horror stories from
book reviewers who were verbally attacked by authors because they turned
away a review request or gave a bad review, and similar stories about
authors and agents. Know in advance that no matter how hard you worked
to write your book that it’s not the next bestseller (until it is), that
it isn’t better than J.K. Rowling or Stephen King and that you have
absolutely no right to make these statements out loud to anyone.
Period. And lastly, no matter how much it hurts your feelings or angers
you, never reply to a bad review. Ever. Not even if something the
reviewer said was 100% wrong. Just don’t do it.
Purchase:
Jessica Redmerski is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street
Journal bestselling author and award winner who juggles several genres
of fiction.
She also writes as J.A. Redmerski.
Visit Jessica:
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