AAD Meet and Greet: Author Jess Haines Interview + Giveaway
Jan 20, 2011
Good Morning Everyone!!! Time for Day #2 Of our AAD Meet and Greet! Today I have the wonderful talented Jess Haines which you all are going to love! So make sure you go find her at AAD in August and say hi!!! So please help me give a warm thrusday morning welcome to Jess Haines!!!
Jess Haines is addicted to chocolate and coffee, and loves to write about the stuff her mother always warned her about. She spends her days writing technical stuff that pays the bills, and then spends her nights writing urban fantasy stories to kick back and relax. You can find her and her menagerie (four birds, two lizards, a snake, and two stinky cats) in Los Angeles.
About you:
JJBC-Do you have any hobbies?
JH-Absolutely! When I’m not working or hanging out with my friends, my nose is always stuck in a book, I’m cooking something in the kitchen, watching cheesy movies, or sailing the cyber seas. I used to play MMORPGs like EverQuest and World of Warcraft, but haven’t had much time for that sort of thing lately.
JBC-What do you like to read?
JH-My favorite genres are fantasy, science fiction, romance, and horror. I’ll read almost anything, but those hold a special place in my heart.
JJBC-Can you tell us some of your favorite books you've read?
JH-Get ready for The Long List of Jess Won’t Shut Up About Books Now:
Series:
-Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series
-Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series
-Kim Harrison’s Hollows series
-The Coldifre Trilogy by C.S. Friedman
-Many of the DragonLance novels
-ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER DUNGEON and its sequel, ONE QUEST, HOLD THE DRAGONS by Greg Costikyan
-Mark Henry’s Amanda Feral series
-Terry Goodkind’s Sword of Truth series
-Laurrell K. Hamilton’s early Anita Blake novels
-Robin Hobb’s Liveship series
-Mary Janice Davidson’s Queen Betsy series
Standalone Novels:
-THE WHEEL OF TIME by Robert Jordan (yes, this is part of a series, but it’s really the only one I truly enjoyed—the series got too political for my tastes)
-THE ELVENBANE by Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey
-NEEDFUL THINGS by Stephen King
-THE TOMMYKNOCKERS by Stephen King
-1984 by George Orwell
-ENDER’S GAME by Orson Scott Card
-BATTLEFIELD EARTH by L. Ron Hubbard
-HAPPY HOUR AT CASA DRACULA by Marta Acosta (I know there are more books in this series, but I only just read the first one and it became an instant favorite!)
-RAPTOR RED by Robert T. Bakker
-JURASSIC PARK by Michael Crichton
-THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE by Avi
-SPLIT HEIRS by Lawrence Watt-Evans and Esther Friesner
-STEAL THE DRAGON by Patricia Briggs
-UNDER THE FANG (anthology)
How’s that for starters? *g*
JJBC- Oh you know we can NEVER have to many books to add to our TBR lists!!
JJBC-Who are some of your favorite authors?
JH-Mostly the authors I listed above. I may have missed a few here or there, but I adore authors like Karen Marie Moning, Jim Butcher, C.S. Friedman, Kim Harrison, Stephen King, Orson Scott Card, Andre Norton, Mercedes Lackey, Mark Henry, Greg Costikyan, etc.
JJBC-If you can meet any author in person dead or alive, who would it be and why him/her?
JH-Hmm, that’s a good one. As much as I would love to pick Karen Marie Moning’s brain, I think meeting Jim Butcher would be better. He strikes me as the kind of guy who would fit in with my Sunday Night Movie Madness crowd.
AAD:
JJBC-What part of AAD are you most looking forward to?
JH-All of it! *g* I loved doing the panels last year, meeting fans, making new friends, discovering lots of new-to-me authors, and dancing like a spaz. Seriously, asking me to pick just one thing above the rest is like asking me to choose—coffee or chocolate.
JJBC-What do you hope to walk away with from AAD?
JH-A truckload of books (LOL)! Mostly, I enjoyed discovering that I have fans who don’t necessarily write me an email or talk to me on Twitter, and making new friends. I’m hoping to have a few more of those by the time I go home.
JJBC-Have you ever been to AAD before? If so what was your favorite part?
JH-I went to last year’s AAD, and it was a total blast. I can’t wait for this year’s!! It’s hard for me to pinpoint one favorite thing that I did. Answering questions on the panels was awesome, signing books was awesome, going to the chocolate fondue party was awesome, the cheesecake tasting party was awesome, the dancing was awesome… Really, I just loved being able to kick back, relax, and hang out with the girls!
**Here's our girl on a panel last year spack dab in the center**
JH-I am indeed! Look for me on the following panels:
~It’s All About the Fangs, Baby…
~Sexy Shifters
~Law in Romance
~Urban Fantasy
Your Writing:
JJBC-How did you first get into writing? Has it always been your dream?
JH-I’ve been writing since high school. Being an author has been a dream of mine for years, but it took me a long time to get past some personal demons to seek publication. A long time ago, when I was a wee Jess, I went to college and had someone I looked up to (one of my teachers, who was published) tear a manuscript of mine to pieces. I was emo and bitter about it for a long time, and wouldn’t show my work to anybody. Then, in late 2007, I loosened up a bit and showed an early draft of HUNTED BY THE OTHERS to my friend Binah. She kept pushing me to finish the manuscript and to find it a home. I think you know how that story ends. *g*
JJBC-What genre do you write?
JH-Urban fantasy. I dabbled in paranormal romance with a novella in the NOCTURNAL anthology, and I’ve got a full length novel I’m toying with, but urban fantasy is my main staple for the time being.
JJBC-Do you have any must haves when you sit down to write?
JH-Coffee. Chocolate. A dictionary.
JJBC-Can you tell us how a typical writing day for you is?
JH-It depends what day of the week it is. If it’s a weeknight, I work for a bit in bed, right before I go to sleep. If it’s a Saturday, I work on writing between running errands, cleaning the house, and catching up with my woefully behind email inbox. Sometimes I procrastinate by hanging out on Twitter, too! Ohh, shiny internets… Where was I? Oh, yes. Sunday, when I get home from work, my friends usually come over for movie nights. I peek at the movie over my laptop and peck out a few hundred to a couple thousand words while exchanging witty banter and inserting MST movie commentary with my friends.
Hmm. Not sure that’s very typical, is it?
JJBC-What is one thing you think sets you apart from other authors?
JH-My rapier wit? My debonair style? My unwholesome obsession with cheesy horror movies, perhaps?
Your Books:
JJBC-Can you share with us anything you are currently working on?
JH-Sure! My H&W Investigations Series was recently extended from three books to six—so I’m hard at work putting together books four, five, and six.
In addition to those books, I’m working on a novella for an anthology coming out later this year called THE REAL WEREWIVES OF VAMPIRE COUNTY. Ever see any of those “Real Housewives of (Insert Affluent Part of the USA Here)” reality TV shows? Imagine all that bitchery and bling mixed in with werewolf pack politics. Yeah. This should be good.
As I mentioned, I’ve also got a paranormal romance in the backburner. Anyone who has read TAKEN BY THE OTHERS will know who I’m talking about when I say Mouse gets a turn in the spotlight! It’s a complete draft, but it needs work. When I’ve got more time on my hands (aka, after the Werewives novella and book four in the H&W series is written), I’ll start putzing around with this one again.
JJBC-Can you share with us your first book ever published?
JH-HUNTED BY THE OTHERS, which released in May of 2010, was my debut novel. I’m quite proud of it—it landed me a three book deal (er, six books now!) and is being translated into two languages (German and French). Here’s the back cover blurb:
They are the Others—the vampires, mages, and werewolves once thought to exist only in our imaginations. Now they’re stepping out of the shadows, and nothing in our world will ever be the same again…
In a Town Like This, Being A P.I. Can Be Murder
Shiarra Waynest’s detective work was dangerous enough when her client base was strictly mortal. But ailing finances have forced her to accept a lucrative case that could save her firm—if it doesn’t kill her first. Shiarra has signed on to work for a high-level mage to recover an ancient artifact owned by one of New York’s most powerful vampires.
As soon as Shiarra meets sexy, mesmerizing vamp Alec Royce, she knows her assignment is even more complicated than she thought. With a clandestine anti-Other group trying to recruit her, and magi being eliminated, Shiarra needs back-up and enlists her ex-boyfriend—a werewolf whose non-furry form is disarmingly appealing—and a nerdy mage with surprising talents. But it may not be enough. In a city where the undead roam, magic rules, and even the Others aren’t always what they seem, Shiarra has just become the secret weapon in a battle between good and evil—whether she likes it or not…
And you can get a sneak peek at the first chapter here: http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/finditem.cfm?itemid=17294
JJBC-Can your share with us your most recent release, or a soon to be release?
JH-Just a few weeks ago, H&W Investigations #2, TAKEN BY THE OTHERS, was released! Here’s the back cover blurb:
Jess Haines draws readers deep into the mesmerizing world of the Others–werewolves, vampires, and mages who make their home among humans, and are turning Shiarra Waynest’s life upside down…
Once, New York P.I. Shiarra Waynest’s most pressing problem was keeping her agency afloat. Now she’s dealing with two dangerous, seductive vampires who have been enemies for centuries. The only thing Max Carlyle and Alec Royce agree on is that they both want Shia–for very different reasons.
Max is determined to destroy Shia for killing his progeny, while Royce’s interest is a lot more personal. That’s not sitting well with Shia’s werewolf boyfriend, Chaz. As the feud between Max and Royce gets ever more deadly, a powerful vampire-hunting faction is urging Shia to join their side. Shia has always believed vamps were the bad guys, but she’s discovering unexpected shades of grey that are about to redefine her friends, her loyalties–and even her desires…
I’ve made the first few chapters available for download here (though this book stands alone, I don’t suggest reading before the first book): http://jesshaines.com/Newsletter-Files/TBTO_Preview.pdf
You can expect the third book, DECEIVED BY THE OTHERS, in July!
JJBC-What has been your favorite book you have written so far? why is this one your favorite?
JH-One you haven’t seen yet! I’m having ridiculous amounts of fun playing with certain scenes in book four. Ask my betas—they’ll tell you how much I’ve been doting over a particular scene in it. *g*
JJBC-Is there anything else you would like to share with us today?
JH-I’m running a giveaway for signed books and a chance to win an ARC of DECEIVED BY THE OTHERS on my blog. Details here: http://jesshaines.com/blog/2011/01/04/its-officially-release-day-for-taken-by-the-others/
JJBC-Where can readers find you?
JH-
~You can chill with me on my blog: http://jesshaines.com/blog/
~Chat with me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/Jess_Haines
~Follow my fan page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jess-Haines-HW-Investigations/199575306328?ref=search&sid=100000426805820.1600836246..1
~Discuss books with me on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/jesshaines
JJBC-Can you share with us your book list?
JH-You can find all details about my books here: http://www.jesshaines.com/
JJBC-Do you have a newsletter?
JH-Ayup, they can sign up by visiting http://jesshaines.com/contact_page
*~* GIVEAWAY*~*
WOOOO HOOOOO!!!
You all are going to love this!!!
I’ll be giving away a signed copy of all three of my currently published books—HUNTED BY THE OTHERS, TAKEN BY THE OTHERS, and a copy of NOCTURNAL.
*~*OPEN WORLDWIDE*~*
** 2 winners
Winner 1~HUNTED BY THE OTHERS, TAKEN BY THE OTHERS
Winner 2~NOCTURNAL
**RULES
- Must leave a comment asking Jess a question about her Interview
- Must leave a valid e-mail (please do not add your complete e-mail. we do not want it picked up by spammers. for Exp: leave DOT instead of . , or AT instead of @ )
**Giveaway ends friday night at Midnight, winners will be chosen and named here in this comments section
Posts
21 Hottie Follwers Thoughts:
Hi Jess! I loved your interview!! Jojo told me you are a funny woman and you are. LOVE your sense of humor!! I am going to HAVE to read "Hunted by the Others" that sounds awesome, but then so does "Taken by the Others", lol. And you are correct...can't have too many TBR's on your list!! Not sure what question to ask here other than when in the heck to you have time for a day job?? lol
That was a really good interview. If your books were made into movies, who do you see playing the main roles?
twoofakind12 AT yahoo DOT com
Hey Jess,
I'm also an author going to AAD this year so it'll be great to meet up. Your books look like a lot of fun have have been added to my TBR pile.
As far as your books, why did you decide to make her a PI? What interests you about that profession? I bet you got to do a lot of fun research for it!
Can't wait to meet you at AAD!
thanks for a great interview - your books are already on my wihslist and I've heard a lot of fantastic things about it!! I absolutely love the covers - do you have a say in choosing them??
wish you all the best, Ina
inale87 at gmx dot at
Hi Jess, loved your interview. My question for you is....What is your standpoint on e-books vs. paperbacks? Just curious on an authors standpoint. My husband got me a kindle for Christmas because he is sick of all my books and doesn't understand why I am still buying the occasional paperback. I love my kindle, but I love having a book in my hands more and when I have a book I love I want it on my bookshelf looking all pretty :) I can't wait to get ahold of your books, and yes I want them on my bookshelf :)
june111(at)att(dot)net
I have never heard the name Shiarra before. How did you come up with it? How do you pick most names for your characters?
vsloboda(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi Jess! Just taking a minute to stop in and wish you a fabulous day! Hope to see you in Philly again this year.
Ohh, lovely comments and questions! Thank you for stopping by, everybody!
@Sally -- Aww, you're sweet! :D The reality is, I don't. My schedule is insane. The way I keep from going bug-nuts is by writing. It grounds me.
@Debbie -- I love this question! For Shiarra, I have a hard time deciding. I'd think Alan Tudyk would make a fabulous Arnold, Robert Downey, Jr. would be incredible as Royce, Kellan Lutz as Chaz, and Katee Sackhoff as Sara would make my everything.
@Elise -- Ohh, yeah, come find me at AAD! Choosing Shiarra's profession wasn't difficult. I've always had an interest in law and all of the "fringe" occupations that go with it. *g*
@Ina -- You're makin' me blush over here! While I do get to give some input, I don't really have much to do with the process. I usually see the covers after they've been finalized.
@Jolene -- Ha! I used to be one of those "You'll never take me alive, e-books!" kinda gals. Lately, though, I've been finding instant gratification to my liking. I was waiting breathlessly (no, really) for SHADOWFEVER to arrive on my kindle software late on Monday night/early Tuesday morning, and wasn't disappointed when it magically appeared in my queue. While paper books will always hold a special place in my heart, and a huge chunk of real estate in my room, I am quite enjoying the e-book revolution, too. There are some books that I loved enough to buy both as paperback/hardcover AND as e-books. I say, whatever brings people joy, have at it.
@Victoria -- An excellent question! I'm a gamer geek to the core. Coming up with unusual names is one of my specialties. *g*
@Diana -- Good to hear from you, too, darlin'! Looking forward to seeing you at AAD! =)
Thanks again, everyone, and I hope you all enjoy my books!
<3,
-J
Hi, Jess!
I'm from Spain and I didn't have the chance to read any of your books till now, sorry. This is the reason I like this blog: practice english and meet "new" authors.
You've talk about panels and say that you like it, now, but how you fell before yours first? Nervous or excited?
Thanks for the international giveaway.
kasumigogo[at]gmail[dot]com
Hi Jess! It was awesome meeting at AAD in 2010. I hope we can chat this year as well. I think JoJo asked all of the good questions already LOL.
Thank you for the interview ladies!
Hi Jess!
I played some MMORPGs, in fact, I played WoW. What character did you play? My hubby and I moved on to playing Aion, then I got back into reading so I have played at all. But my youngest has been playing on my Aion account.
Can't wait for AAD, I will be spending the whole weekend this time!
Hi Jess. Great interview. My question is do you ever think you will write in a different time frame. Like would you write a book that takes place in the future or the past? Also, do you base any of your characters on anyone that you know? I hope to see you at ADD this year. It is my first time attending and I super excited to go. Looks like its going to be a lot of fun.
iqb99@yahoo.com
Great interview. What was the first thing you did when you found out your books were going to get published?
bacchus76 at myself dot com
Great interview! I love the panels you are on! I am hoping, hoping, hoping to make it to ADD this year for the first time! Got any great advice for a first-timer?
Thanks for hosting - amazing prize!
bevsharp@desch.org
Awesome giveaway! Hope I'm not too late- it says Friday so I assume that means this Friday (today). I think it's cool you openly admit you write with a dictionary close by; I think a lot of authors probably want us to assume they know all the words in there. We could all benefit from seeking more knowledge and the humility to admit we didn't know everything in the first place.
b(dot)cardone(at)hotmail(dot)com
Do you ever get writer's block and how do you cope with this problem?
It must be hard coming up with new and untried ideas when writing.
dsadler53atyahoodotca
Thank you all for taking the time to stop by an meet Jess. You all are going to love meeting her in person in August!
And THANK YOU Jess for sharing with us a sneak peak into your world!
And now on to the winners!
*winners were chosen using random.org*
1st Winner- Who will receive the first 2 books in Jess's Series (HUNTED BY THE OTHERS, TAKEN BY THE OTHERS) is...................JoAnna !
2nd Winner- Who will receive a copy of NOCTURNAL is.................. SallyS !
Wooooo Hooooooo Congrats winners! Send me your snail mail to jojosreviewsATgmailDOT com
But don't worry if you haven't won yet! Tues Starts our Next AADPhilly Meet and Greet with a Tuesday Talking Teaser + short interview and giveaway. And that is just the beginning! We have at least 2 Authors scheduled each week, and working on all the way up to the conference!!!!
WOOOOO HOOOOOO
So make sure you keep checking back often!
*huggies* all!
JoJo
WooHoo! So excited. I sent you an email JoJo!
Congrats Sally!
Woo hoo!!!! Can't wait!! Grats to you too JoAnna!!! Thanks Jojo and Jess, Great interview!!! Sorry, meant to post this a lot sooner. Life is busy what can I say? lol
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