Welcome to this stop on the
Moonlit Blog Tour,
sponsored by Kathy @
Please join me in welcoming Jadie Jones,
author of this exciting novel,
to
A Night's Dream of Books!!
Jadie Jones
And now for the interview!
Maria: How did you start out as a writer?
Jadie: I wrote my first book in a Mead notebook in seventh grade. It was a "scary story", my best attempt to write something like R.L. Stine. From there, I joined my high school newspaper for a year, and was also editor-in-chief of the literary magazine.
Maria: What or who inspired you to write fantasy, instead of some other genre?
Jadie: Growing up, I lived and died for "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer". Okay, maybe I still do. I love a strong, flawed, female lead and a premise that can stretch from vampires to witches to demons and back again. There's such freedom in writing fantasy.
Maria: How important do you think research is in the writing of a fantasy novel? Or do you think everything should come from the writer's imagination?
Jadie: I think research is critical 99% of the time. If you incorporate any elements that are based on fact or history (including mythology, lore, religion, etc.), it's so important to do your research. You'll find so many pieces of powerful inspiration, information that will strengthen your story, setting, characters, etc.
Maria: How have your love for and knowledge of horses helped you to write a believable novel?
Jadie: Moonlit opens on a working horse farm. The rhythm of a barn is important, and as someone who has worked on a farm for over 15 years, I can tell when a writer has real experience with horses versus an unexplored passion for them. It was important for me to communicate horses' instincts and reactions as true-to-life as possible. Those instincts are a very important part of the book, and even more so in the sequel.
Maria: Would you like to be considered exclusively a fantasy writer, or are you planning to write for other genres, as well?
Jadie: Definitely not an exclusive fantasy writer. I'm drawn to fantasy because of the possibilities -- if you can think it, you can create it. But once the Moonlit series is finished (I've planned it as a trilogy), I will finish a New Adult fiction manuscript I started last year, and then set aside once my publisher picked up Moonlit.
Maria: Do you prefer to write "by the seat of your pants", or do you prefer to outline? What are the pros and cons of each?
Jadie: I use a little bit of both. I have goals I want to accomplish with any set of characters, but I've learned the hard way that my outlines are usually torn apart by the third or fourth draft. Still, it's good to have an outline, and to use it as a "road map" for your characters' challenges and goals. At the same time, it's important not to marry any one aspect of your plot. A reluctance to change any one part may hinder the work as a whole.
Maria: Do you feel more comfortable writing for the Young Adult market? If so, why?
Jadie: I didn't really choose what market I wanted to target. The heart of the story came to me in a dream, and the girl's face was clearly late-teen. That being said, I enjoy writing for the Young Adult market. It's an emotional time of life that is full of decision-making, and potential for crossing lines and consequences.
Maria: Will Moonlit be a stand-alone novel, or is it the beginning of a series? (Interviewer's Note: Obviously, the author has already informed us, in a previous answer, that Moonlit is the first in a trilogy. I didn't find out until I received Jadie's answers by email.)
Jadie: Moonlit is the first book in a trilogy. I am so excited about the sequel! I am submitting it to my publisher this month.
Maria: Do you think that horses are very wise, spiritual animals? I've seen several books on this subject on Amazon.
Jadie: Absolutely. Horses are incredible animals. I volunteered for the therapeutic riding program at my college. The kids riding these horses were severely physically and mentally disabled. Most of them spoke very little, if at all, and many couldn't walk. Then, they'd get on a horse. They would smile. Speak. Play a game in a group. And the kids that couldn't walk suddenly sat upright, with legs under them. The horses changed, too -- some horses that gave advanced riders a tough time wouldn't take a wrong step with a disabled child on their backs. Horses know our hearts and souls better than we do.
Maria: What project(s) are you working on now, or planning to start in the near future?
Jadie: I am finishing the sequel, and will begin drafting the third and final book in the Moonlit series. I contributed an essay to the Indiestructible anthology, which is a collection of essays from authors who have published with small publishers, or self-published. The proceeds from this anthology will go to BuildOn, a not-for-profit that works to end the cycle of illiteracy and poverty. I have a New Adult fiction manuscript in the works, and lately I've felt compelled to start a new fantasy book that involves the sea...
Maria: Thank you for such an interesting interview! I can't wait to read this novel, since I love horses so much!!
Jadie: You're very welcome! And thank you for having me! I hope you enjoy the book!
Author Bio
Georgia native Jadie Jones first began working for a horse farm at twelve years old, her love of horses matched only by her love of books. She went on to acquire a B.A. in equine business management, and worked for competitive horse farms along the east coast. The need to write followed wherever she went.
She currently coaches a hunt seat equitation team that competes in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association, and lives with her family in the foothills of north Georgia. When she's not working on the next installment of the Moonlit series, she is either in the saddle or exploring the great outdoors with her daughter. Moonlit is her first book.
Jadie Jones Online
Moonlit
Jadie Jones
Trade Paperback, 310 pages
WiDo Publishing
April 16th, 2013
Goodreads Synopsis
Eighteen-year-old Tanzy Hightower knows horses, has grown up with them on Wildwood Farm. She also knows not to venture beyond the trees that line the pasture. Things happen out there that cannot be explained. Or undone. Worse, no one but she and the horses can see what lurks in the shadows of the woods.
When a moonlit ride turns into a terrifying chase, Tanzy is left to question everything, from the freak accident that killed her father to the very blood in her veins. Broken and confused, she turns to Lucas, a scarred, beautiful stranger, and to Vanessa, a charming new friend who has everything Tanzy doesn’t.
But why do they seem to know more about her than she knows herself?
When a moonlit ride turns into a terrifying chase, Tanzy is left to question everything, from the freak accident that killed her father to the very blood in her veins. Broken and confused, she turns to Lucas, a scarred, beautiful stranger, and to Vanessa, a charming new friend who has everything Tanzy doesn’t.
But why do they seem to know more about her than she knows herself?
Prologue
The first anniversary of my father's death was even harder on my mother. Back then, I thought she was haunted most by what she didn't know. I refused to blame her when she raged above me on our staircase that night, drunk and sad and angry. When she made me promise I'd never ride again. When she hurled a half-full bottle of vodka at my face and it exploded on the wooden stairs at my feet. I hadn't tried to get out of the way. She had just missed.
I wanted to tell her that knowledge was no solace, that what you know can burn inside you until there's nothing left but guilt and ash. I also wanted to protect her from losing the only piece of him she had left. So I didn't say a word.
Praise for the book
"Virginia's trees look like they're burning. Most of them blaze crimson or gold, but some still have a chokehold on their green. I wish they'd give it up already. Leaves are more beautiful when they're dying."
And so Moonlit begins. From here the story rolls from one twist to another with many vivid characters whose motives are hard to predict. I found myself being suspicious of everyone, wanting to tell Tanzy to be very careful. The deeper I fell into the plot, the more questions kept rising to the surface. But not to worry, all of my questions were answered. Appropriate for all ages, if you love paranormal fantasy mixed with suspense, mystery, and other-worldly romance, you'll love this novel!
-- Author Julie Ford
Book Links
Blog Tour Giveaway!!
Ends 6/21/13
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