Ask the Author: Kait Jagger
Answered Questions (9)
Kait Jagger
Hi Merreille! Thank you for reading my books. You are not the first person to ask about the Fearsome Finn--take a look at my FB post last night! https://www.facebook.com/KaitJaggerAu... I would never say never to writing Mika's story, but I think it would take a pretty extraordinary woman to replace Luna in his heart, don't you?
Kait Jagger
I confess, despite the fact that I write romances, many of my favourite fictional couples feature heterosexual men--'bromances,' as it were. Holmes and Watson, Kirk and Spock, Joey and Chandler...there's something deeply romantic, to me at least, about platonic love between two men.
My most revered bromance? Without a question, Captain Jack Aubrey and Dr Stephen Maturin, of Patrick O'Brien's nautical historical novels (source material for the 2003 film Master and Commander). The juxtaposition of naval man of action Aubrey with intellectual naturalist Maturin is one of the great fictional pairings of all time, in my opinion...and watching Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany recreating their violin/cello duets in the movie...well, I get bromantical just thinking about it!
One of Aubrey and Maturin's many, magical moments:
Shortly after they meet, naval ingenue Maturin asks Aubrey if he could be whipped by the master for breaking naval law and Jack responds, '"You must allow me to explain our naval ranks some time. But in any case, you will never be flogged - no, no; you shall not be flogged," he added, gazing with pure affection, and with something like awe, at so magnificent a prodigy, at an ignorance so very far beyond anything that even his wide-ranging mind had yet conceived.'
My most revered bromance? Without a question, Captain Jack Aubrey and Dr Stephen Maturin, of Patrick O'Brien's nautical historical novels (source material for the 2003 film Master and Commander). The juxtaposition of naval man of action Aubrey with intellectual naturalist Maturin is one of the great fictional pairings of all time, in my opinion...and watching Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany recreating their violin/cello duets in the movie...well, I get bromantical just thinking about it!
One of Aubrey and Maturin's many, magical moments:
Shortly after they meet, naval ingenue Maturin asks Aubrey if he could be whipped by the master for breaking naval law and Jack responds, '"You must allow me to explain our naval ranks some time. But in any case, you will never be flogged - no, no; you shall not be flogged," he added, gazing with pure affection, and with something like awe, at so magnificent a prodigy, at an ignorance so very far beyond anything that even his wide-ranging mind had yet conceived.'
Kait Jagger
Hi Lillian! Thank you for asking. All being well, I plan to publish Her Master's Servant this autumn. The book is written, currently in the process of being edited/whipped into shape! I am very excited about it...a darker book than Lord and Master, I think, extremely satisfying to write (and read, I hope!) - Kait
Kait Jagger
It started with an unsatisfactory reading experience. I explain more about this on the About Me tab of my website, www.kaitjagger.com, but essentially, a few years ago I read a best-selling romance novel that left me feeling let down. I wanted to know more than the writer was willing to tell me about her heroine's backstory, friends and most particularly her career. So I decided to see if I could create a heroine of my own, whose life was more than just wallpaper.
I also feel that today's publishing industry has created enormous pressure on writers to 'front-load' their books, write a killer first three chapters to capture the attention of agents, publishers, etc. And, fair play, if I haven't written something that grips the reader within the first few chapters, maybe I don't deserve their time and money.
But I've lost track of the number of books I've read in the past few years that started out fast and furious and brilliant...and then petered out somewhere around the midway point. I don't blame the writer for this. I blame a publishing culture that gives the reader no credit for being patient, able to appreciate a slow burn.
One of the pitiful few advantages of being self-published, as I am, is that I can take a risk on finding those patient readers...ones who will sacrifice pyrotechnics up front for a fuller, more complete story.
That's the idea, anyway!
I also feel that today's publishing industry has created enormous pressure on writers to 'front-load' their books, write a killer first three chapters to capture the attention of agents, publishers, etc. And, fair play, if I haven't written something that grips the reader within the first few chapters, maybe I don't deserve their time and money.
But I've lost track of the number of books I've read in the past few years that started out fast and furious and brilliant...and then petered out somewhere around the midway point. I don't blame the writer for this. I blame a publishing culture that gives the reader no credit for being patient, able to appreciate a slow burn.
One of the pitiful few advantages of being self-published, as I am, is that I can take a risk on finding those patient readers...ones who will sacrifice pyrotechnics up front for a fuller, more complete story.
That's the idea, anyway!
Kait Jagger
Some of my best 'thinking' times seem to come when I'm sitting in the passenger seat of the car on a long road trip. No idea why, but I've had a lot of fun holidays with the family as a result. Hello again, Tebay Motorway Services...
Kait Jagger
Book 2 of the Lord and Master trilogy, Her Master's Servant.
Kait Jagger
Write what you love, no matter what it is. I'm leery of advice about knowing your target market and tailoring your writing accordingly. Maybe for non-fiction, but for fiction, love of your subject matter will ALWAYS shine through.
Kait Jagger
Massive cliche, this, but the very best part is when a great scene writes itself. When a character takes on a life of her or his own and dialogue flows onto a page and I literally look at it later and think, 'How did I write this?' Elves and the Shoemaker moments, is what I call these.
Kait Jagger
I feel like touching wood and breaking out my grandma's rosary beads saying this, but to date I've never had a serious case of writer's block. Usually it's more a case of a scene I'm finding difficult to write for one reason or another. I don't hesitate to walk away from the laptop for a few days when that happens. Sometimes it turns out that the reason I was finding a scene hard to write is because I've taken a wrong turn, plot-wise, and I need to get rid of the scene. Most times, though, a few days' mental rest is all I need to get my mojo back. Very satisfying when this happens!
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