Ask the Author: Jeffery Craig
Answered Questions (8)
Jeffery Craig
I have two new books underway that I need to get finished, so my reading time might be limited. However, I do plan to squeeze in a few! Next up in my reading list: Mata Hari's Last Dance, by Michelle Moran; City of the Sun, by Juliana Maio; The Magnus Series, by Toni Pike.
Jeffery Craig
My great-grandfather immigrated from Prussia in the late part of the nineteenth century. He traveled with a family, although it was not his own. He was about eight years old at the time, and was assigned the surname of that family when he entered through Ellis Island. He never spoke about it, and brushed off all questions by saying he was told by his real parents never to answer. In later years, his descendants tried to back-track the journey, but during the successive destruction of WWI and WWII, many records and documents were lost. I've always wondered who he really was, and why he was leaving his homeland in the company of a family not his own. I'm actually working on a novel now that begins with the that situation. It'll be fun to write and will allow me an author's unique privilege; creating my own answer!
Jeffery Craig
To me the best thing about being a writer is the moment when someone tells you they enjoyed the story you told, and that it resonated with them in some way. There is nothing like it and to know your words were appreciated is the best feeling in the world. The second best thing is bringing the characters to life and getting to know them like good friends. I'm always amazed by what they say and do!
Jeffery Craig
So many things inspire me. I keep an ongoing file of ideas. Some ideas may start as nothing more than an image, or a snippet of conversation and then they explode into something more. There are so many amazing things in the world around each of us, and when I discover one that keeps pressing in my mind until it is all I can think about, I know it is time to put down some words.
Jeffery Craig
Keep writing! The only way to improve your skills is to keep working. Search out all of the advice, support and encouragement you can. Learn what your options are in terms of publishing. I had a writer friend tell me early in the process to remember you never ever have to pay someone to publish your book (out side of services related to design and editing). There are a lot of options, so make sure you understand the pros and cons of each and how they relate to you individual goals. It is also important to understand how publishing has changed over the last few years and how it is anticipated to change in the next ten.
Jeffery Craig
I am currently working on book three of the Reightman & Bailey series – Skin Puppet. I am also outlining the books of a planned fantasy trilogy, and researching a literary novel about the great plains of Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
Jeffery Craig
My second book is actually a continuation of the first book in the Reightman & Bailey series, and was actually written in tandem. I was initially worried that I wouldn't be able to find enough words for even the first book, and 700 pages later I had the opposite problem. With some rework and a lot of edit surgery, those 700 pages became books one and two of Reightman and Bailey. The story flowed onto paper pretty quickly. I'd been kicking the idea around for the series for some time. I intended to take it in a slightly different direction, but the characters had other ideas!
Jeffery Craig
I usually don't have a problem finding words. My challenge is paring them down. When I do run into a block, I find the best thing for me to do is to get away from it for a while. Reading someone else's work is a great escape, as is working in the garden, watching a movie or spending time with good friends. Allowing my mind to disengage for a period of time usually does the trick!
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more