Ask the Author: Jay Grochowski

“Greetings readers and thank you for your interest in Kelli's Pine, my first novel. I love answering questions about the story, the inspirations and back-stories, and the writing process.” Jay Grochowski

Answered Questions (7)

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Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

Jay Grochowski It's a blend of people, places and events from my past 40+ years. Not a moment of inspiration but decades of inspiration. The key is whether or not the tank is empty now that Kelli's Pine has taken 142,000 words

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How do you get inspired to write?

Jay Grochowski Everyday life. I've traveled the entire country in my sales job. Kelli's Pine is an accumulation of life experiences, characters who are a blend of numerous people, and geography. Kelli's Pine would be a lot different if I attempted to write it a decade ago, even more so if it were 20 years ago. Material comes from keeping my eyes and ears open living life in general.

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What are you currently working on?

Jay Grochowski After a deep breath, I'm starting to gather my notes for my second novel. Good chance it'll be back to Mankato, Kelli, Eddie, and Cole.

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What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Jay Grochowski Prepare for the long-haul and don't rush. Plenty of times I considered shortcuts, either in writing or editing. Like marathoners who speak of "hitting the wall" and pushing through it, be prepared to hit the wall. The key is to push through by not trading quality for just getting it done. Maybe put it away for a day or two, store up some energy, then push through.

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What’s the best thing about being a writer?

Jay Grochowski The readers' reactions, hands-down. I wrote Kelli's Pine because I wanted the challenge and I had a story rolling around in my mind, so turning it into a completed work was incredibly satisfying. The best, and most unexpected things have happened since. The positive feedback, reviews, and how the book has touched people in different ways are easily the best things about being a writer.

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