Ask the Author: J. Michael Stewart
Answered Questions (8)
J. Michael Stewart
Hi, Chris! Thanks for taking the time to contact me. I'm glad you enjoyed Smoke on the Mountain and Fire on the Water. It's always great to hear from people who have read my novels.
To answer your question, I plan to eventually write at least one more Jackson Hart novel, perhaps more, but the new novel I'm working on is a new story with all new characters and takes place in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. I hope to have it published sometime in the spring of next year.
I have some extra copies of both Smoke and Fire, and I would be glad to send you some autographed copies. If you are interested, just shoot me your address to jmichaelstewart@authorjmichaelstewart.com
Thanks again,
J. Michael Stewart
To answer your question, I plan to eventually write at least one more Jackson Hart novel, perhaps more, but the new novel I'm working on is a new story with all new characters and takes place in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. I hope to have it published sometime in the spring of next year.
I have some extra copies of both Smoke and Fire, and I would be glad to send you some autographed copies. If you are interested, just shoot me your address to jmichaelstewart@authorjmichaelstewart.com
Thanks again,
J. Michael Stewart
J. Michael Stewart
Hi Janice,
I really don't have a set schedule. I would love to be able to write for two or three hours every morning, but since I work another full-time job, that's not always possible. I do most of my writing in the evenings after work or on the weekends. Also, I try to focus on the word count I'm getting down every day versus how much time I spend writing. I know that if I'm cranking out an average of 2K words a day, I'm doing pretty good.
Thanks for the question!
I really don't have a set schedule. I would love to be able to write for two or three hours every morning, but since I work another full-time job, that's not always possible. I do most of my writing in the evenings after work or on the weekends. Also, I try to focus on the word count I'm getting down every day versus how much time I spend writing. I know that if I'm cranking out an average of 2K words a day, I'm doing pretty good.
Thanks for the question!
J. Michael Stewart
While I was doing the first rewrite of Smoke on the Mountain, I realized the character of Tiffany needed something to make her more intriguing. So I slapped a couple of scars on her body and then was vague about how she had gotten them. At that point, I didn't even know what had happened exactly, only that a man from her past had done something horrible to her. I'm working on the sequel now, and all the questions about Tiffany and Jackson that I left open at the end of Smoke on the Mountain will be answered. It is more of a traditional thriller than my first novel, and I hope my fans will enjoy it.
J. Michael Stewart
I get inspiration from lots of places, but usually it is from something that happens to me or I observe during everyday life. For instance, the idea for my short story, A Winning Ticket, came to me one day during my drive home from work. There was a news report on the radio about a large lottery jackpot and how lottery fever was sweeping the nation. That got me thinking about what could happen to two ordinary people that were facing financial trouble if they were suddenly wealthy beyond their wildest dreams. I include an author's note at the end of all my books where I explain how the idea for the story came to me.
J. Michael Stewart
I am currently working on the sequel to Smoke on the Mountain. I hope to have it released in October 2014.
J. Michael Stewart
I guess the biggest piece of advice I could give is to just go for it. I started my first novel, Smoke on the Mountain, several years ago. I wish I would have buckled down and started writing seriously much earlier in life.
J. Michael Stewart
That's a tough question. There are lots of great things about being a writer, but I would say the most fulfilling thing is hearing from people who have read and enjoyed my work.
J. Michael Stewart
I think every writer experiences writer's block from time to time. At least, I know I do. Some writers will outline the entire story before they begin to write, and while there are advantages to this approach, I prefer to develop the plot as I write. It seems to work better for me that way, but oftentimes I do get to a point in the story where I get stuck. Sometimes I will take a break from a manuscript and try to flesh things out in my mind for a day or two. But ultimately, I've found the best cure for writer's block is simply to write. Even if I end up going back later and changing what I have written, just the process of putting words down helps get the creative juices flowing again.
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