Ask the Author: Jodi Perkins
Answered Questions (8)
Jodi Perkins
Hi April, I'm glad you enjoyed the book! Yes, there's going to be a third book in the series, SPRING OF CROWS, which is scheduled to be released in winter 2021. Until then, check out book 2, Black Lilies! You can also visit my website (jodiperkins.com) for more info.
To answer your question regarding Phee's name, her last name is 'Aevos' just like her sisters'. In one scene Daphne shouts out "Pheonix Racine!" which might have confused you, but 'Racine' is actually Phee's middle name, not her last.
To answer your question regarding Phee's name, her last name is 'Aevos' just like her sisters'. In one scene Daphne shouts out "Pheonix Racine!" which might have confused you, but 'Racine' is actually Phee's middle name, not her last.
Jodi Perkins
Hi Joseph! I love writing from male characters' points of view. Maybe it's because since I'm a female, I don't find the female mind all that mysterious, whereas writing from a dude's point of view is like unexplored territory for me (much more interesting). I'm also discovering that I love writing villains. I like relatable villains with layers--the kinds with motives so strong that you hate them and love them at the same time. Chasing Echoes doesn't have a good villain like that (since the villain isn't a person--it's a curse), but some of my future novels definitely will.
Jodi Perkins
After you've gone through the editing and beta-reading processes, you'll want to research agents and publishers who would be a good fit for your book. A common mistake for aspiring authors to make is to keep sending their work out to "just anyone", hoping to strike gold, but ultimately they end up expending a ton of time, resources, and mental health doing this, only to get rejection after rejection. For example, you're not going to get an agent to read your manuscript (or even your first three chapters) if they specialize in contemporary and you wrote a science-fiction. You'll also need to write an amazing query letter and a synopsis of your book. The query letter is EVERY thing. It is your one tiny chance to captivate the interest of a potential agent or publisher; to pique their curiosity enough to read the first three chapters of your book (and then, God willing, to request your entire manuscript). Above all, Google is your friend! There are vast resources available on the world wide web that can walk you through every step of the process. Good luck!
Jodi Perkins
Wow, what an insightful question.
To answer this, let me illustrate by using my most recent Goodreads giveaway as an example. I only gave away one book, yet over 1500 people entered. The woman who ultimately won never left a review. So what was in it for me? Well, every time someone enters a giveaway, an update pops up on their newsfeed saying "Jane (or whoever) just entered a giveaway for Chasing Echoes". That means my book was getting exposure to not only the 1500 people who entered, but all of their friends as well. Also, to enter a Giveaway, Goodreads prompts the participant to add the novel to their "To Read" shelf. It's not mandatory, but a lot of people do it. My last two giveaways resulted in Chasing Echoes being added to over 1800 shelves. So yes, while I would have loved to have received a review from the winner, the exposure I gained for Chasing Echoes was reward enough, and definitely worth the ten bucks I spent mailing out her prize.
Long story short--giveaways might not always lead to reviews, but they drum up interest in a book and lead to more exposure. (I guess I could have just said that in the first place, huh?)
To answer this, let me illustrate by using my most recent Goodreads giveaway as an example. I only gave away one book, yet over 1500 people entered. The woman who ultimately won never left a review. So what was in it for me? Well, every time someone enters a giveaway, an update pops up on their newsfeed saying "Jane (or whoever) just entered a giveaway for Chasing Echoes". That means my book was getting exposure to not only the 1500 people who entered, but all of their friends as well. Also, to enter a Giveaway, Goodreads prompts the participant to add the novel to their "To Read" shelf. It's not mandatory, but a lot of people do it. My last two giveaways resulted in Chasing Echoes being added to over 1800 shelves. So yes, while I would have loved to have received a review from the winner, the exposure I gained for Chasing Echoes was reward enough, and definitely worth the ten bucks I spent mailing out her prize.
Long story short--giveaways might not always lead to reviews, but they drum up interest in a book and lead to more exposure. (I guess I could have just said that in the first place, huh?)
Jodi Perkins
Oh yes! Without Beta Readers I would never know whether all of the craziness in my head is actually translating on the page. Once the time comes, I will be looking for Beta Readers for BLACK LILIES (Chasing Echoes #2) and THE APATHETICS. Of course I'll ask my previous awesome Beta Readers if they would like to be involved again, but fresh perspectives are always welcome.
Jodi Perkins
Thanks for the question Greg! I've always wanted to write a book that involves a time loop--I've been fascinated with the concept ever since I was a teenager. Maybe Groundhog Day is to blame? ;) Anyway, I'm not sure where exactly the idea for Chasing Echoes came from, but I can tell you that the concept was somewhat inspired by the novel REPLAY by Ken Grimwood. In Grimwood's story, the protagonist is forced to repeat his entire life over, and this generated a bunch of "what-if" questions in my head. Teenage years are so volatile, so my first question was "What if a teenager was forced to repeat the same segment of her life over and over?" Then another layer was added to the question: "What if she was forced to repeat the same few weeks of her life over and over with a boy she hates?" After that, the what-ifs were relentless, and Chasing Echoes was born.
My next book (BLACK LILIES) was originally scheduled to come out this December, but due to some major life changes my family is going through, the book's release has been postponed. Updates on my next release date will be posted on Facebook and Twitter.
Thanks for reading!
My next book (BLACK LILIES) was originally scheduled to come out this December, but due to some major life changes my family is going through, the book's release has been postponed. Updates on my next release date will be posted on Facebook and Twitter.
Thanks for reading!
Jodi Perkins
Hi Cassandra, I'm so glad you enjoyed my book! To answer your question, the next book in the series, Black Lilies, starts immediately where Chasing Echoes ends--right at the candlelight vigil. But Aviva is actually the second-youngest of the sisters. Krystal is the baby of the girls. Aviva is fifteen when Chasing Echoes ends, and will celebrate her Sweet Sixteen in chapter 3 or so of Black Lilies, so she is actually sixteen for the majority of the book.
Thanks for your thoughtful question and commentary! Feel free to follow me on Twitter (@perkjo) or facebook (www.facebook.com/AuthorJodiPerkins) for updates, or visit my website: www.jodiperkins.com.
Thanks for your thoughtful question and commentary! Feel free to follow me on Twitter (@perkjo) or facebook (www.facebook.com/AuthorJodiPerkins) for updates, or visit my website: www.jodiperkins.com.
Jodi Perkins
I'd have to say the scene where Taz loops into Stryder's shower. The panic of the two when they realize where they are, the tangled shower curtains, the flailing limbs...every part of that scene had me giggling when I was writing it.
I also had a lot of fun writing the kitchen table scene where Stryder gives Krystal the bouquet of flowers. The way the girls (especially Phee) treated that poor unsuspecting bouquet...and poor Stryder...*stifles giggle*
It's kind of ironic, because there were so many huge and heavy scenes that I enjoyed writing. But the little lighthearted scenes scattered throughout the book were the ones I loved writing the most.
I also had a lot of fun writing the kitchen table scene where Stryder gives Krystal the bouquet of flowers. The way the girls (especially Phee) treated that poor unsuspecting bouquet...and poor Stryder...*stifles giggle*
It's kind of ironic, because there were so many huge and heavy scenes that I enjoyed writing. But the little lighthearted scenes scattered throughout the book were the ones I loved writing the most.
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