Steven Donahue's Blog: Books and Stuff - Posts Tagged "jennifer"
An Exclusive Interview with Author Jennifer Ott!
Today I have the pleasure of interviewing radio host and author Jennifer Ott!
How would you describe your writing style?
I have written several different genres from literary fiction, satire, dystopian fantasy, romance, erotic, crime drama and now I'm writing a historical vampire novel. Each genre has its own style. My literary fiction books are character driven, whereas the fantasy delves more into prose to describe the setting and crime drama short succinct action sentences that are plot driven. I think my overall style reflects more the book I am writing at the time.
When did you first start writing?
I believe I was around age 12. I recall watching the movie "A Bridge on the River Kwai" and was so taken with the drama of the story; I immediately went and started writing a book. I didn't finish it. I did however finish my first novel at 24. I never published the book, but it did set in motion my path into the writing world. Soon afterward, I started taking screenwriting lessons where I honed my craft of storytelling, character development and dialogue.
What types of stories do you read? Who are your favorite authors?
I like Literary Fiction and enjoy books with strong, well-developed and often unusual characters. I also like books that are sprinkled with philosophy. My favorite authors are John Steinbeck, Milan Kundera and Paulo Coelho.
What is your writing process?
I usually follow screenplay format which is identifying the beginning, the inciting incident, all the plot points, climax, final resolution and end. Within those points, I usually allow the characters to take control and let the story flow naturally.
If you could spend a day with any literary character, who would it be and what would you do?
Doc from Steinbeck's "Sweet Thursday," and "Canary Row"
Did you always want to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?
Yes. I would say I was always a writer. It wasn't something I chose; it was always inside me, however I did take a detour through the fashion industry. The fashion industry helped give me stability while writing and also gave me the opportunity to travel overseas, which gave me a great deal of inspiration for many of my books.
What inspires your stories?
People. It's all about understanding people - the human condition. These stories come out in different genres, but they are all the same. It's all about what makes people tick in certain circumstances.
Where is your favorite place to write? Do you have any writing rituals?
I like to write in coffee shops. Something about writing in public gives me more focus.
What is your radio host job like? What are the challenges/rewards of that job?
It is fun. I have the honor of talking to many talented writers, hearing about their inspirations and experiences. I have also interviewed editors, artists and audio book narrators. I learn something from each guest I talk to. There aren't too many challenges, other than I do get nervous before each show, and sometimes it gets a little hard drawing out a guest who is shy or not very talkative. Best guests have a lot to say.
What advice would you give new authors?
Find your voice and stick to it. There are so many writers publishing today, and many try to mimic someone who was successful. What they taught us in screenwriting class is story fads and fashions always change. What is popular today will not be popular tomorrow. If you jump on the bandwagon of popular literature you mind find yourself lost in a very big crowd. Be true to yourself and your stories.
Author Biography:
Jennifer Ott published numerous titles in various genres from literary fiction, women’s fiction, satire, dystopian fantasy, romance, crime drama and two satirical nonfiction titles. She will release her suspense/thriller, "Time of Useful Consciousness." Under the pen name Mahima Martel, her romance novel, “Saying Goodbye,” received honorable mention at last year’s Best Beach Book Contest and her literary fiction novella, “Edge of Civilization” has been highly recommended by the Vietnam Veterans Association of America. Most recently she has been named head online course writer for the “The Friendly Universe.” Her radio show, The SuperJenius Show on the Artist First Radio Network can be heard first Thursday of every month at 11:00PM EST.
www.JenniferOtt.com
http://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Ott/e/...
http://www.artistfirst.com/jenniferot...
New Release -
Time of Useful Consciousness Description
Louisa Unger comes of age during the Nazi rise to power in WWII and survives the Allied bombings. It is the death of her father, a Luftwaffe pilot that destroys her spirit most of all.
Years later when the Allies occupy her home town of Stuttgart, there is not more than a crumb of hope for a better future until she follows her brother's trail into the black market where she finds the monsters that brought her nation to war still exist, but now with new identities and differing sinister crimes.
Seduced by extravagances, passion and flying, she grows unaware of any danger until it is too late. What she doesn’t expect is to come face to face with her own past.
How would you describe your writing style?
I have written several different genres from literary fiction, satire, dystopian fantasy, romance, erotic, crime drama and now I'm writing a historical vampire novel. Each genre has its own style. My literary fiction books are character driven, whereas the fantasy delves more into prose to describe the setting and crime drama short succinct action sentences that are plot driven. I think my overall style reflects more the book I am writing at the time.
When did you first start writing?
I believe I was around age 12. I recall watching the movie "A Bridge on the River Kwai" and was so taken with the drama of the story; I immediately went and started writing a book. I didn't finish it. I did however finish my first novel at 24. I never published the book, but it did set in motion my path into the writing world. Soon afterward, I started taking screenwriting lessons where I honed my craft of storytelling, character development and dialogue.
What types of stories do you read? Who are your favorite authors?
I like Literary Fiction and enjoy books with strong, well-developed and often unusual characters. I also like books that are sprinkled with philosophy. My favorite authors are John Steinbeck, Milan Kundera and Paulo Coelho.
What is your writing process?
I usually follow screenplay format which is identifying the beginning, the inciting incident, all the plot points, climax, final resolution and end. Within those points, I usually allow the characters to take control and let the story flow naturally.
If you could spend a day with any literary character, who would it be and what would you do?
Doc from Steinbeck's "Sweet Thursday," and "Canary Row"
Did you always want to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?
Yes. I would say I was always a writer. It wasn't something I chose; it was always inside me, however I did take a detour through the fashion industry. The fashion industry helped give me stability while writing and also gave me the opportunity to travel overseas, which gave me a great deal of inspiration for many of my books.
What inspires your stories?
People. It's all about understanding people - the human condition. These stories come out in different genres, but they are all the same. It's all about what makes people tick in certain circumstances.
Where is your favorite place to write? Do you have any writing rituals?
I like to write in coffee shops. Something about writing in public gives me more focus.
What is your radio host job like? What are the challenges/rewards of that job?
It is fun. I have the honor of talking to many talented writers, hearing about their inspirations and experiences. I have also interviewed editors, artists and audio book narrators. I learn something from each guest I talk to. There aren't too many challenges, other than I do get nervous before each show, and sometimes it gets a little hard drawing out a guest who is shy or not very talkative. Best guests have a lot to say.
What advice would you give new authors?
Find your voice and stick to it. There are so many writers publishing today, and many try to mimic someone who was successful. What they taught us in screenwriting class is story fads and fashions always change. What is popular today will not be popular tomorrow. If you jump on the bandwagon of popular literature you mind find yourself lost in a very big crowd. Be true to yourself and your stories.
Author Biography:
Jennifer Ott published numerous titles in various genres from literary fiction, women’s fiction, satire, dystopian fantasy, romance, crime drama and two satirical nonfiction titles. She will release her suspense/thriller, "Time of Useful Consciousness." Under the pen name Mahima Martel, her romance novel, “Saying Goodbye,” received honorable mention at last year’s Best Beach Book Contest and her literary fiction novella, “Edge of Civilization” has been highly recommended by the Vietnam Veterans Association of America. Most recently she has been named head online course writer for the “The Friendly Universe.” Her radio show, The SuperJenius Show on the Artist First Radio Network can be heard first Thursday of every month at 11:00PM EST.
www.JenniferOtt.com
http://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Ott/e/...
http://www.artistfirst.com/jenniferot...
New Release -
Time of Useful Consciousness Description
Louisa Unger comes of age during the Nazi rise to power in WWII and survives the Allied bombings. It is the death of her father, a Luftwaffe pilot that destroys her spirit most of all.
Years later when the Allies occupy her home town of Stuttgart, there is not more than a crumb of hope for a better future until she follows her brother's trail into the black market where she finds the monsters that brought her nation to war still exist, but now with new identities and differing sinister crimes.
Seduced by extravagances, passion and flying, she grows unaware of any danger until it is too late. What she doesn’t expect is to come face to face with her own past.
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