Addicted to Novels - YA Books and more... discussion

I would love to jump into this interview with some heroic tale, maybe about how during the night time I got by the alias Super woman who defeats crime and brings justice but alas I’m not that type of person. My name is Jacinta Maree and I’m Australian born and raised in Melbourne. Not as cool as I was hoping for.


Aside from the addictive world of reading and writing I really enjoy playing video games, basketball and watching t.v series like the Big Bang. Laugh all you want, but I love collecting tea sets and tea pots, especially if they are decorated with an oriental design. Something I want to do more is travel and see the world.



What type of books do you write?


At the moment I’m focused on YA novels. I’ve written YA paranormal romance/suspense and I’ve got another two cooking in the pot, both YA but one is High Fantasy and the other Sci-Fi.



When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?


I’ve been writing since I was just a kid, as many authors do. It’s just something that falls onto you naturally. I was in grade two when the world of words opened up my mind and allowed me to step into the writing realm followed by bats and ghosts. I had written many, many stories. My very first completion of a book over 100 pages was when I was 13 years old. Looking back over it now I try not to gag at how terrible it was. For my first serious book, I had to wait till I finished high school where I wrote My Demonic Ghost when I was about 17 years old. Now that I have no homework means I have lots and lots of free time to write, write, and write.



Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?


Hmm… good question, inspiration always seems to hit me when I’m travelling to and from work. If I had the capability to type while driving I would do most of my writing during long car trips. Otherwise, I tend to write in the afternoons during a weekday but during the weekends I love to write right through the day. Sunshine? Who needs sunshine when the glow from the computer screen can tan my pale skin?



What inspired you to write your first book?


The philosopher Descartes inspired me with his theory of the consciousness. It’s what started the spark- what if we were controlled by a demon god? And what if there was corruption among the afterlife? During the writing process, the story mutated itself to what it is today. I also loved watching Casper the Friendly Ghost and the innocence that he harboured and the pure love, and I thought I’ll try and take a part of him and put it towards Lock (the demonic banished spirit).





Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

My favourite author is Brent Weeks. What I love about his writing style, and I am trying to save myself from going on a rant here, is his ability to drag you into the worlds of his characters. At one point I had actually gasped and had to tear my eyes away from the book because I was just so shocked he could do that to his own characters. I always find Weeks challenges himself and his writing, which is something I want to achieve as well. I want to put the characters in a situation and watch how they figure their way out.



How do you react to a bad/good review of one of your books?


With appreciation and a smile. If a person has bothered to take the time to read my book, I am grateful regardless of the rating they give me. Of course, I can’t help but favour the readers that give me a higher star count, as I feel like they’ve understood me and the world which I was trying to describe to them. The lower rankings I wish to intake their criticism in hopes one day I can better myself.



What’s more important: characters or plot?


Hmm… I would have to say characters. You can have an amazing plot but if the characters fall flat and unrealistic, it’ll destroy the whole illusion that the reader is trying to buy into. Great character development but lack of plot can still keep a readers interest if they are emotionally invested in the characters. They have to be pretty amazing characters though to keep me interested.



If your book was made into a TV series or Movie, what actors would you like to see playing your characters?


I never really imagined them as movie characters, so it’s hard for me to pick a face in Hollywood and say - yes that’s him/her. These characters were built from the ground up. I would much rather do what Harry Potter did and find people that best suit these characters so they can become faces of their own, not so much ‘hey- it’s so-so playing as the Character Lock’. I want them to be real and fresh.



Do you have any advice for other writers?


What do writers do? We write. There’s your answer right there, the key is to keep writing and to make sure you’re writing for the right reasons. If you write solely to please other people you are going to have a very difficult time, because truth is you can’t please everyone. I write the stories I want to read but couldn’t find. These are for me and that should be good enough.






Will you have a new book coming out soon?


I’ve written the sequel to My Demonic Ghost called – Reapers (first one was Banished Spirits) which is about to go through the editing stages. I’ve written and finished some manuscripts, but I’m not sure which ones will be good enough to publish and which ones will sit with me. I guess only time will tell.



Can you leave us a quote from one of your books?


The worst feeling is being forgotten by someone you could never forget.

Where can we find your books?


Oh, the usual places like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads and Smashwords.


And if you love looking at pretty pictures (or scary ones) you can also check my page out here.


http://jacintamaree.deviantart.com/



a. My blog: jacintamareeauthor.blogspot.com.au/



b. My facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/MyDemonicGhos...



c. My Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...



d. Twitter: https://twitter.com/JacintaMaree6



e. Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/My-Demonic-Ghos...



f. Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...



g. Other: http://jacintamaree.wix.com/mydemonic...



Is your book in Print, ebook or both?


Currently it is only available as an Ebook but with hard copy available in the upcoming year.

Check Out


Rachael has traveled to Whitehaven to visit her father, a trek she can not help but dread given his recent descent into madness. Upon her arrival she realizes his deterioration has not only been mental, it’s been physical as well. His death comes as no surprise, but what she discovers soon after, is shocking when his burden becomes hers.

Lock is a banished spirit who must attach himself to a human host in order to hide from those who would drag him back to hell to be destroyed. When he meets Rachael he finds more than a host, he finds an ally.

Together they must defeat each of the seven sins in order to guarantee Lock's safe passage into the Third Realm, a loophole in creation that would allow him to escape hell and have peace at long last. Through their unlikely friendship, other banished spirits flock to them in hopes of a peace they hadn't dreamt possible.

Thank you so much!!!! This looks absolutely amazing, thank you!!!