Author Interview: J.L. Petty

By

Today’s author interview is with J.L. Petty . She writes horror, suspense, science fiction, and fantasy fiction. So this is for all you horror fans out there.

Death And The Journalist

The Interview:

What genre does your current book fall under?

Horror

Book Excerpt:

The flight attendant faced the passengers. Over the roar of the engine, she spoke in a firm voice with a hint of quiver, “We are going to be okay, please put your oxygen masks on,” then she sat down and buckled her seat belt. The fat man and I were still standing. Grimacing at my cramping hands, I kept my grip on the black metal bar.

In the midst of the now-panicked passengers sat one woman, calmly flipping the pages of her Cosmopolitan magazine and taking occasional sips of her Pepsi. She seemed so calm and serene; I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She had long black hair and her face was like that of a fashion model or actress. She was wearing a black dress and needed no jewelry to define her long ivory-colored neck. This woman had the whitest skin. Her limbs were long. She seemed to ignore everything around her and was patiently waiting for the plane to crash.

As though she felt me staring at her, she turned to look at me. Gooseflesh popped up all over my skin when I looked into her cold gray eyes, then shifted my eyes to the ground. I could smell the heavy smoke rising from the engines I stared at the rain drops that splattered against the exit window. Smoke drifted into the cabin of the plane

End Excerpt

Do you always write for the same genre?

I try to. I write alot of horror and sometiems sci-fi stuff.

Who or what motivates or inspires you to write?

My mother inspires me to write. She is a school teacher and she wrote children’s stories when I was a little girl.

Tell us about your writing background.

I published my first book “Death and the Journalist” with Solstice Publishing, February 14, 2011. My stories range in contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction, and fantasy fiction. Over the years, I’ve written for various magazines and have been featured as an author in several anthologies. I discovered a love of writing at an early age and started working as a contributor for The Virginian Pilot Newspaper. After working with the local newspaper in my hometown, I embarked upon a career in entertainment journalism

How long does it typically take you to write a first draft?

About 2 months, depending on how much I’m working.

Do you employ an editor to assist you in your writing process?

I wish. lol. Usually, I do all my own editing.

Are you self-published or represented by an agency?

I don’t do either. I hope in the future to be represented by an agency I am actively searching for one right now.

Do you have future projects we can look forward to?

I just published a short story called ” The Glass Eye.” It is featured in Fear: A modern anthology for Horror and Terror. It was a charity anthology that was written in two volumes. International Best Selling authors Peter James and Sherri Browning Erwin wrote the forewords.

Do you have any tips or advice to offer fellow writers?

Just follow your dreams and never give up on yourself or your writing.

Is there anything else you would like to share with your potential readers?

Thank you for all your love and support. I will try my best to keep updating you guys with new and interesting stories.

Tell us how we can connect with you in the world of social.

I have a website www.deathandthejournalist.com

 

Don’t forget to follow Geek Girl on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to Geek Girl USA by Email

Filed in: Author Interviews Tags:

Comments (15 )

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. JeriWB says:

    When I do read genre fiction, horror is one of the ones I'm drawn too, so I might check this one out.

    • Geek Girl says:

      Wow… who knew? I am so not a horror fan. 🙂

  2. Doing all your own editing makes for a very stressful time of it. Any beta readers involved or anything like that?

  3. morgandecker says:

    One of my favorite genres for books is horror so I'll have to check out Petty's books!

    • Geek Girl says:

      I know a lot of people like horror. 🙂

  4. findingourwaynow says:

    I love all genres of books and this one looks like a great one. Thanks for the great interview. 🙂

    • Geek Girl says:

      I will support the writer, but I am not in to horror myself. 🙂

  5. I'm not a big horror fan, but I like to mix things up too. Thanks for the Interview.

    • Geek Girl says:

      Me either. I do like variety though.

  6. Bethany Lee says:

    It takes her only two months to write a first draft?!! I bow at the feet of such a woman!

    • Geek Girl says:

      You and me both!

  7. namirusso says:

    Horror and suspense take nerves of steel to write. I can't imagine trying to keep up the tension or keep a secret. Suppose that's why I blog. Thanks for the interview.

    • Geek Girl says:

      I am thinking you have a veery good point there. I would not want to try to do it.

  8. mkslagel says:

    When I think of the genre horror, I normally think of film. In fact, that is probably my favorite type of film to watch (especially the lesser known indie horror films). I often forget about horror when it comes to reading but after that interview, I think it is something I would like to pick back up.

  9. Geek Girl says:

    Good point. I think of film as well.