Interview and Giveaway with Jaye Frances, Author of The Possibilities of Amy

 

This week on the Writer's Block we have the spunky Jaye Frances. Lover of Strong Coffee. Roller skating diva. Crazy Party Girl. Let's take a few minutes to get to know the life of the party. :)

 

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If you were stranded on a desert island what is the one book you couldn't be stranded without?  My daily planner – I wouldn’t last a week without it . .

 

What is your favorite genre to read and what makes it so awesome? There are actually two genres that I especially enjoy. One is comedy, particularly satirical, edgy, wry—David Sedaris comes to mind. I also enjoy a great story woven around a supernatural element, even more so if the author has included enough realism and authenticity in the characters, location, and background to suggest the story is based in fact, even raising the possibility it could be true.

 

Any pet peeves you'd be willing to share? Folks with overflowing baskets of food clogging up the “Ten Items or Less” lane in the supermarket. Seriously, there’s a reason those lines are so short . . .

 

If you could meet any dead person, who would you choose? Any particular reason why? Most dead people these days seem to be zombies . . . I think I’ll stay inside for a while and wear a metal helmet.

If the Earth suddenly became uninhabited, would you rather live under the sea or in space? Let’s see… in space I’d face meteors, sun flares, and the risk of being captured and tortured by patrolling aliens. Under the sea, I’d have to deal with a pesky coating of salt covering everything, constant maintenance on the protective shell, and having to be on the lookout for a passing great white when I’m out for my afternoon swim. Tough call . . .

 

What was your most favorite pasttime as a kid? I loved to roller-skate. I still remember my first pair of skates—clunky metal frames with heavy cast iron wheels that required a key to tighten the tongue-grips around the tops of my shoes. But even when shackled with six pounds of metal on each foot, there was nothing better than skating around the block, swinging my arms for balance, and feeling the “skip” of the concrete sidewalk expansion cracks. When I was older, my mother took my sisters and I to the indoor roller rink, where I discovered full-shoe skates, pom-pom laces, smooth wooden floors, and “ladies choice” skating dances. I was hooked!

 

Take us through a typical writing day for you. Do you have anything quirky - like you have to have a certain pen to write with, or the desk laid out in a particular manner, does it need to be raining, do you require a certain food/drink/candy to work by? Will you have an absolute meltdown if the atmosphere isn't what you like? I’m most productive in quiet surroundings, so if there are motorcycles revving in the street, boomboxes blaring through the walls, or children (of any age) having hissy fits, my focus and creativity go right out the window. Curiously though, there are a couple of noisy distractions that get my juices going—the soft, rumbling thunder of a summer rainstorm and the throaty moans of the couple next door getting it on.

 

What do you do when you experience that lovely problem called writer's block? I have three strategies to boost me out of a “nothing’s going on here” state of mind:

     1. Cleaning the house (surprisingly, scrubbing the shower is a real motivator,

     2. Going shopping, but only if it’s during the week and I don’t have to fight the crowds or traffic, and 

     3. Heading to my closet and pulling out a dozen pair of five inch heels and an armload of sexy dresses, then trying on each combination in an effort to decide what I’m going to wear on Saturday night (my husband likes this method best)

 

When you were little, what did you think you'd be when you grew up? When I was young, I was sure I could find a way to work on board Jacques Cousteau’s Calypso—thanks to the Discovery Channel. Then I wanted to be a tour guide in the south of France. In my teens, I briefly toyed with the idea of being an international call-girl, but then what girl hasn’t? Frankly, I’m still looking for a few good ideas . . .

 

Do you have a secret obsession you'd be willing to share? Unfortunately, it’s no secret. I’m a shoe whore. No kidding, my husband thinks my collection is obscene, and I actually dress from the shoes up, giving priority to heel height and level of discomfort. Some days, my feet really hate me . . .

 

Did you do anything special to celebrate your first book release? Yes, but after the clip was banned from YouTube and I was threatened with eviction, I made a promise with my family not to discuss it . . .

 

Tell us your favorite quote. “Wherever you go, there you are." I just can’t fault the logic . . .

 

Which do you prefer? ebook, paperback or hardback? EBook for the convenience and fun factor, paperback for the tactile fix, hardback to keep my desk from wobbling.

 

This or That

Sweet or Salty: Definitely sweet. I’m talking about the kind of sweet that makes your teeth disintegrate just thinking about it.

Drama or Comedy: Comedy every time. If you can make me laugh, I’m your biggest fan.

Fantasy or Romance: I have to improvise a little here: Romantic Comedy – just seems to be a more realistic representation of life (thankfully!)

Spring or Autumn: Autumn – crisp air, red and golden-hued leaves, cashmere sweaters, crackling fireplaces, pumpkins on the front porch, hot apple cider – damn, it’s time for a road trip to Vermont!

Michael Jackson or Whitney Houston: The dance moves of Michael, the voice of Whitney, and the wardrobe of both

Walter Mathau or Jack Lemmon: Gotta be Jack Lemmon – smart dresser, logical thought patterns, analytical organizer, well-groomed, great dancer. He’d have to take care of that sinus issue, though.

Dirty Dancing or Footloose: Dirty Dancing. In fact, the dirtier the better.

Loveseat or Movie Theatre: Loveseat! Nothing sits between me and my man when we’re watching a great movie except a tub of buttered popcorn.

Tea or Coffee: Strong coffee, with a splash of cream or Bailey’s, whichever is handy

Tree House or Man Cave: I’ve always liked sitting on the highest bough of a tree. That way I could see them coming.

 

Choose a challenge...if you dare!

 

Write a sentence using all these words: love birds, twizzlers, fireworks, ferris wheel, turtle. Tugging at the elastic in his new turtle-neck sweater, Bobby sucked on his last two strawberry twizzlers, wondering how the love birds sitting in front of him on the ferris wheel could remain so oblivious to the blazing fireworks lighting the night sky.

 

 

GIVEAWAY!!!

Jaye is giving away one Kindle version of The Possibilities of Amy. Just fill out the Rafflecopter, or pick up a copy at Amazon. And be sure to check out my review here!

 

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