Introducing author Jay Finn

Don't you just love that feeling when you find a new favourite author? It happened to me when I came across a tweet on Twitter about a new author Jay Finn. Even though I have hundreds of unread books on my Kindle, I was somehow mad enough to purchase his book, Looking Back. Maybe it was because of the subject matter; the description made me think of my new book, Haunted. Dark fiction, reflecting on the past... I liked the sound of it. I am so glad I did buy it. I loved the stories so much that I went on to buy his other collection of short stories, Beneath the Darkness. Jay Finn's writing style is flawless, it's rare to see a new writer who is able to convey what he wants to say so succinctly and effectively. I am very impressed by what I have read by this writer so far, and am looking forward to his future works. I was keen to invite him here so I could introduce him to you all. He really is a writer who deserves a huge following.

Jay very kindly agreed to answer my interview questions and in addition, two of you lucky readers of my blog will win an e-book copy (pdf format) of either 'Looking Back' or 'Beneath The Darkness'(winner's choice)! To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment on this interview. The winners will be picked on 10th December 2012.

Now on to the interview:


Your stories caught my attention because they deal with the darker side of the human psyche. From my own experience, I find that writing about the darker side of life can be emotionally draining. Have you found that to be the case?

I’ve been asked that question a lot over the years and I’ve still never managed to give an answer to satisfy anyone who has asked it. I don’t think I will be able to here either. But, I will attempt to.
In a word. No. Although I can see how it could be for other people. I’m not claiming any sort of special ability here, I just enjoy writing stories that look at people ‘on the edge of things.’ Everyday we see normal people doing normal things but how do we know just how normal they are! How do we know what things they think about in their quiet moments! What kind of lives do they live behind their public face!
That is not to say that everything I write revolves around this theme, but I enjoy writing stories that verge ‘on the edge.’

The two stories in your collection Looking Back are about memories and how certain events have profound effects on our lives. The first story is very much about regret and how it can almost take over a person's life. Do you have any regrets?

Wow, big question. One way of looking at it is this: Do you like who you are now as a person? If the answer is yes, then there is no need to have regrets because every action that happened in your life, helped sculpt you into the person you are right now. Even if the answer is no, then you can still drop the need for regret because there is always tomorrow to change yourself into a person that you do like.
However, even though I have since quit, I do regret taking up smoking. Don’t smoke kids!

Wise words.





The second story in Looking Back, is about how one person had a major influence on the character's life. Was that influential character based on anyone in your own life?

Very loosely based on my maternal grandfather. We were very close and I wrote that short story shortly after his death. The actual events in the story are all fiction, apart from one or two minor details. There is no specific message lurking about in there apart from whatever one you might find yourself, but I will say, that as we grow up we tend to remember the people who, when we were children, didn’t always treat us as such.

In Beneath the Darkness, again you have a collection of 2 short stories. I enjoyed the way you play with the reader's mind in the first story, The Hitcher. I think this story in particular shows that you are a very skilled writer. Have you ever hitchhiked or picked up a hitchhiker?

As a teenager in rural Ireland in the '90s, hitchhiking was seen as not only a viable form of transport but often a necessity. All my friends and I, until some of us were lucky to get cars of our own, hitchhiked somewhere at least once a week. There were no bus services where I grew up (there still aren’t) so if you wanted to head into the larger towns and you had no other option, then hitchhiking it was. And so it stands to reason, that eventually someone would come along with a good story of who ‘gave them a lift.’ Perhaps someone got picked up by a drunk; maybe they were in a car crash of some sort. Whatever it was, the stories would become more outlandish and a few urban myths were born. I won’t give away the delicious twist in ‘The Hitcher’ but it’s safe to say, that story came directly from my mind and not based on real events.



The second story in Beneath the Darkness explores the subject of the end of the world. If you knew it was the last day of the world as we know it, what would you like to do?

I wouldn’t really care to be honest. The most important thing to me would be who I could spend my last few hours with. This was the motivation for ‘Orange Sky.’ Someone once asked me the same question you have and all I could think of was my girlfriend at the time and how it would be perfect if we had our remaining few hours together.

Who were your writing influences when you were growing up?

I began reading books as soon as I learnt how to read. I know that sounds a bit twee, but I can remember sitting in the classroom library (a single bookshelf sat upon a piece of red carpet) reading Enid Blyton stories. For years, all I bothered with was Enid Blyton. As I grew older I somehow came across a copy of The Hobbit That was when my eyes were well and truly opened to what storytelling could be. The Narnia books weren’t far behind.
Yet, despite that, books like ‘The Faraway Tree’ and ‘The Wishing Chair’ were my first introductions into the world of storytelling and I’ll be forever grateful to Enid Blyton for that. I’m sure there are thousands of adults who can look back to their childhood with similar memories.

Oh, yes, I loved The Secret Seven stories :)

I enjoyed all of your stories and they are all very different. I know that you are working on a novel, which I am looking forward to. Can you tell us a little about what it will be about? What style/genre?

I’m working on several projects at the moment. I have a novella completed that is a western. Again, the dark, malevolent, twisted side of human nature is on show, but never evil. The thing with dark characters, in fiction as well as in real life, they believe in the things that they do. It is in a very rough draft at the moment and I’m not too sure when I’m going to edit it. It will be after Christmas for sure.
Apart from that I have my newest novel in the works which I don’t want to say too much about. Not even a title! You know how us writers are.

LOL, yes... I also like to keep things pretty secret until the last month or so.

Do you have a projected date for the release of your novel?

Not as yet, but I will be surprised if either the novel or novella are not available to buy by the end of next spring.

Both of your books are only available on Kindle only at the moment. Do you have any plans to release paperback copies or e-books in other formats?

At the moment I can only confirm e-book formats. I am hoping that when the novel is complete that it will be available in paperback. As much as I like the power of self publishing I will be attempting to get published the traditional way with my novel.

Audiobooks are becoming more popular. Have you ever bought an audiobook? And do you have any plans to release your books as audiobooks?

I do like audiobooks. A lot! Especially when there is a lot of housework to be done or you’re taking a long drive by yourself. It reminds me of the radio plays I used to love as a child. If I ever were to release my books as audiobooks, I don’t think I would be happy unless it was my own voice being used.

I feel the same way about my own books, but it's finding the time that would be an issue...

What do you think of the Amazon KDP Select free promotion? Have you promoted your books that way and if so would you recommend it to other writers?

I have promoted my books that way yes, although I thick social media is a much more powerful tool for self promotion. That is not to say that the KDP select program is bad. ‘Looking Back’ went to number 1 in the short story section of the free downloads for a short time. Having people get their hands on your material is never a bad thing. If the words are good enough, then they will eventually find the audience they deserve.

Do you have any tips for writers who may be thinking of self-publishing a book?

Yes. You think writing a book is hard? Wait until you try to promote it!

Ha, ha! Truer words were never spoken

I have to say that I was very impressed with your writing, not only the stories and the writing style but the editing. Did you edit your own work or do you use an editor?

For the two e-books I have on sale, I did my own editing. I enjoy editing, I really do. I think that’s where the ‘real’ writer comes out. Sculpting away at the raw material of your story to turn it into something that flows and can become real in a readers mind. However, that is not to say that to not edit alone is a bad thing. Quite often it takes someone apart form yourself to drop that kissing scene that you love so much because it’s completely at odds with the rest of the story.

You'll be happy to know that you are now in my list of favourite writers. Who are your favourite writers?

Well thank you! I can’t emphasise enough how hearing a compliment like that never gets old. I have many different writers across many different genres, but it’s impossible to escape how much of an influence Stephen King has been on me as a storyteller. Although I am not a fan of all of his books and quite often his endings leave me feeling a slight bit cheated, his ability to draw me into the world he creates is something very few writers can do for me. At least consistently.

Where are the best places for readers to connect with you online?

You can follow me on Twitter feel free to get in touch with me there. I also have a blog On there you can find links to my facebook page, and most importantly, links to all my books. Oh, and I write about what I’m getting up to in the world once or twice a week. It won’t put you to sleep, honest. My amazon author page is here: http://www.amazon.com/Jay-Finn/e/B006...

Where can people buy your books?

Like I said above I can be found on Amazon. Links are on my Wordpress page. Alternatively, just go to Amazon and type Jay Finn into the search bar. I’m the only one in there.

Thanks so much for answering my questions, Jay, and I wish you every success with your writing!

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Remember, to be in with a chance of winning one of Jay's books, you should leave a comment below! Good luck :)