Interview with Jamie Marchant
It’s great to meet you Jamie. Tell us a little bit about yourself?
From early childhood, I’ve been immersed in books. My mother, an avid reader herself, read to us, and my older sister filled my head with fairy tales. When I was about six, I started writing stories about the Man from Mars for my older sister. I devoured every book I could get my hands on, and I wrote my first fantasy novel while in high school—not that it was publishable. Taking into consideration my love for literature and the challenges of supporting myself as a writer, I pursued a Ph.D. in American literature, which I received in 1998. I started teaching writing and literature at Auburn University and discovered the excitement of teaching. But in doing so, I put my true passion on the backburner and neglected my muse. Instead, for a few years, I wrote literary criticism. Then one day, in the midst of writing a critical piece, I realized I had no interest in doing so. What I wanted to do was write novels. My muse thus revived, I began the book that was to become The Goddess’s Choice. I have an entire series planned.I live in Auburn, Alabama, with my husband and son.
I think we are all guilty of neglecting our muse. I have always wanted to write but until a couple of years ago always let life get in the way. I so wish I had knuckled down and started writing novels for real a decade ago as I keep thinking how many I could have had published by now. That said, I didn’t have the ideas then that I have now or the determination and drive to see them through from start to finish… What is the worst job that you have ever done, and why?
Working at Pinocchio’s Pizza place. The boss was a jerk, and I had to dress up like the character sometimes. You can hardly see out of those costumes and while the little kids are cute, the older ones get obnoxious.
Ha, that sounds hilarious! Saying that I have done my fair share of dodgy dressing up. My evil friends dressed me as a gigantic leprechaun for my hen night…What Genre is your work – Do you have any plans to work outside of it?
It’s fantasy—both urban and epic. I don’t have any current plans to work outside it although some time in the far future, I might like to write a historical work.
What inspired you to write your first book?
My first book, The Goddess’s Choice, originates deep within my childhood. My sister Jalane–she is ten years older than me–told me stories, fairy tales mostly: “Midas and His Golden Touch,” “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Hansel and Gretel.” But my favorite was always “The Princess and the Glass Hill” or “The Glass Mountain” as my sister titled it. I had her tell that story over and over again. I was captivated by the bold hero on his magical horses of bronze, silver, and gold.
When I had a child of my own, I wanted to pass that fairy tale on. My son, Jesse, loved it every bit as much as I had. One day after telling it to him, it came to me that the story could be so much more than five pages and sparse details. However, I didn’t want to write a children’s story but the type of epic fantasy I enjoy as an adult. I upped the dramatic tension, villainy, and sexuality of the piece to create something far different than the original fairy tale. The Goddess’s Choice is intended for an adult audience.
Demons in the Big Easy was inspired by a prompt for an anthology about older women heroes. As I thought about the anthology, Cassandra came to life. Her world and the rest of the story followed. My novella didn’t make it into the anthology, but it got a positive enough response that I decided to publish it.
I like the concept of taking fairy tales and turning them into something very dark and adult. Saying that Grimm’s tales were dark in their own right and when you read between the lines…Do you have a structure when you are writing, and if so what?
Although it is an adult epic fantasy novel, The Goddess’s Choice is loosely based on a fairy tale, so I had some structure imposed on it to begin with. But the fairy tale is only five pages, and the book is nearly four hundred, so I added a lot! For instance, the story of Samantha—the crown princess and heroine of my novel—is almost completely absent from the fairy tale.
Other than the imposed structure of the original tale, I’m a more fly-by-the-seat-my-pants kind of writer. I never made a written outline or plotted a story arc. I had a basic idea of where I wanted to end up, although I didn’t know exactly how The Goddess’s Choice was going to end until I was nearly there. Demons in the Big Easy was entirely by the seat of my pants. A lot of where the story goes depends on the characters. They tend to take on a life of their own.
Yeah, I write like that too. Granny Irene was originally written purely as I went and although I do have a clear idea as to what needs to happen in future works I will ALWAYS be guided by my characters and the novella which I am currently writing is very much structured stream of consciousness: I know where the stepping stones are but other than that I go where it takes me…Which was your favourite character to write, and why?
As far as my favorite character, that would probably be Robrek, the peasant sorcerer of The Goddess’s Choice, although the Princess Samantha (also from The Goddess’s Choice) is a close second. I’ve always been a fan of the underdog, and Robrek faces a major uphill battle. His father blames him for his mother’s death and beats him regularly. He lives among people who think he’s cursed with demon blood because of his foreign appearance. The priest thinks he should have been exposed at birth. To top it all off, he learns that in order to access his full power he must truly forgive all those who treated him vilely.
Samantha is the woman I’d like to be: strong, confident, and powerful. She ends up with her share of problems, but she starts at the top while Robrek has to claw his way up, somewhat literally.
Do you read for pleasure or out of habit?
For pleasure, I can’t understand people who don’t like to read.
What are you reading at the moment, and why?
Reading the Dead by J. B. Cameron. I’m doing a review of it for my blog. So far it’s a good book.
Meat eater or vegetarian?
I eat meat, sometimes I feel guilty about it, but not guilty enough to give it up.
Do you have an opinion on life after death, and if so what?
Yes, I believe we will all be rewarded according to our works.
What do you have in the pipeline?
I’m almost finished with the sequel to The Goddess’s Choice, titled The Soul Stone, in which Samantha struggles to solidify her rule, and Robrek must confront a bigger threat to the safety of the joined kingdoms. I’m also working on an urban fantasy novel, The Bull Riding Witch, which has a princess from a parallel realm switching bodies with a rodeo bull rider.
OMG. I love the sound of The Bull Riding Witch. You have me sold instantly on the concept!
Do you write poetry or short stories as well? If so what?
I write short stories and flash fiction. I’ve had several pieces published. My poetry is atrocious, and I gave it up years ago.
How do you overcome writers block?
I try to have more than one project going. That way if I’m blocked on one, I can work on the other.
Yeah, I do the same. I think it is dangerous to get consumed totally by one project and it’s much healthier to have two or three on the go at any given time. That way you always have a steady stream flowing through the pipeline at various stages of development.
Do you have any pets – If so what?
Yes, I have four cats. Some have called me a “cat lady.”
Lenora loves her cats. Personally I can’t see the fascination – I am more of a dog person myself…Thank you Jamie for such a fascinating interview today, we do have one of your titles pending review and I am completely sold on the concept of The Bull Riding Witch, so please make sure you send me a review copy as soon as it is published.
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