Interview with Jen Naumann, PARANORMAL KEEPERS

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?Paranormal Keepers is the story of a girl who’s convinced there are paranormal creatures after her boyfriend is mysteriously murdered and discovers that they are, in fact, real. Harper gets thrown into a whole underground world dedicated to keeping the secrets of these creatures and is basically made to be a part of it. Although the ending was partially tied up with a pretty bow, I started a sequel (Paranormal Legends) that will take place in New Orleans and I hope to release in 2015.
What factors influenced your decision to self-publish your book(s)?I could go on all day about my decision to be an indie author. For starters, I don’t take well to others telling me what I should do and wanted ultimate control in how my cover looked, exactly how my story would go, etc. Also, I don’t have the patience it takes to wait nearly two years for a book to be released as I can crank out three or four. And I wasn’t interested in giving someone else a cut in my earnings when I can do all the marketing on my own.
What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?I try to write every day M-F, even if only a little bit. The two days off can sometimes hurt my flow, so I’ll end up putting some time in on the weekends if a story is really speaking to me. I can only work using very specific playlists that I’ve created on Spotify. Normally soundtracks without words work best since I have raging ADD.
Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?For the life of me, I can’t seem to make myself create any kind of outline or even a general plan. I think it’s the rebellious side of me that sees it as homework. It makes rewriting a ton of fun, however. I actually get excited to go back and close up the missing links between ideas and scenes, making the story even stronger.
Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?YES! I can’t even imagine releasing something without a professional editor taking a look and feel anyone who does that gives indie authors a bad name. If you expect people to pay for your work, it better be top notch! I have a few editors I use for different purposes and have been happy with all of them.
What have you’ve learned during your self-publishing journey?Self-publishing is a TON of work! In addition to writing, you have to market yourself, prepare your book for digital and print, launch release parties, arrange for book signings, and keep up with the latest author trends. It becomes way more than a 9-5 job. It’s truly exhausting! Fortunately there are thousands of other kind authors out there who are always willing to help and share ideas. I have made SOOO many incredibly close author friends from all over the world and don’t know what I’d do without them. It’s a true love/hate career. There are many days than not when I wonder what in the heck I’m doing with my life.
Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?Most of my books are also available on Nook, Barnes & Noble and iBooks.
Besides writing, do you have any other passions?I’ve been a somewhat amateur photographer for many years, taking pictures of children, seniors, weddings, etc. and after taking courses through the Academy of Art I like to dabble in graphic design (including creating book covers). I took the picture used on the cover of Paranormal Keepers. I’m also a freak when it comes to music and try to take in as many concerts as possible. Actually, I’m kind of a freak about things in general: The Walking Dead, movies, books, good food, you name it. Guess it’s the passionate side of me that likes to create things coming out.
How about some fun facts-which do you prefer? Dogs or cats, coffee or tea, vanilla or chocolate, morning or night?DEFINITELY dogs. I have a Shitzu/Yorkie mix named Bellatrix that always brightens my day even though she’s not the brightest bulb. My son has an outside cat and it drives me insane, especially as it hasn’t caught on that I really don’t like it because it leaves little prints on my cars.
NO coffee or tea, only sugar-free Red Bull. I’ve been drinking it for so many years that it doesn’t have any effect on me, only gives me caffeine headaches if I skip my daily can.
CHOCOLATE ALL THE WAY! And I have a serious addiction. Like I should probably join some kind of group. There was a time when I would write with one of those giant, zip-lock bags of M&Ms at my side, but I had to stop when I realized I had gained a ton of weight.
NIGHT! I’m a total night owl and stay up reading way past my bedtime. My husband can attest that I’m not a morning person…he often tells others it’s like waking a sleeping bear.
What’s next for you?I’m currently involved in a writer’s no-no of juggling several books at once. In 2015 I hope to release the sequels to my YA books Paranormal Keepers and Shymers, in addition to the third book in my NA romance series and a new NA thriller/romance (writing under pen name Jennifer Ann). Did I mention I have raging ADD?

Book & Author details:Paranormal Keepers by Jen Naumann
Publication date: March 11th 2014
Genres: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Synopsis:Everyone thinks Harper Young killed her boyfriend. No one will say it to her face, but the signs are everywhere.
It’s almost been a year since Gavin was torn from Harper’s arms and brutally murdered. The police wrote it off as a freak accident, deciding Harper’s strange testimony was given under duress. But she knows something unnatural was involved and refuses to stop looking until she finds his killer, even if it means her reputation as a senior is ruined. Even if it means there really are monsters living among us.
With the discovery of the mothmen, witches, vampires and all the creatures she always suspected were out there, Harper finds herself amidst a complex bundle of unseen heroes who call themselves “Keepers”, sworn to keep the secret of the paranormal creatures that walk this earth. As she tries to understand what’s so special about her that she’s able to break an old Keeper law, Harper has a baffling vision of kissing a mysterious guy before a blade is brought down on him. Before she can get a handle on her future, she becomes central to a battle between the questionable “heroes” and the evil she’s been training to fight, leaving her to wonder if there’s any way to change the fate that has been foretold before it’s too late.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20642157-paranormal-keepers?ac=1
Purchase:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0991576209/ref=twoen-20B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/paranormal-keepers-jen-naumann/1118891043?ean=9780991576203
AUTHOR BIO:Jen Naumann grew up in southern Minnesota as an addict of such flicks as Indiana Jones and The Goonies until she discovered John Hughes, and spent her high school days locked away writing love stories with a sci-fi twist. Married to a farmer in southern Minnesota, she tries to follow the madness of her four active children while balancing an imagination that never shuts down. As the author of CHEATING DEATH, SHYMERS, AND PARANORMAL KEEPERS, she writes stories with strong female leads who have a good sense of humor and tend to fall in love despite their better judgment. For more on Jen visit her website www.JenNaumann.net.
Author links:www.jennaumann.nethttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5765367.Jen_Naumannhttps://www.facebook.com/jennaumannauthorhttps://twitter.com/naumannbooks
Giveaway:Tour-wide giveaway (US only)Signed copy of Paranormal KeepersCustom Bookmark
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