Author Interview with Jeff Hirsch

[Sylvia]

Okay members, this is our 1st Author Interview for this month. It's with Jeff Hirsch, author of . This is our 69th Author Interview since we started and it is conducted by one of our moderators. Please read this interview and we hope you will be able to pick up lessons about her experience.If there are any questions you would like to ask Jeff Hirsch please post them here. Thank You.

There is also a giveaway happening. Here is the link:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/ppl/...

1. Did you always know you wanted to be a writer or did you want to be something else?
Writing has been the thing since about the 7th grade I think. Before that I vaguely remember wanting to be a veteranarian, but I guess what ten year old didn't want that at one point or another? 
 
2. How long does it take you to write a book from start to finish?
These days, idea to publication is about a year. Maybe a litle longer. Generally a first draft takes two months or so and then editing goes, well, until the nice people at Scholastic tear the book out of my carpal tunnel syndrome ridden fingers.

3. How do you come up with themes for your stories?
Well I can't say I come up with them so much as I try to write a story and see what emerges. If there are strong thematic elements that's great, if not that's ok too. For me the process of writing and editing a book is all about figuring out what exactly it is I'm trying to say and do with the book. That definitely evolves throughout the process.

4. Do you have a schedule of when you write?
I stopped working a full time day job about a year ago and my first thought was-- "Hey I can sleep all day and write until 4am if I want to now!" In the end though, it turned out that I just like really rigid schedules. I do every weekday from nine to about six. When things get busy weekends get added to that. 

5. How are you able to balance other aspects of your life with your writing?
With varying degrees of success. My wife and I are both writers and work largely at home, which is great of course, but the pitfall is feeling like you need to be working all the time. We give outselves talking-to's on a regular basis about how we have to try to have a normal life, take vacations, that kind of thing. We haven't actually taken a vacation yet, but we remain hopeful.

6. What elements do you think make a great story line?
Unique and engaging characters who want something very badly and encounter significant, and unexpected, conflicts when they try to get it. Thise conflicts are usually, but not always,  in the form of other unique and engaging charcters.

7. What was the hardest thing about writing a book?
Letting go and allowing the story and characters unfold, rather than sweating and planning every detail. Writing is like golf in that way, you generally do your best when you're not trying to do anything at all.

8. How many books have you written so far? Do you have a favorite? 
Five total. Two are out. Two are on their way. One is in a drawer. Like most writers, my favorite book is whatever I'm working on at the moment so that means right now its The Darkest Path. 

9. Do you have a favorite character?
Hmm. If I had to choose I think I'd say Glenn in Magisterium. I find her an entertaining pain in the ass. I also have a great fondness for her cat, Gerard Manley Hopkins, who's a little more than he seems.

10. Where do you write? 
On various couches throughout the house. Generally with either a cat or a dog in my lap. 

11. When deciding on how to publish, what directed you to the route you took?
Well, when The Eleventh Plague came out self publishing was definitely a thing but it wasn't the thing it is now. If it was...? I think I'd still go the tradiational route. I know I need help from agents and editors and publicists and copy editors. I'd be in serious trouble without them.

12. Have you gotten feedback from family about your book(s)? What do they think?
They seem to like them I think. Mom? Are you out there? You like them, right? 

13. What kinds of things do you like to do outside of writing?
This and that. I love to cook (I just finished an edit of the new book and celebrated by making triple chocolate chocolate chip cookies, a leek and bacon pizza and the syrup for homemade grapefruit soda) and tromp around outdoors with the dog. Also love sci-fi of all kinds.  
 
14. What kinds of advice would you give to someone who wants to start writing?
Honestly, mine is probably the same as most writers. Read everything you can get your hands on and write every day. I don't think there's any other recipe.

15. What is your favorite book? favorite author? Do you have an author that inspired/inspires you to write? 
That's too hard! How do I narrow it down?  A few authors come to mind. Stephen King. John Steinbeck. Michael Chabon. Larry McMurtry. If I had to pick a favorite book I'd probably say Lonesome Dove.

16. Do you have any go to people when writing a book that help you with your story lines as well as editing, beta reading and such? 
A bunch, luckily. I largely rely on my wife and a collection of  friends from grad school. They're absolutely indispenable.

17. Are you working on anything now?
Yep! Just turned in the last draft of the book that will come out this October. It's called The Darkest Path. It's set about seven years into the Second American Civil War and is about a young man trying to return home after being kidnapped and forced to serve as a child soldier. 
 
Also finishing up the first draft of a new 39 Clues novel!

[Sylvia]

Thank you so much for doing this interview for our group :D

[Dianne]

Great Interview! thank you!

[Allyson]

Great interview :)

[Alyssa]

awesome! i love the tips he gave and even the stuff he shared about writing! :)

[Ciara1973]

Great interview, thanks for sharing.

[Carol]

Good interview! I am looking forward to reading your books.