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Interview Author Jory Strong + Giveaway
Filed in Giveaways , Interview , Jory Strong , The Geeky Lover Posted on September 7, 2010 @ 6:00 am
51 comments
We are really happy to have Author Jory Strong here today. Her new Ghostland Novel Healer’s Choice is released today (Woot! Congrats!) and she is here to talk about her books and to celebrate her new releases. Be sure to stay tuned till the end of the post. Jory has a surprise for one lucky commenter in her bag. Please give her a warm welcome.
Book Lovers Inc: Jory can you please tell us a bit about yourself?
Jory Strong: I live in Northern California and am a full time author. My passion, besides writing, is riding horses. I’m lucky enough to live out in the country, where my horses are just a short walk away, and where all I have to do is put a saddle on one of them and I can trail ride for hours. I’ve been married for 20+ years. We don’t have children of our own, though over the years we’ve had foreign exchange students and other young people come into our lives who we remain in contact with. We share our home with dogs, cats and birds.
Book Lovers Inc: Describe a typical day of writing? Are you a planner or pantser?
Jory Strong: A typical day for me starts at about 6 am. I’m not really functional until I’ve had my coffee and read my email. After I’ve done both, I get to the writing and work until around 8 am when the animal chores kick in (feeding dogs, cats, horses). After they’re done I work for another couple of hours before breaking to ride one of my horses (weather permitting). I then come back and write again until evening animal chores kick in. My goal is to been “done” by then, so I can put my own characters and story worlds aside and spend the evening reading what someone else has created, though when I’m close to typing THE END, or in the edit phase, I’ll often work until my brain fogs and I have to go to bed.
I started out as a total “seat of the pants” writer. Now I’m a hard core planner, though there’s a fine line there. I need to know what is going to happen in each scene, but not in too much detail, that ideally comes as I’m actually writing.
Book Lovers Inc: What do you think is the difference between a reader and a real Book Lover?
Jory Strong: I’d categorize most of the readers I know as book lovers (they almost have to be given all the other ways to spend spare time). They read because it gives them pleasure rather than because it’s required either by school or their jobs. Some love to post reviews or talk about books, while others might pass on a recommendation, or say nothing but go on to consume everything written by an author they’ve just fallen in love with. Some are voracious, while others cram reading in where they can. But all are book lovers.
Book Lovers Inc: Your new book Healer’s Touch is book 3 in your Ghostland series. What makes your Urban Fantasy Series special?
Jory Strong: Well as you allude to in your next question, its urban fantasy romance as opposed to straight urban fantasy which tends to center on one character through multiple books and is often written in the first person POV, where the books in the Ghostland series are told in third person POV and follow different main characters. The series is also set in a post-apocalyptic world, as in, what’s it like generations after zealots plunged the entire world into a war that was then followed by anarchy when the supernaturals make their existence known.
Life for the humans is very much defined by where they live and who rules. San Francisco, for instance, is controlled by vampires, while Oakland (across the bay) is ruled by humans without supernatural gifts, and the Were territories of Healer’s Choice are places where generally no humans are allowed.
Book Lovers Inc: The Ghostland series is not like most UF books. It’s also label as romance and your books center on a different character in each book which is usually more typical for romance. Are you a romantic at heart or are there others reason why you added these elements to your books?
Jory Strong: Romance is the genre I’ve been reading since I was a kid, back in the days when the heroines were usually 18 year old “waifs” and the heroes 35 year old, wiser, wealthy men–now thankfully recognized as pervs and rejected as such by today’s women!
Book Lovers Inc: Why did you decide for a post apocalyptic setting? How are your characters coping with this situation?
Jory Strong: I wanted to write something different, something that lent itself to creating worlds within worlds so I could further explore them. Healer’s Choice, for example, concentrates on the Were, where reality for the outcasts who live in the brothels is so much different than the pure Weres who claim territory by species and have little to do with each other.
It’s a harsh world, but the mortal characters grew up in it (what they call The Last War took place before they were born), so they know how to navigate it and what it takes to survive in it.
Book Lovers Inc: The names of your characters are really unique. How did you come up with them? Intense research or more your own creativity?
Jory Strong: I love the web! A lot of my names come from visiting baby naming sites. I often go with unique names because they don’t come with any “baggage”. They’re ripe with possibilities.
Book Lovers Inc: What can we expect of Healer’s Choice?
Jory Strong: It’s gritty and intense. There are important revelations and glimpses into the behind-the-scenes maneuvering by the Djinn and the angels allied with them.
Book Lovers Inc: Your heroine Rebekka was born and raised in an environment of violence and in essence the worst of society. She’s foretold to be a healer for the outcast weres. What kind of character is she with a life like that and how do you think this prophecy changed the direction for her life?
Jory Strong: It’s more than just a prophecy, it’s a shaping. She was created for this purpose and Healer’s Choice is the story of her testing by the Djinn, to see if she’s worthy, and in the case that she is, then the prophecy will be fulfilled. Her life has been preparation for this testing and has served her well. She’s compassionate, emotionally strong, and has a strong internal compass guiding her actions, all of which she needs in order to not only to survive and succeed, but to find happiness.
Book Lovers Inc: You hero Aryck is a jaguar enforcer. I personally adore “kitty shiftes”. What do you like most about them?
Jory Strong: Cats are the ultimate predators. They’re the ultimate survivors. Mix those qualities with an alpha male who is also fiercely loyal and it’s a potent combination.
Book Lovers Inc: And please tell us a bit about Aryck! I can imagine the ladies highly intrigued. What is he like?
Jory Strong: Dominant. Possessive. And at war with himself over Rebekka because Weres have three souls: animal, human, and the eternal one anchored in the shadowlands where their ancestors live. The minute the Jaguar sees Rebekka it thinks “mate” but the man rejects the possibility of it for fear of what it’ll mean for his eternal soul, and his existence in this life.
Book Lovers Inc: Will there be more books in this series?
Jory Strong: I hope so! None are contracted right now, but I’d love to tell Levi’s story (he’s a Lion Were) as well as Saril’s, who is a Finder, and also the daughter of the fallen angel Rimmon. Both were first introduced in Spider-Touched.
Book Lovers Inc: Is there something else planned we should keep our eyes open for?
Jory Strong: February 1, 2011, is the release date for the Primal anthology. I’m in it, along with Lora Leigh, Ava Gray & Michelle Rowen. Angel-Claimed is the angel Addai’s story. He was first introduced at the end of Spider-Touched and is a POV character in Healer’s Choice.
There will be upcoming Ellora’s Cave stories as well, as I write them and get them turned in. I’m currently waiting for a release date on my latest erotic romance story, Ride to Ecstasy.
Book Lovers Inc: Now on to the mean questions:
Now can you tell us 3 reasons why people should read your books?
Jory Strong:
1. I’d like to think they’re thought provoking as well as entertaining.
2. They’re different, a blend of genres, including, where the story calls for it, elements of erotic romance.
3. Publishing is a tough business and the series needs an audience if it’s to survive!
Book Lovers Inc: Can you summarize your Ghostland novels for us twitter style (140 characters tops)?
Jory Strong:
Ghostland: Powerful forces threaten their worlds leaving Aisling and Zurael to follow their hearts or stay true to their honor and risk losing an eternity of pleasure.
Spider-Touched: Powerful forces brought Araña and Tir together, but learning the truth of what they are will destroy them—unless their love is strong enough to overcome a dark legacy.
Healer’s Choice: War is coming and neutrality isn’t an option. For Were shapeshifters, a healer’s gift holds the key to their survival.
Angel-Claimed: In a novella of the Djinn comes the story of an angel who crosses the boundaries of desire after committing the ultimate sin—falling in love with a mortal female.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~*~*~Giveaway~*~*~
Thanks to Jory we have a SIGNED copy of Healer’s Choice to offer for one lucky commenter.
All you have to do is ask Jory a question or just leave a meaningful comment about the interview.
Please leave us a way to contact you
(email in blogger profile or twitter name is okay- no way to contact – no way to win).
This giveaway is International!
Giveaway ends on Saturday, September 18th and we will announce the winner on Sunday.
Good Luck everyone!
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Great interview.
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who thought those old Romance books were pervy. LOL
Michelle
kweenmg@yahoo.com
Thanks for the interview! I love how the character names come from baby naming sites lol!!
Misha
mishamary@gmail.com
Great interview.
I hadn't heard of this series before, but I put it on my wishlist as it sounds really interesting and cool.
Cool. Thanx for the interview 😀 this series sounds interesting… i think im going to go look into it thanx 😀
elzar_valdivia@msn.com
I agree with you & Michelle that the old school romances were pervy. Am I ever glad that that "formula" no longer applies in romances. Unless of course we're talking a "cougar" romance, lol , bring on the "Cougars"!
The series sounds fascinating and I am definitely going to be adding the first two books to my wishlist now. Great interview!
sidhevicious(at)shaw(dot)ca
LOL I love that others feel as I do about early romances. They WERE pervy. Wonderful interview.
I love PNR and UF and if I can find a series/book with both….oh yeah!. I haven't read any of Jory's books, but I now have her added to my TBR list over at Goodreads. I am in kind of a shifter phase right now.
thanks for the chance to win
I haven't read you yet but this series looks like my type of read.
It's interesting that you had exchange students. Do you still keep in contact with them? Did any of their beliefs/sagas ever get into one of your books?
Great interview! I love cat shifters, so this book just got added to my wishlist.
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
Hi everyone, I'll be stopping by to answer questions. Thanks again Susi for inviting me to spend release day here. As you can imagine, I'm both nervous and excited as Healer's Choice gets into the hands of readers.
Victoria–Our very first exchange student, from Germany, was just here, living with us for the last three months after being in Australia for a couple of years. We've lost contact with the others, though my husband visited one of them in Japan several years ago and had a wonderful time. As to making it into my stories, no, there hasn't been an overlap.
Oh I didn't know that series -gosh I feel so lost, SO MANY good series I don't know-…
I like the idea of having different "species" of paranormals narrating through the books, totally love it!
My question is, can they be read separatly or do they have a single story through it all?
mayarend -at- yahoo.com.br
Great Interview!!
As it seems to be the theme today, Jory what is your favourite word? And what word do you use the whole time? (If they are not the same)
Thanks for the giveaway!
Lu
chidoryx AT hotmail DOT com
Thanks for being here today, I have the first book in the series. I'm looking forward to the rest! tWarner419@aol.com
May–the books are stand-alone, though I think reading from the beginning (Ghostland)adds depth since the over-reaching series arc is that a war between supernaturals is brewing for control of the world, with the Djinn and their allies on one side of it. Each book features a different hero and heroine, and each of these couples is being put together for a reason, as it relates to the upcoming battle.
Lu–I wouldn't say I've got a favorite word, or one I use all the time–unless we're talking about a curse word here 🙂
Great interview and I love all the covers for your books, they're amazing! Would you change anything about your book covers?
Great interview! 😀 Jory, do you have a say in the cover art? The covers of your books are beautiful!
Thank you for making this awesome contest international! 🙂
Giada M.
fabgiada (at) gmail (dot) com
Giada–no, I don't have any say in the covers, though I have been absolutely blessed in that department. My Berkley editor will mention she's about to go into a cover conference and do I have any ideas.I'll toss out something general, with Healer's Choice it was: jaguar on the cover, and forest setting, since both are important aspects of the book,but it's totally up the artist.
Ghostland (which still blows me away) didn't end up with any of the elements I suggested, but what I got instead was fantastic.
Jeanette–no, I wouldn't change a thing about any of the covers…well except to hopefully one day be able to add NY Times Best Selling Author to them 🙂
I really enjoyed the interview and the chance to learn more about the Ghostland series. I had heard a little bit about it before, but now I have a much better idea of what it's all about and a lot more interest in reading the series.
Barbed1951(at)aol(dot)com
Great Interview! I haven't read your novels yet but I plan too soon! The covers for your novel are really pretty btw 🙂 Do you have any input when the covers are created?
I am going to check these books out as soon as I leave this comment. Look fantastic. I love the cover of Spider Touched!
robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com
I agree that the covers are pretty awesome….
But what is with this three-souls-in-one thing? Are we talking something along the lines of how Patricia Briggs created Charles in her Alpha & Omega series (i.e. Charles communicates with his wolf as a separate entity)?
cass at feministdracona dot net
Van Pham–I give input with respect to the covers, but the choice of artist, and the cover I end up with is really totally out of my control.
Draconismoi (Cass?)–I love Patricia Briggs work! Can't wait for River Marked. No, my Weres aren't like Charles.
I've never heard of this series before now so I don't really know what else to say other than I'm really intrigued. Since each book features different leading characters, do you find it easier to explore the world you created?
spettolij AT gmail DOT com
@jmspettoli–Definitely. Healer's Choice is all about the world of the Weres, while in Ghostland, there are glimpses into the vampire world of San Francisco, and the section of Oakland where gifted humans are required to live.
I love that cover art and 'gritty and intense.' sounds just my scene.
eva.s.black[@]gmail[.]com
I haven't heard of this series, but I'm very interested in it after reading this interview.
I'm impressed that you started out as a panster and became a hard core plotter. How did you manage that?
teamstefan@live.com
@Jena–it was a gradual transition. I seemed like with each new story(I've got 32 published stories with Ellora's Cave, and now 3 with Berkley) I added new "tools" to my author's tool box.
For instance, doing Goal-Motivation-Conflict-Resolution charts for main characters was one of those tools. Viewing stories in terms of: Ordinary World/Inciting Incident/Change In Plans/Black Moment and Resolution, and writing out overviews of what happens in each section, was another tool.
I'm now at the place where I typically don't start a story unless I have all the scenes identified. This doesn't mean I don't add/drop/tweak, but it saves me from getting off track, or staring at a blank page and wondering what's going to go on it.
Now, if the muse dropped a story fully formed into my head, or a scene, then I would stop and capture it. Flexibility is key. There isn't only one way to write, even for the individual author.
Hope this isn't TooMuchInformation, but I thought perhaps, by the question, that you might be an aspiring author.
Great interview! I read Ghostland and loved it. I still need to read the second in the series before this one and I know they will both be good. Congrats on the release!
throuthehaze at gmail dot com
I like how you put pictures neatly, so it doesn't end up looking crammed and just like a bunch of words splatered there.
:DDD
please enter me in the giveaway ,thx.
😀
regards: maidenhealer@hotmail.com
Hi Jory!
thanks for a very interesting interview – I've read Ghostland and I loved it! it was fantastic to explore the world you created and I can't wait to read more 🙂 and I really hope there will be more books in the series!!
greetings, Ina
Wow the cover is captivating. One of the best ive seen beautiful interview.
I havenot read any of your books. I would love to win it and read them. I then donate to Middletown public library. Our funds have been cut for new books.
They are taking donations. Thanks for the chance to win
chaarmedone1512@aol.com
Those covers are simply really breathtaking! Beautiful isn't good enough to describe them!
You can reach me at luvpinkpanther@gmail.com
@ Ina & Throughthehaze–Thanks for posting. I'm very glad to hear you both loved Ghostland!
@Lora1967–I donate all the books that don't end up on my "keeper" shelves to the local library. Always makes me feel good to think they'll either be put on the shelves for patrons to use, or given to the Friends of the Library for sale in their shop as a fundraiser for buying other books.
great interview.
love your books.
reginamayr@aol.com
Thanks Regina!
I cant wait to read this book. I loved the last ones in the series. Thanks for taking the time to talk to us.
Chllybrd(at)gmail(dot)com
I haven't heard of this series before, but it sounds really good!
juliecookies(at)gmail.com
You're welcome, Stacy. So glad to hear you loved Ghostland and Spider-Touched.
I like the interview and would love a chance to win your book:-)
Thank you for this giveaway.
Where is your favorite spot to read?
forceofstars(at)yahoo(dot)dk
@Mysteriousrose–I've got a nice chair in one corner of my office. I like to curl up in it and read there.
I try to start my day the same way you like to, but I find that checking the emails is often a several hour long process. The coffee helps though.
Thanks for the great giveaway.
danasandstrom@sbcglobal.net
I love the Gohstland novels!!! I'm currently reading the second book and I can't wait to finish it!!!
Which book is your all time favorite???
vicky.vak8@gmail.com
Great interview! I'm a huge fan, and would just like to say thanks for all the time you have put into giving us these amazing stories! You inspired me to put the worlds that were swirling around in my head on paper 🙂 And an added thanks, reading Healer's Choice gave me a reason to get out the other two and read them again 🙂 For those of you that have not ventured into Jory's amazing works I suggest the Angelini series, Supernatural Bonds and Thunderbird Chosen. Of course everything I have read is great, these are just some of my favorites 😉
I do have a question for Jory, out of all the series you have done do you have a favorite? One that just makes you ache to think of ending?
Jlove006@hotmail.com
Wicked interview!
When I'm writing and I can't come up with a name for a character I love checking out baby naming sites too.
rae_reads@hotmail.com
It does sound intense. She sounds like a very strong character in many ways. Looking forward to reading it.
I follow on google friend…dor
dorcontest at gmail dot com
Canada
Naother book under your belt eh?
Congratualtions then.
I just have to say, I specifically adore your book cover for 'ghostland,seduce the forbidden'
:DDD
This is a interview well-done.
:DDD
regards: maidenhealer@hotmail.com
That must be SO neat to house foreign exchange students. What countries have they been from?
bmweida at yahoo dot com
Jory said that Aryck as a were has three souls. The Jaguar says mate. The Man says no. But what does the Eternal One say? Or does it have no say? Or refuses to say? Or play the arbitrary? 🙂
Cherry Mischievous
cherrymischif-warrior [at] yahoo [dot] com
Re-posted your contest at: http://contests-freebies.blogspot.com/2010/09/win-healers-choice-at-book-lovers-inc.html