Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome DJ Westerfield to the blog today. We are looking forward to learning a little more about DJ and her new experimental novel.
DJ Westerfield was born in Texas and has lived most of her life in various southern states with a few years in the north to round out her accent. She is a lover of stories in every form, but specifically the written word. When she isn’t making up her own stories she helps others make their own better. She has worked as a freelance writer, editor, and graphic designer.
Q1) Please tell us a little about yourself
DJ: I am a thirty-@#$# year old wife, stepmom, sister, and auntie. I have been a freelance writer, editor and ghost writer for several years. I recently founded Curvalicious Living Magazine(http://curvaliciousliving.com), where I am editor in chief. In my “day job” I am a court advocate for victims of domestic violence.
Q2) Tell about your Idea to Novel Experiment
DJ: I am attempting to take a novel from idea to published novel in 6 months. And I am doing it publicly by blogging about it.
Q3) Tell us about the Voodoo Moon
DJ: Voodoo Moon is set in a futuristic post-apocalyptic world I call the ParaNorm World. After a worldwide cataclysm and wars that broke down society and changed the landscape of the world, a new society had to take shape. The magic users and paranormal beings that spent centuries in hiding and were relegated to myth and legend had to come out of hiding to save the world that shunned them. Now witches, vampires, werebeasts and normal humans live side by side in a society that was built by merging technology and magic.
In the ruins of old cities new ones formed. New governments rule. Within the walls of the autonomous city-states that have risen up life is safe with Peacekeepers on every corner. Or it should be. Beyond the walls in the outer-zones is where the outlaws live. Right?
Fiona Moon is a member of the elite Black Blade Guard. She hunts down the worst ParaNorm outlaws and is no stranger to the OZ. But when powerful ParaNorms start going missing inside NashCity she realizes there may be something nasty lurking within the city walls. When the crime hits close to home, Fiona must seek help from the one man that embodies everything she despises.
Q4) What is your goals for this experiment?
DJ: The Plan:
Sept & Oct: Pre-write the book using the Story Cookbook (I’m a little behind, but I think I will be ready to go by Nov. 1)
November: NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month): Write, write write. At least 50K words
December & January: Revisions and edits
Feb: Readying for publication on Feb. 29, 2012: LEAP DAY
I figured Leap Day would be a good release day since I am taking a big leap by trying this, and I think readers and fans are taking a leap of faith by following my progress and then reading the book. It’s a leap I appreciate and am going to do my darnedest not to disappoint!
Q5) How did you come up with this idea?
DJ: The idea came about as a way to motivate myself to seriously participate in NaNoWriMo, and focus on getting a full length novel written. I figured the pressure of writing the book publicly would make me stick to it this year. I also think it’s a good way to show just how my book for writers, The Story Cookbook: An Organized Approach to Fiction Writing, can be used to help develop a book.
Q6) What is a typical writing day for you like?
DJ: There really isn’t a typical day. Mostly it is me hiding somewhere and carving out a few hours at a time between my day job, magazine job, and other responsibilities. Like most other writers, I have to keep another job to pay the bills. It can be hectic but, obviously, I love it!
Q7) Who are some of your favorite authors?
DJ: Nora Roberts, Jayne Ann Krentz, Jayne Castle, Ilona Andrews, Jeaniene Frost, Jessa Slade, Janet Evanovich, Marlene Sanchez…the list goes on
Q8) Best piece of advice you would give to a budding author?
DJ: Just do it. Writers write. Don’t let anyone discourage you. And most importantly don’t let YOU discourage you. The biggest reason I decided to motivate myself to write this novel or risk very public humiliation is because I didn’t want to be one of those people that kept saying “someday”. I have written many short stories and novellas (under pen names I no longer use), but I kept putting off writing something mainstream to break into what I really wanted to do, write full length novels. I kept letting life, other projects, and my own procrastination get in the way. Then, in August I lost my mother. She was only 55. She was also a very talented writer and she always wanted to write a book. But she always said she didn’t have time and maybe someday when she had time, could focus…the excuses were limitless. But her time wasn’t. I’m determined I’m going to live my dream and do it well enough for the both of us. So, now that I’ve depressed you, that is my advice: Live your dreams while you can…if life gets in the way, find a way to get around it.
Q9) Have to ask because I am nosey. That is in your to be read pile that you are dying to read next?
DJ: I just loaded Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews onto my Ipod and am looking forward to cleaning house later so I can listen to it!
Q10) Is there anything else you would to add?
DJ: I want to thank you for having me here today. I also want to thank all of the readers who will follow the writing of Voodoo Moon, as well as the writers who will join NaNoWriMo and write alongside of me.
Books-n-Kisses: DJ, again huge thank you for stopping by the blog to day to chat about you and your books. I look forward to following your progress on your blog and finding out if you are happy with how your experiment turns out.
great interview!
Thanks so much for having me!