Interview with Author Jennifer Alvarez

I’m very excited about today’s post. Not only is it my first *full* blog interview (as in I developed the entire set of interview questions, rather than just got to slip in one/two of my own in a group interviewing context), but it is an interview with a lovely woman who writes children’s books! If you follow me, you probably know my theories on writing for children – central among which is that it is MUCH more difficult to do so because you cannot float by on plot contrivances or sex/violence, both of which are used in an attempt to “save” many an adult book, usually without much success. So I’m automatically curious any time I have the opportunity to talk with an author who writes children’s books, because I believe there are a lot of valuable writing tidbits to be gained, particularly with regard to pacing and keeping the reader’s interest.

But you’re not hear to read me babble on today, so I shall stop and turn you over to what you are here for: an interview with author Jennifer Alvarez!

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ME: Welcome Jennifer, so wonderful to have you “here”! I understand from your blog that you have been writing and blogging for many years now. What inspired you to start? When did you begin? Do you find it difficult to balance book writing and blogging?

JENNIFER: First I’d like to thank Jill Elizabeth for interviewing me today! For me, blogging is a natural extension of journaling. I’ve written almost daily in diaries since I was eight. I began blogging in 2009. My first blog is called, The Jennifer Diaries. It’s written in the third person. I transcribe my actual childhood diaries in this blog and comment on them. I include my personal photos which reflect the toys and hair styles etc. of the time (1979-1991). My second blog is titled The Jennifer (Recession) Diaries. Here, I chronicle my family’s fall from riches to rags. It’s about keeping my chin up on the way down! My current blog is The Jennifer (Author) Diaries. In this blog, I’ve challenged myself to do one thing per day to promote my book, The Pet Washer, and myself as an author. I encourage fellow authors to join me. I share everything I’m learning about book, blog and author promotion in my daily posts.

It is difficult to balance writing and blogging. In fact, the whole business of book promoting takes authors away from what they should be doing—writing! But it has to be done. I learned early on that books don’t sell themselves. Promoting is the unspoken aftermath of publishing.

ME: Tell us about your novel, The Pet Washer. Where did the idea come from? How long did it take you to write? Did you always want to write for children?

JENNIFER: The Pet Washer is a novel for children aged 8 and up. It’s about two unlikely friends—a princess named Polly and a common girl named Cianna. Cianna washes the royal pets at the Royal Pet Palace and Day Spa. Polly befriends her and drags her into her royal life. Against Cianna’s simple wisdom, Polly’s flaws are dramatically revealed.

I got the idea from the Real Housewives of New York, believe it or not! In one episode, all the housewives pack up and head to the Hamptons for summer vacation. (Correction—the maids do all the packing!) They bring their ridiculous drama with them. I decided to write about this from the point of view of the children. In The Pet Washer, the Island of Windym is the Hamptons and the royals families are the socialites. They are visiting their second castles over a long spring break. I enjoyed contrasting the locals against the royals. The Pet Washer probably took nine months to write but I set is aside for two years while our family dealt with the recession and trying to save our home from foreclosure.

I enjoy writing about strong female characters on the edge of innocence. My characters lend themselves to the genre of middle-grade and young adult fiction. I don’t think I’ll ever write about “grown-ups”. The more I write, the more I settle into my voice and my audience.

ME: The Pet Washer is the first book in a trilogy.  Did you know from the beginning that you intended to write a series?  What was your writing process like – did you plot out all three books early on, or did things evolve over time?  I see that Book Two is coming out this year – is Book Three finished also?  What is the timing?

JENNIFER: The Pet Washer Series evolved over time but it’s now plotted all the way through. Book two will be out in late 2012. Book three is not written yet. What I love about series is that I don’t have to introduce the main characters all over again. Book Two, The Wishing Star, gets off to a fast start. Readers already know Cianna, Polly, Caden and the horse, Gildon. It’s fun for me to revisit my characters as they grow and continue their adventures. Book Three will be out in 2013, barring unforeseen delays.

ME: What other projects are you working on?

JENNIFER: In January, I completed my first young adult novel, Dead Girls Don’t Cry. Here is a brief synopsis. “Leah French has it all; good looks, good grades and good friends. Until the night she drowns in the family swimming pool. For Leah, this isn’t the end of her life, it’s the beginning. Undead and confused, she tries to fit in at her new high school. When Leah discovers a way to look and feel alive again, it comes at a horrific price. How far will she go to regain what she’s lost?” This book has a tenuous release date of July 21, 2012. I loved writing this book!

ME: Do I understand correctly from your blog that you operate your own publishing company, run by friends?

JENNIFER: I did form my own publishing company. My friends help me with it but I just wrote a post on The Jennifer (Author) Diaries about outsourcing. I can’t rely on the good will of my friends forever. Going forward, I’m outsourcing the copyediting and the book covers.

ME: You have three kids – how on earth do you run a business, write, and run a family? 🙂

JENNIFER: My publishing company, Dreamcatcher Books, is a start-up. It takes as much time as I’m willing to give it right now. I am my first client. I don’t have the capital at this time to take submissions. I may offer an author-paid publishing package in the future—editing, book cover and pre-release publicity. My three children are all in school so I write, promote and run Dreamcatcher when they are gone. I try to stay away from the computer when they are home. My husband works and picks up my slack. My kids inspire me and give me ideas. It’s a family business!

ME: How/why did you decide to go that route? What are the particular challenges and advantages? Are other books currently published by/in the works for Dreamcatcher Books? Do you accept submissions?

JENNIFER: I went this route to retain my publishing rights and my creative control. I turned down an agent for The Pet Washer to be on my own. With another publisher, I not only sell my rights, but I can be put out of print if my books don’t sell to their liking. This is what happens to most authors, but we never hear about them. At Dreamcatcher, my books will never go out of print. The downside is that I don’t have the advertising budget and the contacts that the big houses have. I do have time and I plan to establish myself and my brand with more books and more online promoting in years to come. It’s a lot of work but authors are required to do it no matter who publishes their book.

ME: What three random and unusual bits of advice would you give to other aspiring authors?

JENNIFER: Be brave! In my opinion, writer’s block comes from lack of confidence or outright fear. Sit at the computer every day and write through it.  Be the boss! Take charge of those words and characters. They work for you.  Be brutal! Cut irrelevant plot lines, weak words and unnecessary descriptions. Keep that plot moving!

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Thank you so much Jennifer for taking the time to “talk” with me/us! I wish you all the best with your books and hope to see/hear more from you in the future!

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Jennifer Lynn Alvarez received her degree in English Lit. from UC Berkeley. She invites you to take her 366 day challenge to break out of your inner circle as an author at The Jennifer Author Diaries. To learn more about The Pet Washer Series, or to feed Jennifer’s fish, please visit www.thepetwasher.com.