triggers a hailstorm of revenge.
Today I have the pleasure of helping my longtime internet friend, JL Campbell, spread the word about her latest book!
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Describe your writing style.
I’ve been told that my writing is literary in nature but that sure isn’t the case with Flames of Wrath. Since the genre has certain conventions, I had to stay within those if I hoped to write a well-paced story. Readers have also said my characters are compelling and that I have a way with dialogue.
What makes a good story?
For me, that would be one in which I am immersed in the plot and have a hard time taking breaks from reading. I like characters that I can relate to, and even if I can’t see things from their point of view, I want them to be interesting and have layers to their personality. I’m an armchair adventurer, so I’m fascinated with books that take me to diverse parts of the globe.
What are you currently reading?
I’ve been reading the Nena Knight series and I’m about to start book three. I’ve been enjoying these thrillers mainly because of the character and how she navigates the world she’s thrown into after a series of unfortunate situations. The pacing is good and the plot is engaging. In between that, I’ve been reading The Reformatory by Tananarive Due. Let’s just say this book is an intense read that’s not for the faint of heart. It’s about a twelve-year-old boy who faces a harrowing experience inside a reform school in Jim Crow Florida.
What is your writing process? For instance, do you do an
outline first? Do you do the chapters first?
I no longer have what I’d consider a process. Used to be, I’d outline my story so I knew where I was going from the get-go. Then, I started doing a combination of both—knowing the start, the ending, and a few of the huge happenings in between. At heart though, I prefer to be organized and not write by the seat of my pants because when I write that way, there’s too much cleaning up to do in the editing phase. At the outset, I prefer knowing a huge chunk about my characters—the stuff they own, their personality quirks, and their history. A vague outline is also a bonus, but the one thing I have to know when I sit at the keyboard is what the current chapter is about. Without that compass, I’d be lost.
What is your favorite part of this book and why?
As weird as it sounds, it’s not any part of the mayhem Geneva causes or how she deals with her daughter’s enemies. My favourite part is where she’s talking to Spence, her husband, and telling him but not telling him what she’s done to get justice for their daughter. It’s serious and funny, in parts. That, and the family scenes were special for me as I believe in the love and support that family provides.
And a bonus question … If your book had a candle, what
scent would it be?
Definitely cinnamon. It’s a distinctive spice that can be sprinkled in with most baked goods. It has may beneficial properties, but like Geneva, too much of it can play havoc with one’s health.
And there you have it, a little
about me and what reading and writing looks like in my world.
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National Bestselling Author, J.L. Campbell lives in Jamaica and writes across several genres. She is a certified editor, and book coach, who has produced over forty books. When she’s not writing, Campbell adds to her extensive collection of photos featuring Jamaica’s natural beauty.
She can be found lurking about at these sites: Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads
