Reprinted / reposted from Aspire and Inspire:
http://www.janetwrenn.com/blog/
This week, ladies and gentlefolk, I have the pleasure of introducing you to Jason Reinders, author of TERMINALLY HUMAN and SPIDER WEBS, among other things! Not only is Jason a phenomenal writer, he's the husband of a dear friend of mine, Carrie. So this is a special interview for me. And now world, I give you Jason Reinders!
Way back, when I was eighteen or nineteen, I started writing and recording songs on an old eight-track recorder I purchased off my cousin. I guess, in a sense, I viewed my music as little two to four minute stories. I always had the idea that I wanted to write a novel with a main character where the reader really hated and despised the guy from the start. I mean I wanted you to just want to kick his teeth down his throat if you were to meet him on the street. But slowly, without possibly realizing it, you would grow to really like, even love him buy the end of the story. That was the challenge I set before myself. This was also the beginning of TERMINALLY HUMAN, my first novel. I remember sitting in the basement getting so wrapped up in the process that I would first be thinking the parts in my head. That soon led me to talking out loud … to myself … and answering with different voices and characters and I did not even realize what I was doing. I also remember catching myself and quickly looking around and praying my wife was not looking at me, checking on me, or ready to commit me.
How did you decide upon going with Publish America versus querying the traditional pubs or self-pubbing with Amazon?
In short, fear. I have to be honest and say that I was scared to take a chance on sending my manuscripts out. Someone pointed me in the direction of PA and several days later they offered me a contract. I sat on it for a while and eventually signed. Let’s just say I am ready now to tackle the query letter, seek an agent, pile up the rejection letters, and see what happens. Publish America has not been all bad, I have my book out there and they do offer opportunities for additional exposure. Yes, I do have to pay for those opportunities, but versus an outlet like let’s say Lulu, PA is much cheaper. Being with a publisher that is print on demand has both pros and cons and I will leave it at that.
Do you have any current works in progress?
So far I have written three books: TERMINALLY HUMAN, SPIDER WEBS, and LAKE MAHWEE. I have two poetry books, QUIET DAY ONCE AGAIN FALL UPON MY SOUL and ON THE SHORES OF SCREAMING LAKE. I am currently working on three more books. IN THE FINE DINER is a thriller that has a bit of a dry humor with a dark twist. BLOOD ON THE BARBED WIRE is an interesting attempt to run two stories concurrent, with the modern day farmer as the main story and his ancestors’ immigration running as a parallel story. Needless to say neither story is without their own set of issues. The third is a bit of a surprise and I am working on, a picture book, but … let’s just say it is going to be funny and make a splash.
Chocolate or Vanilla?
Vanilla all the way but it must be followed by a coffee chaser … everything must be followed by a coffee chaser come to think of it.
How did you come up with the premise for TERMINALLY HUMAN?
Hahaha … I am glad you asked this question. When I was growing up I always had this grand plan to move out of the house for the summer. I would pack up and live along the Blue Earth River under a bridge, and live off the land, eat fish, and survive. Well, my mother did not agree or see things my way. The closest I ever got to carrying out this grand plan was the evening I got off work and came home only to smell the stench of beets being boiled as the fumes lofted through the opened window (beets are the only food I will not eat, look at, or smell). I remember yelling through the window that I would be back in the morning and I went to my favorite bridge and camped with nothing more than a blanket, fishing pole and a fire. I always wondered what it would feel like, or be like, to be homeless by choice. I guess from there I just let my imagination take over.
What's your favorite thing about the novel process?
When I completely lose myself in the process and begin to talk to myself, I think that is the best feeling in the entire process. It is also the times when I have produced some of my best stuff.
Who are some of your favorite authors?
I really enjoy David Baldacci, Jim Harrison, Stephen King, Hunter S. Thompson, Charles Bukowski, Anthony Bourdaun. There as so many others but my reading habits have a tendency to change depending on my mood at any given time. These guys remain fairly consistent.
Is there anything specific you draw inspiration from?
I would honestly have to go back to my childhood first. I always find my mind drifting back to the memories of my childhood and pulling as much as I can from those experiences. Even if the end product comes out looking completely warped, twisted, or even jaded, I think that is fine. The original influence, or memory came from something real or a real event. Other times it is just a person I may have met in passing or someone in my life that had an impact. Again, by the time they hit the paper they are often disfigured to the point of no recognition. I remember particular scenes and events in TERMINALLY HUMAN that are taken straight from my childhood. A few of them made it through with only a small amount of bastardising –sorry if it included you! J Smells – even smells and certain scents from my youth that brought back strong connections and fond memories to favorites childhood haunts were included. I believe that there are others out there that grew up feeling and doing similar things as I and maybe they can also make those connections as they read.
Packers or Vikings? (If you say Vikings this interview will never make it to my blog LOL I kid I kid...kinda...sort...not really)
Since I know you are from Wisconsin … Go VIKINGS! It is always an entertaining event when the cheese-heads and Vikings faceoff in this house since my wife is also from Wisconsin. I guess it is a good thing we have two televisions in two different rooms. It also helps that I have my son brainwashed to let my in-laws know that the Packers stink whenever my mother in-law calls.
Do you write only novels or have you touched on other areas like poetry?
As I alluded to prior, I have been dabbling in poetry. I find it a challenge to write really great poetry and craft it so two to six lines will hold an impression and tell just as powerful a story as a short story. I find it to be a lot of fun when I complete a three-line poem that, in my mind, conjures up an entire landscape, story, and sometimes a lifetime for my character. In some ways it can be more fulfilling than writing a great chapter in a book.
Do you have any tips on getting through Writer's Block?
Not really but I do believe that everyone if going to find that one little thing that works for them. What works for them, me, or gaseous Joe at the other end of the office, may not work so well for you. I prefer to have multiple projects going simultaneously. That is what I do when I get stuck and then I can put it aside and work on something else for a while. I have, as I wrote my first novel, TERMINALLY HUMAN, also worked on my first poetry book and would routinely jump between projects when a block presented itself. If that failed, I would make a fresh pot of coffee and take a long break.
If you could impart one piece of wisdom on a fellow struggling and aspiring authors, what would it be?
Wow, tough question but as I sit here and consider this I keep going back to one thing and this to remain true to yourself. This works on so many levels from the ordinary literacy dissuasion with a friend, family member, or fan to an interview and everything said or posted on-line and everything in-between. I feel it is important to put yourself out there in the most honest you can to stay true to yourself, your family, and your fans. To me, that is what truly matters. It was a lesson learned the hard way. I compare it to learning to ride a bicycle. There are a few bumps in the road as you, start and learn, but from there you tend to grow and not let the negativity get to you. If you stay true to yourself, your beliefs, your comments, and most of all your writing process, I feel it takes less energy just to exist in the field and that energy is better spent on what matters, writing.