Welcome today to Jess Haines, the author of the H&W Investigations series. Her fourth book: Stalking the Others, will be released on July 3rd. If you’re interested you can read the review here. We hope you’ll enjoy this amazing interview. Thanks to Jess Haines for answering all our questions.
Can you introduce yourself in a few words?
Sure thing!
First, thanks again for having me over for the STALKING THE OTHERS blog tour. My name is Jess Haines, and I write urban fantasy.
I’m a workaholic who loves coffee and chocolate and can’t survive without books.Ā I’m originally from New York, but I’m currently living in Los Angeles because it is suitably weird enough for the time being.Ā I enjoy karaoke and bad movies, and have a menagerie of animals to keep me company when I’m not writing.Ā (Seriously, when I’m an old fart, I’ll be known as the crazy bird/cat/fish/snake/lizard lady.)
How many books do you intend to write for this series?
Right now, Iām contracted to write six books, but of course Iād be happy to write more in the H&W Investigations series.
Was it difficult to write the first book? How long did it take? Did it become easier with the following books?
No, not at all. In fact, Iād say HUNTED BY THE OTHERS (book 1) and TAKEN BY THE OTHERS (book 2) were the easiest to write in the series since I wrote them with no break, back to back.
I finished the first draft of HBTO in about 3 months and the first draft of TBTO in 4 months.Ā
Donāt use my timeframe as a measuring stick, though. Back then, writing was what I did to keep sane at night when I couldnāt sleep due to a combination of a crappy work schedule (I was working two jobs, between 80 and 90 hours a week) and insomnia.Ā Now that I have a lot of the stress off of my plate, I write at a much more leisurely pace.
How do you find your titles? Did you imagine them all when you started the series or do you brainstorm each time?I brainstorm each time. TAKEN BY THE OTHERS (book 2) was actually supposed to be the title for the fourth book, which is now STALKING THE OTHERS.Ā The original title of book 1, HUNTED BY THE OTHERS, was DEALING WITH THE OTHERS.
Itās a combination of brainstorming and throwing stuff at my editor to see what sticks.
How did you end up writing Urban Fantasy books? Is there any other genre that appeal to you?
Way back in the day, when I first wanted to be a novelist, I decided I was going to be a Serious Fantasy Author. I was going to write doorstops in the style of George R.R. Martin, Terry Goodkind, or Robert Jordan.
Yeah, that didnāt go so well.
After going through some rough times, I found that writing something so desperately serious was just so not me that I had to do something else. That was around the time when I discovered the Dresden Files and the Anita Blake series. Since Shiarra was essentially a ready-made character from my roleplaying days, I thought it would be fun to use her as the main character for my first urban fantasy novel.
And HUNTED BY THE OTHERS was born!Ā
Does the inspiration for the characters come from people you know?
For the most part, no. They are conglomerations of my experiences with books, movies, etc.
Is there a character more difficult than the others to write?
As for one who is harder to write than the rest? Jack. Heās a huge pain in the ass. Every time I think I have that vamp hunter pinned, he surprises me with a new twist to his character.
Who is your favorite character in the series?
I love them all for different reasons.Ā Itās hard to choose a favorite because they all have behind-the-scenes significances and historiesānot to mention strengths and flawsāthat the readers havenāt seen and color my perspective.
If forced to choose, Iād say itās a toss-up between Royce and Arnold.Ā Royce is such a delightfully devious bastard, and so much fun to write, that itās hard not to love the vampire.Ā Wouldnāt want to be in Shiaās shoes if I was faced with him, though!
On the other hand, thereās Arnold.Ā Heās got a huge ālook out for number oneā mentality, but heās also a nerd with glasses and (channeling a bit of Genie here) phenomenal cosmic powers at his fingertips.Ā Cāmon, you know thatās hot.ļ»æ
Have you already other plans for future series? Or is it top secret?
Right now, Iām contracted through six books in the H&W Investigations series, though Iāve got plots in mind for more. There are also some spinoff ideas Iāve been kicking around.Ā Weāll see what happens once book six is done.Most of my attention right now is on completing the next book in the H&W series, but Iāve got some other stuff Iām working on, too.
If youāre familiar with the series, Iāve got a little something Iām looking for a home for right now that features Mouse, the mute vampiress, and Christoph, the dude in the fetish collar who shows up briefly in DECEIVED and again in STALKING THE OTHERS.
Can you tell us a little something about the fourth book?
This is the fourth book in my series, so let me start with a short recap of the other three:
Book 1 ā HUNTED BY THE OTHERS: Shiarra Waynest, a private investigator, is blackmailed into retrieving an artifact from a vampire. The problem? As a human, she doesnāt stand a chance against the Others.
Book 2 ā TAKEN BY THE OTHERS: With the artifact destroyed, Shia believes her dealings with the supernaturals in town are overābut the vampires, werewolves, and monster hunters in town believe otherwiseā¦
Book 3 ā DECEIVED BY THE OTHERS: Determined to get away from the troubles plaguing her in the city, Shia goes on a vacation with her werewolf boyfriendāalong with his entire packāin the Catskills.Ā
Book 4 ā STALKING THE OTHERS: After the events and subsequent betrayal Shia experienced in the last book, sheās done being pushed around. Ā If sheās going down, sheāll take out as many of her enemies as she canāand hope that in the process, she keeps whatever humanity she has left...
So, in this book, Shiarra is in a very bad place.Ā Sheās lost her family, her boyfriend, and probably her business and license as a private investigatorāand some might feel sheās also lost her marbles.Ā Sheās ready to take on the world, and get some payback from the people who turned her life into her version of a living hell.
Itās not recommended as a starting pointāthis is the continuation that picks up right where my last book, DECEIVED BY THE OTHERS, left off.
Without spoiling, did you know from the start that the relationship between Chaz and Shiarra would be like that?
Yup. I am an evil author. I had that twist planned from the beginning. Along with a few othersā¦
Did you need to do a lot of researches for your books?
Sometimes. Itās been a while since my last trip to New York, so every once in a while I have to go on a picture hunt or pull up a map to make sure Iāve got my geography and such correct. For the most part, Iāve got everything worked out in my head, so I donāt have to do too much research.
Do you have a favorite author? Or a favorite book?
I have many.Ā Itās too hard for me to pick just one!Ā Here are a few of my favorites:
Series:
-Karen Marie Moningās Fever series
-Jim Butcherās Dresden Files series
-Kim Harrisonās Hollows series
-The Coldifre Trilogy by C.S. Friedman
-Many of the DragonLance novels
-ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER DUNGEON and its sequel, ONE QUEST, HOLD THE DRAGONS by Greg Costikyan
-Mark Henryās Amanda Feral series
-Terry Goodkindās Sword of Truth series
-Laurrell K. Hamiltonās early Anita Blake novels
-Robin Hobbās Liveship series
-Mary Janice Davidsonās Queen Betsy series
Ā Standalone Novels:
-THE WHEEL OF TIME by Robert Jordan (yes, this is part of a series, but itās really the only one I truly enjoyedāthe series got too political for my tastes)
-THE ELVENBANE by Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey
-JOHN DIES AT THE END by David Wong
-NEEDFUL THINGS by Stephen King
-THE TOMMYKNOCKERS by Stephen King
-1984 by George Orwell
-ENDERāS GAME by Orson Scott Card
-BATTLEFIELD EARTH by L. Ron Hubbard
-HAPPY HOUR AT CASA DRACULA by Marta Acosta (I know there are more books in this series, but I only just read the first one and it became an instant favorite!)
-RAPTOR RED by Robert T. Bakker
-JURASSIC PARK by Michael Crichton
-THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE by Avi
-SPLIT HEIRS by Lawrence Watt-Evans and Esther Friesner
-STEAL THE DRAGON by Patricia Briggs
-UNDER THE FANG (an anthology of vampire short stories, not for the faint of heart/weak of stomach)
And, of course, any Calvin & Hobbes titles.
ļ»æ
Where is your favorite place to write?
The couch in my living room. Itās so darn comfy!Ā š
Your books are going to be released in France, do you see yourself meeting your French fans one day?
I would love to!Ā Iām not sure how realistic it isāinternational travel is a bit outside of my current budgetābut if the book sells well enough, it would be fabulous to come to a convention or do a signing in France!
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Author’s website: http://www.jesshaines.com/
For the Calendar of the tour: http://jesshaines.com/blog/2012/05/07/stalking-the-others-official-blog-tour-calendar/
For the Calendar of the tour: http://jesshaines.com/blog/2012/05/07/stalking-the-others-official-blog-tour-calendar/
You can have the possibility to win 15 paperback copies of Stalking the others with the rafflecopter form. It’s opened for US and Canada only.
booklover0226
I read Hunted By The Others and loved it. I look forward in continuing this series.
Thanks,
Tracey D
Melissa (Books and Things)
Oh I so want to win this one. Just think! I wouldn’t have to read out of order! LOL
Blodeuedd
*waves*
I am finally reading Stalking, I could save it no more. I needed to know :=)
And I LOVE The eye of the world
Mimi Valentine
This can’t be just me who thinks that all of those covers are completely badass! x) I know how much you enjoyed this series from your review, so this interview was like icing on an already irresistible cake. Thanks for letting me know about these books, you guys! And I would really love to travel to France too — how wonderful would that be? :’) <3
Mel
Oh I so need to get up todate with this series! I’ve read Hunted and Taken – and have Decieved ready to read on my TBR pile! Next week definitely will be picking it up! Great interview! š
Melissa (My World...in words and pages)
Oh I have the first book and soooo want to get to reading it! After learning all about the author and the books I think I need to find a way to sneak it in soon! š Thank you!
Melissa (My World...in words and pages)
These sound like great fun action packed books, that’s what I love in books, and why I want to read these! š Thank you!
Missie, The Unread Reader
Wow! Working 90 hours a week and writing?! That is amazing. I wish I could be a gifted insomniac, but I love sleep too much.
I’ve only read book one in this series, so I really want to catch up. Looks like there is a lot to look forward to. Royce is my favorite character though. Hot vampires always make me their fang banger. LOL
Zendastark
Why do I want it? Because Melliane said it’s great and i trust her about books! lol
Awesome interview !!
(Je viens de voir que le concours Ć©tait rĆ©servĆ© aux states et Canada…Silly me! lol)
Melliane
lol c’est pour Ƨa que j’ai pas mis dans le franƧais. C’est pas mon concours c’est celui que jess Haines fait et j’ai eu le code html pour le rajouter.
Zendastark
lol, j’ai tout tout fait pour cumuler les entrĆ©es! J’espĆØre que je ne vais pas gagner! ce serait ballot! š
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