Author Jennifer Chase Interviewed by The Bookworm

Today I have a special treat for my blog readers, author Jennifer Chase has stopped by for an interview.thebookworm07.blogspot.com/2009/03/author-interview-jennifer-chase....

About the book: Compulsion

Emily Stone doesn’t have a badge. But that hasn’t stopped her from tracking down some of the West’s most dangerous child-killers. Armed with a digital SLR camera, laptop computer and her trusty Beretta, Stone uses her innate gift for detective work to identify the perps — and then anonymously e-mail the evidence to the cops.

Now, the hunt for two brazen serial killers on the loose right in her own coastal California town threatens to expose Stone’s identity — unraveling her carefully constructed cover and jeopardizing her life’s work. But when she gets too close to the action, this razor-sharp hunter becomes the hunted. Cooperating with the handsome local police detective could be the only hope for stopping the rampage directed at unsuspecting young women — and saving herself. Can they piece together the clues in time?

Compulsion mixes CSI-style investigation with a ripped-from-the-headlines plot and a dose of romance for a keeps-you-guessing, fast-paced and savvy thriller, right up until the shocking finale.

Now, onto the interview...

bookworm: Hello Jennifer and thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to stop by my blog for an interview. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

jennifer chase: Thank you so much for interviewing me on your blog. I hold a bachelor’s degree in police forensics and a recent master’s degree in criminology (2008). I also have certifications in serial murder and criminal profiling along with an affiliate membership in the criminology section of the Academy of Behavioral Profiling. I have an intense curiosity about crime and the varied connections between the actual crime and the criminal mind. This is what really propels me to write in the thriller and crime fiction genres because there’s an unlimited amount of ideas for characters and stories based on this subject. I’m also a freelance writer and I assist clients with copywriting, ghostwriting, and screenplay evaluations. I find that this work compliments by novel writing schedule and I take pleasure in all of my assignments. I’ve enjoyed writing for as long as I can remember. Ever since I was old enough, I read everything I could get my hands on. I love everything about books and dreamed what it would be like to be a published author someday, surrounding myself with even more books. Today, I still surround myself with books and I always welcome recommendations for new authors.

bookworm: What inspired you to write Compulsion?

jennifer chase: My favorite genre has always been suspense, mystery, and thriller books. My inspiration for Compulsion is really three-fold. First, my love for writing and wanting to complete a thriller novel has been the main driving force. Second, my academic background actually gave me the confidence to write about serial killers and related crime scene investigations. And finally, it was my first hand experience living next door to a psychopathic individual with violent tendencies that consistently threatened my life for more than two years, along with my interaction with local law enforcement. But, this bad experience gave me first-hand knowledge and a great jumping off point to begin planning the characters for my book. It was a horrible experience that ultimately turned out to be a great experience. bookworm: What was the hardest thing about writing this book? How long did it take you to write?

jennifer chase: Deciding to write a book is the easy part, but it’s what comes next is definitely the hardest part of the process. You have to answer a ton of questions about how long should the book be, how much research needs to be done, writing in first or third person, when to write, and basically if you can hang in there through the long haul of actually finishing a novel. You are so close to your story and characters that you begin to doubt yourself at times. I found that I had to go with my gut instinct and let the story carry me along. It’s probably the single most difficult job that I’ve ever had, but it’s the one that I love the most. I write six days a week and allow one complete day of rest to do other things and recharge my creative battery. Compulsion took about eight months to complete and submit to Outskirts Press, Inc. I wrote an extensive outline that took about two months, but I had been thinking about this story for some time and this helped my process go much faster. Then I did the complete writing by the chapter that took another two months. I generally let the manuscript sit for about a month in between each step. I had the story read a few times and edited by a professional. Then I spent my final steps making any changes to editing and content.

bookworm: What got you interested in writing? How long have you been writing?

jennifer chase: I’ve loved writing since an early age – books were my escape and entertainment. I would write and draw pictures of short stories about magical places, and even write dialogue for my stuffed animals. When I got older, I would escape into mysteries and suspense novels. I’ve been completely drawn into these types of stories and I would literally dream about writing my first novel. There are so many interesting aspects of thriller stories that they completely captivate me. I’ve been writing on and off most of my life. It was not until recently that I decided to complete my first novel. It’s funny, but it absolutely felt like the right time. And from this point, many more ideas have inspired me to write more books. I’m currently writing my second thriller novel.

bookworm: Who are your favorite authors and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

jennifer chase: I have so many authors that I love, but if I had to pick three they would be Jeffrey Deaver, Dean Koontz, and John Douglas. Deaver for his brilliant Lincoln Rhyme series with a quadriplegic criminalist. Koontz for his many wonderful characters that aren’t afraid to take on the evil in this world. He has truly inspired me to write over the years. And Douglas for his true crime books that share both the inside of the criminal mind and their victims to the rest of the world. He has given a voice to the many victims.

bookworm: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

jennifer chase: I really want to thank my readers for their wonderful support and feedback. It really is a joy to share my story with thriller lovers.

bookworm: Do you have any advice for other writers?

jennifer chase: Writing is hard work, but it is also a complete pleasure. The best advice that I can give to other writers is to never take “no” for an answer and write something every day.

bookworm: Last but not least, if you were stranded on a deserted island, and were allowed to bring 3 things, what would they be?

jennifer chase: I would have to say a spiral notebook filled with plenty of paper and writing implements, my favorite Labrador retriever so that I have an upbeat companion to keep me company, and the complete library of all the Dean Koontz novels.

bookworm: Thank you for taking the time to do a blog interview Jennifer! Wow, i'm speechless about your living next door to a psychopath at one point. And I'm a big fan of Dean Koontz as well. Bringing his books to a deserted island is a great idea :)If any of your readers want to know more information about me and Compulsion, they can go to: http://www.authorjenniferchase.blogspot.com/ or www.outskirtspress.com/compulsion

Thank you again for the interview opportunity. --Jennifer

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