Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a Long Island native, who was raised in Levittown. I’m a college graduate with a BA in English. I’ve always had a creative side to me, and I’ve always been drawn to things of creative nature. So it’d no big shock to me that I became a writer.
The Replacement is my first novel. I’m currently working on my second, and I have plenty more brewing in my brain that I can’t wait to get out!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is The Replacement. In 2007, my friends and I thought we would be able to write screenplays–we were very wrong about that–and thought we’d take a stab at writing a comedy. During that time, I came up with an idea for a screenplay about a rookie detective coming in to replace a veteran detective about to retire. Together, they’d chase down a serial killer. I also had my ending planned out, which I will not mention here so not to ruin the ending of The Replacement.
When it came time to choose a story to focus on for my first novel, that particular one stood out. I began fleshing out the characters and the storyline, and it didn’t take long for me to realize I had my first novel.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I guess that depends on one’s definition of unusual, doesn’t it? I’d say I don’t. I have good nights and I have bad nights, but I don’t think my writing habits will differ from anyone else.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Stephen King is definitely my biggest influence as far as authors go. I’m not going to compare my writing style to his, because that would be crazy. Besides, the only person I want to write like is myself. I will say this: we share similar beliefs and focuses when it comes to writing characters and pacing a story. Finding an author like King has helped me fine tune things that I would have incorporated into my stories, regardless.
What are you working on now?
I’m not quite ready to discuss my latest project in detail, just yet. I will say this about it though… It’s nothing like The Replacement. There’s absolutely no mystery/thriller aspect to it, and I think it is a far more challenging concept to sink my teeth into. I can’t think of anything that’s been done before that’s like it. I’m hoping for a mid-2016 release.
I have also made the decision to write a short story, entitled The Surgeon, to accompany The Replacement. It going to be told through the eyes of the serial killer known as The Surgeon moments before he abducts his first victims. Everyone who I’ve mentioned this to, who has already read The Replacement, loves the idea, so I’m hoping it’ll hold people over for a bit while I finish up my second full novel. I’ll be releasing that, digitally, at the end of 2015.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I don’t think anything specific has worked best for me. Things that have done well once will not do so well the second time around. Some things I never thought would have worked, like casually mentioning I’ve written a book while at a bar, have worked, and there are some things I think are going to do very well that don’t. There’s no rhyme or reason to it, as far as I can tell. Best method of promoting is just putting yourself out there for people to see.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write the book you want to write, and not the book you think other people want to read. Don’t bound yourself to one genre. Explore your mind and test the limits of your creativity. Challenge yourself, but also know yourself. If you think something may or may not work, try it, but if you know something isn’t going to work, then trust your gut. Write for you and only you. Don’t be cocky and close minded though! Listen… Learn… There are a lot of people out there with a lot of knowledge that you could use to your advantage. Never stop learning!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Stay away from the internet! HAHA! I didn’t listen. There are a lot of haters out there. They’re basically people who never really had the drive to make themselves succeed, so they’re bitter and they have an outlet to vent their grievances to the masses. Their words can be quite discouraging, especially since it is no big secret that becoming a successful novelist is not only hard, but the chances are slim.
Also, to read Stephen King’s On Writing. It was the first piece of advice I ever received, and I still consider it to be the best.
What are you reading now?
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
What’s next for you as a writer?
My next novel, of course! And then the novel after that, and so forth and so forth.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Can the entire Harry Potter series count as one book?!
Tough question… Off the top of my head… Salem’s Lot by Stephen King, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, and Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick
Author Websites and Profiles
Jason Pellegrini Amazon Profile
Jason Pellegrini’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
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