Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Jeffery Craig lives in the southeastern United States with his husband and partner and a menagerie of much-loved pets. He’s an avid supporter of the arts and co-owns a local art gallery/gift store that provides an outlet for area artists to showcase and sell their works.
Jeffery is currently working on the Reightman & Bailey series of mystery thrillers, and the first two books in the series, Done Rubbed Out and Hard Job are available now. He’s currently working on the third book of the series, Skin Puppet.
When he’s not writing, Jeffery might be found working on a painting or sitting on the covered porch of his historic southern home with a good book in hand. He can be reached via his website (http://www.jefferycraigbooks,com) or on social media.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Hard Job, and it’s the second book of the Reightman & Bailey series. Both it and the first book, Done Rubbed Out, tell the story of an unconventional group of characters who develop new friendships while trying to solve a perplexing murder in a southern city. I’d been thinking about the story for a while, and started writing it in early January. It quickly developed into the first two books of the series, and explores the conservative social environment in the south, and new attitudes and social norms that are emerging. I suppose my inspiration came from some of the wonderful people I have come to know over the years, and the issues that have been faced by groups of people considered outside the norm.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t really have any unusual writing habits, although I will say I don’t often write at a proper desk! I find myself writing at the kitchen breakfast bar, while outside enjoying the garden, or while curled up on a couch somewhere in the house. I have a lot of help most days – our three dogs consider themselves expert writing assistants and are willing to work for treats!
Like most mystery writers, there are times I find myself having trouble falling asleep when I’m working out the next set of clues or trying to develop a character. I’ve been know to get up in the middle of the night when inspiration strikes and stumble to the keyboard to capture an idea while it is still fresh.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I was so lucky as a child…my mom spent hours reading to me while I was very young and introduced me to some wonderful stories. I remember her reading Back Beauty, Little Men, and stories about Robin Hood and King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. I learned to read myself at a very young age and still spend a lot of time and money on good books. I read a variety of genres, and a pretty good mix of fiction and non-fiction. I love the classics as well as the amazing new works available almost daily. As far as influences, anything by Joseph Campbell is wonderful, and the classic mysteries are inspiring.
What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m working on the third book of the Reightman & Bailey series, Skin Puppet. It deals with some tough issues such as child trafficking, and also gives us further insight into Toby, Melba and Madame Zhou Li, as well as into one of my favorite characters, Moon. All of the characters in the series are multi-layered and as they work together to solve the crime du jour, new facets of their personality emerge as they’re confronted with new challenges and grow as individuals. I also have a fantasy series started, and a literary novel about the high plains of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas underway. That one is a difficult one for me to write as it draws from my own family history. I think it will undergo multiple drafts and versions before it sees the light of day!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Book promotion is the hardest part of what I do. I’m not much for tooting my own horn and that makes it hard. Thankfully, there are some good writers groups out there on social media and I’ve learned a lot about book promotion from them. I have a blog, which I try to focus on things other than just my books, and I’m active in multiple writers’ communities. There are now some great sites (like this one!) that focus on bringing writers and readers together and getting the word out. I try to keep in mind one of the basic rules of marketing – it takes at least three times seeing the same thing before it causes a viewer or reader to think abut buying. That means that just when I think I’m repeating the call to action too many times or posting the same thing again, I’m probably only beginning to get the word out.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
The best advice I have is for a new author to just keep writing. There’s no other way to improve. I try to write everyday and there are times when that’s hard to do. The other thing I’d say is for new authors to explore all of the publishing options out there. Explore traditional paths and look at the new and emerging paths as well. The publishing landscape has changed radially in the last 5-10 years and is projected to evolve more in the next 5-10 years. Know what your options are and what the pros and cons are of each path.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
There were three pieces of advice I received that I think about daily: 1) Use professionals when needed and don’t scrimp if you can help it (editors and cover designers) 2) no matter what anyone else says, make sure that what you write is true to yourself. If it isn’t, it won’t read as true to anyone else, and 3) Buy a copy of Elements of Style and keep it next to your keyboard while you write. I refer to it again and again.
What are you reading now?
I’m re-reading Mary Renault’s fabulous series about Alexander the Great and I’m enjoying it more now than the first time I read it!
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working on Skin Puppet and then I’m going to spend some time on the fantasy series. I think it will be challenging and fun to have two different genre’s underway at the same time.
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?
Just three or four? That’s not fair! I would take all three of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series. There is plenty there to keep me entertained. Alternatively, I’d take three blank journals and a good ink pen, and fill them up while waiting to be rescued.
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