Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a wife, mother to an 18 year old son and stepmom to a beautiful autistic daughter, as well as a full-time office manager. My passion for writing began at just twelve years old and led me to published poetry and various anthologies, short stories and four fiction novels, which are all available online at various outlets. I was also the primary writer for a local magazine and an ehow contributor for Demand Studios.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recent book is a fiction novel entitled “Bleeding Panther”, which has received 4 and 5 star reviews. I was inspired to write this book as a tribute to our military members battling PTSD, some in my own family. This story isn’t your average PTSD story since it is told from the perspective of the military wife, who discovers her husband’s trauma little by little through therapy sessions. It is a raw, uncensored account of how PTSD can affect the entire family.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wouldn’t call my writing habits unusual, really, but I do take a lot of notes and tend to write my first drafts out with a pen and paper before typing them. It gives me the opportunity to lay eyes on it in a different way and sound it out to ensure that the words flow properly.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have been influenced by so many authors, both past and present, from poets to novelists, but a few of my favorite are definitely James Patterson, Anne Rice and Nicolas Sparks.
What are you working on now?
I am currently writing my fifth fiction novel, which is still untitled, about a widow in his sixties who raises his neighbor’s young daughter after she dies suddenly and his family’s strong opposition about the relationship.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
When it comes to promotion, I find that social media is definitely the way to go. Today, it seems like everyone uses the internet to do nearly everything, reading included. I try to promote my novels on as many reading and writing sites as I can for more exposure, and I use Linked In, Goodreads, Twitter and Facebook to interact with my readers.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
The best piece of advice that I can give to new authors is not to let rejection keep them from their goals. Rejection from publishers and agents is so common in this industry and it is very easy to feel like one is less than his writing ability. Don’t give up.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Someone once told me that if she wrote for money and fame, she would have stopped long ago. That has really stuck with me, especially in my tough times of rejections or low book sales. I always keep it in me that this is my passion and my soul food. I do it to offer others an escape.
What are you reading now?
I just finished another James Patterson novel, and I love them all. I have a list of books that I am still eager to read but haven’t selected one quite yet.
What’s next for you as a writer?
My goals as a writer and author is to keep putting myself out there to the public, keep telling my stories and try to let my readers into my life a bit in hopes that they can relate to me and my stories. I plan to finish the novel that I’m currently writing while still promoting my other four and, hopefully, I will come up with a grand idea for novel #6.
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?
I would probably choose to bring “How To Survive Anything Anywhere” and a few of my James Patterson favorites.
Author Websites and Profiles
Jodi Clark Website
Jodi Clark Amazon Profile
Jodi Clark’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account