Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a newer author. While I’ve worked on some project or another for the past six years, this coming May 2016 will be my first release when They’ll Call It Treason comes out. For several years I tried putting together stories and ideas without success largely due to my disorganized method. Once I finally found the method that worked for me I was able to set on the path to finishing a great story. Now I’m looking forward to seeing how They’ll Call It Treason is received and starting on the next book.
Aside from my writing, in what some might call my professional life, I’m a Full Stack Web Developer for SHOE SHOW, Inc., the nation’s largest privately owned shoe retailer (we own several companies). Basically I conceptualize, design and build websites from top to bottom. Being that my degree is actually in Political Science, I’m also politically active. I’m a big believer in free elections, so I created an organization to fight for just that in my home state called Free the Vote North Carolina. I head up the organization to fight for free and fair elections in the state. So you could say I’m an developer, an author and an activist.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest, and first, book is called They’ll Call It Treason. No one thing really inspired it. It is more like a culmination of a bunch of unrelated things. Due to my political background I’ve been able to see how things work in government to a degree, some good and some not-so-good. In the book you’ll see a deal of today’s political climate mirrored. From drone warfare to corrupt state politics to the national surveillance state and more. It’s really all of that that has inspired the book.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know if I have anything particularly unusual. I do find that I have a harder time writing from home when family is around and they’re watching TV or playing music if I can even faintly hear it from the other room. Yet, I can go to a restaurant where TVs are blaring sports and people are screaming and yelling and write just fine. It does not make any sense to me, but it works. So I tend to spend most of my time writing at various restaurants, although Applebee’s does enjoy the majority of that time.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
All of them. It’s hard to really say who has influenced me in particular, but if I had to pin it down I’d say it was largely between my two favorite authors. James Rollins and the late Michael Crichton. I’ve read Michael Crichton’s work since I was in sixth grade when a friend let me borrow Jurassic Park. His techno-thrillers were always so exciting, cool, and despite how out there some of them really were, realistic. James Rollins I heard about later on when I picked up Devil Colony for a beach trip a few years ago. I’ve read a large portion of his books and I find that I have to force myself to not read all of his books one after the other, so that I can get other books by other authors in. I love how he pulls together some historical event, typically something that has either an ending that is murky or some tangential story and then molds it into some interesting scientific discover that compels a global journey to protect mankind.
My current writing is most reflective of how James Rollins has influenced me however. It makes sense though because of my political background. At some point I’m sure the Crichton influence will surface too with my technology background.
What are you working on now?
I cannot say too much about my current project, mainly because I don’t know enough about it yet. I’ve formed the idea and fleshed out many of the details and characters, but there is still a lot to do and to decide before saying much.
I can say however, that it is going to be a much darker story than They’ll Call It Treason. You may be wondering about that statement sense the title has the word “Treason” in it, but trust me, this new one is going to be darker. It also will take place in a more confined setting, at this point largely within one house, and deal with personalities and issues that are closer to home. While it’s still premature, I am currently working on the project under the working title (not the official) of A Night in Hell.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
That is yet to be known. At this point Facebook seems to be the best tool in promoting my book to others, while Twitter seems to be more of a networking tool with other authors. Both are extremely useful though and authors are readers too, I mean we should not be writing if we are not readers.
That said my personal website is serving as a central hub for all the different networks and were many readers will find out more about me when I meet and talk to the them directly and give them a book mark or tell them the place to go to learn more. So www.JordonGreene.com is a crucial place for the books promotion.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Being a new author myself, I’m still learning. However, there is one thing I know for sure.
If you want to write the best thing you can do is simply start writing. You’ll never get anywhere if you don’t take that first step. Stop doubting yourself. Stop doubting that people will read it. Stop letting others get in your head. Imagine. Plan. Write. And of course edit, a lot.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Oh my goodness, I don’t know if I have an answer for this one. I mean I’ve read so many different articles and talked to different authors, its hard to say what one thing has been the “best.” Maybe it’s this. Don’t depend solely on social media to sell your book. You must sell the book yourself, you have to get out and talk to potential readers. Word of mouth is the best way to sell.
What are you reading now?
Right now I’m reading James Dashner’s The Death Cure, number three in The Maze Runner trilogy. I started reading the trilogy in late February and have sense failed to stop reading it, which is why I’m on number three. Yes, I’m a slow reader, but that’s okay.
I love them. It really is a great series. It keeps you guessing what is happening next and whether what you just predicted is still right or wrong, or maybe you were right after all. The ability to put together such a complex story that keeps a reader guessing three books later is incredible. I definitely recommend the series.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Well right this moment, releasing They’ll Call It Treason on May 10 is the next thing for me. Beyond that is planning and writing my next novel. I have a five year plan setup, possibly a bit ambitious of a plan, but a plan nonetheless. I hope to finish my second novel (unrelated to the first) and have it released by later 2017 and then to start on something entirely new, a young adult book, maybe a trilogy. I’ve got the basic idea laid out but there is a lot to consider still and I have some time to do that in. Depending on whether or not I do a trilogy for the young adult book will determine how long that takes, but either way I hope to release my third book by 2018-2019.
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?
Oh, that’s a hard question. In no particular order, I’m going to have to go with Lois Lowry’s The Giver, Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park, James Rollins’ Devil Colony and Marie Lu’s Legend. I could definitely stand to read any of these multiple times over.
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