Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I currently have only written one novel and myriad short stories, but I plan to write many more in the future. I am planning on majoring in English and have a large passion for nearly every genre of book.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Gateway, and I was inspired to write it after noticing that the lines between science fiction and fantasy are a lot more blurred than people typically think. I found about about the genre of science fantasy, and loved the idea. Why couldn’t you have a futuristic world of technology coupled with powers such as invisibility and populated with dragon-like creatures? So I started writing that world.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have an obsession with making a book organized before writing, so I often make entirely seperate areas for different character POVs and only combine them at the end. I label each chapter and have collections of scenes exploring different character arcs and subplots, to be distributed through the book when I am ready. It results in a large document full of different scenes that it takes forever to string together coherently, but it’s nice for remembering to follow up on subplots.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are too many books that have influenced me to count, but a book that particularly influenced my worldbuilding methods is Seraphina by Rachel Hartman. Reading about Goredd made me realize how important rich and immersive worldbuilding was, and I created the religion of Meeskism for skeefers partly from being so charmed by the saints in Seraphina. It also made me realize that what’s important for a book isn’t having a 100% original idea, but the delivery of the idea. Seraphina includes dragons, a very old trope, yet manages to feel very fresh and unique in its take on them.
Another book that greatly influenced me was 1984 by George Orwell, which helped develop my views and understanding of totalitarianism. Its depiction of an oligarchy is so chilling that I sought to bring many of its themes into my own writing, due to their applicability throughout history.
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on the second book in The Migax Cycle, which will likely be released in 2020. It’s going to delve deeper into the situation of the wilders of Migax, and I’m quite excited for it to be published.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have just started out self-publishing so I have less experience in this department, but the website that has gotten me the most exposure is Wattpad.com. It’s a free story-sharing website, and while people don’t have to pay to read your books, it has a thriving and loyal community that can really set you up for a readership that will follow you into publishing. Just because it won’t earn you money in the short-term doesn’t make it a waste of time, and being connected to a community of writers can provide you with invaluable experience and exposure.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write. A major reason why writers never end up publishing is because they don’t get around to actually finishing their books. It’s more fun to think about how your book will go than to actually sit down and do it (I’m guilty of this all the time), but if you don’t make time to write your skills won’t improve and you’ll never finish a project. Don’t worry if you don’t think your book is publishing-worthy because every little thing you write is a form of practice. No one has to read what you’ve written if you don’t want them to, so open up and write without fear.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I can’t name a best piece of advice because there’s so much good advice I’ve heard, but one of the ideas that impacted me the most is that the only purpose of life is enjoyment and connection. We have no way of being certain of a higher purpose beyond what we give ourselves, and with so little time to live on this Earth, why wouldn’t we spend every bit we have enjoying ourselves and connecting with others? The idea helped me refocus my goals and realize that I should concentrate on doing what brings me joy, rather than worrying about whether or not something is worth it or not or if I’m making myself look ridiculous.
What are you reading now?
Currently, I am reading Deadly Persuasion by Jean Kilbourne, which is a book about the psychological and sociological effects of advertising. While it was written in 1999, many of its points are relevant to today.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I am planning on continuing promoting and hopefully gaining reviews of Gateway, and I will finish writing, edit, and then publish its sequel. I hope to gain exposure as a self-published author and perhaps one day make a successful career out of it.
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?
It is odd that I am given the choice between 3 and 4 books, as if I would pick 3. Here would be my choices:
1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. The writing is incredibly poetic, the emotions at once joyful and heartrendingly sad, and the book leaves you with a feeling of wonder at the beauty and horror of humanity. Being on an island, I would be quite lonely, and this book would surround me with very real characters that could ease some of my need for connection.
2. Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood. Another poetic book, the writing style of this one is beautiful, and I would be able to get lost within this book and its descriptions for hours, thus alleviating boredom.
3. Galápagos by Kurt Vonnegut. This is the book I would need to alleviate existential dread. I would need the dark humor of Kurt Vonnegut to make me laugh at my situation rather than break down and give up.
4. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez. Thematically, the title is quite fitting. Truly one of the oddest books I’ve read; this book would keep me entertained and make me grateful that my situation wasn’t quite as messed up as the characters’, and puzzling out who’s who on the genealogical tree would stave off weeks of boredom.
Author Websites and Profiles
Juliette Dunn Website
Juliette Dunn Amazon Profile
Juliette Dunn’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile