Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a best selling author of a dozen non-fiction books, and just had my first fiction published…a middle grade series written with my young son, Max. I have a YA series coming out in October, called FREAK, and an NA series called GRIDWALKERS set for a spring 2015 release. I am a contributor to over a dozen Chicken Soup books, and numerous books on the paranormal, ghosts, UFOs, science and unknown anomalies. I’ve been writing since childhood and have published since I was a teenager. I also write screenplays and have a science fiction adventure optioned with Bruce Lucas Films.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest novel is EKHO: EVIL KID HUNTING ORGANIZATION, written with my son, Max. The book was inspired by Max’s real life spy group, EKHO, that he started in grade school as a way of keeping an eye on bullies and staying one step ahead of them. EKHO grew into a school phenomenon and Max had many friendships made with kids he still knows to this day in Junior High.
My latest non-fiction book is called VIRAL MYTHOLOGY: HOW THE TRUTH OF THE ANCIENTS WAS ENCODED AND PASSED DOWN THROUGH LEGEND, ART AND ARCHITECTURE. It’s pretty research intensive, so writing the fiction is a great creative release!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write in fits and starts and am NOT disciplined. I do not write every day, but instead do a lot of “writing in my head” before I ever sit down at the computer. Then, I can usually get a first draft down very quickly. I am always writing in my head as I go about my day, which leads people in my life to accuse me of being distracted! But the creative brain never stops working!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have been a voracious reader since early childhood, when I loved books about horses, animals, wildlife and nature and science. I have consistently read several books a week all my life. Today, I read books for research when working on a non-fiction title, but my “fun” reading is usually Charles de Lint, Stephen King, Dean Koontz and a host of wonderful YA writers I am discovering…I love thrillers, science fiction, end of the world stories, horror, fantasy, urban fantasy and humor. I review books for a website, too, so I get a lot of books for free that I can just bury myself in. My main influences have been King, de Lint, Sinclair Lewis, Carl Sandburg…
What are you working on now?
Right now, I just signed contracts for EKHO: BOOK TWO – REVELATIONS, which Max will write with me; GRIDWALKERS, a sci/fi time travel adventure I am writing with my co-author Larry Flaxman and based in part on the science and theories we presented in a non-fiction book of ours, “THE GRID: EXPLORING THE HIDDEN INFRASTRUCTURE OF REALITY,” and a non-fiction book, again with Larry, called “MIND WARS: THE HISTORY OF MIND CONTROL AND ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE.” Scary stuff!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My website is http://www.mariedjones.com and I love to promote through Twitter and Facebook on my author pages as well. Social networking works well for me because I am very outgoing and a major extrovert, so I have no problem with shameless self promotion!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Sit your ass down and write. Then write more. One book does not make you a writer. If you are self publishing, for heaven’s sake, get it edited before you release it, and have a great cover. If looking for representation, you better be working on a second and third project so you are not perceived as a one-trick pony. But most of all, quit making excuses and write!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Argue for your limitations and you get to keep them. We make SOOOOO many excuses for why we cannot do something, like write a book, and boy, do we love to defend those excuses! DON’T DO THAT!!!!!
What are you reading now?
I am looking for a good novel to read, and have a few on my desk. Or I may re-read ODD APOCALYPSE by Dean Koontz because I am madly in love with Odd Thomas!
What’s next for you as a writer?
I have three projects due in November, but after that would like to finish a monster movie script I began a few months ago before I was offered the book contracts. It’s a monster movie with a major twist and I had so much fun working on it. It’s about a third of the way done. I am writing this with Larry Flaxman. I also have a work in progress called BLACK MARIAH that I had entered into a contest last year, just the first six chapters, and I almost won…came in second by a hair according to the publisher…and people raved about the first six chapters…so I must finish that. It’s an apocalyptic tale, but told on a small and more intimate scale.
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, the entire DARK TOWER series by Stephen King. Ok, it’s 7 books, but even the first 3 or 4 would keep me sane!
Author Websites and Profiles
Marie Jones Website
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