Jennifer Chase Interview

Jennifer Chase Interview

I first became aware of Jennifer Chase through Reading Addiction Blog Tours, when they offered her novel, DARK PURSUIT for review on PULP DEN. I’m very picky about the books I read for review knowing that there’s so much junk out there, but everything about this story seemed to grab my interest, so I signed up for the Blog Tour and was soon reading this exciting novel. I felt my readers would be interested in this author, so I approached her to see if she would be interested in an Interview.

Tom: Jennifer, thank you for sitting down with me for this interview. First, I want you to know that I was really impressed with your novel. Your writing and characters were topnotch, and your story telling technique kept my interest throughout. But before we get started, if you will, how about telling everyone a little about yourself, your family, and where you live, etc.

Jennifer: Thank you so much Tom.  It is fantastic for any writer to hear such praise about their book.  I’m basically a California girl, born and raised in the Golden State enjoying the outdoors and beach. I have always lived close to the coast, which is where I get some of my best ideas.  I am married along with my constant companions of dogs and cats to keep me company as I work.   

Tom: From reading DARK PURSUIT, it is easy to tell you are an experienced writer, and this appears to be the 5^th novel in the series featuring what you call the phantom detectives. How did you get your start, and can you tell us a little about your background?

Jennifer:  I have managed to write in some form or another with creative writing, article writing, screenplays, and now novels.  My work background has not been as creative, but rather in business management and more recently criminology.  Storylines and ideas for books are never far from my thoughts – even when I was a little girl. I feel that writing fiction rounds out my life and makes me the most happy.

Tom: What writers influenced you, if any, and whom would you say your writing style most resembles? Your plot and characters certainly drive the story, but would you say your stories are more plot driven or character driven?

Jennifer:  There have been so many writers over the years that I have loved and they have helped to inspire me.  Basically, you will find books in my reading space written by Dean Koontz, Jeffrey Deaver, Lee Child, Vince Flynn, and David Baldacci just to name a few.  I love thrillers, whether the storyline is more vigilante, action-oriented, horror infused, or political, I enjoy all of them.  I have been enjoying many new Independent authors too. 

One of the aspects of writing thrillers that I have tried to maintain is finding my own unique voice.  My writing is somewhat different in the way I write my action scenes – my background in screenwriting has helped me to create a slightly unique voice in novel writing.  I love to try and put the reader right there in all of the action.  However, any writer will tell you that all of the books read in our lifetime have had some influence on writing style.  As far a plot or character driven, it depends upon the storyline.  For my Emily Stone series, it is definitely character driven with a close second to the plot.        

Tom: Have you written any short stories, or would you consider them? Although most of the venues have dried up, there are still a few good markets, such as Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine where short stories and novelettes are welcome, plus, the occasional anthology for mystery stories. However, fans will want to know something about your other novels leading up to DARK PURSUIT, so tell us about the previous stories without giving away any spoilers.

Jennifer: I enjoy short stories.  Many times, I jot down brief ideas that would make a short story rather than a full-length novel.  I love to read short stories, especially when I do not have enough time to read a lengthy novel.  I have written two short stories: FIRST WATCH, a horror short and NEVER FORGOTTEN, an Emily Stone short when she was a teen. 

My first novel COMPULSION begins the Emily Stone series, but originally I began writing the story as a screenplay and decided to switch and write the novel.  The idea for the stories and Emily Stone character came from my own experience with a violent sociopath that lived next door to me, who threatened my life on a regular basis.  I know it sounds more like movie than real life, but trust me, there are people out there just like what we see on television and in the movies.  From that experience, I met all types of people in law enforcement and realized the limitations of dealing with someone like this, and well, a storyline and character began to develop.  A woman with a previous law enforcement background covertly hunting down serial killers, and anonymously emailing cops with the information of the investigation felt like a storyline that I could write endless books: DEAD GAME, DARK MIND, DEAD BURN, and just released DARK PURSUIT. With each book, I create a different type of serial killer that she must track and ultimately locate with enough evidence, forensics, and profiling.  Also, each book is written to stand alone.  

Tom: In DARK PURSUIT we see that the human monster is worse than any imaginary creature we might dream of. To find that such horrible monsters exist in real life, one merely has to open a newspaper or turn on the national news on any given day. Mass murderers, child molesters, and stalkers sometime stay below the radar of the police, and they can be your next-door neighbor. As you show in your novel, the police are not always effective. Besides dark thrillers, do you consider writing other genres down the road, such as police procedurals, or CSI novels?

Jennifer: Absolutely.  I am working on another series at the moment that will be a forensic mystery series. I have also written a police procedural SILENT PARTNER, which takes readers along with a police K9 unit.

Tom: You have some very interesting characters, in particular Emily Stone and Rick Lopez, also known as the phantom detectives, a covert investigative agency. Emily, who once served as a sheriff’s deputy, founded the agency. Rick, a former police detective, left the force to become her partner and lover. As a profiler, Emily knows what to look for, and has up-to-date equipment at her disposal to find perps under the radar of law enforcement. I love the concept, and have always enjoyed novels with a strong female lead. You do let her partner have some of the action, though, as Emily tends to act fast, regardless of consequences, which gives the reader an element of tension when she’s put in harm’s way. Was this element intended?

Jennifer: I wanted Rick to be tough too and not let Emily have all the action scenes (and fun).  It is important that each partner have strong points to make their partnership that much stronger.  I am so glad that you picked up on that on how I created tension between the couple when each are in harms way. 

Tom: I’ve been a long-time fan of the pulp era (a period from 1896 to 1953, basically), especially the so-called pulp heroes of the pulp magazines between 1931 and 1953; one of those vigilante characters was called The Phantom Detective, which you call your own detectives. And I should say at this point that the movie PULP FICTION was not a true depiction of the pulp magazine stories. Nor were the paperback men’s action novels that followed the demise of the pulps. The pulp heroes were mostly vigilantes, though a few were police or FBI. The main theme of the pulp heroes – and heroines (there were several women) – was to find and stop criminals that the police could not catch. There were a few good-hearted bad guys who robbed the criminals of their ill-gotten gain, usually matching wits with some super mastermind. Your characters bring back the concept of the 1930’s vigilante hero, and some pulp fans will want to know if you are familiar with the pulps?

Jennifer:  Actually, I am not very familiar, but I love the idea of the 1930’s type of vigilante hero. I wish there were more television shows with that concept, since we are seeing more “vigilante” type of movies currently.

Tom: What do you find to be the most exciting part of the creating process of writing fiction?

Jennifer:  I love research and creating action scenes for my characters. With research, I can learn something new that I did not know yesterday.  With action scenes, it is like a complex jigsaw puzzle where I come up with different means of escape.  These are definitely the most exciting parts of creating a fictional storyline for me.

Tom: Along the same subject as above, what do you find to be the most difficult area in the creating process?

Jennifer: I find that I can be a procrastinator and that can really be difficult for me when immersed in writing a book or a strict timeline.  

Tom: What are you working on right now? A sequel (I hope) to DARK PURSUIT? Or?

Jennifer:  I am currently outlining the next Emily Stone thriller DEAD COLD and finishing the first book in a new forensic mystery series called BODY OF THE CRIME.

Tom: Besides family and writing, tell us about any hobbies or community services you may be involved in, and any other activity you would like to mention.

Jennifer:  When I am not writing, I love to be outdoors engaging in photography, hiking, or training with my dogs.

Tom: What advice would you give other aspiring authors hoping to break into the writing field today?

Jennifer:  Writing is a tough field, but writers should write what they love and not what someone else tells them they should write.  And of course, write, write, and write never taking for granted that you can always improve your skills.

Tom: Where can fans find – and buy - your stories, and do you keep copies on hand for autographs? Please include website and Blogs.

Jennifer:  All of my books are available in both ebook and paperback at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Smashwords, and most retail bookstores can order paperback copies.  I will be having some giveaways in the near future, so visit my site for details.

Blog/Website: authorjenniferchase.com

Emily Stone Series Trailer on YouTube: https://youtu.be/OCbpk4jwtZY

Tom:  And now a question from left field.  If you could, would you choose to live in a parallel universe as one of the people in the places you create?

Jennifer:  That’s easy! I would love to be Emily Stone (maybe for only a day or so) because her motto is “Life was not worth living if you cannot make a difference – right a wrong, catch a serial killer, or save an innocent life.”

Thank you so much Tom for the wonderful interview opportunity.

Tom: Jennifer, thank you very much for consenting to this interview.