About Jamie Farrell:
Jamie Farrell writes fun contemporary romances with quirky characters and lots of heart. She believes love, laughter, and bacon are the most powerful forces in the universe. Her debut novel, Southern Fried Blues, was a finalist for the 2013 National Readers’ Choice Awards and the 2014 National Excellence in Romance Fiction Awards.
A native Midwesterner, Jamie has lived in the South the majority of her adult life. When she’s not writing, she and her military hero husband are busy raising three hilariously unpredictable children.
What inspires you to write?
Everyday life inspires me to write. Oftentimes something in life has made me laugh before eight in the morning, usually something unexpected my kids say (“Mom! Squeaker won’t give me back my ninja banana!”) or a really bad joke from my husband (I won’t torture you with an example, I promise) and I want to share that joy with the world. The world can be such a dark and dreary place, but I think love stories full of laughter and heart can showcase the parts of life we too often overlook.
Tell us about your writing process.
I write by the seat of my pants usually, which means I spend more time in the editing chair than I do in the writing chair. With three little ones who like to rise before the sun, I’m usually out of bed and at my computer by 4:30 AM most mornings, since I write best after a good nights’ sleep. The best way to write is to make a habit of it, and that’s my time and place, usually with a cat in my lap too. And bunny slippers. The slippers are imperative.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I tend to listen more than I talk to them, and they’re hysterical. Every year when the Alabama-Auburn game comes on, I have a hero who pops in and tells me I better root for ‘Bama (even though I’m from Illinois). My upcoming country music hero will wince if I sing off-key and declare myself the next American Idol winner (which I would only say to annoy him, honestly). And even my husband will sometimes talk about my characters like they’re real.
What advice would you give other writers?
Just write. 🙂 Read a lot, and write. Believe in your story, and keep writing.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I had been submitting manuscripts to agents and editors for about six years when my rejections turned from rejection-by-silence or, “This isn’t right for us at this time,” to “This story is great, but I just don’t think the market is right for this kind of quirky right now.” That’s when I knew my craft and story was at the right level, and I decided to find an audience on my own through self-publishing.
I advise all authors who want to be published, even if they want to self-publish, to go through the process of submitting their books to agents and editors, and possibly contests too. It’s a great experience in getting ready to handle less-than-gushing reviews. Also take some time to understand the marketing and business side of being a writer. There are too many books being published every day for there to be any realistic expectation of accidental discovery.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think that there will be more and more fantastic books written, but they’ll be harder and harder to find because of the sheer number of books being published every day. But I’m going to keep writing the best books I know how, and have a great time going on the ride.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy, Military Romance
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Jamie Farrell Home Page Link
Link To Jamie Farrell Page On Amazon
Link to Author Page on Smashwords
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