About JB Clemmens:
Mysteries have always been my reading staple, so after retiring from teaching high school mathematics, I started to write The Lieutenant James Series of mysteries. I like to incorporate some of my love of music (40+ years as a choral singer) and art (just a fan) in my books to add interest, but I don’t stray too far from the plot. I plan to release my latest, The Numbered Cups Mystery soon and am currently working on a non-fiction book about 1969, and a thriller.
What inspires you to write?
Often I get ideas for stories from current events, television (although I don’t watch the news as it disturbs me), social media and internet research. When I can envision a plot and characters from that idea, just starting to write inspires me.
Tell us about your writing process.
The answer to the previous question tells about my initial writing process, but after that I am more or less a pantser. I do create a character list and definitely come up with names for each, as it makes it easier for me to continue writing if I know my characters well. Generally, I also know who is going to commit the crime, how it’s done, and how he or she is caught before I get too far into the writing. When I’m stuck, I write out (longhand) possible new scenes and review them later.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Talk to my characters? No not much, but I do listen to them or I couldn’t write their scenes.
What advice would you give other writers?
I think you just have to start writing whether it’s a short story or the first chapter of a book. Your goal is to eventually please the reader, but first you have to please yourself. Be honest with yourself during that first attempt but don’t get discouraged, because you will get better even if you are good to start with.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I’m still trying to traditionally publish my books, but I admit that the ease and turnaround time of self-publishing drew me to it. It actually takes more time and effort to write query letters and interest an agent than it does to write a book, but I would advise continuing to try even if you self-publish.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
Some people will always prefer print books so they will probably still be around. In the future, though, eBooks will probably undergo a “house-cleaning” which will separate the poor publications from the better ones.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer
What genres do you write?: Mystery, Non-fiction, Thriller
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
JB Clemmens Home Page Link
Link To JB Clemmens Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
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