Jack Jordan Interview: Author of the Psychological Thriller My Girl
November 14, 2016 | Back
While my blog is typically about my work and life, I also want to bring awareness to other great authors out there and give you some new choices for future reads. To do that I′m going to do a series of author interviews from time to time with authors from around the globe and across genre lines. Without further ado, I give you the first of many author interviews to come.
Today I have bestselling author Jack Jordan from the United Kingdom for you. Jack is the author of the bestselling thrillers Anything for Her and My Girl, and describes himself on Goodreads as "...an introvert disguised as an extrovert, an intelligent person who can say very unintelligent things, and a self-confessed bibliomaniac with more books than sense." Below is our interview with Jack Jordan.
JORDON: Jack, welcome to the interview. Let′s go ahead and get started. First, why do you write? What is it that inspires or motivates you to put pen to paper?
JACK: I loved writing as a child, but I never thought I could choose writing as a career. It wasn′t until many years later when I was struck with agoraphobia that I started writing again. Unable to leave the house, I wrote short stories to pass the time, until one story began to grow and grow until I was staring down at a novel made of 100,000 words. My agoraphobia has gone now, but I′m forever thankful for it — without it I might have never found my true passion.
JORDON: Are you a full-time author or do you have another job by day and write by night?
JACK: I will become a full-time writer in 2017, but for the moment I work as a Customer Service Advisor, which fits around my writing well.
JORDON: Congrats. That′s a major accomplishment. So in that case, can you tell us about your most recently published books?
JACK: Anything for Her is about the relationship between a mother and her daughter, and how far parent will go to protect their child.
My Girl is about facing one′s fears, even when they′re deep within oneself.
These are the core themes of my books, but of course, as thrillers, they are also filled with suspense, shocks, and twists.
JORDON: What was your favorite scene to write, or favorite type of scene if the former would give too much away?
JACK: In general, my favourite scene to write is the finale chapter, usually where my protagonist′s fight for their lives. I love creating tension and an unpredictable outcome.
JORDON: A good thriller really is exciting. If you can make the book thrilling for you as the author it makes it that much better for the reader. Now, do you write exclusively in one genre, or do you explore multiple genres or maybe even bend genres?
JACK: It is my plan to write in other genres, but for now I′m focused on delivering thrillers to my audience. Once I′m fully established in the industry I will write books in other genres, most likely under a pseudonym.
JORDON: That sounds like a good plan. What is the most rewarding aspect of being an author?
JACK: Knowing that I made someone happy. Meeting readers is so rewarding.
JORDON: On the other side, what would you say is the most challenging part of writing?
JACK: Self-doubt. Silencing my inner critic while I′m writing is always a challenge.
JORDON: I know It′s hard to pick favorites, but who would your top three favorite authors be, and why?
JACK: I wouldn′t actually say that I have favourite authors, but I do have three authors that have influenced my work.
1) Shirley Jackson — she knows how to create terrifying characters.
2) Mo Hayder — Her book The Treatment scarred me for life — if that isn′t good writing, what is?
3) Karin Slaughter — she writes about violence and gore unapologetically, and her readers are grateful. I don′t like dumbing down descriptions of violence — not because I love it (I loathe violence), but because I want it to be authentic and effective, and when you write thrillers, writing about violence in one form or another is inevitable.
JORDON: Down that same avenue, what are your top three favorite books or series, and why?
JACK: My top 3 reads of 2016:
-Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell: there are so many things to hate about this story, but I finished the 1000-page book wishing there more pages to turn.
-The Lottery by Shirley Jackson: this a truly legendary short story.
-The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah: heartbreaking and totally absorbing.
JORDON: Now let′s get back to your writing. Some authors write spontaneously, some plan. Can you tell us a little about what your writing process is like?
JACK: I′m a real planner. I map out each and every chapter before I sit down to write. I want to know where I′m going, or I get lost in my own story. Chapters always change, but I work well with the timeline structure.
JORDON: I′m glad to hear that as I write in the same structure. It really does help. So many stories out there have happy endings because readers tend to want something happy, something that is a sort of escape. In your opinion, should every story have a happy ending?
JACK: Not at all. As a reader, I crave a happy ending, but as an author, I find ′Happy Ever After′s are very predictable.
JORDON: Can you tell us a little about your current project?
JACK: I can′t say much at this stage, but what I can say is that it′s the most challenging book I′ve written to date. I think it′s important to push myself; I never want to deliver a ′safe′ book.
JORDON: How much of yourself do you put in your books, in the characters and events?
JACK: You′d be surprised how much. I don′t set out to create characters who have elements of myself in them, but it always happens, however small. I think it′s why I′m so protective of my characters — I′m also protecting myself.
JORDON: Now on the dreaming side, if you are ever so fortunate to see your book made into a movie what actor or actress would you like to see play the main character in your latest book and why?
JACK: In my latest published book, I′d love Jessica Chastain to put on an English accent and dive into the plot of My Girl.
JORDON: Which do you prefer, paperback or eBook? Why?
JACK: Paperbacks. I only read physical books — I won′t succumb to reading on a screen. There′s nothing better than seeing my work in book form. But as a writer, ebooks are detrimental to success, and my ebook sales have changed my life.
JORDON: If you had to pick a favorite politician, who would it be, and why if you dare?
JACK: Senator Cory Booker, USA. I really hope he runs for President one day (I′m not even American!).
JORDON: My last question for you is whether you get revenge on real life people in your fictional stories?
JACK: I′d never give negative people the satisfaction of being a part of my work! That would make them too happy.
JORDON: That′s a very good point. I cannot say I had ever thought of it that way. Well, thank you very much Jack for answering my questions and good luck on your current project.
If you would like to know more about Jack Jordan you can find him on the below social network sites and you can also buy copies of his books at the Amazon links below:
Find Jack Jordan on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads
Get Jack Jordan′s books:
Anything for Her: US/UK
My Girl: US/UK