Jaylee Austin

I was born in Newport Beach, California until the young age of five. My parents split up and I moved around for a period of time. The bulk of my teenage years I lived in Florida and Alabama until I went back to California at the age of twenty-0ne to go to Orange Coast College where I studied music, dance, and philosophy. I’ve lived in Apple Valley known as the high desert. HOT. HOT. HOT for fifteen years. I work in the happiest place on earth—Anaheim, California home of Disneyland. I teach junior high students. Do you remember the first story you ever read and the impact it had on you?

As a child, I loved Mary Poppins. I’d listen to the record over and over again. I have no idea how many records I scratched. Today with digital streaming you just program the song into your phone. My brother hated the words a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down. I’d sing it over and over. Here’s a little secret, I have Mary Poppins sitting on my desk in the classroom. She still helps me take my daily doses of medicine. As a child, I read the story repeatedly. As an adult, I read P.L. Travers, she was quite a prolific essayist and writer. During my growing up years, I loved the Anne of Green Gables series. Her strong independence, the fact she always found mischief, and her flaming red hair. As a young person, I was able to identify with her because I lived without my mother like her and was always in search of answers to far off questions. Who is the most supportive person in your life when it comes to your writing?

The most supportive people in my life when it comes to writing would be the community of writers from RWA and RWA Orange County. Due to the Pandemic and other situations many community groups are in transformation. It is important to find like-minded people who have some of the same passion and desires as I do. My best advice is search and find your community either online or join a social media group. The next person I couldn’t live without is my critique partner. We met early in both our careers and have worked together for many years. Having another there to lend a hand, be your cheerleader, or just honestly tell you when your words need a face lift. A strong partner is vital to our success. Your thoughts on conventional vs. self-publishing? What route did you choose and why?

Conventional publishing versus self-publishing is a hot topic in today’s market. In reality there are pros and cons to both. The joy of owning your business offers extreme success but also intense mistakes. Marketing, advertising, and writing depends on you. My experience has presented obstacles with connecting with other people. Even though I’m out going, I tend to be reserved and stay isolated. I work all the time and always forget to establish friendships. I’m horrible about staying connected on social media. I admire those who appear to flawlessly accomplish writing, marketing, and publishing a book. For me it’s all the tech stuff that overwhelms and frustrates me. I want a fairy goblin to magically make it all work. How has been your experience of teaching Language Arts?

Teaching Language Arts. I’ve taught high school and junior high and I have to say when we focus on narrative writing as well as poetry I’m delighted. I love teaching the students to put on their creative hats and imagine new worlds. In school many times we focus on the analysis of a story or the development of an argument. These skills are vital for students to build critical thinking and communication skills. But my absolute favorite is teaching them to use their imagination to bring their ideas alive with metaphor, imagery, and characters. In what ways do you aim to inspire young writers?

I inspire young writers with a growth mindset. A belief that all failure or preceptive of failure is an opportunity to learn and to improve your craft. Mistakes aren’t personal their stepping stones to that ultimate dream in your life. In writing and inspiring other people, it is important to emphasis that there is no such thing as a RIGHT WAY. All processes work. You have to find your own particular style and hone your craft. Passion is a strong form of inspiration for one’s heart and soul. The beautiful light that surrounds a person when they believe in their gifts makes the day a brighter place for all of us. How many books do you plan to write in the "A Sarim Prince" series?

In the Sarim Prince Series they’re twelve brothers who each have experienced the curse of losing their mate to the other pantheons across the universe. I haven’t decided whether to combine or give each brother their own story. What is difficult is keeping the over-arching conflict alive. In book four we deal with the heart chakra and the brewing conflict in the fae realm between the light and dark. This conflict will make its appearance in the Yellowstone books, but will not be completely resolved until book five. In books two and three of the Yellowstone Series Grace will lead the shifter packs alongside her brother against the witch and warlocks who are determined to capture the fae and steal their resources. The necromancer villain introduced in books one and two will be resolved. But a new conflict will arise, the dark fae are determined to infiltrate humanity. The problem is the dark fae like vampires feed off human energy. What does it take to write a paranormal romance novel?

What does it take to write fantasy? Inspiration and a creative imagination to envision a different world. In creating my paranormal universe most of my story is rooted in society and the issues I see around me. Most of my writing has to do with the age-old question if we exist then why can’t there be other species beyond our own who think critically, have emotions, and experience love. As a writer, I constantly ask where did our origins begin? Why couldn’t there be parallel universes in which many dimensions at one time exist. What about magic and the ancient ways versus technology. Twenty years-ago people had little concept of the digital world in which we all live. I think curiosity and wonderment are key elements to a paranormal, sci-fi, or fantasy author. Who inspired the character of Uriel Connor in "Magically Delicious"?

Who inspired Uriel? I collect these bronze statues of the angels and I’ve always wanted to write a story about them. I started researching and Uriel became the perfect choice for the first book. Uriel and Lucifer are twin brothers. They both are bringers of light. Lucifer brings in the dawn while Uriel brings the dusk. Lucifer has white wings while Uriel has black. I love the irony of these two opposites. They both are bringers of justice and close to their father. In the Sarim Prince Series Uriel is the base root earth chakra of the kundalini dragon. What interested me most is that in christian legends Lucifer was God’s favorite until he decided to challenge his father’s authority. I’ve always loved rebels especially since I’m a rule follower overall. Being Lawyers in Magically Delicious they see injustices throughout the human world and are helpless to intervene because of humanities free will. What is the significance of the title of your novel, Dragonfly Heart?

Dragonfly Heart is a story of losing my first true love. I was not so lucky as my character to have a second chance at rekindling romance. The story came from the deepest part of my heart. I was young, outgoing, full of life, and ready to take on the world. In college I didn’t realize I’d met the perfect man of my dream. Forty years later I still experience a moment or memory that pops into my thoughts. This is not to say I haven’t had other relationships but the heart of who we were at the time has never left me. I hate to blame our childhood on our decisions, yet here I’m going too. I didn’t understand what real love, respect and understanding between two people was. I like many young girls lacked any real knowledge of our own inner woman. I lacked a healthy positive modal to show me what a healthy relationship could be. Dragonfly Heart is a fantasy of what it might be like if I had a do over. I still believe in love and that I’ll be blessed like one of my characters with my own fairytale and happily ever after. It’s never too late to find love. Dragonflies are my favorite jewelry, pictures, and totems. As a little girl they used to land on my finger when I lived in the swampy lands of the deep south. They remind me of the dragon realm with their beautiful iridescent wings. How much ‘world building’ takes place before you start writing?

World building: I don’t spend a great amount of time world building due to the fact my stories take place in contemporary times with an alternate universe. A society that is familiar with the majority of people in our community. I spend time developing the magic and gifts the characters are endowed with or the materials needed to create spells and potions. Describe your writing space.

My office is a magical room filled with mystical statues, bronze angels, fairies (cyberpunk, elemental, nymphs), and dragons. I’m very organized. My writing books are within reach for reference. I also have a special spot on my desk for Tilly, my pug who loves to work along side me. She’s either on the desk or sitting on the chair behind my back. If she’s tired of me working she scratches my leg telling me to throw one of her stuff toys. She is my shadow and never leaves my side when I’m working. She’s my pug-a-poo in black who helps me traverse the universe and search out new worlds. Is writing your full-time career? Or would you like it to be?

I would love for writing to be my full-time career, but I’m one of those people who likes to know exactly what my income will be. In teaching I know that I will have this much money every month. The idea of not knowing if I’d even have enough money to pay the bills would send my stress level right through the roof. In some ways I assume it would make someone work harder but then it would take the creativity and pleasure of writing away. I’m planning on retiring and writing full time in 2023 after I go to New Zealand and Australia. After I pay for the trip then I’ll feel comfortable risking my monthly income. Which is the next book you are writing? What is it about?

I’m currently working on Warrior’s Guild book three in the Sarim Prince Series. Here is the blurb for the book.

Jophiel and Christine have an impossibly difficult mission to complete together—and a magnetism neither of them can deny.

It wasn’t supposed to happen like this.

As far as heavenly experiments go, mortals are interesting to observe from a distance, but their lives are fleeting. They’re selfish, impulsive, and determined to destroy each other, if not their entire planet.

It’s my job as a member of my angelic guild to monitor the celestial and mortal realms, keep the peace, and only interfere when absolutely necessary.

That’s how Christine Monarch, pro wrestler and descendant of Poseidon, came under my supervision. She has no idea about her heritage or the training she needs to do in order to fulfill her part of an ancient prophecy, and she’s wasting precious time she doesn’t have.

Angels don’t make friends with humans. They definitely don’t form attachments to them. Even ones as confounding, infuriating, and irresistible as Christine. It’s forbidden.

Why, then, is she destined to be my soul mate? And if I can’t convince myself of the truth, how am I going to make the choir of angels understand?

How am I supposed to win over Christine when I can barely remember what it’s like to be human?

I’m about fifty percent finished. I plan to release late spring or early summer.

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