JM Blake Interview Published on: 02, Nov 2018
Tell us a little about your family and hometown. Do you still live in your childhood home?
My whole family (in-laws included) lives on the East Coast--while my husband I live out West.
On a normal day, if you aren't writing, what would you be doing? Which is your favorite TV show to talk about?When I'm not tearing through a word count- I'm cooking, sneaking in video games (Tomb Raider for the win), screaming at a sports game, or enjoying the Cali sunshine. I am an L&O SVU fanatic and can identify actors by the role they played on the show. And like 3/4 of the planet, I'm obsessed with Game Of Thrones.
Who is your favorite character in the book "Impelled"? Would you ever consider meeting him/her in real life?My favorite character in the series is definitely MacKenna (main protagonist). I think we would be best friends IRL
What are some common stereotypes that people have of authors that do not hold true for you? What are some that do?Stereotype: That we can just whip out creative content on demand. I always have friends and family asking me to help with resumes, work reports etc. It's not organic for me in that fashion. However, it IS true that we drink lots of coffee and mutter out loud.
Have you ever borrowed any ideas from your friends or family for one of your stories or characters? What do you hope to accomplish with your books?Yes. I get a lot of inspiration from my circle. I hope that people can use my work to escape, relate and be entertained. And of course, scare the pants off of some folks.
What are some ways you bump up the romantic factor in a book? Which is your favorite romantic movie?I like passionate arguing and sexual tension--I think it amplifies the connection. A favorite romantic movie is Atonement.
What gave you the idea for the book "Compelled"? How did you mold this idea and make it your own?The whole Power Series is a classic take on Cinderella with a nerdy, sexy twist. There are elements of my personality (especially language) and my idea of what romance is
When did you first start writing the Dreadful Stories Series and did you plan on adding so many books to it from the beginning?Dreadful Stories is my dark half. The half that loves to be scared, disturbed, and creeped out. It's an ongoing series, with a distinct and secret link. I have a plan for where its going and how many stories it will take to get there.
Who are some of your favorite characters you've created from the Dreadful Stories Series? If you had the chance to revisit your past would you?I love all the characters but my favorite would be Des from "Swipe". She's such a jerk, but completely relatable and realistic. And a lot of readers have told me they felt bad for her on one hand and cheered for her comeuppance with the other.
Have you ever cried over a character's death in one of your books? Has a book by another author ever made you cry?NO SPOILERS. But yes. There is a death in "Compelled" that tore me up. The one book that I ugly cried over was "Bright Side" by Kim Holden. I can't even look at the cover of that book without choking up.
What inspired you to write a story about love, family and betrayal? How many more books you plan to write in The Power Series?Nothing is more painful than the betrayal of a family member- real or adopted. And I wanted to explore that. The whole series is five books with the last being a special novella.
What is one of the biggest mistakes you made as a new author and how did you fix it?Not setting realistic timelines- I'm an overachiever and thought it would spill over into my creative life. But my brain and life don't work that way. I had to pare down my personal expectations and learn to celebrate accomplishments.
What are you currently working on? What are some of your upcoming projects?Currently retconning a few things in the Power Series to fit into a project for next year. Getting ready to release "Inflamed" Book 3. And also three short stories in TDSS this month in time for Halloween. Also, another series releasing early next year that I am positively giddy over. I love the characters and the storyline.
