Louie Jerome and Judy Picoult : Different Style Author Interviews

Today I am sharing different styles of Author interviews.

I am delighted to introduce to you my mentor, Louie Jerome. We have never met in the flesh, but meet online on a daily basis. Our Brit humour keeps us united. As my writing strength and courage has grown, I have found I am able to help Louie on occasion, and a tight writing bond with trust has formed.

An Interview with Author Louie Jerome

"Welcome to my blog Louie"

"Thank you for having me, Glynis. What is it you would like to know about me?"

"I have a list, so here goes"...

Where were you born?

I wasn’t born; I was hatched from an egg which was laid in a cosy nest, in Wokingham, Berkshire, Southern England.

What is your background history?

I’ve travelled all over the world and lived for short periods of time in Germany, Malaya, Columbo, Hong Kong, Macao and Singapore. I eventually settled in the North of England, right up by the Scottish border, but it isn’t because I chose to live here. I think I just ran out of steam and got tired of moving around. I needed to put down some roots.

What Jobs have you had?

I have never been very good at being employed. I started out as an articled clerk with a firm of accountants, but I didn’t like the discipline. Then I went on to make a career for myself in advertising and marketing. I loved the constant pressure of working to deadlines. Then I decided to work on a self employed basis and I set up my own magazine which was successful for some years, but I soon got bored and my passion for writing came more and more to the fore. I realised that I could make a living from it, and that’s where I’m at now.

Do you have any pets?

I have a great big doberman/labrador cross dog called Sherman. He is totally devoted to me and has a real passion for pickled onions!

When did you decide you were a writer and what made you come to that conclusion?

I have always been a writer. It’s in my blood. I used to make comic books when I was very small and ‘sell’ them for sweets. So there has never been a time when I didn’t write. I never really thought about being a writer because it was, and is, as natural as breathing.

Are there any other authors in the family?

Jerome K. Jerome of ‘Three Men In A Boat’ fame was my great grandmother’s cousin, and my father has written an autobiography which tells about his life in the SAS.

What are you strengths and weaknesses within your writing?

I think that my main strength is in being able to write humour and having a good command of the English Language.(I should have because I also teach English). My main weakness is my inability to stick to one project. I always have several books, articles, or other works in progress.

Are you published?

Yes, I have several books in print. Peter And The Black Dog was published by AEG Publishing in New York, but I have to admit that my self published books which I have done through Lulu have sold many more copies. I think that POD publishing is the way all publishing will go in the future.

Do you use pen names?

This is something of a joke! I write under Jan Harper which is my name, Lizzie and Louie Jerome. The name varies with the content and the market. As Glynis observed a little while ago: Jan drinks red wine, Lizzie gets drunk and Louie falls over. She may well be right.

What does the future hold for you?

I have plans for two more novels and a host of ideas for shorter ‘fun’ type books. I am constantly planning and changing, so who knows what the future might bring. That’s the best part about being a writer; you can write your own future.

Describe briefly your writing day, do you have any special habits, foods etc, to see you through?

As soon as I get up in the morning I check my email and start planning blog posts for the day. I drink tea during the day and red wine (or brandy) in the evening. I don’t eat much in the daytime, because it really doesn’t occur to me to stop writing and get some food. I hate having to stop writing in order to deal with other things like English lessons I have to teach and housework.

What niggles you most about other writers?

I am most irritated by other writers who produce shoddy work because they don’t even bother to spell check, or edit it. I am not talking about the odd spelling mistake, but about work that doesn’t even make sense because the writer just threw it together. In my view, if you can’t be bothered to do the best you are able to do, then you shouldn’t bother writing.

What type of books do you enjoy and what is your favourite book?

My favourite books are the ‘Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency’ series by Alexander McCall Smith. He has a way of bringing the characters to life and really taking the reader into the story. These are very simple stories that draw the reader in and make it almost impossible to put the books down.

I like historical novels and anything with a far eastern theme attracts me.

What advice would you give to a new writer?

If you want to write just do it. Don’t worry about those who criticise and tell you to do it this way, or that way. Do it your own way. Express yourself and always edit over and over again and make your finished work the very best you are capable of.

Thank You Louie for taking the time to share your life with us. Find out more about Louie Jerome

Peter and The Black Dog

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I came across a video of the author Judy Picoult, I really enjoyed her vibrant personality and wanted to share it with you.