Featured Interview With J.L.Clayton
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
All my life I have lived in the USA, right now I am currently living in Leachville Arkansas. It is a small town and I love it. I work at the local post office delivering mail. I have a beautiful daughter, Shyla; she is 15 years old and so very smart. I could not have asked for a better kid! I am married to an awesome man, Robert. We have been married now for 15 years. He is there for me when I need him, yes we have are downs, but the downs are what makes a marriage stronger.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Believe it or not, I was 27 years old before I read a book. Yes, it is shocking that I waited so long to know what a marvel reading and writing was to me. Okay, so I watch the movie Twilight. Yes, I know some of you avid readers dislike all things Twilight and that’s your prerogative, but I love Twilight! In addition to that, the movie Twilight changed my whole prospect on reading and writing. After the end of the movie, I was a little curious, wanting to know what would happen next. I was talking to one of my friends, telling her how I wished I knew what was going to happen next. At this point in my life, I guess you could say I kept myself sheltered from books. The only books I ever read, was the ones they provided in school. So Nikki, my friend, she told me that the movie was actually one of four books. I was surprised, but there was no way I was going to read a book and as far as I knew, books where so not my thing. Yet, Nikki went on and on. The girl was very persistent about how good the books are. If I was to just give them one try, she was sure I would love reading. Consequently, as you can guess, I gave in and did as she suggested. After that, I was hooked: Reading all four books in no time! And then this crazy-wild-insane thing happened . . . I sat down at my computer and started to write my first book: A Spark of Magic Chosen Saga Book One. I never knew I would love reading, but now I have read over 700 plus books. I definitely never considered anywhere in my life that I would be writing. But here we are; five years later and A Spark of Magic is in stores. I can say whole heartedly that writing is my passion now, and it’s a passion that I want the world to know!
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love so very many authors, but I have to say my favorites are: P.C. Cast, Kim Harrison, Keri Arthur, Karen Chance, Rachel Hawthorne,
Richelle Mead, Rachel Vincent, Laurell K. Hamilton, Susane Colasanti, Cassandra Clare, Stephenie Meyer and Parker Blue, that’s just a little in a long line of favorites! Same goes for genres, I love almost every genre out there, but my very favorite ones are: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance and Chick Lit. Who do I think inspired me to write? I would say my friend Nikki. If she had not pushed me into reading Twilight, (thank God for her stubbornness ), I’m sure I would not have started writing. And if I did not love Stephenie Meyer’s books, I would not be on the path that I am on now!
Tell us a little about your latest book?
There is some young lust and a little blurring of lines between fantasy and reality. My character Charlie is moving again. Her family is always moving, but this time it’s not so bad. She’s turning 16, finally making friends and crushing on some seriously hot guys. Fortunately for Charlie, the aforementioned hot guys’ feelings seem mutual. There’s just one problem: A seductive male voice is invading her dreams. What’s worse is that now it seems he is invading her waking hours as well! Once she learns why, the knowledge will blur the lines between reality and imagination. Charlie is on a journey to discover who and what she really is-and why her family moves so frequently. A Spark of Magic is loaded down with a lot of twists and turns. And to me, almost all of my characters feel so real, as if you really know someone just like them.
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