Featured Interview With Jessica Hernandez
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in the beautifully sunny state of Florida. I attended the University of Miami, where I spent more time than I care to admit daydreaming of a faraway land called Acu. Upon graduating with a degree in English and Political Science in 2014, I put pen to paper and brought Acu to life—so resulted “Capering on Glass Bridges.” Here are a few fun facts about me:
* I love going to theme parks (#UniversalOrlandoAnnualPassholder).
* I am a compulsive ice-chewer.
* I am addicted to chocolate.
* Playing “Dance Dance Revolution” on my Wii is the closest that I’ll ever get to dancing (#NoRhythm).
* I live with a shih-tzu, a German Shepherd, and a bunch of saltwater fish.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I think that my love for all things related to storytelling was first kindled in high school. It wasn’t until college, though, that I actually started to consider pursuing a career in writing. When I was younger, I wanted to be a veterinarian. For whatever reason, I wound up changing my mind and looking into a career in marine biology. That didn’t stick for too long. After watching the Winter Olympics one year, I set my sights on figure skating. (You should have seen how quick my parents were to snap me back to reality!) Eventually, I removed the skates from my Amazon shopping cart and arrived at the decision to study medicine. It stuck…until I started college, that is. Long story short, it was in college that I realized that I wanted to write. And I lived happily ever after. 🙂
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love the classics, works of fantasy, and young adult novels. My favorite authors are Jane Austen, Leo Tolstoy, C.S. Lewis, J.K. Rowling, and Ransom Riggs. The one who has inspired me the most, however, is C.S. Lewis.
Lewis’ prose is exceptionally colorful. His writing style is such that readers can visualize the events unfolding in the narrative without any difficulty. I can still recall flipping through the pages of “The Magician’s Nephew” when I was younger and being in awe. The world that Lewis had created was so rich and so detailed that it felt extremely real to me; it felt organic. As a writer, I actively strive to emulate this effect. I want my readers to feel as though they’ve been transported to Acu—the fictional realm in which “Capering on Glass Bridges” is set. I want them to feel immersed in this world.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
“Capering on Glass Bridges” is a fantasy-adventure novel. It was born from an idea that I had while in high school. Over the succeeding years, I developed this idea considerably, and I often spoke with my mother about the fantastical world that I sheltered in my mind. It was she who encouraged me to write about it. As the end of my final semester in college approached, I made the decision to do as she suggested; I told myself that, upon graduation, I would finally pen the novel that had been floating about in my head for ages.
My novel is currently—and permanently—available for free download. To get your copy, simply go to Smashwords, Kobo, or iBooks. Here’s my book’s blurb:
The Utdrendans have spoken, and everything has changed as a consequence. People normally avoid the fog surrounding the cursed Kingdom of Mar, but now they are asking sixteen-year-old Kaia Stone to venture into it. The Utdrendans implied that there is something special about Kaia. They claimed that she could help free the land; she need only carry out their instructions and deliver a message to the Marian king.
Mar, however, is a land in which dark secrets abound, and many will stop at nothing to ensure that it remains forever cursed. Determined to work against Kaia, unfriendly forces have already begun to gather.
Will Kaia choose to abandon the only life she’s ever known—perhaps indefinitely—in pursuit of the greater good…in pursuit of her purpose?
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