H. Schussman interviews Jean Marie Bauhaus

Paranormal Fantasy Author and
Freelance Writer/Editor for Hire

Heidi:

First, Jean, tell us a little about yourself.

Jean:

I’m a writer and blogger from Tulsa, Oklahoma. When I’m not writing novels or blogging about my faith, I work as a freelance web content writer and occasionally I provide editing and book formatting services for indie authors. I’m a big ol’ geek who’s really into crafting, reading, really good TV and Netflix dramas, simple living, home decorating and my husband. I’m also quite fond of our little menagerie of four-legged dependents.

Heidi:

What genre do you write?

Jean:

The series I’m currently working on is clean paranormal romance, but I’ve also written urban and dystopian fantasy and occasionally dabble in horror and steampunk. (I had to google this term… steampunk is literature set in the era of steam powered engines, usually with a twist of sci-fi)

Heidi:

When did you start writing?

Jean:

I wrote my first short story in first grade. I think the protagonist was a talking football who didn’t like getting kicked around. I was a weird kid.

Heidi:

What are you working on now?

Jean:

I just finished Kindred Spirits, the sequel to my debut novel, Restless Spirits. Right now I’m taking a very short break before I get started on the next book in that series.

Heidi:

Who is your favorite character in your stories?

Jean:

That’s tough. It’s kind of like being asked to name your favorite child. I have a lot of fun writing Ron Wilson, the main protagonist in Restless Spirits, but really all of those characters are a joy to write. Outside of that series, I’d say my favorite is Alek Constantine from Dominion of the Damned.

Heidi:

Do you see yourself in any of your characters?

Jean:

Not really, although the Wilson sisters both share my sense of humor.

Heidi:

Where do you write? Describe your workspace?

Jean:

I don’t have a dedicated work space. I’ve tried that, but it turns out I hate sitting at a desk. I either use my laptop or a portable word processor called an AlphaSmart to write, so I tend to move around whenever I need a change of scenery to inspire me. Usually I’m either on the living room sofa or camped out in bed, but if the weather’s nice I’ll take it outside.

Heidi:

Do you have any new books out?

Jean:

As a matter of fact, my publisher just released Love Letter, a stand-alone novella set in the Restless Spirits universe. It's available wherever e-books are sold.

Heidi:

Who is/are your all-time favorite author/s?

Jean:

I’m terrible at picking favorites. This could be a long list. Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, George R. R. Martin, Joss Whedon (he writes comics sometimes, so I guess he counts as an author), Lani Diane Rich, Jim Butcher, Cherie Priest, C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkein . . . I think all of these authors have really helped to influence and shape my writing over the years.

Heidi:

Did you find writing a query letter a challenge? If so, how did you overcome it? Do you think there was a key phrase or idea in your query letter?

Jean:

I’ve actually never written a query for fiction. I’m intimidated so much by the process that this is one of the reasons I decided to self-publish. I’m just really fortunate that it worked out the way it did.

Heidi:

What advice do you have for a writer aspiring to be published?

Jean:

If you’re looking to be traditionally published, my best advice is probably don’t do it the way I did it, which was to self-publish and then have my book get discovered years later by a traditional publisher who offered me a multi-book contract. That just doesn’t typically happen. If traditional publishing is your goal, I’d stick to querying agents and submitting your work to publishers.

But if you want to self-publish, my advice is this: do the work and invest the time and money to produce a book that’s as professional-quality as possible. Don’t rush to get a sub-standard book out there. It’s so, SO hard to get noticed, but it will be easier if you do good work -- not just good writing, but good writing that’s well-edited, professionally formatted and has a really great cover. When you self-publish you’re not just a writer--you’re also your own publishing company. So treat your book the way you’d want a traditional publishing company to treat it.

Heidi:

Would you like to acknowledge someone for their faith in you?

Jean:

I’d really like to thank Dawn Carrington at Vinspire Publishing for reading Restless Spirits and deciding it was something she wanted to take a chance on. There wouldn’t be a series if not for her decision to e-mail me and ask if I was interested in continuing the story.

Jean’s social media links are all listed here, including her Christian lifestyle blog, Daydream Believer, which is at http://jmbauhaus.wordpress.com.

Website:    jeanmariebauhaus.com

Facebook:  fb.com/JeanMarieBauhaus

Instagram:  @jmbauhaus

Twitter:  @jmbauhaus

Portfolio:  jeanmariebauhaus.contently.com

Books:  amazon.com/author/jeanmariebauhaus
You Tube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0X-bsmlrGI

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MU9FZ3P/
Vinspire: http://www.vinspirepublishing.com/love-letter