Interview Jessica H. Davies

by

Sherry Derr-Wille

1.) Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I was born and raised in Southern New Jersey into a Born-Again Christian home. Because of this loving environment and faithful nurturing, I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart at a young age. I was also born with an active imagination, which never left me bored. I needed an outlet for the stories wandering around in my head so I started to write them down. And that’s how it all began! More about myself...I love being outside, reading, writing, history, antique stores, archaeology, horses/animals/nature, singing, dancing, the mountains, quiet times, and I love being home!

2.) How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing since I was a child, I just never knew I had a talent until later in life.

3.) How do you write? Do you work from an outline or allow your characters to help in unfolding the plot?

I write by the seat of my pants. I usually get a scene or idea and write that down with the setting. I don’t outline my characters at all. I start writing them and they tell me who they are and what they look like. From that point on, it unfolds into a story.

4.) Do you have a writing schedule?

No. I know I should but my life is not in order either so I think it fits my lifestyle right now.

5.) What do you like the most about your main characters?

I like that they are real, deep, troubled and searching. They are three-dimensional and there is more than meets the eye. You can keep pulling back layers and still have more to go.

6.) What do you like the least about your main characters?

Each one is different so I really couldn’t pinpoint a character flaw because I try to make everyone different, just like real people. All of my main characters have strong points and weak points, most of the time two or more.

7.) What kind of books do you like to read?

I love to read Historical Romances, especially Inspirational. I love stories with love, romance, adventure, suspense... I like to be taken on a ride with my characters and be swept away to another time and place and end the book with a contented sigh. There aren’t many in the Inspirational field but that’s beginning to change

8.) If you could be any person in history, who would you be?

Of course nobody ever says they want to be a scullery maid or a peasant, which is probably what I would’ve been. I don’t know. I would have liked to have been in the Revolutionary War era. When our young nation leaned on God and burned with a new song. Other than that, I would like to have been in a position where I could have made a difference.

9.) If you could take your dream vacation where would you go? Who would go with you?”

I would take my family to England, travel to Scotland and Wales and then, of course, travel to Europe and even take a side trip to Australia and New Zealand.

10.) Which comes first your title or your story?

My story. I get sections here and there--sometimes in the middle or the end of the story and piece it together like a patchwork quilt. In the end, it is a perfect design.

11.) In the writing world, who is your idol and why?

It would be Charlotte Bronte. My favorite book is Jane Eyre. I love her work because it is in-depth and real. She was talented and burdened by so many troubles and much grief, plus she went into narration–1st person dialogue which today, by most publishers, is unacceptable. That is an art that we’ll never see again. Many classic authors did that and setting description. We can learn a lot from our predecessors, plus, without them, we wouldn’t be writing today.