Who is your target audience?
In a wide sense, my target audience is anyone who wants to be inspired by the strong principles and morals of the 19th century, while being entertained with a poignant love story. Civil War buffs, of course are a part of that audience, but it is not simply a Civil War story. It’s a story full of hope and heartbreak, as the loyalty and love of the two main characters clashes with honor and conviction.
Readers who cherish good, old-fashioned, classic, romantic fiction are as much a part of that audience as historical fiction enthusiasts.
What will the reader learn?
Many readers are not interested in reading a dry book about the Civil War, so it became a mission for me to weave a story around the facts, create characters with real feelings, and make history come alive. If readers are entertained and fall in love with the characters, they won’t even know they are learning something. With that said, I think readers will learn a little more about the issues that led to the War Between the States, and how far we’ve moved away from the strong morals and principles that were once such a vibrant part of our culture.
Describe you working environment.
I have a beautiful office in a pre-Civil War home with a huge antique desk that I really love – but rarely use for actual writing. I do most of my writing on a chair in my living room with a computer on my lap. I have a wild bird feeder, a butterfly bush, and a humming bird feeder within my direct line of vision, so when I lift my eyes, I always have something interesting to watch. I have read that this is actually a beneficial exercise because it engages a different part of the brain, giving the creative side a rest. If I get stuck, I watch the birds for a few minutes, and when I get back to work, the problem often solves itself.
Do you have a website or blog?
Yes to both. My website is authorjessicajames.blogspot.com, and my blog Life in the Past Lane is www.jessicajamesblog.com .
Do you have another book in the works?
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