Dark Gothic Resurrected Magazine

Posted on April 9, 2014 by journeyofjordannaeast

Last year, while I was participating in a local Autumn Authors Fair, I met the lovely Cinsearae Santiago. She is an amazing author and crafts-woman who was gracious enough to ask for my contact information so she could interview me for her award-winning Dark Gothic Resurrected Magazine. Live since 2005, it features the poetry and fiction of and interviews with up and coming artists. It was a top-ten finisher in multiple categories of the Preditors and Editors Readers Poll in 2013, including Best Fiction Magazine and Best e-Zine Editor. And that’s just last year!

Cinsearae conducted a very thorough interview in which she asked me about my writing, my characters, and what I’d do if I saw a zombie coming toward me. Here’s an excerpt:

Do you sometimes incorporate actual events in your writing? As a matter of fact, yes. I know, I write psychological thrillers and I’m not a cop, so I must be a serial killer, right? Let me explain. In the opening scene to Blood in the Past, Jillian and her roommate are mugged on a deserted subway platform. I based most of that scene on my own mugging, except mine took place around the corner from my building, not in the subway. Another example is the random gym member in Blood in the Paint who wears impossibly short shorts and is always straddling the machines and squatting in such a way that his “barbells” are showing. Yup, that guy exists. And he goes to my gym. Don’t be jealous. In addition, one of Lyla Kyle’s victims is patterned after a guy who practically stalked me when I was a bartender. He irritated me so much I put him in my novel and killed him off. Yes, authors really do that. No, I can’t go into further details for legal reasons.

To read the complete interview, get lost in some awesome short stories, and so much more, click HERE for a digital copy or HERE for a print copy!

Have You Ever Considered Writing in a Different Genre?

Posted on February 28, 2014 by journeyofjordannaeast

Recently I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Mel over at Coffee and a Good Book. She conducted the questioning via Facebook chat, so the conversation was very organic. I enjoyed the chat very much.

One of the questions she asked, which I don’t get asked often, was “Have you ever considered writing in a different genre?” In fact, I have considered writing in another genre. Over the summer of 2013, when I was taking a break from the Blood for Blood Series, I wrote a serialized novel that seems like it might border on YA. The two main characters are in their teens and members of a religious cult, living off the grid in the NJ Pine Barrens. I’m hoping that the material won’t be too dark for YA, though. Either that or I’m penning the world’s first YA psychological thriller (and I’m not sure if that’s as good an idea as it sounds…)

***To read the rest of the interview, click HERE***

How about you? Do you read multiple genres, wildly different from each other or do you stick to one main genre and its subcategories? If you’re an author, have you explored writing in different genres or do you “stick to what you know” in a sense?

Perfectionism, Working Titles, and the Blood for Blood Series

Posted on February 19, 2014 by journeyofjordannaeast

The lovely Amanda Surowitz has interviewed me yet again, guys! She’s one of my favorite people that I haven’t met in person (yet), she’s one of my fantastically critical beta readers, and apparently, she’s a big fan of the Blood for Blood Series. Her first question? Why isn’t Blood in the Paint coming out sooner? How awesome is that?

To see my answer to that, and the rest of her questions about working titles and what’s next for the Blood for Blood Series, view the full interview on her blog! And be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

Friday Feature: ME!

Posted on November 22, 2013 by journeyofjordannaeast

It’s been a while since I’ve taken over some corner of the internet. I missed it. I’d like to thank JM Kelley for having me over at her blog. Other than the opening questions, she had so many personal ones to choose from, it was hard to answer only five! I tried to keep it light and interesting. Here’s an excerpt:

Who are you and why are you here?

I am Jordanna East, an independent author-publisher of psychological thrillers and owner of two cats both named after food. I am here because screaming out of my living room window that I published a book and have another one on the way doesn’t seem to be working. I thought I might try some internet exposure. It’s quieter and the neighbors don’t complain as much.

If you ever get arrested, what will be the crime you’re charged with?

That’s easy. Murder, mitigated by temporary insanity. I’m thinking road rage or someone in the express lane in front of me at the store has more than 12 items AND is paying with a variety of small coins.

Want to read more? No problem. Click HERE to read the complete feature!

“Unexpecting” An Interview With Lori Verni-Fogarsi

Posted on April 24, 2013 by journeyofjordannaeast

You might remember last year, when I participated in something called the Sizzling Winter Blog Hop for fellow author Lori Verni-Fogarsi’s book, Momnesia. Well, I’m teaming up with her and her pals again to help spread the word about her newest release, Unexpecting. It’s about a couple of almost-empty-nesters who, preparing to embark on their new, quieter lifestyle, receive the shock of their lives when a pregnant teenaged girl shows up on their doorstep and announces that she’s the daughter they never knew they had! Yikes! Everyone please give a warm welcome to Lori. (And when you’re done, be sure to Visit the Blog Tour Page to find more features, book giveaways, and enter to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card! http://www.LoriTheAuthor.com/UnexpectingRelease)

Thanks for coming Lori! I hope you don’t mind, I’m just gonna dive right in here. How long have you been writing?

My writing career began in an unusual way, back in 1995. I owned a dog training school at the time and started putting out a monthly newsletter for marketing purposes. I was surprised when I began receiving requests from other publications to write for them, too! My writing career has progressed over the years to include many magazine and newspaper articles, a weekly syndicated newspaper column, three books, and more!

What was the first piece of writing you published?

The very very first would be the Best Paw Forward Newsletter, back in 1995. But if we’re talking books, it would be my first book, nonfiction, “Everything You Need to Know About House Training Puppies and Adult Dogs,” which was published in 2005 and continues to be highly recommended in its genre.

Do you have a favorite among your own works?

I don’t think I do. Each of my books is special to me in its own way. With the dog training book, I feel really good about helping so many people to keep and enjoy their pets. With Momnesia, I enjoyed getting to know so many moms and feel good about all the letters I’ve received from readers telling me it made them feel understood, or helped them enjoy their lives more. With Unexpecting, I think there will be a similar sense of commiseration amongst readers… “all of our families are crazy!” LOL.

Click to Purchase

What people, places, or situations have most influenced your writing?

All of my writing, whether nonfiction or fiction, has been inspired by real life in some way. Whether taking my worst nightmare and turning it into a story (Unexpecting), or sharing my own personal growth experiences in the form of a fictional story (Momnesia), it’s the happenings and emotions of real life that most inspire me to write.

Can any of your own personality traits be found in your characters?

Absolutely! Shelley, who is the main character in both Momnesia and Unexpecting, has a lot of the same personality traits as I do: Definitely Type A, kind of off-color, sometimes very funny, and other times way too serious!

What are your most and least favorite steps of the writing process?

What I struggle with the most are my own emotions, which fluctuate between one moment feeling like my work in progress is fantastic, and the next moment feeling like it’s unfit for human consumption! I find that when I’ve worked on a book so hard and for so long, I’m “pretty sure” it’s a good book (otherwise I wouldn’t let it go to press), but honestly, it isn’t until readers start doing reviews that I’m really sure!

Do you have time for reading? If so, what are you reading right now? What do you plan to read next?

Yes, I read a lot! At this very moment, I just finished reading, Memoirs Aren’t Fairytales, by Marni Mann. I enjoyed it a lot! It’s the gritty, realistic story (fictional) of a heroin addict. Next up? I’m not sure. Probably a murder/mystery. I tend to like to mix up genres from one book to the next.

What about movies? Do you have a favorite book-to-movie adaptation? Do you see any screenplays in the future of your own novels?

Like most avid readers, I’m not a big fan book-to-movie adaptations… I always feel like the book was better. However, I recently discovered that the classic movie, Shawshank Redemption was originally a Stephen King novel! I love the movie and have been searching to try and get my hands on the book, which is out of print. If one of my own novels were to become a movie, I’d have to recommend Momnesia. It would make an excellent romantic/family life/chick flick comedy.

If a film crew followed you around for a day, what would you most want to show off? Conversely, what would you most want to hide from your fans?

Hmm. What a scary question! I guess what I would show off is how much I get done each day, which I do believe is astronomical for the most part. What would I hide? The fact that many days, I don’t get dressed until late in the afternoon! (It’s a trade-off!)

How many stories do you think you have left in you?

Many!

(Bonus Question) How do you feel about the state of publishing today?

Honestly, I am very worried about the future of books while at the same time I am confident that something will be done to “save them!” With the uprise of independent (self) publishing, I’ve had the opportunity to read some fantastic works by some fantastic authors. Yet at the same time, I’ve had (more often than not) many negative experiences wherein I pick up a book only to find that it is riddled with spelling and grammatical errors. I think that indie publishing needs to mature, and that some quality controls need to be put in place, so that more authors will invest in professional editors and proofreaders before putting their books out there. Readers deserve to read quality material, and in my mind, indie publishing doesn’t excuse that responsibility.

Lightning Round: Blue or Black ink? Planner or Pantser? Jeans or Sweats? Beer or Wine? Sweet or Salty?

Black! iPhone! Jeans! Wine! Sweet!

Thanks again for hanging out with me and my followers here today and best of luck from all of us on your newest release, Unexpecting, available NOW on Amazon!

Thank you so much for hosting me on your blog! It’s been a pleasure chatting with you and I look forward to getting to know your blog’s followers!

Lori Verni-Fogarsi is the author of the hot new release, Unexpecting, as well as the award-winning novel Momnesia and the nonfiction, Everything You Need to Know About House Training Puppies & Adult Dogs. She enjoys interacting with her readers and invites you to connect or learn more at www.LoriTheAuthor.com. You can find her pretty much everywhere, actually: