FIVE MINUTES WITH JESSICA CHAVEZ

Jessica Chavez is a grizzled veteran of the video game industry who has worked on over 40 titles for PC, Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft consoles. Former editor and then localization manager of XSEED Games, she now lives in England where she moonlights as a localization gun for hire and writes books.

Could you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?
 
I'm a bit of a wanderer, and I can't seem to stay put in one country even after marrying and starting a family. I worked in Japan for a few years where I met my husband, traveled extensively before settling in the US to work on video games, then moved to Australia when we got married. After that we moved to England, and I expect we'll be off on another adventure soon. My children are Australian and English while I'm American, and my husband has dual citizenship. Between the four of us we have eight passports, and I expect that number to increase. I drink a lot of coffee.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I love to draw and cook. I enjoy doing portraits for random people on the internet (especially for other authors for their bios), and nothing aids the creative process more than a contemplative few hours spent crafting something amazing in the kitchen.

Other than the horror genre, what else has been a major influence on your writing?
 
Aside from horror, fantasy and science fiction are my biggest time sinks, though occasionally I'll dip my toes into headier stuff like Eleanor Catton's The Luminaries. I just love the feeling of camaraderie you often get from fantasy book ensembles and the action/suspense of sci-fi thrillers and mysteries. I try to mesh those together in my own writing.


A lot of good horror movements have arisen as a direct result of the socio/political climate, considering the current state of the world where do you see horror going in the next few years?
 
It feels like the political climate right now is going to spawn more dystopian-esque or alternate reality horror, similar to what Black Mirror is doing. Films or books where we question where we might be going with technology and society. I think we'll definitely see more spins like The Purge.

How would you describe your writing style?

It's still evolving, but at the moment it's pretty straightforward with some flourishes and a touch of humor here and there. Thanks to my editor it's gotten a lot tighter.

Are there any reviews of your work, positive or negative that have stayed with you?
 
Yes! I got the most amazing 2-star review from a reader who won my book in a Goodreads Giveaway. The reader was a religious and very prodigious reviewer who noted particularly that she wasn't a fan of horror or the paranormal, and especially hated drinking, mentions of alcohol, and swearing. Basically...my book. She said it was almost impossible to get through because of all the “nasty words.”
 
But then she went on to give the rest a positively glowing endorsement. She liked the story, the characters, and the writing. It kept her reading till the end. For her to feel so negatively about some of the core components of the book and yet still finish it and like the characters and mystery really made me feel like I must have done something right. It was honestly the most flattering and encouraging review I've ever been given. I really appreciated getting such an unexpected perspective, and her criticism will absolutely be taken on board.

What aspects of writing to do you find the most difficult?
 
That moment that comes right after sitting down and putting your fingers on the keyboard. When I write, I have a shape in my mind of what I'm going to do. I can see it and where I want to go with it. I'm excited to put it to paper because it's basically done. And then I sit down to do it and immediately get distracted. Procrastination, that old enemy of writers everywhere.

Is there one subject you would never write about as an author?
 
I don't think so. There are plenty of subjects I'd struggle to do justice, but I'm willing to try anything. I think challenging yourself by writing things that you're not necessarily comfortable with (or that disturb you) is how you grow as a writer.

How important are names to you in your books? Do you choose the names based on liking the way it sounds or the meaning?

I don't overly dwell on the names of my characters when I start, but I do like to choose things that feel like they'll stick in the ear. Sometimes they'll give nods to a character's background or some personal detail or just roll off the tongue. I'm not wedded to them, though. If, as the story is being written, something doesn't jive right, I don't have a problem changing them.
 
Writing, is not a static process, how have you developed as a writer over the years?
 
I didn't start writing with any intention of putting out a book, so initially I was all over the place. I dabbled in everything from fantasy to poetry to comics. When I did finally decide to sit down and write a proper book I was well into my thirties and had a clear idea of what I wanted to achieve. It was crap. I tried again and it was slightly better. Since then I've had the good fortunate to work with some really amazing editors, and I'd like to think I'm improving every day.

What tools do you feel are must-haves for writers?

Coffee machine, wine opener, and a shower with excellent water pressure.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received with regards to your writing?

Less is more.

Getting your work noticed is one of the hardest things for a writer to achieve, how have you tried to approach this subject?

I've campaigned a lot on my own social media channels, gotten involved in some writing communities, and generally made a goose out of myself online. It's embarrassing sometimes, especially when it's your first book, but if you don't put yourself out there, you won't get eyes.

To many writers, the characters they write become like children, who is your favorite child, and who is your least favorite to write for and why?

My main character, Cailen, is the easiest to write, but Everett is my favorite because he's nothing like me. It's fun to see the world through the eyes of such a sunny, earnest person. My least favorite would have to be Gabriella, then, but not because I don't enjoy writing her. I just find there's less 'play' with her because of her confidence. She knows where she wants to go and there aren't as many funny detours as there are with the other characters.

What piece of your own work are you most proud of?

I'm pretty happy with some of the little comedic shifts in the book. People don't really expect comedy when it comes to horror, but such a grim backdrop really makes the small moments of absurdity or humor sparkle.
 
And are there any that you would like to forget about?

I think lessons learned by the end of writing the book would have really helped some earlier parts, but it was serialized in chapters, so I'll just have to hope that the whole of the story resonates more with readers than a stumbling sentence or two in the beginning.
 
For those who haven’t read any of your books, which of your books do you think best represents your work and why?
 
I've only finished the one (though the second will be completed by the end of this year!), but I think the core theme of practicality in the face of the fantastical with a dash of humor is pretty much what I do and plan on exploring for my next few books.

Do you have a favorite line or passage from your work, and would you like to share it with us?
 
            She started in after him, not sure if she was scared for him, or scared of being alone. As she turned to enter the kitchen area, she caught a hint of something to her back-left side, where she presumed the bedroom to be. She stopped short and peered down the darkened hallway to the back rooms.
            There was a hand by the light panel.
            “Crap,” she breathed.
            The hand retreated. Her stomach dropped miles below her feet.     Everett’s voice called from the kitchen, high and slightly cracked. “Get in here! It’s stronger over here! Shit... Am I standing in a dead guy? Tell me if I’m standing in a dead guy!”
 

Can you tell us about your last book, and can you tell us about what you are working on next?
 
Dead Endings is my first book, and it's a supernatural thriller about a woman named Cailen who can see ghosts that gets dragged into investigating a strange series of murders by Everett Jung, another person who can sense spirits. Set in New York, it's a kind of practical approach to the paranormal with some real world horror thrown in. I wanted to show a realistic (and somewhat cynical) take on the genre, and their ghost hunting adventures continue in my current project, Dead Leads, the sequel to Dead Endings.
 
If you could erase one horror cliché what would be your choice?

The one where when confronted with the unexpected, everyone loses their minds and stops thinking rationally. I've always hated that characters in horror aren't allowed to talk to each other and relay relevant information, or react in practical ways when met with a threat. It's a cheap device used to build conflict and kill people off.

What's the one question you wish you would get asked but never do?  And what would be the answer?
 
Question: “Did you actually research all the alcohol in this book?”
 
Answer: “Why, yes. Yes, I did.”

Find out more about Jessica Chavez and work by following these links and social media accounts 

Social media:
Twitter - @Hprotagonista   
Goodreads  
Amazon Author Page
Dead Endings
Publisher's book page on their magazine site (there are character bios/art here):

dead endings 

In the city that never sleeps, spirits are equally restless and vie for the attentions of those who can sense them. Cailen Delaney, grad student and long-suffering ghost magnet, would rather spend her break getting reacquainted with her pillow, but is instead dragged into the aftermath of a strange series of murders by Everett Jung - a fellow sensitive with an...unusual ability. Armed with nothing but coffee and alcohol-fueled cynicism, Cailen reluctantly joins him on a search that seems to end in death at every turn.Join Jessica Chavez (author) and Irene Flores (illustrator) through the streets of modern New York City in this darkly comedic mystery about the connection between life and death...and how sometimes, literally, the separation is razor-thin.

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