Good morning monster readers! I am so excited to have author JK Allen on the blog today.
Welcome JK!
What inspired you to be an author?
I wrote my first story the day after I learned to write and kept up with writing my whole life. Stories, song lyrics, poems, you name it. When I went to college, I learned I could major in Creative Writing and it just made so much sense for me. Writing was something I loved so much for as long as I could remember. It was then I made the decision that I wanted to be an author.
What genre do you write?
I dabble in a few genres, but I mostly write YA and urban fantasy. Though I find horror to be a lot of fun to write. I just love the themes of YA and fantasy is my favorite genre to read and write.
What is your current project?
I am working on the Angelborn series. Angelborn is my debut novel, and the sequel is with the publisher waiting to begin with the editing process. I’m currently writing book 3. It’s been plotted, so I just need to sit down and get the words out.
Tell us about Angelborn.
Ginny Gracehurst thinks she’s just a normal teen until she gets a bruise that won’t fade and starts having strange dreams. She’s thrust into a world she never knew existed and everything changes. Here’s the blurb:
High school is all about boy meets girl, girl gets demon mark, and girl finds out she’s half-angel. At least that’s how it is for Ginny Gracehurst.
Sixteen year olds have a lot going on in their lives, and Ginny is no exception. Grades, homework, pimples, oh and now the sudden appearance of a demon mark. And discovering her father, who she thought was dead, is actually the great angel Grace. Who is very much alive.
With unforeseen powers growing, she has to figure out who she really is. While also staying out of the reach of a powerful half demon who is hell-bent on bending her to his will. The Alliance, an organization that is supposed to help people like her, is threatened by her potential gifts. They are more invested in their own hierarchy than in upholding their divine mandate. It’s up to her and a new friend, Aiden, to protect not just herself, but the ones she loves.
What were you like as a child? Did you like to write then?
I was always writing or reading. I read everyday, sometimes more than one book a day. Which really fed my imagination. I was a big day dreamer.
What is your favorite book? Why?
I have so many I love, but I would have to say my favorite is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. The characters are so wonderful and she makes the ordinary so exciting and interesting. You really become invested in what’s happening and feel a gamut of emotions. I hope to be able to write like that.
What is your favorite book that you have written? Why?
Angelborn is my debut novel and my favorite so far. The story just poured from me and was a wonderful experience to write.
Do you have a writing routine?
I have a writing process. I begin with thinking about the characters and filling out my information on them. Then I start to plot. I take notes on what I want to happen then begin building my scene list. I use index cards so I can organize and shuffle them around to find the perfect order. Then I begin writing. Thanks to my scene list, I can write out of order since I know what happens before and after each scene I start. This really helps my process.
Are you a full time author or do you have a day job?
I work for Our Write Side, which is a wonderful literary company and a great resource for writers. I am on the Executive Board as well as the Head Editor and Head Poetry Editor.
Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
Write first and edit later. Don’t stifle your creativity by putting your editing hat on too early. It’s really a completely different way of thinking, so don’t switch back and forth. Also, good writing is rewriting. Get that first draft down. It will not be perfect, but that’s what editing is for, to make it shine. Get the draft out first.
Where can we find Angelborn and where can we find you online?
You can find Angelborn at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FNK3Y66
and https://www.books2read.com/u/b62Rx0
And you can find me at
Instagram: www.instagram.com/hijinkswriter
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hijinkswriter
Twitter: www.twitter.com/hijinkswriter
Plot Monster 