Interview with Jade Jones

Jade Jones is a heavy hitter in these literary streets. Not only does she have a lengthy catalog, but she also has several pen names with a lengthy catalogs as well. With her first book being released in 2012, she's accomplished a lot in the last nine years, with national best selling author being at the top of the list. Keep scrolling to read our exclusive interview with this legend in the making.

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1. When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?

I knew that I wanted to be a writer ever since I was a little girl. I’d say specifically around the age of seven. I’d write short stories and poems in my composition notebook, and I was in the Young Author’s Club in elementary school. Throughout my teenage years, I continued to read, write, and hone my craft. But I didn’t pursue publishing until I was twenty-two years old. I’ve been writing full-time ever since!

2. Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

I get my inspiration/ideas for my books from many sources. “Cameron,” my best-selling novel, is loosely based on my life as a stripper and college student living in inner-city Cleveland. Many of my books have been the same. I take a lot of inspiration from my own experiences or the people I’ve met, or the relationships I’ve had. Those books have always been the most impactful—for myself and the readers.

3.What has influenced you the most as a writer?

Seeing successful African-American authors and publishers has always influenced me the most as a writer. Growing up, I would read Triple Crown books, and I’d tell myself that one day I would be signed to them or become an author whose name was equally as important as theirs.

4. How do you come up with the names for your characters?

I come up with the names for my characters a few ways. Sometimes I think of them on my own. Other times, I ask my readers to help me come up with names in exchange for a free e-book. I’ve always loved the second way more because the readers think of names I would’ve never come up with on my own. I also enjoy having them play a role in my creative process.

5. Who is the most supportive person in your life when it comes to your writing?

When it comes to writing, the most supportive people in my life are and will forever be my readers. They were the first people to believe in me when no one else did, not even my family. They’ve been supporting me since day one, and because of that, I feel inclined to keep going and giving them precisely what they crave from the literary world.

6. How do you think your writing has helped you as a person?

My writing has helped me as a person by showing me the meaning of hard work and consistency. Before I began my self-publishing journey, I worked many dead-end jobs that I either quit or was fired from. I gave up on most things in my life, whether it be a job, or a friendship that I felt was one-sided, or a relationship that no longer served that other person and me. But writing books is something that I never gave up on. It’s something that I will never give up on. It’s my therapy. It makes me happy, and it makes my readers happy (as long as the ending goes their way, lol). Writing has made me a better person because it taught me dedication and instilled a work ethic in me that I didn’t have before.

7. Who are some of your favorite authors that you feel were influential in your work? What impact have they had on your writing?

My favorite authors are Jessica Watkins, Phoenix Daniels, T Styles, Stephen King, EL James, and Robert Kirkman. T Styles has been the most influential in my work. I’m a huge fan of her books!

8. What makes your books stand out from other authors?

I believe what makes my books stand out from others is my talent to deliver a raw, unfiltered, dynamic storyline that is relatable and thought-provoking. I also have an uncanny ability to create characters that really stick with you, for example, Cameron of my “Cameron” series. It’s been ten years since the first book came out, and readers still remember her name and story. I am very proud of that!

9. What are some ways in which you promote your work? Do you find that these add to or detract from your writing time?

I find social media interaction as my most successful way of promoting my work. I don’t feel like it detracts from my writing because I enjoy interacting with my readers—especially in my Facebook fan group. It feels like one big family. We talk to each other like we’re long-time friends, and I guess in a way, we are. I listen to what they want from a book, and they support me in any way that they can, even if it’s something as simple as helping me come up with a name.

10. Where can readers find out more about you and your work?

Readers can find out more about me and my work by visiting my Instagram page @authorjadejones or my Amazon Author Central page. I also have a website www.jadedpub.com.