Interview With Author Jacqueline Seewald

Welcome, Jacqueline! So great to have you here. Please tell us a little about yourself and the novels you have had published.

    I’ve taught writing courses including Creative Writing, Expository and Technical Writing at the college level. I also taught high school English for some years and have worked as both an educational media specialist and an academic librarian. Eleven of my books of fiction have been published. My short stories, poems, essays, reviews and nonfiction articles have appeared in hundreds of publications such as: THE WRITER, THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, PEDESTAL, SURREAL, LIBRARY JOURNAL, and PUBLISHERS WEEKLY. I’ve also won multiple awards for fiction, poetry and plays.

My most recently published novel is THE TRUTH SLEUTH, the third Kim Reynolds’ romantic mystery (the heroine is a librarian, reluctant sleuth and psychic). Prior to that, TEA LEAVES AND TAROT CARDS, a paranormal historical romance set in the Regency era, was published in both hardcover and large print editions.

1)               What genre do you prefer to write? Why?

I especially enjoy writing romantic mystery novels. When possible I also include elements of the thriller and the paranormal.

Which author has been the most inspiring to you as a writer?

That’s a difficult question because there have been so many. For historical romance, I would have to say Jane Austen. I’ve read and reread all of her novels. For modern fiction, I greatly admire Jayne Ann Krentz. I’ve read all of her novels as well. She does quality fantasy, sci-fi, contemporary and historical romantic suspense. She was also kind enough to both read and endorse my historical romance TEA LEAVES AND TAROT CARDS.

2)           Regarding writing, what one piece of advice do you consider most valuable?

Here’s what I’d say to anyone who wants to write. If you really want to be a writer, don’t let anyone or anything discourage you. Be a pit bull. Keep writing and rewriting. Read a lot. Write a lot. It’s the only way to get good at the craft.

3)     What do you consider to be the high points of being a published author?     What about the low points, if any?

There have been lots of low points but many high points as well. I don’t dwell on negatives. A high point was getting THE INFERNO COLLECTION accepted for publication, seeing it get good reviews and numerous library orders. I’m also pleased that Harlequin Worldwide Mystery has purchased paperback reprint rights for THE DROWNING POOL which will come out in February 2012. I really want my novels to receive a wide reading audience.

4)    What are you working on currently?

I just finished checking over the copy edit of DEATH LEGACY, my next Five Star/Gale romantic mystery thriller which will be published in March 2012. It’s a fast-paced espionage thriller, different from my previous novels. I also just collaborated on a novel with my older son Andrew who is a criminal defense attorney. We completed a new murder mystery, THE THIRD EYE. I intend to offer the novel to Tekno Books, Five Star/Gale’s book packager, when they open again to submissions at the end of July.

5)             What is your favorite quote (any topic)?

I used this quote in the front of STACY’S SONG, my YA novel that L&L Dreamspell recently published in both trade paperback and all ebook platforms:

“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.”

Henry David Thoreau, Walden, Conclusion, 1854

6) You’re on a desert Island, which 3 books (other than your own) would you have with you to read and re-read until you hopefully get rescued:

The Bible (for comfort), Jane Austen’s PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (for enjoyment), THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING (to strengthen my mind).

7)             How can we find you?

I tell everyone to request my novels at their local library. I believe in libraries. But should you want to purchase my novels, they are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble Online, Borders, and a host of other booksellers.