What kind of books/stories do you write?
--I call myself a nontraditional urban fantasy author, because I buck a lot of the established trends for that particular sub-genre. My books also have a healthy dose of alternate history, and I think I’ve created a fun playground for my characters. Luckily, I write for a small press that is known for bending the rules, and so far they support my creativity.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
--Around the summer I attended my third Space Camp, much to my parents’ dismay. My love of space and science led me to science fiction, and eventually, creating my own worlds seemed so much more interesting (an attainable) than merely leaving this one.
What do you consider the most influential book you've ever read?
--Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy (known more commonly in the United States under The Golden Compass) was a huge inspiration to me in high school because it combined so many disparate elements of fantasy set in a familiar, yet completely different, world. It’s been a guiding star in my creative endeavors, especially as I see so many other stories forced into certain molds due to mainstream genre expectations.
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
--While I do extensively outline my books, scene by scene, before I start writing a word, if I did all the research I thought I might need beforehand, I’d never actually write the book. Instead, I get a good sense of the big picture, which might mean dedicating a day to immersing myself in Chinese names online or visiting the Smithsonian Natural History museum. Then, as I come across minor details while I write, I leave notes to myself about things I need to look up to fill in the narrative canvas during my second draft.
Any last thoughts for our readers?
--As a small press author, I love encouraging readers to try something new. While it’s certainly easy to stick to what’s put face-out by the booksellers at Barnes & Noble, there are dozens of excellent authors going the indie publishing route (whether small press or self-published) for every one published by a big New York company. A great way to start is to check out what your favorite authors are reading if they talk about it on their blog or other social media.
Links/promotional things (include any photos you would like)
--Blog: www.jlgribble.com
--Facebook: www.facebook.com/jlgribblewriter
--Twitter: www.twitter.com/hannaedits
--Instagram: www.instagram.com/hannaedits
--Steel Victory (Steel Empires #1): http://amzn.to/2d4BacM
--Steel Magic (Steel Empires #2): http://amzn.to/2dBFAM4
--Steel Blood (Steel Empires #3): http://amzn.to/2pPShZH
By day, J. L. Gribble is a professional medical editor. By night, she does freelance fiction editing in all genres, along with reading, playing video games, and occasionally even writing. She is currently working on the Steel Empires series for Dog Star Books, the science-fiction/adventure imprint of Raw Dog Screaming Press. Previously, she was an editor for the Far Worlds anthology.
Gribble studied English at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. She received her Master’s degree in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, where her debut novel Steel Victory was her thesis for the program.
She lives in Ellicott City, Maryland, with her husband and three vocal Siamese cats. Find her online (www.jlgribble.com), on Facebook (www.facebook.com/jlgribblewriter), and on Twitter and Instagram (@hannaedits).
Gribble studied English at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. She received her Master’s degree in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, where her debut novel Steel Victory was her thesis for the program.
She lives in Ellicott City, Maryland, with her husband and three vocal Siamese cats. Find her online (www.jlgribble.com), on Facebook (www.facebook.com/jlgribblewriter), and on Twitter and Instagram (@hannaedits).
RSS Feed