Please welcome J.E. Clarkson to When Angels Fly!   

Please introduce yourself to those reading this blog post

Hi, my name is Jayne and I write under the name, J.E.Clarkson. I live by the seaside in Yorkshire, in the UK. I’ve been writing since I was a teenager and have worked as a make-up artist, singer, teaching assistant and in retail. I love vintage clothes, B-movies, music, my family, friends and partner, Anton

Has writing always been part of your life and when did you “know” that it was time to start writing your first book?

Yes, it has. I’ve always written. I had an Auntie, who sadly passed away this year, who always encouraged me. I really started to take writing more seriously during my early twenties when I submitted a few poems to a university journal called, “Pyschopoetica”. They were accepted and so I carried on.

How difficult was it writing your first book?

In some ways the difficulty came after it was finished because for the first time, I didn’t have bad writer’s block. During Covid, I was furloughed from my job and had the time and space to think and write. It almost wrote itself and I just decided to publish it. I’ve learned a lot since and had a great amount of help and feedback, some positive and some negative. By far, most feedback has been constructive and helpful.

Have you ever wanted to give up and what stopped you?

Only for split seconds after a bad review but when I remember how much I enjoy writing (and publishing) and that a few other people enjoy reading my stories too, I cast those thoughts to the dustbin. At the end of the day, I must write and that’s it.

Who is the most supportive of you and your dream to be a writer?

My partner, Anton, my family, and friends. I’m very fortunate, I have a lot of encouragement.

nything specific you want to tell your readers?

Yes. Thanks for supporting me. I appreciate it. (You are welcome.)

What is the best advice given to you (book or otherwise), and by whom?

Two things. Write everyday so that it becomes a habit and treat the writing and editing processes as separate. So many of us writers are crippled with doubt, wanting to create the perfect sentence etc. I found that massively inhibiting and caused bad blocks for months or years. Editing later really helped with that because I realized, if what I write is rubbish to begin with, it can be polished or removed when I’m editing.

What is your target audience and what aspect of your writing do you feel targets that audience?

Anyone who enjoys thrillers. I write Sci-Fi, Crime and Horror fiction but the thread that runs between them all is that they are primarily thrillers. Someone once said that I write Sci-Fi for people who don’t like Sci-Fi. I think that that’s a good description.

Did the cover evolve the same way, or did you work with someone to make it come together for you?

I always create my own covers. I did some research beforehand and followed what is considered as popular for each genre, but I do try to add my own twist. “The Lamb” cover was the first cover I tried for that story. It just felt perfect for a mysterious serial killer story.

What are you working on now? Can we get a peek, an excerpt?

I’ve just finished a short story for Halloween called, “The Black Velvet Dress”.

Here’s a wee extract:

“When I first noticed you, you were hanging there in the window. Perfect in your inky, Gothic, glamour. I felt myself drawn to you and so I crossed over the road and stood there on the pavement, imagining how I’d look, draped in your lace collared finery. Magically, the question was answered, as my own image was reflected in the shop window. It seemed that there was some sorcery in it, as I found myself transfixed by the picture and propelled indoors through the shop doorway.”

Any last words before we wrap things up?

I just wanted to say thank you, Mary, for the opportunity to speak with you about my stories. All the best.