J. E. Lowder
First, a little
something about J. E.
Aside from being the author of the War
of Whispers fantasy series, he has also played bass for Shania Twain,
had a black rhino charge him while on safari, and has been in the Oval Office.
In high school, he went backstage to interview groups like Bob Seger, Rush and
Kansas, sorta like “Almost Famous” but without Kate Hudson! As an author, he
draws from all these experiences (and then some) when crafting his stories. The
quote that sums him up the best is by G.K. Chesterton: “Nay, the really sane
man knows that he has a touch of the madman.”
He is married, the father of four
wonderful children, and a proud grandfather. Jay currently live near Nashville,
TN where he writes, bikes and is always on the prowl for adventure and stories.
At what age did you
start writing or know that you wanted to write?
The first documented case was when I was
in my mom’s womb…I tapped out Morse code to let her know I was okay and planned
on staying inside. But mom kept pushing and pushing and pushing…
Do you plot out your
stories or just make it up as you go?
I brainstorm over the story while I’m
painting, which is mindless anyway, and develop the characters & story
until I have a concept that moves me emotionally. Then I write and let the
characters breathe life into the tale.
Do you listen to
music while you write and if so, what do you listen too?
No. My background is music so when I hear
a song, I start analyzing it to death which nullifies any attempt at writing. I
did listen to classical music for the War of Whispers series but only as a
catalyst for story ideas. For example, Gustav Holst’s “Mars:The Bringer of War”
was inspiration for conceptualizing the Ebonite (the bad guys) storyline.
Which of your
stories/books/works do you consider the best?
My latest release, When Kings Clash.
It’s Book III of the War of Whispers series and I had FUN kicking the story
into high gear. And without sounding cocky, my writing style has matured.
How much do you write
each day/week?
Since I write part-time, I go in spurts.
Right now I’m focused on promoting When Kings Clash. After the Holidays,
I’ll get back into writing Book IV. When I do, I probably average 3-4 days a
week but in small chunks of time, all of which I do early in the morning.
Can you tell about
your experiences working with publishers? Any juicy or painful experiences?
Back when I had an agent, we pitched my
murder/thriller novel to some big name publishers. A month later, my agent
called with elated news: one of the contacts showed interest and wanted to
talk. My agent said this was HUGE because he only takes writers/books with
potential. Two weeks later, and still on cloud 9, my agent called with an
update: his contact had been fired. And just like that, the dream died.
What is your latest
project/release?
Book III, When Kings Clash. It came
out last month so I’m in the process of promoting.
Who were your
inspirations?
The first story to ignite my writing
passion was O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi.” His prose and plot twist made me
start paying attention in English class. Next would be Ray Bradbury. Brilliant plots,
twists and prose. Oh, and you can add Rod Serling and Hithcock films, too.
Favorite authors?
Aside from the few I’ve mentioned, I like
Anthony Doerr, John Hart, Daniel Woodrell.
What book do you read
over and over the most?
The honest answer is the Bible, but that’s
not what you were really asking. I LOVE Anthony Doerr’s book, “All the Light We
Cannot See.” Brilliant writer! When I’m bored with my style or feel my writing
is dull, I skim his book for a good butt kicking.
Do you have a dream
project that you want to write in the future?
I’m waiting for Steven Spielberg and J.J.
Abrams to call to ask if I’d like to submit any stories. Naturally, they’ll get
into a bidding war which I’ll settle by offering my services to both.
How much of you is in
your characters?
Great question. Since the War of Whispers
series was written to express my crisis of faith, I poured my pain into the
main character, Elabea. But that’s where it ends because she’s nothing like my
personality. Linwith, on the other hand, is my Doppleganger: skinny, introvert,
snarky, melancholic, insecure. By the way, this was not done intentionally but
was something I noticed after the fact.
What genre do you
prefer to write? To read?
Well, if you look at who my favorite
authors are, you’ll note that none, aside form perhaps Bradbury, are fantasy
authors. And yet, I’m writing a fantasy series. Go figure!
What are you working
on now?
I’m working on Book IV of the War of
Whispers series. The bulk of it was written years ago, but now that my style
has changed, along with the storyline, I’m starting from scratch.
What 3 things do you
feel every aspiring writer should know?
Writing is a craft that takes time to
hone: “write/edit/read” repeat. You’ll need a thick skin to handle rejection as
well as friends to encourage you when you feel like quitting. Make sure your
passion is for writing, not fame or fortune.
Do you read reviews
of your books?
If so, have you ever engaged a reviewer
over comments they’ve made? The rule of thumb is that authors are to never
contact a reviewer. However, I had one reviewer who gave well-founded critiques
and even caught a storyline continuity issue that others, including myself,
missed. I reached out to this person to thank them and to ask if they’d be
interested in being a beta reader. They agreed and provided wonderful feedback
for When Kings Clash.
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