Pump Up Your Book Chats with Maya Jax

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Loving spy and mystery novels, Maya Jax entertained the idea of being a secret agent and started working at an embassy overseas while doing her master’s in international relations. During this time, she finished her first screenplay, an action/thriller about spies and nuclear weapons. She pitched it to a friend in Hollywood, who told her she had talent, but to never – ever – show anyone the script again. Realizing her love for writing was stronger than her desire to spy and fight crime, she attempted a second screenplay focusing on what she knew best — trying to make it as a writer. The screenplay turned into a manuscript and the result was chick lit novel Escapades of Romantically Challenged Me. You can read more about Maya at www.mayajax.com.

Thank you for this interview, Maya. Do you remember writing stories as a child or did the writing bug come later? Do you remember your first published piece?

I’ve always loved writing. When I was three, I would dictate stories to my Granny as she’d type them out on her typewriter and then we’d bind the pages together with staples. Most of the stories starred the Care Bears or Snoopy, with an occasional cameo by the Easter Bunny. But officially, my first published piece is Escapades of Romantically Challenged Me.

What do you consider as the most frustrating side of becoming a published author and what has been the most rewarding?

Frustrating? I’m not sure. Maybe that my sales aren’t on par with J.K. Rowling’s. The most rewarding is hearing from people who loved the book. CollegeCandy.com did a great review saying how much the book speaks to a college girl, and I think that is what you want most as an author– your characters resonating with readers.

Are you married or single and how do you combine the writing life with home life? Do you have support?

I’m single, so it’s pretty easy to balance my home life. I’m also really lucky that my family and friends are unbelievably supportive. Even if I disappear for a week or two, there are never too many repercussions when I resurface.

Can you tell us about your latest book and why you wrote it?

Escapades stars Lelaina Zane, a romantically challenged twenty-something who graduated from law school three years ago and went straight to LA to become a screenwriter. So far, she’s only gained three years waitressing experience and a ton of rejection letters. She finally thinks she’s on the verge of her big break, when a family emergency brings her home and her responsibilities there jeopardize her Hollywood future. It’s a fast and funny read about balancing life, hopes and expectations.

Lelaina’s struggle is based on my own struggle to be a writer, but it’s also about deciding when to keep going or when to give up on a dream. It’s almost an impossible crossroad since there are good and bad sides to each path, and I wrote it because I think at some point we each have to make these kinds of decisions. Lelaina is a way to live through it and laugh.

Can you share an excerpt?

I dive behind the couch and hold my breath. The door opens. A shadow appears on the wall beside me. Oh God. I don’t think I’ve been a horrible person. I cheated on a social studies test in sixth grade. The girl across from me was a history mastermind, so I copied all her answers. I got one hundred percent. But I don’t think I’ve ever done anything bad enough that would put me in the kind of position that would lead Mrs. Adair to find me hiding in her basement on a holy day.

The person opens the freezer and digs around. I try to focus on the reflection in the glass cabinets. It’s her. It’s Mrs. Adair. This is it. This is how I’m going to die. Here lies Lelaina Zane, aspiring writer, died at twenty-six while still living with her parents and dressed like a whore in her ex-boyfriend’s basement. Cause of death is unknown, possible heart attack or strangulation by crazed mother-in-law to be. Did I say mother-in-law to be? I didn’t mean it.

After an eternity rummaging around, Mrs. Adair grabs some frozen waffles, closes the freezer door and vacates the room. I lay on the floor, staring up at the ceiling. I could stay here until I die. They would eventually find my body and explain to my parents what happened. Mr. and Mrs. Zane, did your daughter moonlight as a whore?

I sit up and peek over the couch. As I do, the door opens again. I hit the ground. Don’t let it be Mrs. Adair. I will do anything. I will never have sex again. Please don’t let it be her.

A shadow appears over my head. I glance upward and come eye to eye with Mrs. Adair’s angry face. Her dark eyes are almost as black as her hair, a huge contrast to her heavily creased porcelain skin. The devil himself would shun this woman from hell for fear she’d take over.

She flinches when she sees my eyes. “Would you like to explain yourself?”

I really wouldn’t.

My heart thunders in my chest. I may have to yell so she can hear me over the noise.

“Mrs. Adair. Hi,” I say, as though I’m casually surprised to run into her here. I stay on the ground, not wanting her to see how I’m dressed.

“What happened to your face?”

I hope she means the black eyes. It could also be last night’s make up that is smeared across my face.

“I fell off a table at work.” I don’t have time to add that I work at a preschool and not a strip club.

“Where’s my son?” She asks me like I’ve gagged him and stuffed his body in a trunk somewhere.

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?” She crosses her arms. “How is it that you’re in my basement then?”

“He went to the bathroom four hours ago and didn’t come back. He’s probably upstairs.”

Let him be upstairs.

“Do your parents know where you are?”

Yes, I made sure to tell them I was getting hammered and coming back here to get laid.

Where’s your favorite place to write at home?

In a comfy chair that looks out over the balcony. The balcony would be my favorite place, but it’s usually too cold to be out there.

What is one thing about your book that makes it different from other books on the market?

Most often in chick lit the main character has some kind of dream job, dream guy or an aspect of glamour in her life. Lelaina doesn’t have any of that. She’s a very real character with very real problems.

Tables are turned…what is one thing you’d like to say to your audience who might buy your book one day?

Lelaina is here to make you laugh. She and I shared a lot of the same struggle, and a few of her misadventures were mine first. But that’s the beauty of life, it hands you laughter and tears. I tried to keep it light with Lelaina. I hope it makes you laugh!

Thank you for this interview, Maya. Good luck on your virtual book tour!

Thank you!

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Question of the Day

How do you make sales happen for you?

A lot of hard work! I sponsor a lot of on line parties, festivals and contests. Book sales don’t magically happen, believe me. An author has to work hard to earn her readers. And then she has to work hard to keep them by giving them something they’ll enjoy reading. I try hard to make my books worth a reader’s time.

-- Sheila Roberts, Author of Winter at the Beach