Pump Up Your Book Chats with Women’s Fiction Author Jessica Chambers

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We have a wonderful interview for you today! Jessica Chambers, author of Dark is the Sky, is stopping off at Pump Up Your Book to let us get to know her better! Jessica is from England and talks a little about that, too. Enjoy!

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About Jessica Chambers

Jessica Chambers has been inventing stories even before she was old enough to hold a pen. She has a passion for writing contemporary novels packed with emotion, complex relationships and often a touch of mystery.

Visually impaired from birth, Jessica currently lives with her family and Staffordshire bull terrier in the English town of Windsor. In addition to devouring fiction of all genres, she loves watching TV quiz shows and admits to being extremely competitive when it comes to a game of Trivial Pursuit.

Her latest book is Dark is the Sky.

You can visit her website at www.jessicachambers.co.uk.

About Dark is the Sky

Twelve years earlier, Olivia and Joel Cameron invited the family to spend the weekend at their new country home. Olivia hoped to provide them all with a much-needed escape from their anxiety over the recession crippling the nation; instead, the visit ended in tragedy when Scott, Joel’s wild and outrageously sexy youngest brother, was found dead. The repercussions tore the family apart.

Now, Olivia’s sister Violet has persuaded her to host a reunion. She claims it’s time they finally put the past behind them and laid their ghosts to rest. However, some wounds run too deep to heal, and some secrets are too destructive to remain hidden. Still grieving for the man she loved, Violet is determined to uncover the truth behind his death—a truth she believes lies within her own family.

As the web of deceit and hostility begins to unravel, family ties are tested to the limit, and no one will emerge unscathed.

Interview with Jessica Chambers

Thank you for this interview, Jessica! Can you tell us more about yourself? Where are you from and what do you do for a living?

Jessica: I live with my family in the English town of Windsor, most famous for its castle and nearby Eton College. At the age of five, I was diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition that has left me almost totally blind. I’m a supporter of Liverpool Football Club, obsessive watcher of TV quiz shows And huge dog lover, with a special place in my heart for the crazy Staffordshire bull terrier we rescued from Battersea Dogs’ Home. I’m also a total book addict, fortunate enough to be able to indulge my passion on a daily basis and write full time. Honestly, I’m the luckiest girl alive!

Where did you come up with the idea to write Dark Is The Sky?

Jessica: Like many of my ideas, this novel began with a single character, this time with a vivid picture of a handsome, dark-haired young man. Immediately, I knew several things about him. I knew he was dangerously sexy, a magnet for women and more than a bit of a rogue. I also knew he was dead. This raised a number of questions. How did he die? Was it suicide, or murder, or merely a tragic accident? What part did his family play in his death? And as I unraveled the answers to these questions, the story gradually emerged.

Can you tell us more about the characters?

Jessica: Oh, the Camerons are one screwed-up family with enough emotional baggage to fill an entire series of Maury. Soft-hearted Olivia does her best to hold the family reunion together amidst the devastating discovery that her husband Joel is having an affair, while her sister, a high-powered lawyer, seems intent on raking up the painful past. Long-nurtured resentment simmers between Joel and his twin, once his closest friend, and his down-trodden sister-in-law appears on the verge of nervous collapse. Through it all, Olivia and Joel’s seventeen-year-old daughter is conducting a secret relationship with her cousin. So much drama, so much fun to write!

Where does your story take place?

Jessica: The entire novel takes place in a single location, a converted farmhouse in the midst of the English countryside. Because of this, I felt it even more vital to ensure readers have a vivid mental picture of every detail, from the rustic kitchen and oak beams, to the wild grounds and tumbledown outhouses. Fingers crossed I did a good enough job!

What was the most challenging for you in regards to the writing process?

Jessica: Juggling so many secrets and complex relationships. I always have an outline before I begin writing, but this novel needed a particularly detailed one. Without it, I would never have been able to keep track of which characters knew what about whom, and what revelations to disclose when. Even so, it caused me a fair number of headaches, I don’t mind telling you!

I would like to ask you about your expertise in promoting your book. I know book trailers are used extensively. What is one of the ways you can use videos to promote books?

Jessica: Hahaha! I don’t know about expertise. I have been doing a lot of research into using video in promotion though, seeing as book trailers are becoming such a phenomenon. The key, I think, is not to overcomplicate things. A simple video where you talk about your book, describe what inspired you to write it, works really well. You could maybe even ask someone you know to interview you. Free and easy but effective. At the moment my biggest challenge is overcoming my shyness sufficiently to make one myself!

If an author has a YouTube channel, what would be a good way to promote that channel?

Jessica: Sounds obvious, but the best way is through social media. Every time you upload a new video, post it to Facebook, Twitter, your website/blog, and anywhere else you have an online presence. Before doing that though, make sure the title and description of your video are as compelling as possible to draw any potential viewers in.

What do you feel are a few mistakes authors make that could cost them a fortune?

Jessica: Firstly, picking the wrong book cover. Forget the saying “never judge a book by its cover” because this is exactly what the majority of readers do every time they choose their next read. If your cover doesn’t grab them, they’re unlikely to pick it up. Secondly, designing your own website. Yes, you might save a lot of money up front, but if your site looks unprofessional, who can say how many potential sales you might lose? Lastly, expecting overnight success. Only a select few authors will be fortunate enough to achieve this, so be prepared for the long haul. Don’t spend your entire marketing budget upfront, but think about the long term.

There are a lot of authors in the world who would love to write a book but have no idea where to start. What advice would you give them?

Jessica: Every author works differently. Some, brave souls that they are, even start writing with no idea at all where the story is going. Here’s the method that always works for me though. First, condense your idea into a single sentence. This helps identify the focus of the novel, and also indicates whether your premise is strong enough. Next, make a list of the main points of conflict, including the ending if you have one. Then expand on the central plot, adding sub plots and supporting characters. By now, you should have a pretty comprehensive story, so the last thing to do is to break it into a chapter by chapter outline. It’s a time-consuming process, but stick to it and you won’t go far wrong!

Thank you so much for this interview, Jessica. Do you have any final words?

Jessica: Only to say thank you so much for having me here today, and also to everyone who has been kind enough to buy Dark is the Sky. Your support means the world to me, and I only hope you have as much fun reading it as I did during the writing process.

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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.

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