Interview With Author Vivien Jackson
It is a great pleasure to welcome Vivien Jackson author of More Than Stardust.
Welcome Vivien to The Adventures of the Everyday Fangirl and thanks so much for taking the time out your busy schedule to help us get to know more about you and your stories better!
What does the title of this novel, series or set of stories signify?
The series was titled by my publisher, who chose to just go with the title of the first book, Wanted and Wired. It’s … essentially descriptive? I’m self-publishing this third and final book in the series, though, so I got to call all the shots, which was kind of harrowing but also unexpectedly fun. I chose the title More Than Stardust as a reference both to the famous Carl Sagan quote and the classic science fiction book More Than Human, by Theodore Sturgeon. Like the creature in Sturgeon’s novel, my heroine Chloe is post-biological and sort of the next step in humanity.
Do the names of the characters in your novel have some sort of significance or importance to you? If so, give a few examples…
Chloe has no last name because she’s a self-aware nanorobotic artificial intelligence, first of her kind, with no lineage or family. So I chose to omit her dude’s last name as well. He’s just Garrett, no last name, to put them on a level playing field.
What prompted you to write in this genre and who or what inspired you to?
I have read and loved science fiction all my life, but when I started thinking about writing for publication, the romance community was so warm and supportive. They made me want to learn how to write romance, so I educated myself. My books ride the line between science fiction and romance, and as a result they sometimes read wrong for folks who really dig one of those genres and really, uh, don’t the other.
What are the most important attributes to remaining sane as a writer and do your characters reflect some of these attributes?
Ha! The phrase “sane as a writer” does not compute. I embrace the insanity.
What kind of research did you have to do for the novel, series or set of stories that was different from others?
Research for the series overall wasn’t even work; it was just reading in areas that I read anyhow—books and articles by futurists and scientists, chiefly. For More Than Stardust, I got to research Antarctica, too, which was something I hadn’t done before and was so much fun I want to go there now.
What makes you laugh?
So many things. My pets, my family, Deadpool, these crazy wrens who’ve built a nest on my porch and freak out every time I open the back door.
What makes you cry?
So many things…
What are you a fan of and is this reflected in your writing?
For oh, maybe twenty years, I have been a devoted, fan-fiction-writing, cosplaying fan in several fandoms – Tolkien, X-Files, Farscape, Terminator, Firefly, Star Wars – and if you look close in all my books, you’ll see lots of in-jokes and references.
Is there anything else you want to add about the story, series that has not already been mentioned?
Ha! I could talk about it all day, but that would be boring. I guess…the first book in the series is the one that gets all the attention, but I think More Than Stardust is my favorite. I love Chloe so much and really tried to give her a worthy story.
What is the best way for readers to interact with you?
I’m just me, no assistant, so when you find me on social media, I’m … me. On Twitter that’s @Vivien_Jackson, and if you hang out on Facebook, I have a private reader group where I post a lot of inside information and excerpts and silliness: Viv’s Vortex of Readers and Space Vodka (https://www.facebook.com/groups/2193046674256564/)
My books can be found through the following links:
More Than Stardust (releases 7/9/19, but pre-orderable now):
More about Vivien
Bio: Vivien Jackson writes fantastical, futuristic, kissing books. Her debut science fiction romance, Wanted and Wired, was selected as an Amazon Best Book of 2017 in the romance category and a Romance Writers of America RITA finalist. It also won an SFR Galaxy Award. A devoted fangirl and inveterate gamer, Viv lives in Austin, Texas. Hang out with her on Twitter @Vivien_Jackson or on the web at VivienJackson.com.
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