An Interview with Author Jaclyn Aurore:

Hi, Jac! Thanks for joining us on Mike's Books and Stuff, or whatever I'm currently calling this site. It's a pleasure to have you here on the blog. Make yourself comfortable. Would you like some tea? Fresh-baked cookies? Help yourself. And let me know when you're ready. This is a combined interview and game show, where prizes may be awarded for great answers. The grand prize, should you win all of the questions, is a signed copy of my solo singing debut album, “Mike Sings The Blues, and Also Some 80s Rock Ballads.”

I'll tell you now, I'm very competitive... if I don't win the grand prize, I'll know this thing is rigged...

When did you start writing fiction? Was there anything in particular that sparked your interest?

I always considered myself a fantastic story-teller. My life was dull and boring, so I created a fictional one to tell all my "friends" about. It was quite neurotic actually, but it kept me happy...
When I was pregnant with my first child, I started having all these crazy dreams that led me to believe I should write some stuff down. Writing is a lot harder than story-telling, that's for sure. When you're telling stories, you can just abruptly start and finish sentences at random...

What's your favorite (or favourite, if you prefer) book of all time?

Hmmm... This is a hard one. I have lots of favourites (the 'u' isn't preferable, sir, it is correct). Book #4 in the Harry Potter series stands out as a classic. Maybe it would be easier for me to answer this if I only read one genre of books. But since I read a little bit of everything, it's really like comparing apples and garbage cans... or like Obama and Romney for your American reference of the day...
I recommend Liza Palmer for an author you likely haven't heard of but I believe everyone should read... just because.

Your book, It Never Happened: A Max Cole Story (which is fantastic, by the way), has been called “Twilight without the vampires.” No question, really. Just thought I'd point that out.

I'll answer this anyhoo... When I told people I wrote a book, the first thing they assumed was that it was paranormal, because that was the genre I favoured (note the 'u' again) at the time... and because Vampires were all the rage. So, when I mentioned that my book was not paranormal, and did not contain vampires or werewolves - this came as a surprise to all.
Twilight without the paranormal factor, would just be a boring girl meets good-looking boy... That's my story in a nutshell. Though, that doesn't really do me any justice... hmmm there's also an entire hockey team full of good-looking boys... and a back story that will break your heart.

You joined Authonomy.com around the time that I did. How has your experience on the site been so far?

It has far surpassed anything I expected. My goal was to get to the top as fast as possible. But I met a bunch of fabulous people who offered wonderful advice, and I've since rewritten my novel and self-published it.
I can honestly say now, that getting to the top would be awesome, but I've already been rewarded the gift of friendship... gag... I'm being honest, but it's still gag-worthy

Cliched question time: Being a mom, is it difficult to find time to write?  How do you manage to balance everything?

When I just had one child, I found it easy to find the time to write, and easy to balance my life. Having two children (back to back, no less), now it's dang near impossible! I am able to juggle and multi-task many things, but writing and parenting are two things that have to be done separately... So, I just pick the one I feel like doing best and commit to that... ahem... I mean... I write during nap time.

What's the dumbest question you've ever been asked? It doesn't have to be about writing.

"Are you a boy or a girl?" Seriously, who asks that? Yes, I had a mullet... for like a day... and that was because my mom paid the hairdresser... when she wasn't looking I took out the electric raiser and gave myself a buzzcut... but I'd been with these kids at school for the entire year... why would my gender change when I lost my hair?

Least favorite book of all time? You don't have to answer this if you don't want to. You will lose points if you don't, though, and you may lose out on a chance to win the grand prize.

Also a coin-toss. Hated HON... This always sparks a debate with people. I wasn't a big fan of Catcher in the Rye either... One had an interesting premise but was horribly written, the other was beautifully written with a terrible premise... I'll let you figure out which is which.

Does the Canadian government require authors to include hockey in their books, or was including hockey in your book a decision you reached on your own?

It is manditory for Canadians to write about hockey. There is a rule in our legislature... Having that said, I didn't want to write another cliche captain of the football team character... and I was taught to write what I know... I know hockey... because I'm Canadian... hockey's in the blood.

Okay, now what's the dumbest question you've ever been asked?

"Why on earth would you let your mother coerce the hairdresser into giving you a mullet?" - yep, I know you were thinking it... I was 10, I didn't have a say...

And the final question. This one's for one hundred points, and a chance to play for the grand prize. Remember that honesty is the best policy or whatever. On a scale of one to ten, where one is pretty awesome and ten is fully awesome, how awesome is Michael Matula?

Mike Matula is so awesome, he cannot be ranked on a measly 10 point scale...

And now, please tell the folks at home about where they can find your book, and where you'd like them to look on the internet for your stuff.

Hmmm, I can be found on Facebook... I have a blog... If you're interested in reading about me, or anything I've written, please stop by and say hello:
www.jaclynaurore.com - my first book is available for sale, but if you're still not sold, the first 8 chapters are available free for download.

Thank you very much for playing.  You've been a fantastic guest. 

Did I win? I like winning...



(Photo used with permission from author.)