Today I’m thrilled to have Jamie Brazil, author of The Commodore’s Daughter with me in the Blue Rose Writing Room.
I just finished reading The Commodore’s Daughterand was captivated! My review is posted on Amazon. Jamie, can you tell us the funniest thing anyone has ever said to you about your writing? Or the unkindest? Or the oddest?
I was volunteering at an event and was approached by another writer who claimed I had stolen her book, not that she’d written it yet. I do believe in psychic phenomenon, but I personally do not possess that power. And if I did I’m sure the writing would come much easier!
Hmm, there’s a thought! Place you absolutely want to visit before you die?
Bakersfield. My husband and I were driving from LA to the NW on the I-5. He wanted to take a nap for a few minutes, so I took the wheel. Have I mentioned that I’m directionally challenged? When he woke up twenty minutes later we were in Bakersfield, which is not on the I-5. He’s teased me for ten years about that, but I think it was fate… that something is waiting for me there. It looks like a nice town.
I sooo, get the directionally challenged bit. I get lost at the mall. Why did you choose to write in this genre?
My two loves are YA and Romance. Romance because I can’t resist a happily-ever-after ending, and YA because I believe we should all try to see the world with the clarity we did when we were sixteen. I have several novels coming out in the next few months in both genres.
There is something refreshing about YA, and I can never resist a well-written happily-every-after. What historical figure do you wish you could have met?
One of the great things about writing historical fiction is re-imagining what people would have been like… and not just what the history books have given us. I would love to have met Noah Webster. I picture him, when he wasn’t working on his dictionaries, as being quite the Casanova. Don’t you love a well-spoken love interest? Noah was a man of many, many words.
Oh, there could be a story there! Tell us one unusual, weird, or curious fact you discovered while researching this book.
Commodore Perry joined the service when he was just 15 years old. He’s an Aries, which explains his natural tendency to be a leader, and he shares a birthday, April 10th, with Jim Bowie, Joseph Pulitzer, Q-tip and Zoe, the 1st frozen-embryo child.
What are you most proud of about your writing?
I’m a total community wonk. Friends, family, my writing groups, I love people coming together to share and achieve. That’s why I try hard to make my heroines proactive and cooperative. I love a story that ends when everyone works for a common goal and succeeds.
How do you respond to negative reviews?
I welcome them! Well, not too many and not all at one time, please. When someone takes the effort to respond and critique my work, whether positive or negative, they’re trying to help me become a better writer. Thank you!
I love that attitude. It never hurts to get a different perspective as long as you can glean something to hone your craft. Can you tell us something you are determined to do?
Learn to sing. I love music. I love the way some people can express their emotions, like poetry, through lyrics. I just haven’t found a way to stay on key or perform without my Bloodhound baying along.
I’m chuckling. My doxies howl, and when the five of them get going…
So, what are you most afraid of?
Real fear or nightmare fear? For nightmare fear, I’d say meeting a single Henry the Eighth through a dating service. Thank goodness I married my husband! (His greatest fear is my singing)
Do you have a favorite quote?
Winston Churchill should have tweeted! One of my favorite Winston quotes is: Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.
I like that! Tell us something unusual, quirky, or odd about yourself?
I love to dress my Bloodhound, Frankie, in costumes.
I’ve seen some of the photos, and here’s one for your readers. Adorable!!
Okay, now for the quickie questions: Answer in three words or less. Ready? Go!
Favorite Disney Character? Walt
Favorite Fruit? Limes
Favorite Hero? Mr. Darcy
Favorite Eye Color? Blue (my husband made me say that) Collette here, Gee, I wonder what color his eyes are?
Best Vacation destination Home
Food you can’t stand? Beets
What annoys you? Occasionally, my husband
Coffee, tea, or something else? Coffee
Nightgown or Jammies? Penguin jammies
Prefer dogs or cats? Bloodhounds!
A bit of information about Jamie:
Jamie Brazil shares a love of history with her husband (also a writer). They also share their very small home outside of Portland, Oregonwith their Bloodhound, Frankie (also a writer). Jamie’s favorite hobby is going to yard sales.
Here’s a tantalizing snippet about The Commodore’s Daughter
In 1853, fifteen-year-old Jennifer Perry dreams of traveling the world, a dream that will never happen now that she’s promised to a man twice her age. But what can she do? Run away. To Japan, where her survival is uncertain. Learning the ways of her new world, and the code of the Samurai, she uncovers a plot to ambush the American sailors. Now she must risk in her own life in order to save her Commodore father.
The Commodore’s Daughter
Maybe it was loss of blood, but I would swear that standing on the beach, not fifty feet from me, was a demon. Its arms, legs and chest looked like the shiny shell of a beetle, but he was as big as any man. His head was huge, of the same shell, but with horns.
I screamed.
In a low, guttural snarl, he screamed back and sprinted toward me.
In one motion I jumped to my feet, turned and ran. Beach rocks chewed into my soles. My own footsteps crunched beneath me, followed by louder footsteps. Faster footsteps.
I looked back over my shoulder.
In the moonlight, deep set in the demon’s insect-like head, two black eyes burned with anger. His lips arched back to show clenched teeth. As he closed in, he drew a long sword.
I ran as fast as I could. My hat flew off. My hair swayed behind me. It was a very strange moment. My head ached. Then I heard the swoosh of a sword cutting through the air.
Here’s how you can contact Jamie
To check out Jamie’s other titles, a bunch of ridiculously adorable photos of her dog, and her blog, please visit http://jamiebrazil.com
You can buy The Commodore’s Daughter here:
http://amzn.com/B00DMMZD00
Thanks again, Jamie, for joining me here today.
