JAZ PRIMO Interview & Guest visit - Q&A

WELCOME JAZ PRIMO!! - debut author of Sunrise at Sunset

SBB: Thanks for joining us today,we know it comes on the heels of a difficult time for your family, but we are thrilled to have you with us today. So for those of our followers that have not yet heard of you, can you tell us about yourself? 

Jaz: Thanks so much for hosting an interview with me, and thank you for your compassion and kindness regarding my recent loss of a dear family member. It’s certainly an honor and a pleasure to have the opportunity to appear on Seduced by Books! 
It’s true that few people have heard of me since Sunrise at Sunset is my first published work. I’ve been an avid fan of fantasy and science fiction since childhood, and in particular I love vampires! While writing is a hobby and personal passion, my full-time career is in Higher Education, which I’m also passionate about. I can’t think of any place that I would rather work than a college campus. As for my education, I hold a Master of Liberal Studies from the University of Oklahoma, and completed my undergraduate work in information technology. It’s accurate to say that I’m a person of diverse and eclectic interests, including: teaching U.S. History classes at the college where I work, bass fishing, cooking, following college football, reading, and watching films of all types. Oh, and I also love puns! (Often, much to the chagrin of those around me…) *smiling*

SBB: Couple of silly questions for you – what’s your favorite color? What’s your favorite Holiday? From Amy (being the baker that she is) what’s your favorite dessert? Boxers or Briefs? Bitten or the Biter? (No offense, but the world’s gotta know)

Jaz: *Laughing* Those are very good questions, in my opinion. My favorite color is blue, and my favorite holiday is definitely Thanksgiving. It’s the one holiday where the “food is the focus” and you don’t have to stress over extensive decorations or gift-buying. (Can you tell that I’m someone who doesn’t put out the Christmas decorations until AFTER Thanksgiving?) Oh, and I LOVE desserts, so it’s hard to pick just one. However, I have an affinity for all things chocolate: Brownies, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate cream pie, German chocolate cake (my favorite cake!), chocolate fudge, etc. So now we go from dessert to underwear? Hmmm…I wonder how many people find those to be related in some way? *chuckling* I’m a briefs guy, myself. Oh, and as for THE question of the day: I’m on Team “Bitten”! *wink*

SBB: Do you have a favorite genre of music? Anything special that’s on your playlist to inspire you to write? 

Jaz: Oh, I love these two questions! I enjoy many genres of music, but my favorite is alternative rock. Music definitely inspires and fuels my writing, and I rarely write without also playing music to set the mood. For that reason, my iPod is my constant companion. *chuckling* I have completed three novels in the Sunset series, and each one has its own unique soundtrack. In fact, I’m actively gathering my music list together for when I start writing on the fourth installment this winter. This may sound predictable, but the three Twilight movie soundtracks and symphonic scores are very good for fueling my vampire “mood”. However, I have to tip my hat to the compositions of Philip Glass, who is a master of instrumental mood music that’s great for writing vampire novels. The music of Radiohead has been instrumental during all three of the Sunset series novels, and will play an important role in the fourth installment. Some the alternative rock selections that served as the soundtrack for Sunrise at Sunset include: 
Garbage: "Temptation Awaits" and "You Look So Fine"
Gram Rabbit: "Devil's Playground"
Hole: "Malibu" and "Softer, Softest"
Jem: "24" and "Come On Over"
Massive Attack: "Angel" and "Dissolved Girl"
Mogwai: "Autorock" and "Hunted by a Freak"
Poe: "Angry Johnny"
Portishead: "Glory Box" and "Sour Times"
Radiohead - "15 Step" and "Karma Police"

SBB: You’re a very genuine person, something noticed from the first contact with you on Facebook. Have you always wanted to be an author? 

Jaz: Thank you for the compliment; that’s very kind. *shy smile* I have enjoyed creative writing since childhood, and I remember being able to read some short stories to my classmates in elementary school. My teacher, Linda Lachman, was very supportive and encouraging of my creative writing, and I’ll always be grateful to her for that. However, it wasn’t until recently that I considered being an author. It was, and still is, a scary prospect to me. I mean, I’m essentially revealing very personal and creative thoughts and feelings for the world to digest…and summarily embrace or reject. The process certainly isn’t for the faint of heart, and I have a newfound respect for authors and artists.

SBB: What are some of your favorite books and/or authors? 

Jaz: It’s funny that you would ask that, because I recently completed a list on my Facebook page at the request of a good friend regarding the fifteen most influential artists in my life. So, I have some immediate responses to offer for some of my favorite authors and their works. 
+ L.E. Modesitt, Jr’s Magic of Recluse series is perhaps my favorite of all time! Every novel reflects internalized growth and a hopeful sense of development in the main characters. He has a keen and insightful understanding of both genders, and treats them with equal dignity and respect. I would love to meet Mr. Modesitt someday.
+ Jim Butcher’s Codex Alera series is one of my favorites. His characters are engaging and tangible.
+ Lorna Freeman’s Borderlands novels are a heartfelt favorite of mine. The main character, Rabbit, is both endearing and magical in his attempt to fit in while also on a mission of self-discover.
+ Simon R. Green’s Nightside series is always enjoyable to read. I find that I identify with the complexities of the main character, John Taylor.
+ Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse vampire novels are both fun and sexy.
+ And, of course, I’m a big fan of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series.

SBB: (Jenn - Love Sookie "Team Eric") We know from talking with you, vampires have been on your mind for years, did you always know you would go the paranormal genre route?

Jaz: No, not initially. I actually began writing a futuristic, sci-fi novel just prior to starting my masters program, but I never returned to it once I completed my degree. Until starting to write Sunrise at Sunset, I wasn’t sure that I would ever complete a novel-length work of fiction. I found it somewhat humorous and quite ironic that my first completed novel was paranormal and not from the fantasy/sci-fi genres. 

SBB: Well, we'll be waitin on the sci-fi, but let’s talk Sunrise at Sunset – your main character, Katrina, is a strong, sexy vampire, that has been on her own for a while. Are those characteristics that you find in most of your female friends?

Jaz: I’m proud to say that I have a number of female friends who are what I consider to be “strong women”, and Katrina does share some key characteristics. That being said, I don’t know, nor have never known, anyone quite like Katrina Rawlings. Katrina appeared in my mind like a stranger in the night; announcing herself to me in ominous, heart-seizing fashion. Her essence stalked the recesses of my imagination for a number of years, coalescing and refining into near existence, lacking only a corporeal body. Over time, her character was progressively revealed to me in a series of palpable dreams, visions, and epiphanies. Katrina is one of the few characters that I didn’t deliberately contrive, but rather appeared to me in my mind’s eye. That’s a very special event for an author, I think.

SBB: Agreed, finding that main character(s) is so key, and when it comes we can only imagine how great that feels.  We have to ask you (particularly Jenn), PAIGE, she is amazing. She steals the show. Is she representative of any one particular person in real life? 

Jaz: *Laughing* Many fans adore Paige, actually. She is definitely an endearing character to me now. Originally, I only intended for Paige to be a satellite character in the Sunset series. However, she quickly asserted her presence to me and matured into a foundational character in my series. Much like Katrina, Paige isn’t based on any real person that I have ever met or known. As a general rule, I don’t like to create characters that are based upon people I know, particularly people that are close to me. 

SBB: Can you give us any first revealed for our loyal followers? We’re hoping for a tidbit to hold us over to Book 2. 

Jaz: *Grinning* Book 2 is going to take the four main characters and further develop each of them. Each of the characters are on their own personal “journey” and they mature, change, and develop in various ways throughout the series. They’re like real people to me…just as each of us change with our life experiences and increased knowledge, so do the characters in the Sunset series. Caleb begins to come into his own in the second novel because his experiences and subsequent relationship with Katrina and Paige have contributed to his evolution. Paige experiences some strong feelings for the first time, and has to make sense of them. It is a new phase of life in her tenure as a vampire. You also get to learn more about the mysterious character, Alton, and discover that he’s a vampire with many layers to him...including at least one significant agenda. Katrina continues to reclaim feelings and behaviors that she thought were forever lost, and has to confront a key decision from her past that affects both her and Caleb. Katrina and Caleb also have to play hostess to unexpected house guests following a highly emotional development in their relationship. Oh, and many people will be happy to learn that book #2 is much more action-packed, though in meaningful ways that further develops the characters, as well as a storyline that holds global consequences. My valued and helpful beta readers are very happy with the second novel, I’m proud to say! I hope that you'll like it too! *Smiling*

You heard it here - Can't WAIT to see where Caleb goes, and Paige too!!!!  Thanks so much again for being here Jaz. It’s been a great pleasure to have you. 

For our followers or passerbys, Jaz will be visitng our blog today and checking for your questions in the comments below. Comment with a question and Jaz will answer shortly.