Self-Publishing Central: Interview with Author Jennifer Chase

Author, Jennifer Chase

Hello all. Thanks for stopping by Self-Publishing Central.

Today we welcome crime thriller author, Jennifer Chase, who has graciously agreed to take time out from her busy schedule busting perps to grant us a brief interview.

John: Hey, Jennifer. How's it going today?

Jennifer: Great, John. Thanks for inviting me to visit with your followers.

John: Okay. Let's kick things off with the basics. How about your bio?

Jennifer: Here's the formal into I generally use:

BIO: Jennifer Chase holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master's degree in criminology. She is a member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists. Her intense curiosity into the psychological aspect of crime is what drives her to write crime fiction. She has published four crime thrillers and one screenwriting workbook. She lives in California, where she's currently at work on her next book.

John: Please tell us a bit about your book: Dark Mind (Emily Stone Series #3) - characters, plot, etc.

Jennifer: A Serial Killer Plagues an Island Paradise.
Vigilante detective Emily Stone continues her covert pursuits to find serial killers and child abductors, all under the radar while shadowing police investigations.
Emily searches for an abducted nine-year-old girl taken by ruthless and enterprising slave brokers. Following the clues from California to the garden island of Kauai, she begins to piece together the evidence and ventures deep into the jungle.
It doesn’t take long before Emily is thrown into the middle of murder, mayhem, and conspiracy. Locals aren’t talking as a serial killer now stalks the island, taking women in a brutal frenzy of ancient superstitions and folklore. Local cops are unprepared for what lies ahead. In a race against the clock, Emily and her team must identify the killer before time runs out.

John: If you could meet, in person, any of your characters, who would it be and why?

Jennifer: I would love to meet my heroine Emily Stone because she inspires and reminds me how we all need to look out for one another. However, she’s smarter and definitely tougher than I am. She’s a character that goes out and does what we “would like to” do in order to assist law enforcement by finding serial killers and rescuing children from abduction.

John: If you could fictionalize yourself and put yourself in any situation, how would it play out? Could you give us a scene/scenario of such an occurrence?

Jennifer: Ever since I was a little girl I’ve wanted to solve a mystery – something that has been on the books for a while, like a cold murder case or a great train robbery. I would fictionalize myself as a character that’s a cross between Nancy Drew, Jessica Fletcher, and a smidge of the Scooby Doo gang. This character would be light hearted, but making a difference in solving crimes that have been forgotten by law enforcement and the general public.

John: Do you have any particular habits that you do while writing? Places you write the best, foods, drinks, etc that help set your "writing mood"?

Jennifer: Well… the cat is out of the bag. I write barefooted. Yep, I’ve admitted my weird writer quirk. I like to write in my home office where it’s quiet and with few distractions. I find that I can get more done in a shorter period of time. I don’t drink coffee, but you can find a large glass of mineral water with a slice lemon sitting on the corner of my desk. When I’m writing, I have classical piano playing even when I’m writing a stressful scene or inside the mind of a serial killer.

John: What are you reading right now?

Jennifer: I just finished a great thriller Hunter by Robert Bidinotto and I’m in the middle of a fun, local mystery A Slice of Carmel by Barbara Chamberlain. In addition, I’m frequently referring to many of my non-fiction textbooks on forensics, criminal profiling and serial homicide.

John: Who are some of your favorite authors and/or books?

Jennifer: I love so many authors. The authors that stand out for me and what you’ll find on my bookshelf right now are Dean Koontz, JT Ellison, Vince Flynn, Tess Gerritsen (Rizzoli & Isles) David Baldacci, Stephen King, Jeffrey Deaver (Lincoln Rhyme Series), Lee Child (Jack Reacher rules), many independent authors (the list seems to grow everyday), and the list goes on…

John: If you could meet any author, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Jennifer: This is a great question! I’m torn, but I would pick Shakespeare. Why you ask? I have some questions for him about his insight into murder, crime, psychology and the motivations of people in general. I think he was a criminologist of sorts.

John: Okay, here are a few "get to know you better" questions:

Please share with us a favorite memory.

Jennifer: There’s so many! From childhood, I would say the times I spent riding horses from the ages of seven to about fourteen years old. That was a much gentler and wonderful time in my life. As an adult, getting married on the island of Kauai with all of those wonderful memories my husband and I have shared together. My own personal independent favorite memory would have to be the experience training my Labrador with the local police K9 units.

John: Please describe a perfect meal - including menu and those present.

Jennifer: Perfect meal… so many tasty entrees to choose from… It would have to be an authentic Caesar salad, a perfect medium rare filet mignon, mango seasoned rice, assorted steamed vegetables, a nice red wine, and crème brulee for dessert. This meal would be perfect to share with family and friends, especially people I haven’t seen in a while. It would be nice to have everyone all together for a perfect meal. Did I write the word “perfect” too many times in my answer?

John: What are some of your favorite ways to relax?

Jennifer: I love to take leisurely hikes around my California area up in the hills, around the forests of the state parks, and along the beaches. It’s a way for me to completely relax and just concentrate on my surroundings. It’s a stress reliever for me and sometimes I get some of my best novel ideas.

John: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

Jennifer: This is a difficult question, but I’d have to say Greece. I’m not sure why because I’ve never visited, but I would love to spend some time writing there. It’s a magnificent, picturesque area with wonderful food and a warm culture.

John: I know this is an inconceivable thought, but if you could only read books by one author, who would it be?

Jennifer: Yikes only one author! My pick would be the entire library of Dean Koontz. He blends genres of mystery, thriller, suspense, horror, and paranormal. I wouldn’t get bored reading his books more than once.

John: Share with us a few of your dreams. Also whether they have been fulfilled or are still a work in progress.

Jennifer: I’m sure that many writers share this dream to be a household name. That would be wonderful along with my own personal getaway beach house. But, seriously I would like to make a difference in some way, bigger than my own personal life. There’s an organization called Project Pooch matching juvenile offenders with rescue dogs. It’s an amazing project of rehabilitation for both parties involved and producing some great results. I would love to be instrumental in a project like this in my area, especially with my background in criminology.

John: What are some of your guilty pleasures?

Jennifer: Ice cream!!! I can pass on most desserts and sweets, but I couldn’t live without my ice cream: butter pecan, chocolate chip, and French vanilla. That reminds me, I need to buy another gallon at the grocery store!

John: If you could leave the world with one piece of advice, what would it be?

Jennifer: I may be exceedingly naive, but I like to stay hopeful and optimistic in the difficult days ahead. We all should leave the world a little bit better than how we found it.

John: Jennifer, I really appreciate you visiting with us today at Self-Publishing Central. Perhaps we'll see you again when your next book comes out.

Jennifer: That would be fun. Thanks for having me today.