Writer JC Morrows On Reading

JC Morrrows, welcome to Writers On Reading. Your books testify to your vivid imagination, leaving me curious as to what entertains you! So, what’s your favorite genre? Other than genre, what else do you look for when choosing your next reading adventure?

My favorite reading genre is speculative. I look for a clean read, preferably with a Christian worldview or message.

What was the most out-of-character book you’ve recently read, and what led to your choice?

 

 

I recently read the Lunar Chronicles (Cinder, Scarlett, Cress, Fairest & Winter) by Marissa Meyer. That may not sound so strange for someone who loves speculative fiction, but it was definitely a stretch for me. From the time it was released – and I started to hear the buzz about it – I was hesitant. And, honestly, I was mostly hesitant because mainstream novels are often labeled clean reads, but they're not quite clean enough for me. And I will say this for the Lunar Chronicles; they were more clean than I expected, but a bit too gory for my taste.


As a writer, you should know better, but as a reader, you know we all do it…so, when did you last “judge a book by the cover”? How did it work out?

This is a tough one for me because, other than being the reason I may or may not pick the book up to look at it, I don't truly judge a book by its cover. On the one hand, I never pick up books with covers that are gross or overtly sexy so I suppose you could say I'm judging that those books are not worth my time. Essentially, it boils down to the fact that I'm not going to spend money or time on something I can't bear to look at. On the other hand, I never read a book simply because of its cover. The blurb on the back has to interest me.

 

Very wise of you! Do you read during the months you spend writing a book? If so, what did you read while working on your last book?

 

I read incessantly and I read in multiple genres. I did discover that it's not such a good idea to read other books in my genre while I'm actively working on my own because authors are notoriously their own worst critics and I tend to start feeling as if I could never measure up . . . Not a good attitude to have when writing . . . or editing. Thankfully my editor and my amazing team remind me constantly to have faith in the story that GOD has given me!

 

That's special. What was the last book you absolutely couldn't put down? Why?

 

As a mother, I don't often have the opportunity to actually read a book that I just can't put down. The latest read that comes immediately to mind that I didn't want to put down is Jennifer Beckstrand's “Huckleberry Hearts”. Jennifer's books are always a favorite of mine and each one blesses me so very much.

 

Did a book recently make you laugh/cry/sigh/shiver?

 

With each new book Jennifer Beckstrand puts out, I tend to go back to the beginning of the series and read them all over again. Each one of her novels bring tears to my eyes; both from depth of emotion

and from laughing so hard. Her Huckleberry Hill series is a MUST READ!

 

Were you the kind of kid/teen who loved reading? Which novel do you first remember reading? (And do you still have a copy?)

 

I read incessantly as a kid/teen. I carried a book with me everywhere. Unfortunately, I don't have any of the books I read as a young child. Between moving often and some unfortunate incidents, all of my books were lost or sold or thrown away.

 

When did you know you wanted to write? Did any or multiple books influence this desire?

 

I don't know that there was a specific time in my life when I made the decision that I wanted to write. I have always been a storyteller. From an extremely early age, I told my mother the stories that crowded into my brain and I've scribbled them down in notebooks as long as I can remember. I think the desire to write is fueled more by the infinite number of fictional universes that fill my mind and imagination, than by any one book I've read.

 

With spring coming soon, what is on your to-read list? And what is your ideal spring reading experience?

 

There are far too many books on my to-read list to name. I am not really someone who gravitates toward a certain type of book during a certain season . . . except Christmas. I start reading Christmas books in October or November.


Thanks for visiting, JC! It was fun getting to know you as a reader. Folks, you can continue to connect with JC, and find out more about her books at the links below.

 

 

BIO:

 

JC Morrows – best-selling author of YA Christian speculative fiction, drinker of coffee and avid reader – is a storyteller in the truest sense of the word.

She finished her first speculative fiction novel purely for the enjoyment of her mother – also known as her biggest fan.

JC has been telling stories in one form or another her entire life and once her mother convinced her to write them down, she couldn't stop.

She gives God all of the glory for her talent and ability!

 

“And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.” Habakkuk 2:2 KJV

 

 

PURCHASE AND CONNECTION LINKS:

 

Website: http://jcmorrows.com

Amazon:  http://amazon.com/author/jcmorrows

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7279550.J_C_Morrows

Instagram:  http://instagram.com/jcmorrows

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JCMorrows

Pinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/jcmorrows/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/JC.Morrows.Author

Tumblr:  http://jcmorrows.tumblr.com/

 

 

 

“A Dangerous Love” Pre-Order Links:

Kindle: http://amzn.to/1Pfxipq

Nook: http://bit.ly/1PAbaYT

Apple: http://apple.co/1Qv14Y9

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1ORAVya

 

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1TjQGmL

 

Writer Morgan Busse On Reading

Morgan, welcome to Writers on Reading! Your books look like fantastic adventures! Your most recent novel, Heir of Hope, the third book in your critically acclaimed Follower of the Word series released just over a month ago (April 21, 2015). You mentioned loving to read, particularly fantasy and historical books—no surprise there. I can see both of those suit your themes! But this leaves me curious, do you read during the months you spend writing a book, or as a fantasy writer, does venturing into other books draw you too deeply out of your world, into other realms? If you do read while you’re crafting a novel, do you find it more fun/less distracting to read other genres? What did you read while working on this book?

Hi Deirdre, first, thank you for inviting me here. Yes, I love to read! However, when I am working on a novel, I don’t read in my genre. I find that I start comparing my book with the one I am reading, and that doesn’t help me at all. So I usually read something besides fantasy. While writing Heir of Hope, I read FiveDays in Skye by Carla Laureano, a contemporary romance, and Born of Persuasion by Jessica Dotta, a gothic regency novel. Both quite different from the epic fantasy I was working on!

Yes, quiet different! Which leads me to my next question: what was the most out-of-character book you’ve recently read and what led to your choice?

Five Days in Skye by Carla Laureano. I read the first book in her fantasy series, Oath of the Brotherhood, and saw she had also written a contemporary romance. I confess the only reason I initially picked it up was because she wrote it and it took place in Scotland (one of the many places I hope to visit someday). It was fantastic! I could see, smell, and feel Scotland! And the characters were great too. So, now I can say I’ve read a contemporary romance.

Hah, that’s fun.

As a writer, you should know better, but as a reader, you know we all do it…so, when did you last “judge a book by the cover”? How did that work out?

Ok, I have judged before. I was given A Star Curiously Singing by Kerry Nietz to read for review, and the cover did not capture me. (Another confession, most science fiction covers don’t. That’s just me). But the story inside blew me away. It’s about our world in a not-too-distant future where Islam is the dominant religion of the world. Sandfly is a servant to one of the houses and is sent up to a space station to fix a robot that has gone crazy. There he discovers that all of creation sings for the creator. I don’t want to give away more than that. I highly recommend this novel and consider it one of my favorite science fiction titles.

Wow. Sounds like a really good book. So, what was the last book you absolutely couldn't put down? Why?

Jane Eyre. I read it when I was a teenager and didn’t think much of it. Then I came back to it and found so many things I could relate to. I resonated with the struggle Jane had between her following her heart and her faith. I think I enjoyed Jane Eyre more as an adult, because I have experienced more now than I had as a teen.

Did a book recently make you laugh/cry/shiver?

Is it cheating to say my own? I once read that if you the author are not moved by your own story, then the reader will not be moved either. I cried during a couple of the scenes in Heir of Hope. Readers have contacted me and said the same scenes moved them.

The last few books that made me laugh were Rick Riordan’s The Heroes of Olympus. Along with reading adult fiction, I try to keep up with what my kids are reading, partly so I know what they are reading and so we can talk about what they read. Rick really captures the teen spirit in his books, and their humor. As someone who has worked with youth for many years, I enjoy his humor and usually find myself chuckling through his books.

Were you the kind of kid/teen who loved reading? Which novel do you first remember reading?

Oh yes! I always had my nose stuck in a book and broke the record at my elementary school for the most books read in one year. I read everything I could get my hands on (even encyclopedias). I read all the Black Stallion books, Nancy Drew, Lord of the Rings, and anything else I could find. I volunteered at my school library, which gave me access to even more books! Apparently, reading is in my genes, because you can find my kids lounging on couches or on their beds with a book or a Kindle in hand most days.

What is on your to-read list?

When I started writing, my reading time diminished, so my TBR list has grown. Since I am between writing deadlines, I am catching up on all of my speculative fiction. I’m in the middle of Orphan’s Song by Gillian Bronte Adams; hope to start Of the Persecuted by Angie Brashear and A Time to Die by Nadine Brandes. Then I have a whole slew of historicals waiting for me when I start working on my next rough draft, and I can’t wait for the second book in Serena Chase’s TheSeahorse Legacy!

Looks like you’ve got some great reading ahead of you this summer! I know what you mean by the to-read list growing—mine grows more rapidly with every interview! Eeks!

Thanks for visiting, Morgan. I greatly enjoyed getting to know more about you as a reader, and I bet everyone else did to. Folks, you can continue to connect with Morgan Busse, and find out more about her books and upcoming releases, at the following links.

And, guess what, folks? Angie Brashear has generously offered a Kindle copy of Of The Persecuted to accompany my blog launch giveaways. So leave a comment for Morgan and have a chance to win the next book on her reading list. I'll be doing the drawing on June 14, check out my upcoming post for details. Make sure you're entered and you can read Of The Persecuted right alongside Morgan!

Morgan L. Busse writes fantasy for the adult market. She is the author of the Follower of the Word series, including Daughter of Light, Christy and Carol Award finalist. Morgan lives on the West Coast with her husband and four children. You can find out more about Morgan at www.morganlbusse.com

  

Website: www.morganlbusse.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/morganlbusseauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MorganLBusse (@MorganLBusse)

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/morganlbusse

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5827587.Morgan_L_Busse

My books: http://www.enclavepublishing.com/authors/morgan-busse/