JJ Gould

March Featured Author

You’ve worked with Kelly, Sarah, and Lynn. What did you enjoy most about working with them?

LOL. Well, Kelly did a great job. Sadly, I didn’t know that I was supposed to accept his edit suggestions, so my first e-book had several thousand errors. And so for those who have never done this, I can’t say enough about how kind and helpful Lynn and Sarah and others have been to really, really new authors. There about a million different kinds of editing (who knew?), and it took me a while to figure out what each meant and what I needed for me.

What made you choose Red Adept Editing?

They were referred to me by Tamara Blodgett.

What inspired you to start a writing career?

I wrote ad copy for many years and met some fascinating characters. When I found out that a book is 65,000 words and that many authors write 300 words a day, I thought, “I can do this!”

Do you like to plan before you write? Or do you prefer to start and see where the story goes?

I have a plot premise, then I develop some interesting characters and create a scene where the characters meet. I then carefully record what they say to each other. These scenes, or chapters, lead me gradually to a climax and resolution. Sometimes, it goes according to plan. Mostly, it surprises me, and I find myself wanting to write so I can see how it turns out!

Do you have anything else planned for the Dead Air series?

There are three books in the series, Dead Air, Dead Heat, and Dead End. These follow the characters I was most interested in finding out more about. Since I’m a broadcaster, I’ll spend this next year recording them to audio books. I have a fourth plot idea—Dead Line—but I probably won’t write that until 2019. Right now, I’m working on a series of books based on the advice I’ve gotten from people just before they died (I currently work at a funeral home) The working title is Dead Men Talking.

What part of self-publishing do you enjoy the most?

When a stranger comes up to me and starts talking about my books, it is the most delicious feeling imaginable. Like getting your homework back with a star and smiley face.

You have some great covers. Who does your cover work?

Alisha from Damonza. She is amazing. I wanted something moody and intriguing that captured the dramatic skies we get in South Dakota, and she delivered in spades!

You’ve lived in several different states, but now you live in Mexico. What do you like most about living there?

LOL. So my favorite movie is Shawshank Redemption. A movie that served as a catalyst for me to “Get busy living, or get busy dying.” What better place for JJ Gould to be from than from the town where Andy Dufresne escapes to?

What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever been given?

“300 words a day and 50,000 words for a book.”

Where can readers find you?

Amazon profile page: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=JJ+Gould

Website: www.ILikeThatStory.net

Facebook: JJ Gould, I Like that Story, and A Prairie Christmas