Jordan Rivet
October Featured Author
What made you choose Red Adept Editing?
Other authors had recommended Red Adept online, and I appreciated the straightforward pricing structure on the website. I have chosen to continue working with Red Adept because of their efficient and high-quality work. They always return my manuscripts promptly, and I feel confident putting my books out in the world knowing they’ve gone over them first.
You’ve worked with Susie Driver. What did you enjoy most about working with her?
I have worked with Susie for eight books! I really appreciate her enthusiasm for my books. It’s so encouraging to work with an editor who genuinely enjoys the stories I tell—and who can catch all my misplaced commas too.
What inspired you to start a writing career?
I have always wanted to work in publishing, but I didn’t start writing my own stories until I moved to Hong Kong from the US. I wrote to process my experiences in this new place and quickly realized how much I enjoyed the storytelling process too. Before long, I switched from writing about Hong Kong and travel to writing the genres I love to read: fantasy and post-apocalyptic science fiction.
Do you have a favorite place or time of day to write?
I write at the same Starbucks every weekday from 11 am to 7 pm. Checking emails and staring out the window takes up some of that time, of course, but I find it helpful to keep regular working hours. The act of leaving my apartment and walking down to the coffee shop helps me get into writing mode. The Starbucks is in a busy central area, and it’s nice to be surrounded by office workers, families, and tourists from all over the world while I work. At home, I’d just end up staring into the refrigerator!
Do you like to plan before you write? Or do you prefer to start and see where the story goes?
I create an outline with the major turning points before I start writing. I always come up with new ideas as I go, but it helps to have a rough skeleton in place to keep me on track.
What drew you to the fantasy genre?
Fantasy is the genre I grew up reading. I started with The Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter, fell in love with The Lord of the Rings, and worked my way up to the Wheel of Time series. I love immersive worldbuilding, awe-inducing magic, and flawed but noble heroes. Also dragons.
Being a fantasy writer is a lot of fun because I can put new twists on my favorite story elements or invent something totally unique. I can play around with worlds and ideas however I want, and there are truly no limits.
You have some great covers. Who does your cover work?
All my fantasy covers are by the wonderful Deranged Doctor Design. They come up with eye-popping designs, and I couldn’t be happier with them.
What do you do when you’re not writing?
Apart from reading, I like hanging out with my husband, traveling, and being involved in the Hong Kong writing scene. Sometimes, I visit local schools to talk about being an author, which is always a lot of fun.
What’s your favorite writing advice?
Write the first draft as quickly as possible and don’t worry about making it perfect. You can fix anything in rewrites once you have the raw material on the page. Writing a quick, messy first draft can give the story energy and momentum. It’s also easier to cut and move scenes as needed if you haven’t spent ages perfecting every sentence.
Where can readers find you?
Amazon profile page: https://www.amazon.com/Jordan-Rivet/e/B00P2QFUFW/
Website: http://jordanrivet.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/jordanrivetbooks
Twitter: @Jordan_Rivet
Instagram: @Jordan_Rivet_Books
