Interview with Jessica Chambers

When did you decide you were really going to try to make it as a writer?

Actually, the deciding was the easy part! I knew way back when I was very young, around six or seven, that I wanted to be an author some day. Yet, while most kids grow out of their childhood dreams—to be an actor, firefighter, astronaut or whatever—mine has stayed with me. So, when I finished Voices on the Waves, finding a publisher was the natural next step.

What is your favorite part of the writing process?

Oh, it has to be creating the characters. I love inventing true to life people, complete with flaws as well as good points, who readers can hopefully identify with even if they don’t necessarily always like them. I especially love it when my characters change and develop in ways I hadn’t anticipated when I first began writing them.

Your first novel, Voices on the Waves, covers a multitude of characters. Do you have any favorites or anyone that you could really relate to?

I always love all my characters, however unsavory they might be, but the one I most enjoyed writing in VOTW was probably Karenza Jackson. Without giving too much away, though she shows a capable, free-spirited front to the world, she is in fact far more complex than that. In the space of the novel she demonstrates a range of traits from kindness and understanding, to cruelty and indifference, and even a great vulnerability, all of which made her head a fascinating place to inhabit.

Are you working on a second novel?

Better than that, my second novel is with a publisher as we speak. It’s called Dark is the Sky, and as the title suggests, it has a darker tone than VOTW. In a nutshell, it follows the Cameron family who are still coming to terms with the tragedy that tore them apart twelve years before. It’s a tangled web of lies, love and family secrets and I’m hoping it will be released later this year.

How did you find your publisher- Red Rose Publishing?

As with so many things in life, it was mostly down to luck. I may never even have heard of Red Rose if a fellow member of the online writing group I belong to hadn’t been accepted by them. While I was checking out her novel on the Red Rose website, I decided to take a look at their submission guidelines. It just so happened that one of the few genres they were accepting from first time authors was holiday novels. Well, why not? I thought. They can only turn me down. So I took a deep breath and emailed my manuscript, and the rest, as they say, is history!

When you were five, you were diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa. Can you explain what this is and how you overcame a vision impairment to go on and publish a novel?

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is an inherited eye condition affecting the retina, causing varying degrees of sight loss. It’s a gradually developing disease, and in my case I was able to attend a mainstream school until the age of nine. By then my sight had deteriorated to such an extent that my teachers felt they no longer had the expertise to provide me with the specialist help I needed, and so it was decided I should finish my education at Dorton House, a school for the visually impaired. Not only did I learn to read Braille and use a computer with speech software, both of which have been invaluable in so far as my love of reading and writing; I was also lucky enough to meet my wonderful English teacher, Mr. Barry, who gave me the confidence to pursue my dream.

What are your favorite genre’s to read? What are you currently reading?

I’m a total book addict and will read pretty much any genre of fiction, so long as it has an intriguing plot and strong, memorable characters. For example, I’m currently reading Melissa De La Cruz’s Blue Bloods series, and next on my to read pile are a Philippa Gregory, a James Patterson and a Catherine Alliott. For me, alternating between so many genres keeps reading fresh and exciting!

What are some of your favorite activities- besides reading and writing?

What? You mean other hobbies actually exist? Seriously, though, I have two dogs, a four-year-old Staffy and a twelve-week-old Staffy/Bull Dog cross, and I love going for long walks with them over the parks near my home. I’m also an avid soccer fan, victim to the rollercoaster ride of emotions that is life as a Liverpool supporter.

Where would be your dream vacation?

It would have to be somewhere hot. OK, so I’m a redhead and so shouldn’t spend too much time in the sun, but I can’t help it. Life just seems so much brighter when the sun’s shining! On the other hand, I’m not the sort of person who can spend all day every day lying on a beach. I love relaxing, but I also enjoy soaking up the local culture, visiting sights of historical interest. So anywhere where I can combine the two elements would be ideal. Suggestions, anyone?

What is your advice for aspiring writers?

Study your craft. Most of us, unless we happen to be a literary genius, won’t write a publishable novel on the first attempt. Read every book you can lay your hands on about creating believable, unforgettable characters and how to weave page-turning plots. Join a writing critique group, whether online or face-to-face, to get feedback on your progress that will help you improve. Most of all, love what you do and write the sort of novels you would enjoy reading!