Jessie Nw- I write romantic contemporary women’s romance. I also
have an uncompleted series about a murderer. I consider it a Mystery series vs.
a Suspense series. In answer to “experimentation,” my answer is Inspiration. I never thought about
inspiring someone until now. I realize my test turned into my testimony,
thinking there are those who find my history inspiring. This makes me smile.
WADIFTS- And rightly so -You
are a welcome addition to “Collaboration
In Motion-Women Doing It For Themselves!” We need your voice.
"Sometimes, I feel as if I am a simple amenity to the structure that is his world."
Meet Jessie Nw, Pen-Name for undercover
author and collaborator of the new release, “Through
The Darkness-Stories of Hope”. You may think we are joking but Jessie Nw is a pseudonym
the Government employee uses for the purpose of writing professionally.
“I work for the Federal Government,” Jessie shares openly. “…and there are
so many rules and regulations that I not only write under a Pen Name, I refuse
to say which agency… After chatting with
my sisters, we thought to publish under one of their names, but both will one
day to write their own story. That is when we constructed an anagram and
published under this Nome de plume.”
If that isn’t interesting enough certainly the driving force behind her
craft is! Jessie Nw never consciously decided to pursue a writing career, yet,
the writing style found in “The Solomon Sisters Series” seems to resonate a
certain graceful strength gifted by God, and tried by tragedy…
“My mother is a retired Professor who taught Writing/English. There
were strict, unwritten rules regarding English in our home (i.e. reading,
writing and homework) but especially speaking clearly and enunciating. So, let
us fast-forward 25+ years to getting married and having my husband abruptly
taken from me during an ATM robbery. I needed and finally accepted emotional
therapy where I dealt with the anger, pain and grief surrounding this pain of
being a 29-year old pregnant widow. Finally, 11 years after Eddies’ death, I
decided to pursue what always soothed my soul – writing. I stopped running from
it and embraced it with fervor. So technically, my writing career pursued me.
When I finally stopped running and gave in to its healing powers, I published
my first book in June of 2013.
When asked what inspires her to
write, the author (not unlike her peers) answered, “Truly it started as therapy. Now
it is what allows me to breathe.”
Tell us, have you ever had a particularly harsh critique?
Jessie Nw- “Who does your editing?” The author answers
candidly.
How did I handle it? I added an editor to the process of
publishing. I now have three editors go over the product before it goes live.
WADIFTS- Love your attitude-very professional. I
see that you “eat the meat and spit out the bones,” remaining focused on the
task at hand. Any advice for fellow authors?
Jessie Nw- My advice for
authors is do not ever think you are in competition with anyone. No matter how
many books you write a true reader will want more. You may be their favorite
writer but even if you put out a book a day, it wouldn’t be enough. A true
reader is going to find something to read. So take your time put out a great
product, make your book the one they come back to over and over again. Setting
yourself as a competitor against someone who can never be you is ridiculous.
The best part is you are not them either.
WADIFTS- Speaking of “Over
and Over again,” what book or series do you enjoy reading over and over again?
Jessie Nw- The Great
Controversy it keeps me in tune with my ultimate goal.
WADIFTS- If you
could choose an author to be your mentor, who would it be?
Jessie Nw- This is such a hard question… John Grisham has a
flare I would like to mimic, but Nora Roberts seems to have an imagination
unmatched. I believe my
imagination and equally distinctive style (urban dialectic similar to bougie
black) will rock the market.
Quid-pro-quo? - If you were stranded on a deserted island, and you
could only have five books with you, what would they be?
Jessie Nw-
a. Through the Darkness ~ Stories of Hope by *Talented
Beauties*
b. The Holy Bible King James Version (with highlighter)
c. The Simplicity of the Biblical Sanctuary by *Virginia
Echols Harrison*
d. The Desire of Ages by *Ellen G. White*
e. And the Mirror Cracked by *M. Handy*
WADIFTS- What are you
working on now?
Jessie Nw- Recently I lost sixty percent of my sequel in The Solomon Sisters
series.
WADIFTS- That must have been devastating?
Jessie Nw- I
refuse to release the first book of my next series about our infamous egomaniac
who keeps killing people… When this
person wants a promotion, someone gets in his or her way. There is always a solution. Then there is
another promotion so now what?
“Fasten Your Seat Belts!”
WADIFTS- What is the
best compliment you've ever received as an author?
Jessie Nw- “I absolutely
hate your characters.”
Me- “Really, which ones.”
Them- “All of them; who names a
character Jelly? It is completely
unbelievable.”
This said to me, that they read
the book; it bugged them enough to send me an email. The book stuck with them
enough to cause action...success.
WADIFTS- Have you
ever gotten an idea for a story from something really bizarre? Tell us about
it.
Jessie Nw- All the time. Every time I go to an island
I see something else and I go, “this is going to be good.” Often I encounter
negativity in humans; I then allow my imagination to write them into a scenario
befitting their attitude. Many end up dead…
WADIFTS- Oh-boy-Lol!
Quid-pro-quo- Are you a pantser or outliner?
Jessie Nw- A panster all the way. I have a set of
stories in my head and I see the outcome. Then I write, sometimes it works out.
Other times it sits on my computer until I pull out a page or two and another
story envelopes it.
WADIFTS- I certainly can relate to
your process! How many books do you have
on your "to read" list? What are some of them?
Jessie Nw- I
checked my Goodreads list and the crazy number is 1189
The three books that I will
review next are:
- The
First Lady’s Choice (technically finished)
- How
to Kill a Lie
- King
WADIFTS- Wow! 1189? Anyone needing a review better
get on the list now! Do you have anything specific you'd like to say to your
readers?
Jessie Nw- “To my readers I say.
Thank you for listening to the voices in my head. Sometimes they compete for my
attention and the ones who win that day get in the book. Sooner or later they
will all come out and when they do; you will get to meet them. one or two at a
time.”
· Blog
bit.ly/CIMHope
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Facebook Page bit.ly/CIMFace
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Instagram
bit.ly/CIMInsta
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Twitter
bit.ly/CIMTwit
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Website
bit.ly/wadifts
OUR INSPIRATION
Collaboration In Motion (#CIM) was established in 2016 by a group of women
inspired by HOPE.
