Author Jaya Moon #interview

Please give a warm welcome to author Jaya Moon

Tell us a bit about yourself

Hi there. I’m Jaya Moon. I live on the coast in country Victoria, Australia. I run a business with my husband. I say in my author blurb my job entails digging holes and joke I might be an undertaker (which I’m not).

Have you always wanted to become an author?

I’ve always written. My family lived on a farm amongst rolling green hills and forests in country Victoria. My childhood was a little turbulent. I spent many hours walking alone and telling myself stories. I guess it was a bit of escapism as well as my younger-self’s way of muddling through what was happening in my life. At primary school I was the girl who sat on the school fort and wrote rather than hanging out with my peers. I’d write stories that featured my classmates, often murder mysteries. Much to my teacher’s frustration, when we’d sit down as a class for people to read what they’d written, everyone in the class wanted to hear my stories. Probably because they were eager to know which one of them was going to die next and how they met their demise. After I finished my secondary education, I went and got a “real” job. I never stopped writing, but I didn’t actively pursue a writing career until a few years ago.

What was your inspiration for your current book/series?

My current series (The Ascension of Meghan May) is my first attempt at writing Reverse Harem and paranormal fiction, genres I love. I was inspired to write something that would, hopefully, be a fresh look at genre tropes. I love really tropey stories. They’re comforting; like curling up in a blanket on a winter’s day. However, I know there are times I crave something that makes me go “oooh, that’s a bit different.” I was inspired to write a book like that.

What are you working on now?

After a far too long break between the publication of Book 1 and Book 2 of my Meghan May series, I’m currently working on Book 3, which is the final in this series. I pretty much have a one-track mind when it comes to writing and need to stay focused on one story before I move on to another. That said, I have numerous notebooks with other story ideas percolating.

Do you have any quirks while working?

I almost always write my first draft listening to music, picking songs that suit the mood of the scene I’m trying to write, usually movie soundtracks with no lyrics. While redrafting I listen to thunderstorm sounds wearing noise cancelling headphones. My final draft is always written in complete silence (or as much silence as I can get. My neighbours have dogs that like to bark a lot!). Coffee is a MUST, although I now drink decaf and pretend it’s real coffee!

What are your hopes for the future?

I decided to become an Indie Author because I’ve, sadly, lost my passion for my “real job”. I’d like to think I can make a living from writing and become a full time writer. Hopefully that might happen in the next year or two.

Do you have any advice for new authors about the publishing world?

I could probably write a novel about this (LOL!), especially given my experience as I started out as an Indie Author.
Different things work for different people, but if I could go back and give myself advice when I first started out on my Indie Author journey it would be “keep going”. Don’t get distracted by the “noise”. Write what you want. Not everyone is going to love what you do, but that’s okay. In most cases, success won’t happen overnight.
If you’re passionate about being a writer, keep going no matter what. Remember why you wanted to become an author. My reasons to write may differ from yours, but I assume one of the main reasons you want to be an author is because you love writing. Don’t forget that.

Do you have anything to say to your followers?

Thank you SO much to everyone who has read my stories and loved them enough to come back for more. Writing can sometimes be quite a lonely endeavour. It’s always a thrill to put your story out there and have people love the worlds and characters you’ve created. From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate your support.