#Interview with @jlwillowbooks, #Author of Missing Her

About the Author:

Author's Amazon Page

J. L. Willow voraciously read everything she could get her hands on as a child and continues to this day. She was inspired by the way words on a page could capture the imagination, beginning her journey as a writer at just six years old. When she’s not holding a pencil or a book, she can be found belting her favorite musicals or studying to become a mechanical engineer. Days off are spent relaxing with her family in New Jersey.

J.L.Willow on the Web:

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Interview with J.L. Willow

When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer/ a storyteller?

I’m a classic Harry Potter inspired writer. When I first read the books, I had no idea that a story could make me feel like that before. I wanted to be able to make other people feel like that, like they were swept off their feet by the storytelling.

How did you come up with the idea for your current story?

My current project is a collection of short horror stories. Each of them have had their own journey (some have been easier to write than others). Some I thought of when I started putting together the collection, but one in particular I actually wrote in seventh grade and I’ve been looking for some place to put it ever since. I’m glad it finally found a place where it can be seen and enjoyed.

Are there some stories tucked away in some drawer that was written before and never saw the light of the day?

Oh, 100%. There’s a box in my room that includes a ton of old drafts. Some are of books that were never published, some are really old drafts of The Scavenger and Missing Her. Regardless, they are for my eyes only and will most likely never make it out of that box. If they do, they’re going to need a lot of TLC before they’re ready for readers.

What is your favorite scene in the book? Why?

My favorite scene I ever wrote is probably the prologue to my second novel, Missing Her . It actually started as a short story that I expanded into the full book, but I placed it in front to set the tone for the rest of the piece. It went through a bunch of reworks before the final draft but it was so much fun to write and put together. It definitely starts the book with a bang.

Did any of your characters inherit some of your own quirks?

I think every author puts little pieces of themselves into their characters. Samuel loves musicals, Vanessa enjoys classic rock, Eliza shops at Lush -- I could go on. Readers with a sharp eye will be able to notice them throughout my work.

Do you read? Who are your favourite authors?

I used to read a ton when I was in high school, but I don’t have as much time now that I’m in college. I still do my best to find time, though, because it definitely enriches my writing. Some of my favorite authors include Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff, and Andy Weir. I will read anything the three of them write.

What is the best piece of advice you have received, as a writer, till date?

When I was at BookCon two years ago, I heard a fellow author give this advice: finish the first draft. There are hundreds of aspiring authors out there, but they get intimidated by the blank page and they stop writing. They never get to finish the draft, let alone the book. So when you finish that first draft, you move yourself from a huge pool to a much smaller window of people who were able to follow-through. So push forward and finish that first draft!

How do you spend your free time?

Most of my free time nowadays is put towards studying for my mechanical engineering degree. But when I have free time beyond that, it’s usually spent belting my favorite musicals (recently it’s been Dear Evan Hansen ) or watching movies (specifically horror).

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?

I want to visit all the Disney parks one day. I’ve visited the ones in Florida, California and Paris, but hopefully I’ll be able to make it to the others!

What do you have in store next for your readers?

I’m currently working on a new adult collection of short horror stories. The rough release date is beginning of 2021 -- keep an eye out for it! It’s going to be very spooky.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with your readers?

If you’d like to learn more about me and my work, feel free to check out my website: www.jlwillow.com.


About the Book:

Check out the Book on Amazon

Vanessa Stockton and her best friend Eliza are inseparable. They’re living the best years of their lives, enjoying high school, boyfriends and planning for their futures. All that changes, though, when Eliza goes out to a party and never makes it home. Months pass without a break in the case, until one day Vanessa wakes up . . . in Eliza’s mind. Even more disturbing, she discovers she’s woken up two days before Eliza goes missing. Vanessa has no choice but to relive her best friend’s memories leading up to the disappearance and discover the truth about what happened before time runs out. But is the past set in stone? Or can Vanessa save her friend from an unspeakable fate?





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