Fire in the Woods Blog Tour: Interview with Jennifer M Eaton

Today we're taking part in the FIRE IN THE WOODS blog tour by chatting with author Jennifer M. Eaton. Come get to know Jennifer and her book, and be sure to enter the Rafflecopter at the end of the post.


Hi, Jennifer! Welcome to We Do Write. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am a mom of three kids under 13 and a full-grown husband. We live on the east coast of the USA with a menagerie of pets (Including my two brand-new hermit crabs!) and our house is run by a fifty-pound standard poodle.

Tell our readers a bit about FIRE IN THE WOODS

I’d love to! FIRE IN THE WOODS is a high-paced, action-adventure, chase, science fiction, young adult romance. How’s that for a mix of genres?

FIRE IN THE WOODS is about a seventeen-year-old girl who goes for a walk in the woods and has her life changed forever when she decides to help an injured boy she finds curled up beneath a tree.

While the story will be labeled science fiction because there are aliens in the plotline, I was really striving to write a story that transcends genre. It is undoubtedly a romance, but it is also about two people running for their lives. It is an action adventure, but it is also about people overcoming their differences. The story is high-paced, but the characters come up for air so the reader is not always on the edge of their seat. I think there is something in this story that will appeal to everyone.

Sounds cool. How did the idea of the story come to you?

I like to write short stories between novels – sort of a writer’s way to “clean the pallet” before moving on to the next course. Fire was supposed to be a quick, 10,000 word novella about a girl who trips over an alien boy in the woods. Imagine my surprise when the story took off to places I never dreamed of!

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I used to be a big pantser. Writing was a recreational sport to me, kind of like watching television with complete control over what happens. A few years ago, I started outlining (very loose outlining) and I have found it incredibly helpful for keeping me on track. I have nowhere near as many deleted scenes now compared to when I was “pantsing” and I don’t get “lost” or write myself into a corner.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

The hardest part of writing is stopping once I get started. Once I get “into the groove” I can write for a really long time, but unfortunately “real life” needs some attention, too, and I need to stop.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

I like to have a green Gatorade (cut with 50% water) and something crunchy like pretzels. In really deep-writing mode, I’ll slip a little dark chocolate in. Other than that, I just need a keyboard, a computer, and a quiet room.

Yes, quiet is important. What are you reading right now?

I just started reading “Call me Grim” by Elizabeth Holloway. It is a story about a girl who has to choose between dying and becoming a reaper. I’ve only read two chapters, but I am enjoying it so far.

It's a great book, trust me! If you could have any super power, what would it be?

I think I would like to fly. Traffic is really overrated. Why not fly right over everyone? And how much fun could I have tormenting my poodle if I were flying over her head? Good times!

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

Ha! Probably how much a Newfoundland (very large dog) drools. One of my stories features this breed, and I wanted to make it believable. I ran into someone walking a Newfoundland one day and asked them tons of questions I could not find online (like how big their poop was) Very funny!

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably

 ... Sleeping. Geeze, I am a boring person. But right now, that is what my schedule is like. I have some pretty tight deadlines.

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

I’d like to give a big shout out to my army of beta readers that toiled endlessly over FIRE IN THE WOODS. They all know who they are. (There is an extensive list at the end of the novel if anyone wants to read all the names.)

I’d also like to wave emphatically at any new fans that stumble across FIRE IN THE WOODS and fall in love with my characters. Don’t be shy! I’d love to hear from you! Email me any time at Jennifer-eaton [at] Comcast [dot] net

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog to chat with us, Jennifer!

Thank you so much for having me. It’s been fun!

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