Interview Jaxine Daniels

by

S. E. Schenkel

 1) You have such an interesting and unusual name. Do you know why your parents decided to name you Jaxine?

My mother was a tap dance instructor and taught a pair of adorable twins named Jaxine and Janine. She wanted her own set. But I was an only child and I guess it was the luck of the draw. Growing up I disliked the name and went by Jackie. Online, I've been Jax, though, even before the penname.

2) I believe we have something in common besides Wings and a love of writing. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. When and how did you “connect” with this special man?

Actually, I simply came across the quote. I loved the thought that love is that powerful and the connection between love and fire :)

3) To take that last question a little farther—and since you have a quote from Pierre Teilhard de Chardin on your Website—do you feel your writing has been influenced by him?

I'm afraid not. I think the writer that has most influenced my writing is Suzanne Brockmann. I'm told my style is similar (I'm honored by that). I believe that we often pick up styles by osmosis from reading certain authors.

4) From what little I know of Jaxine the medical tech, Jaxine the hockey enthusiast and Jaxine the author, I can’t imagine you are ever bored. Or am I wrong?

Bored, rarely. Struggling to keep up. You betcha. I have recently added hypnotist to my bag of tricks (so to speak) and am working locally with a great group of chiropractors.

5) A Safe Place To Hide will be the fourth of this series when it comes out in December. How is it different from the others three? Is there a number five in the works?”

Indeed. The fifth, and last, installment of the PJ series is in the works as we speak. In some regards, I'll be relieved to finish it. But, I will miss the characters terribly.

6) You’ve written about hockey and murder in the “Ice” series, about rescue workers in the “Fall” series and also about the paranormal. Does such diversity come from a need to stretch your imagination?”

I think it comes more as a result than a need. I have a very diverse interest base, have done so many great things in my life that "write what you know" gives me a great deal of latitude.

7) Are you a disciplined writer, or do you write when the mood strikes?

I am a disciplined writer. I work with daily page counts. If I waited for a "muse" I'd be waiting a very long time. I've trained my muse to work on my schedule, not vice versa.

8) How long ago did you know you wanted to write, and what steps did you take to make it happen?

I have always wanted to write. As a teenager, I wrote very angsty poetry. Now, I write very angsty fiction :) In between, I did a lot of non-fiction writing. But I have always carried stories with me. As a kid, I'd put myself into the worlds I saw on television and write my own stories. I still love fanfic, by the way. There's some great writing out there.

9) Do you have any guidance to offer those still working on their first novel?

Write, write, write. Read, read, read. Don't rely on how-to books, read good fiction. Study it. And never give up. Always work to improve your craft and, most of all, have fun. Life's too short to not be having fun.

10) When and where do you get you best ideas for a story?

Hehehe, ideas absolutely bombard me non-stop. From movies and books and television. From life. I have to tell ideas and characters to take a number. :)