Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester is very happy to shine our Friday spotlight on Fantasy Author Jennifer Estep (pronounced Eee-step). Jennifer will be in on our Zoom event on Saturday, July 25 from 7 – 8 PM, so don’t miss it! Details on how to join the event are on the Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester Facebook Events Page.
When asked to tell us briefly a little bit about herself and her writing, this was her response:
Hello, My name is Jennifer Estep, and I’m a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author.
My most recent book is Crush the King, book #3 in my Crown of Shards epic fantasy series. I’m also the author of the Elemental Assassin, Mythos Academy, Bigtime, and Black Blade fantasy series. I’ve written more than 35 books, along with numerous novellas and stories.
In my spare time, I enjoy hanging out with friends and family, doing yoga, and reading fantasy and romance books. I also watch way too much TV and love all things related to superheroes.
Where can people find your work? (Besides Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester–though they should totally check here first!)
Indie bookstores for the win! J
Any indie bookstore should be able to order my books, and you can also find them on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Audible, and all the other usual online book retailers. Most of my books/series are available as ebooks, print books, and audiobooks.
How can we follow your work and share your awesomeness?
For the latest news on my books, readers can visit www.jenniferestep.com or follow me on Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter. You can also sign up for my newsletter. Here are some more places to follow me online:
Website: http://www.jenniferestep.com/
Blog: http://www.jenniferestep.com/blog/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JenniferEstepAuthor?fref=ts
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Jennifer_Estep (@Jennifer_Estep)
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/580315.Jennifer_Estep
Newsletter signup: http://www.jenniferestep.com/contact-jennifer/newsletter/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jennifer-estep
Amazon author page: https://amzn.to/2QeDW4j
For readers unfamiliar with your work, how would you describe what you write? What can readers expect from Crush the King?
My books contain a little bit of everything—action, adventure, magic, danger, and romance. I write in first person, and my books usually focus on the heroine—who she is, what her goals are, etc. Basically, my books are just fun, fast-paced action-adventure stories where the heroine saves the day and get the guy in the end.
I also love writing fight scenes, and I enjoy describing/talking about food in my books. So don’t read them while hungry. LOL.
What was the inspiration for Crush the King and your Crown of Shards epic fantasy series? What were the steps you took to bring it from initial inspiration to the finished book?
I’ve always wanted to write an epic fantasy series, ever since I started reading epic fantasy books back in high school. Over the years, I tried several times to write an epic fantasy book, but it just never quite clicked for me.
Then, a couple of years ago, I was talking with my agent about coming up with a new series, and I decided to try writing epic fantasy again. I thought about the things that I do best as a writer—first person point of view, fight scenes, food talk, etc.—and started thinking about what kind of fantasy world would let me showcase all those things. Eventually, I settled on the idea of having Evie, my heroine, become a gladiator so she can save her kingdom from her evil cousin, and my Crown of Shards series just took shape from there.
What else can we expect from you in the near future?
A SENSE OF DANGER will be released on Thursday, Nov. 12. This book is for Audible Originals, so it will only be available as an audiobook. I will be self-publishing the ebook/print book versions at a later date.
I’m hoping to self-publish Elemental Assassin #19 sometime in spring/summer 2021.
Also, CAPTURE THE CROWN will be released in summer 2021. It’s the first book in a new trilogy that is set in my Crown of Shards world. CAPTURE THE CROWN is set about 15 years after the events of CRUSH THE KING and focuses on a grown-up Gemma Ripley (from PROTECT THE PRINCE).
What is/are your passions when you’re not writing? How do you make time for your non-writing hobbies/things you love?
I love reading and talking about books, as well as doing yoga, spending time with friends/family, and watching movies/TV. Also, as a result of spending so much time at home this year, I decided to try a paint-by-numbers kit. I loved paint-by-numbers kits when I was a kid, and it’s been really fun to get back into that. Plus, it’s a great way to relax at the end of a long day of book work.
For me, it’s really hard to find a good work/life balance. As an author, there is always something to do, whether it’s writing a new book, doing social media, etc. So it can be difficult to turn off the computer and do something else, but I’m trying to get better about making more time for myself and doing the things that I enjoy doing.
What does your writing space look like? What do you need to have around you while writing or editing?
I have a pretty basic setup—a laptop, monitor, keyboard, and mouse. I also have a large dry-erase board that I use to keep track of monthly deadlines.
But I do have some fun stuff too, including a Wonder Woman mug and a collection of Captain America Funkos. I also have a spider-themed knife that one of my friends gave me in honor of the Spider, aka Gin Blanco, the heroine of my Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series. J
While you’re writing, do you prefer music, silence, other? Please elaborate!
I always joke and say that I need “dead freaking silence” to write. LOL. I’ve tried to write to music, but I usually just end up tuning it out, so I write in silence.
Do you have any favorite foods or drinks that must be in the vicinity (or must be avoided) while you’re writing or editing a piece of work?
I will often snack on gummy bears or some other sugary treat while I’m writing/editing/working. Happy reading, everyone! J
Thanks so much for taking the time out of your busy day to answer our questions, Jennifer!
Annie's Book Stop of Worcester 