With a writing schedule as action-packed as her books, Jordan Summers crosses the genre lines--paranormal, contemporary, historical--to give her readers a variety of thrilling adventures. Crimson, her most recent release, is the third book in the Dead World series. I catted with Jordan about Crimson and her writing process.
What makes Crimson such a fascinating read?
The blend of suspense, urban fantasy, sci-fi and romance.
Jeaniene Frost says Crimson is "dark, action-filled and hot! This heroine is a wolf dressed in Little Red Riding Hood's clothing." Tell us more about the heroine of Crimson and what Frost means by her statement.
Red, the heroine in Crimson, came about when I asked myself the following question: What if Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf turned out to be the same person?
I wanted to play with the fairytale, but I knew that I didn't want to follow its original structure completely. I also knew that it would take more than one book to tell Red's story. So I started the story with book one, Red and continued it in Scarlet. I'm wrapping up the overall arc with Crimson where Red finally becomes the Big Bad Wolf.
Why did you choose a "near-future, post-apocalyptic world" as the setting for the Dead World series?
I actually didn't choose it. The setting chose me. My intention was to set Red, Scarlet, and Crimson in present time, but Red didn't cooperate. She pulled a laser pistol on me. I knew then that I'd be dealing with a near-future story.
You stated you find it difficult to write in one genre at a time. Explain.
Red started out being a present day retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. Should've been straight forward fantasy. That's what I'd planned. Suddenly there was a plethora of science fiction elements (i.e., hover cars, laser pistols, recycling centers for bodies, genetically altered humans, etc.). The thriller elements in the killer's point of view became tinged with horror. My story went from straight forward to multi-genre. That's what I meant by having a difficult time writing in one genre at a time. I always have very good intentions when I start a story, but my brain inevitably takes a right turn at Albuquerque.
Why do you ensure all of your books end on an upbeat?
It's quite simple, I like happy endings. They don't have to be sweet and unrealistic, but I want a happy ending or at a minimum a 'happily for now' ending.
What's next for Jordan Summers?
Wish I knew. I'm currently writing a young adult urban fantasy and just finished the final touches on an adult urban fantasy.
Janice Gable Bashman writes for leading publications, including "Novel & Short Story Writer's Market," "US Industry Today," "Food & Drink Quarterly," "The Wild River Review," "Bucks," and others. Her serial feature "Thrill Ride: The Dark World of Mysteries and Thrillers" (co-written with Jonathan Maberry for the "Wild River Review") includes interviews with Barry Eisler, Lawrence Block, Steve Hamilton, and other thriller and mystery writers. She is working on a thriller, "Vengeance," and her writing won multiple awards at the 2007 Philadelphia Writer's Conference.
