Kristin Jacques is speculative fiction author and content creator from New England. She holds a B.A. in Creative Writing from Wells College. Her award-winning dark fantasy Marrow Charm was released from Parliament House Press in October 2019. In 2020, she signed a four-book deal with City Owl Press for the paranormal series Midnight Guardians. The first book, A Bargain of Blood & Gold, released June 2021.
When not writing, she is juggling two rambunctious boys, spoiling her cats, and catching up on a massive TBR pile. She is currently working on projects full of magic, mystery, and delight.
1. Tell us a bit about yourself! Where do you call home and what do you write?
I am from New England, specifically Connecticut. We don’t really have a football team but we are well known for Nutmeg, so we have that going for us. Our cookies are fantastic. I am a mother of two and I primarily write under the speculative fiction umbrella of science fiction, fantasy, horror, paranormal etc. My stories are either quite dark or quite humorous. Or a mix of both.
2. What drew you to that particular genre and/or age group?
I write for both adults and teens, but I am primarily drawn to fantastical elements in writing because I like exploring facets of humanity in inhuman characters.
3. What are you currently working on?
I am currently working on sequels. Sequels for days. 2021 was a very hard year for me personally and I am working to catch up to where I hope to be in my series.
4. What inspired you to write it?
One of my current sequels is to Marrow Charm, the final book in the Blood Vow trilogy, and explores the choices we make, the paths we are set on and being the master of your own destiny. It has been equal parts cathartic and heart breaking after the events of the past couple books and I hope to bring these characters’ journeys to a satisfactory conclusion.
5. Tell us about your writing process. Are you a plotter, pantser or somewhere in between? How do you research?
It depends honestly. With initial books, I often find I am a planster, writing with a very loose plot line and letting the story take a hard left if it feels natural. But with series, I am a big plotter. I have story bibles. The plotlines get tighter though that doesn’t always keep the characters on the rails. Some elements need a lot of research, such as the historical paranormal novel I released last year, while other research is ‘how do spiders work’ or what a specific plant is known for which is more of a Google as I go process.
6. What’s the strangest or most interesting thing you’ve researched for your writing?
How bodies were kept ‘fresh’ in 19th century morgues was a good one. Another fun piece of trivia for a current work in progress was how boats transported cargo up and down the Hudson river which eventually fed into the central canal system.
7. What’s the most personal story/scene you’ve written and why?
Honestly one of the most personal scenes I wrote wasn’t for a story I am widely known for as an author, but that has been widely read. I got my start on Wattpad, and one of my best known pieces on the platform is a science fiction piece called Edgewise which chronicles the misadventures of a sentient tavern and its various multiversal patrons. Think Cheers meets Doctor Who. There is a scene of self discovery for the main character and what it means to be human, that we are the sum of our parts, not defined by one thing, good or bad. It’s something that’s stayed with me as an author and a person.
8. Who are your literary influences? In what way?
I am heavily influenced by Terry Pratchett, Diana Wynne Jones, and Tamora Pierce. Not only Pratchett’s humor, but the way he humanizes monstrous characters is something I emulate in my writing. Jones had such a finesse to pulling elements together in her endings I can only hope to someday achieve. And Pierce fostered my love of diversity in strength when it came to female characters. She was one of my heaviest influences in fantasy as a younger reader.
9. What books are on your bedside table right now?
A fat stack of Bridgerton novels. I am giving the series the old college try and binging it in one go. I have a big soft spot for historical romance novels that I indulge in binges from time to time.
10. Last and most important, where can we find your books/stories?
My books can be found where most books are sold at Amazon, B&N, Kobo, and Book Depository.
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