JC Szot was born in Morristown, New Jersey and grew up in the quiet town of Long Valley, New Jersey.  She now lives in Upper Mount Bethel, Pennsylvania with her husband Mike. She works in the educational field providing academic support to children with learning disabilities.  Exploring her imagination was the best move she ever made.

Q: Describe a typical writing day.

A: Unfortunately, I still have to work a full-time job. Lol. I’m up at 4:30 a.m. I get home from work at 3:00 p.m. I’ll write until seven or eight p.m. I like to print what I’ve written so I can reread it the next day over my lunch break. That way when I get home I know what I need to do. On the weekends I work full days. I have a very supportive husband who likes to do housework, thank God.

 

Q: Where do you get your ideas?

A: My ideas can come from anything, or anywhere. From pieces of clothing, to a friend’s pet. The idea for my last novel came by just passing a farm on my way home from work. I saw two handsome guys working out in the field, and that was it.

 

Q: Do you have any advice for writers hoping for an acceptance?

A: Don’t give up! Write every day. Another writer once told me it’s like learning how to play an instrument, and she’s right. To polish your product you have to stick with it, and do a little bit each day.

 

Q: What to do when you tell people you’re writing a book and they laugh?

A: Let their negative reactions roll off. If you ingest and digest their negativity all it will do is corrode you. Most people feel threatened by another’s boldness to step out and try something new. Don’t be that person! Press on, and push through. You’ll be the one to have the last laugh.

 

Q: How do you feel about critique groups?

A: I personally never found them to be helpful. It always seemed to be a bitch session about the industry, and a slaughter ground, giving people license to hack up your work. There has to be a balance of positive and negative or in my opinion it’s not a healthy environment. It may work for some people, but that’s just not how I work. I have people that read for me. Some know me, and some don’t. If I have three readers that bring up the same issue about a manuscript then I figure it needs my attention.

Read more
Books Series
Recently Added 30 Day Bestsellers All-Time Bestsellers