Guest Post & Interview: The Other Side of Life by Jess C Scott

Original Title: The Other Side of Life

Series: Cyberpunk Elven Trilogy #1

Author: Jess C Scott

Publisher: jessINK

Release Date: January 8th 2011

Genre: Urban Fantasy / Cyberpunk / YA with adult crossover appeal

Links: Goodreads | Amazon

Anya and Leticia are partners-in-crime who steal for a living. Their world turns upside down after a chance encounter with fellow rogue, Ithilnin--the enigmatic leader of an Elven band of thieves.

A scuffle to prove who's "the better thief" transforms into more than Anya and Ithilnin ever bargained for. They retrieve the missing piece of an ancient poem, before getting caught in the secret dealings of a megacorporation. What they uncover threatens to alter the very essence of not just human life, but the other side as well.

Elven intrigue, cyberpunk action, and a deadly dose of danger come together in The Other Side of Life [Book #1 in the (Cyberpunk) Elven Trilogy].

GUEST POST:  BEHIND THE COVERS BY JESS C SCOTT

Thanks so much for hosting me today, Vidya!

The Other Side of Life is the first book in a trilogy featuring cyberpunk elves.

The three covers below are the covers of each book (the third is a draft cover -- I explain more below…).

I chose to do the covers for the 2nd and 3rd books in the last quarter of 2011. I wanted the 3 covers to have some kind of a sequence when they were lined up together. As you can see, the first cover has the image placed to the far left, while the middle book has the image in the center, and the third has the image placed on the far right.

I had no idea what the cover for the first book was going to be -- all I knew was that I wanted it to have a mainstream/edgy appeal, with a slight manga-esque feel to it, so that it would look original and stand out from other book covers in the genre (I design my own book covers and sometimes illustrate the covers too, as with the case of The Cyberpunk Elven Trilogy).

The first book cover ended up incorporating a sketch I did of Se7en, a Korean pop-star (I just happened to do a random sketch of Se7en, referenced off a photo where he was trying on a pair of headphones). It shows the face of “Nin,” the lead elven rogue in the book (formerly known as Prince Ithilnin in his elven home kingdom of Helli’sandur).

The second cover shows Laer, the first dark elf that enters the project.

The third cover shows a skeleton king (he is briefly mentioned in one of the elves’ paintings in their “collection” in the first book). I still haven’t worked out all the details of Book03 yet, though I’d like to keep the skeleton king in he plot if I can. This one is a draft cover -- I’ll probably draw a funkier sketch once I’ve started work on the third book (which I’m aiming to get to in 2012).

I sometimes do the book covers before writing the text – the covers can capture a certain scene or feel or atmosphere that reminds me of what I want the story to “feel” like too. I go by whatever “feels right” to me most of the time. The aim is usually to create something unique, original, fresh, engaging and truthful (with both the book cover design + the story in the book!).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jess is a professional non-conformist with a fresh, youthful world view. She is an author of relationship-based erotic fiction (and other unique projects, including a series that features “cyberpunk elves”). She’s cool, supportive, and writes with both intellect and a lot of emotion.

She has most recently co-authored Teen Guide to Sex and Relationships with Matt Posner (Spring 2012). For more info, please visit http://jessink.com/teenguide.htm

Jess can also be found on jessINK, Facebook, and Twitter.

INTERVIEW WITH JESS C SCOTT

Is there an inspiration behind why you chose writing?

I think it was something I could see myself doing over a long-term basis. I would feel very bored and  restless/agitated if I was in a job that I didn’t find emotionally satisfying (even if it paid tons of money). For me, writing is something that combines passion and purpose, imagination and technical ability, emotion and intellect…

When you were little, what did you want to be when you "grew up"?

Writer was always the first choice. Followed by any of the following: vet, hairstylist, concert pianist, advertising (copywriter?), fashion designer, psychologist, occupational therapist, counselor, something in the financial line (yeah, very varied—writing offers me the chance to sample a little of all of this via the characters!).

Finish the sentence- one book I wish I had written is....

1984 by George Orwell.

What are your current literary works?  Any sneak peaks?

I recently co-authored an advice book with the fabulous Matt Posner.

The book’s a teen guide to sex and relationships (non-fiction), written in a Q&A format.

Here’s a blurb:

Teen Guide to Sex and Relationships is a book that answers the important and confusing questions young people have about their bodies and their hearts. It’s an advice book from two authors who care about young people and want to help them work through the tough issues that will be on their minds as they move through an emotionally complex time of their lives. Every question is answered in a conversational way, as if the author were sitting next to you speaking from the heart.

More Info @ www.jessINK.com/teenguide.htm

If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?

Depends on my mood—I wouldn’t mind going back to the past during the reign of The Tudors (scandalous times!).

If you could be one of the Greek Gods, which would it be and why?

I’d like to be Mercury (the god of mischief and communication). I’d love to be able to steal virtually anything. Mercury has flying shoes too!

I’m a Virgo (ruled by the planet Mercury) so maybe that influences my answer to an extent. I love keeping up with the latest celebrity gossip and stuff like that…

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book. 

Because cyberpunk elves are cool (The Other Side of Life).
Because it’s written entirely in a blog/IM format (EyeLeash).
Because it’s bold and informative (Teen Guide to Sex & Relationships).

I’ll stop there because I have many other books :P

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.

Hearing from readers who appreciate what I do. It keeps me on my toes and keeps me from slacking off (don’t want to let people down!) ;)

What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?

Don’t give up. Stay focused and committed to achieving well-defined goals.

If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world, which would it be?

The world of Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones.

If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?

The Tenth House (it’s a strong house in my astrological chart).

What is your favorite scene in the book and why do you love it?

A short, poignant scene in the last chapter (a scene in an abandoned stone church). It’s linked to the first chapter where it all began.

Nickname?

“Jess” is the one that has stuck the longest.

What is one book everyone should read?

1984 by George Orwell.

One food you would never eat?

Hmm, I’ll try anything once, really…

QUICK ANSWERS

Favorite place?
In my head.

Best Christmas present?
Warms smiles and great conversation.

Favorite book?
The Edgar Allan Poe anthology I’ve had for close to 10 years now.

Favorite author?
Poe, Oscar Wilde, George Orwell, Leo Tolstoy (classics = timeless), etc.

Favorite smell?
Anything that piques my interest/curiosity.

Favorite series?
Pit Dragon Trilogy by Jane Yolen.

Nickname?
My screen name during teenage years was “faNatiic.”

Favorite writing spot?
Anywhere comfortable and quiet/peaceful.

Favorite movie?
Seven Samurai.

Favorite dish?
Home-cooked, healthy meals.

Favorite color?
Midnight colors (especially black, red, and dark violet).

Favorite quote?
“Give up, give in, or give it all you’ve got.”

Favorite flavor of ice cream?
CHOCOLATE, blueberry, strawberry (impossible to pick one).

Your best trait?
Energetic + Optimistic.

Your worst trait?
I’m an occasional emotional rollercoaster.

*** This post is a part of the Orangeberry Book Tours. ***