Frequently Asked Questions

Updated April 11, 2010

Where do you get your ideas?

Some people claim that I harvest them from the dreams of sleeping innocents, but that's a slight exaggeration.

Seriously, most of my ideas come while I'm listening to music, often in a moving vehicle of some sort. There's probably a disturbing psychological explanation for this, but I hesitate to examine it too closely. Never look a gift idea in the mouth, right?

How long have you been writing fiction?

Since February 1995. It took six years to get my first book published, then another (yikes!) five years for the second one. Since then, they've been coming out on a regular basis, one or two per year through at least 2011. Thank you very much if you've helped me realize my dream (and stay employed) by buying or borrowing one of my books.

What are your books about? When are they coming out? What order should I read them in? Where can I order them?

All these questions (and more!) can be answered in the Books section of this website. If you can't find the answer there, it must be a really interesting question, so please contact me to ask.

What age ranges are your books appropriate for?

Shade is for ages 14 and up. My Aspect of Crow trilogy is probably fine for 14 and up, while my urban fantasies (the WVMP Radio vampire series and Requiem for the Devil) are probably better for 16 and up.

Will Requiem for the Devil ever have a sequel?

Nope. Not every book needs a sequel. After a lot of consideration (and years of working on follow-ups), I've decided to keep that series to just one book. If you like the style and tone of Requiem, you’d probably like Wicked Game and Shade.

Which internets are you on?

I’m active on Facebook (where I also have a fan page) and am totally addicted to Twitter, so come friend me!

How old are you?

Old enough to say, “Next question?”

Let’s talk about my needs now. How can I get an autographed copy of your books?

One of these ways:

Order from Constellation Books, a fabulous independent bookstore in Reisterstown, MD. When you place your order, be sure to let the nice folks there know whether you want it simply autographed or if you want it personalized (i.e., "To [name of awesome reader]"). Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.
Fill out the contact form and ask me for a signed, personalized bookplate. Tell me which book(s) you’d like, how you’d like it personalized, and (most important) your mailing address. No charge to you! Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery. My adminstrative staff consists of an as-yet-uncloned me.
OR, Send your copy of the book to me at P.O. Box 66, Westminster, MD 21158 with a self-addressed stamped envelope for return. Let me know how you’d like it personalized. Again, allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.

Will you be a guest blogger/interviewee on my blog?

I'd love to! But since each interview or guest blog takes at least half a day for me to complete, and there are many books to be written, I am forced to be choosy:

Interviewers, please read at least one of my books first and tailor your questions to the books and my writing. It might also help to read some of my recent interviews, listed on the About Jeri page, so you can see what other interviewers have asked me recently. Due to time constraints, I can answer only 5 questions per interview, but feel free to ask more—I love choices!
Same goes for guest blogs—after reading my book(s), please offer a selection of topics for me to write about. Otherwise, I tend to draw a blank. I especially enjoy taking part in a themed event, where several authors write about a similar topic.

Will you read my work and refer me to your agent/editor?

Sorry, but for legal reasons (not to mention lack of time), I can’t read fiction that isn’t already under contract to be published. If your work is under contract and you’d like me to give you a cover quote or “blurb,” have your people call my people. My people = literary agent Ginger Clark at Curtis Brown, Ltd.

I'm looking for advice on how to get my book published. Can you help?

Since each career is unique, I hesitate to offer specific advice to aspiring authors. Writers organizations such as SFWA and RWA are generally reliable resources.

I sent you an e-mail but you never replied. What’s up with that?

I try to reply to e-mail within the week, but certain time pressures have caused me to get behind, and for that I am truly sorry. You can check my travel schedule or my blog to see if I’m out of town or on a tight deadline.

Also, I get a ton of spam at my business e-mail address. If you haven't heard back from me after a month or so, I might have accidentally deleted it, especially if your subject line was “Hi” or “For Jeri” or “med$ at the best prices 4U!” Consider resending the message with a subject line such as “Shade is the best book ever.” Or just use the contact form.

How do I subscribe to your quarterly newsletter?

Just type your e-mail address into the box at the top of this page (the one that says “Sign up for Jeri’s newsletter”). Each issue has at least one contest, so sign up and win stuff!