#WritersRead with J. Mercer

Book Recommendation

My favorite fantasy is probably the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series by Laini Taylor. I was floored and humbled by her world-building and felt like it hit me at every turn. When I thought she’d be done coming up with awesome new things, she’d do it again, and then again, and even far into the third book. I haven’t published any fantasy, and that’s a long way off, but Taylor (along with Naomi Novik and Maggie Stiefvater – hello, Scorpio Races) have inspired me to dive deep into made-up worlds and try my hand at fantasy.

Writing Tip

I’ve been asked this a lot over the years and my answer has changed from time to time, though perseverance tends to be a recurring theme. Over the years, my writing advice has moved from specific to broad, in that if you really want to succeed, you just need to keep at it. It’s more about work drive than talent, because the talent will come with time, the craft will come along the journey, but the decision to put the time in is the daily – or weekly – choice. So for today, I’ll tell you to pick a time, simple as that. Pick a time of day or a day of the week and stick to it like you would a doctor’s appointment, cancelling only when you absolutely must. Commit to yourself.

About J. Mercer

I recently released Shady Woods, the first book in a paranormal series – a fun, quick read, and also clean 😉 It’s aimed for the young adult, paranormal lovers, and reluctant readers, along with families looking for a little Halloween vibe. I do tend to write all over the map – women’s fiction, romantic thriller, YA contemporary, and now this – but I essentially write what the story in my head calls for. And that’s why I write… because the stories come to me and it’s fun – my play, so to speak – and at this point, I’m not sure I’d know what to do with myself if I wasn’t writing. I’m also not sure I could stop if I tried.

I spend most of my life working, writing/editing/reading, hanging out with my family, and watching my daughters dance. We love the Northwoods, lake activities, exploring, and also are good at doing plenty of nothing. I spend most of my social media time on Instagram talking about what I’m reading and writing, with some daily prompts in my stories for writers. I’m also on Facebook, which gets the highlights and news (links below). For more information about me and what I do, editing services, etc., check out my website: www.jmercerbooks.com. And always, keep writing! – or reading 😉