Is it just me or is this year flying by? Tomorrow, it’ll be March, and I’m left wondering how that happened. But I can’t fight the passing of time, so I’ll just strap in and get as much done as I can each day. I spent half the month crazy sick, which meant I got behind in my words, so every spare second I have, I’m striving to reach “The End” of Kerry and Dayton’s story, and for some reason (we don’t question the will of the gods), this story is just pouring out of me when I do have time, and I’m so excited to be able to share it with you all (soon, so soon). But today, you’re not here to read my waffle. You’re here for BL Jones, so let’s get started.
BL’s Quirky Questions
Holly: Describe yourself using… (choose one: a food, a book, a song, a movie, an animal, a drink, a place etc)
BL JONES: Pop rocks, Alice in Wonderland, Intrusive Thoughts by Natalie Jane, Mulan (animated), Turtle, Pepsi, Grand Cayman
Holly: Do you have any strange writing habits or rituals?
BL JONES: Yes, I do this thing where I spend hours upon hours thinking about my story and daydreaming the scenes playing out and making random notes. Then when it comes to writing the actual story…I don’t. Like. It’s very effective. Very sacred. I believe it’s a tradition amongst the writer community.
Holly: If you could create a new holiday, what would it be? Why?
BL JONES: International Introvert day, where nobody bothers anyone and we all just get to stay in and break plans and mutually agree we love each other. Silently. From a distance.
Holly: Do you play music while you write — and, if so, what’s your favorite?
BL JONES: Yes, I come up with playlists for each of my books and characters. Although, when I’m actually writing I find it easier to listen to thematic, score music from films or TV shows. My current go-to is Quantum Field by Rok Nardin. Also the Dune 2 trailer music for some reason, ha.
Holly: Name an underappreciated novel that you love. What is it about this book that you adore?
BL JONES: ‘know not why’ by Hannah Johnson. I love it because it’s got a quirky personality, the writing I mean, and the characters are offbeat in a way I struggle to find in books. Like, they’re weird and flawed and have bizarre little thoughts in their bizarre little heads and sometimes do and say bizarre things because of that, which I enjoy.
Holly: What was the weirdest thing you had to Google for your story?
BL JONES: I once spent ages trying to Google when kitchen islands were invented. As always, the internet was highly conflicted over this hot topic and there was much controversy to wade through. In the end I decided I don’t care and figured my world is an alternative world with magic and super powers and no one is going to care about that one scene where kitchen islands are mentioned in one tiny paragraph.
Holly: If you could visit any place you’ve created for a holiday where would you go?
BL JONES: Colbie. It’s a small beach town in England filled with weirdoes who do lots of strange and funny stuff. I like beaches and I like weird people, so I’d go there.
Holly: Let’s talk to your characters for a minute – what’s it like to work for such a demanding writer?
Rex: She’s the reason I can’t have nice things.
Leo: She’s mean and kills people for fun. I’ve seen it.
Caleb: Also, she rambles a lot and tells irrelevant, embarrassing stories about us and our childhoods even though they have nothing to do with anything.
Jack: I hope pandas eat her.
Holly: Are you a plotter or a pantster?
BL JONES: A plotter. I need my plots. I’m like a supervillain that way.
No, but really. I’m basically one of those deranged TV detectives who are trying to solve a serial killer case, who has a massive board with pictures and receipts and notes pinned to it with bits of thread connecting them all.
There’s a method to my madness though.
Probably. We’ll see.
Holly: How many books are you usually working on at the same time? How many unfinished WIPs do you have?
BL JONES: I try not to be doing any more than 2 at the same time, mostly because it’s difficult to jump from one characters head to another. I have one major one I’m working on right now which is the conclusion to a series, so I’m putting a lot of effort into focusing on that.
Sometimes it’s hard though, when you have a million ideas and want to write them all. I have to keep telling myself there’s time and I can get to those other ideas later, there’s no need to write like I’m going to keel over tomorrow.
I hope you enjoyed this week’s episode of Holly’s Quirky Questions.
A huge thank you to BL.
Next week we have Linden Bell.
Until then: Find a Spark of Magic Every Day.
