Author Thursday with Giveaway: Welcome Jeff Hirsch

Welcome to Author Thursday hosted by the Never Too Old for YA and NA Books group on Goodreads.

Today we welcome Jeff Hirsch!

In an America devastated by war and plague, the only way to survive is to keep moving.

In the aftermath of a war, America’s landscape has been ravaged and two-thirds of the population left dead from a vicious strain of influenza. Fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn and his family were among the few that survived and became salvagers, roaming the country in search of material to trade. But when Stephen’s grandfather dies and his father falls into a coma after an accident, Stephen finds his way to Settler’s Landing, a community that seems too good to be true. Then Stephen meets strong, defiant, mischievous Jenny, who refuses to accept things as they are. And when they play a prank that goes horribly wrong, chaos erupts, and they find themselves in the midst of a battle that will change Settler’s Landing--and their lives--forever

On one side of the Rift is a technological paradise without famine or want. On the other side is a mystery.

Sixteen-year-old Glenn Morgan has lived next to the Rift her entire life and has no idea of what might be on the other side of it. Glenn's only friend, Kevin, insists the fence holds back a world of monsters and witchcraft, but magic isn't for Glenn. She has enough problems with reality: Glenn's mother disappeared when she was six, and soon after, she lost her scientist father to his all-consuming work on the mysterious Project. Glenn buries herself in her studies and dreams about the day she can escape. But when her father's work leads to his arrest, he gives Glenn a simple metal bracelet that will send Glenn and Kevin on the run---with only one place to go.
With MAGISTERIUM, Jeff Hirsch brings us the story of a complex, captivating world that will leave readers breathless until the very last page.

And this upcoming release!

A civil war rages between the Glorious Path--a militant religion based on the teachings of a former US soldier--and what's left of the US government. Fifteen-year-old Callum Roe and his younger brother, James, were captured and forced to convert six years ago. Cal has been working in the Path's dog kennels, and is very close to becoming one of the Path's deadliest secret agents. Then Cal befriends a stray dog named Bear and kills a commander who wants to train him to be a vicious attack dog. This sends Cal and Bear on the run, and sets in motion a series of incredible events that will test Cal's loyalties and end in a fierce battle that the fate of the entire country rests on

  So let's hear what Jeff had to say, shall we?

Did you always know you wanted to be a writer or did you want to be something else? 

Writing has been the thing since about the 7th grade I think. Before that I vaguely remember wanting to be a veteranarian, but I guess what ten year old didn't want that at one point or another? 

How long does it take you to write a book from start to finish?

These days, idea to publication is about a year. Maybe a litle longer. Generally a first draft takes two months or so and then editing goes, well, until the nice people at Scholastic tear the book out of my carpal tunnel syndrome ridden fingers.

How do you come up with themes for your stories?

Well I can't say I come up with them so much as I try to write a story and see what emerges. If there are strong thematic elements that's great, if not that's ok too. For me the process of writing and editing a book is all about figuring out what exactly it is I'm trying to say and do with the book. That definitely evolves throughout the process.

Do you have a schedule of when you write? 

I stopped working a full time day job about a year ago and my first thought was-- "Hey I can sleep all day and write until 4am if I want to now!" In the end though, it turned out that I just like really rigid schedules. I do every weekday from nine to about six. When things get busy weekends get added to that. 

How are you able to balance other aspects of your life with your writing?

With varying degrees of success. My wife and I are both writers and work largely at home, which is great of course, but the pitfall is feeling like you need to be working all the time. We give outselves talking-to's on a regular basis about how we have to try to have a normal life, take vacations, that kind of thing. We haven't actually taken a vacation yet, but we remain hopeful.

What elements do you think make a great story line? 

Unique and engaging characters who want something very badly and encounter significant, and unexpected, conflicts when they try to get it. Thise conflicts are usually, but not always,  in the form of other unique and engaging characters.

What was the hardest thing about writing a book?

Letting go and allowing the story and characters unfold, rather than sweating and planning every detail. Writing is like golf in that way, you generally do your best when you're not trying to do anything at all.

How many books have you written so far? Do you have a favorite? 

Five total. Two are out. Two are on their way. One is in a drawer. Like most writers, my favorite book is whatever I'm working on at the moment so that means right now its The Darkest Path. 

Do you have a favorite character?

Hmm. If I had to choose I think I'd say Glenn in Magisterium. I find her an entertaining pain in the ass. I also have a great fondness for her cat, Gerard Manley Hopkins, who's a little more than he seems.

Where do you write?  

On various couches throughout the house. Generally with either a cat or a dog in my lap. 

When deciding on how to publish, what directed you to the route you took? 

Well, when The Eleventh Plague came out self publishing was definitely a thing but it wasn't the thing it is now. If it was...? I think I'd still go the tradiational route. I know I need help from agents and editors and publicists and copy editors. I'd be in serious trouble without them.

Have you gotten feedback from family about your book(s)? What do they think?

They seem to like them I think. Mom? Are you out there? You like them, right? 

What kinds of things do you like to do outside of writing?

This and that. I love to cook (I just finished an edit of the new book and celebrated by making triple chocolate chocolate chip cookies, a leek and bacon pizza and the syrup for homemade grapefruit soda) and tromp around outdoors with the dog. Also love sci-fi of all kinds.  

What kinds of advice would you give to someone who wants to start writing? 

Honestly, mine is probably the same as most writers. Read everything you can get your hands on and write every day. I don't think there's any other recipe.

What is your favorite book? favorite author? Do you have an author that inspired/inspires you to write? 

That's too hard! How do I narrow it down?  A few authors come to mind. Stephen King. John Steinbeck. Michael Chabon. Larry McMurtry. If I had to pick a favorite book I'd probably say Lonesome Dove.

Do you have any go to people when writing a book that help you with your story lines as well as editing, beta reading and such? 

A bunch, luckily. I largely rely on my wife and a collection of  friends from grad school. They're absolutely indispensable.

Are you working on anything now? 

Yep! Just turned in the last draft of the book that will come out this October. It's called The Darkest Path. It's set about seven years into the Second American Civil War and is about a young man trying to return home after being kidnapped and forced to serve as a child soldier. 

Also finishing up the first draft of a new 39 Clues novel!

Thanks so much for stopping by today, Jeff. It was so great having you here! 

Jeff has graciously offered a copy of his book Magisterium for giveaway. Scroll down and enter via the Rafflecopter below (US ONLY).

Here are some things about me. 

I live in an extremely Brazilian section of an extremely Greek neighborhood—Astoria, Queens, which is just to the right of Manhattan. (That's as you face Manhattan. If you were, say, lying on your back in the middle of Central Park with your head in a northerly position, we would be to your left) I live there with my wife who has a blog and our two cats who do not. One day I hope to have a very large dog that I can name Jerry Lee Lewis.

I used to write plays (I actually have an MFA in it, which is currently number 8 on US News and World Report's annual list of the top twenty most useless masters degrees) and now I write books for teens. I've written two. One was about a girl who wanted to be a rock star and could graciously be called a learning experience. 

The second, is The Eleventh Plague, a fact I still find pretty amazing.

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