Q: What are the positives and negatives about only having two writers in the series as opposed to three?
Jordan Benoit:
A: You don’t have to compromise as much and it isn’t as complicated as there isn’t as much butting of heads about storyline. The negative is that the workload is much more and there is definitely added stress.
Q: Why spend four hours a day writing a novel when you don’t know if it will ever be published?
A: You should never go into writing thinking it would be published, you should just have the passion to write. An author should never worry about writing to sell his/her self out for a buck. It makes writing not fun if you are only thinking about the money aspect.
Q: Money must be nice, though, right?
A: Well that goes without question.
Q: Who is a better writer: Vincent Hobbes or you? I mean it’s like Ali vs. Frazier, Yankees vs. Red Sox, Lizzie McGuire vs. Hanna Montana. Sorry, ran out of comparisons.
A: Ha ha. That’s tough. I could be biased, but the truth is I honestly believe both of us are great at what we do. We are both good writers and we have two different styles of writing. Just look at the excerpts of our forthcoming solo novels in the back of Exiles. It’s like comparing apples and oranges. He is better at some things and I am better at others. The collaboration of the both of us is what makes the LIT story so unique.
Q: Sounds like a copout to me.
A: On top of being humble, I’m a rational and logical person, but I do think I’m pretty damn good. Ha ha.
Q: What’s the easiest and hardest part of writing a novel?
A:Easiest—coming up with an idea. Any person with a creative mind and is attempting to write a novel already has the idea.
Hardest—finishing the project. It is easy to quit writing the story once you get stuck with a problem. Turning it from a short story to a novel takes a lot of dedication. If you can stick with it for more than 40,000 words and still have the same passion, then you are probably doing just fine.
Q: What are your opinions about the publishing industry?
A: So far it’s been positive, though I’m relatively new to the industry. Dealing with a middleman always complicates situations so you need to watch out whom you are dealing with. I love it so far.
Q: What do you visualize taking place this year in your writing career?
A: I see myself putting out a lot more work and hitting the industry with a bang. I’m anxious to release the products I have to offer to the world and it makes me proud to accomplish these goals. It gives me the morale to work that much harder.
Q: Do you like the spotlight of being an author? (interviews, etc.)
A: Absolutely. I’ve always been a person who loves the spotlight. I see myself as an entertainer. I was shy when I was younger, but playing in a rock band on stage for over a decade pretty much did away with that, though.
Q: Does it help getting the ladies, even though cutting your hair probably hurts the image?
A: Although cutting my hair may have hurt my author image, the shorter hair has actually helped me with the ladies. If that changes I will grow my hair out again. Ha ha.
Q: Who is your favorite LIT character and why?
A: Easy. Lorylle. She embodies every girl I’ve ever been close to. When I’m writing, it’s interesting what I write about her. She is truly a character who digs into the deepest recesses of my writer soul. Plus, she’s a hottie.
Q: Favorite character in literature?
A: Lestat de Lioncourt, one of the main characters in The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice. I identify with his characteristics. He is refined and witty, kind of like me, so I like to think.
Q: What do you do for fun?
A: Not a whole lot of time for that anymore. When I do have time, I love to jam with my band, as music is still a passion of mine.
Q: Why are authors so quirky? I mean talking with authors is like pulling teeth sometimes. Trust me, all authors are.
A: I don’t see myself that way, but I do see where you are coming from. I think it has to do with the personality of the individual author. Honestly, I think most are just a little camera shy. I’m not like that. I’m not the stereotypical recluse of which authors are usually portrayed.
Q: Finish the following sentences. Obama’s first act of his presidency should be to…
A: throw his socialist policies out the window.
Q: Paris Hilton should…
A: stop.
Q: Metallica…
A: is constantly playing on my iPod.
Q: If I had to pick a last meal it would be…
A: chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes, and mac n’ cheese, and on a kid’s plate with dividers. It’s sentimental.
Q: Authors are…
A: the nectar of the gods.
Q: Publishers are…
A: a pain in the…
Q: Vincent Hobbes is…
A: a ladies man