Jana Sun

“Jana! So excited to finally sit down and do this with you. Let’s kick things off strong, is there a genre you’ve been dying to write but haven’t yet?”

Mystery! I started in mystery, but quickly found that I wasn't great at it. Maybe now that I've read a lot more mysteries and written a lot more, I could attempt it!

“I’d read the heck out of a Jana Sun mystery 😄 Okay, let’s rewind a bit, what was your favorite cartoon growing up?”

Sailor Moon! I still love Sailor Moon. I also loved Pokémon, Care Bears, all of the Disney princesses, and DuckTales.

“That’s such a nostalgic lineup. Any favorite Australian actors or celebrities?”

Essie Davis! She stars in Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (I did mention I love mysteries!)

“You’re a mystery-lover through and through! What’s a hobby you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet?”

Painting. I really want to learn to express my creativity in other ways, but I just never seem to do it.

“You’d probably be incredible at it. Now I’ve got to ask... have you ever had a supernatural experience?”

Yes! I had a reading with a psychic that was very intense, very personal, and she told me things about myself that no one could have known. I've also experienced the shifting of energies in rooms, like the presence of a spirit. I very strongly believe in ghosts!

“That gave me goosebumps 😳 Let’s talk about writing, how do you name your characters?”

It's a mixture of both; sometimes the character's names have deeper meanings, but more often than not, I play with the character's name until it feels right to me. I'll say their names out loud, write them down a few times, imagine how that name would respond to situations and if it seems like something a "Name" would do.

“That’s such an intuitive way to build a character. When I say "Australia", what’s the first image that pops in your head?”

The Great Barrier Reef. I've always wanted to see it!

“Fingers crossed we get you snorkeling there one day. Do you believe in luck or destiny?”

Very much so. I think luck and destiny are interwoven into our lives so thoroughly, that we don't even notice it. I think what's meant for us will happen at the right moment, and it's usually a comfort when my anxiety is being terrible!

“Couldn’t agree more. So how do you measure success as an author?”

I'm not sure really, not in terms of numbers. Hearing from readers that they enjoyed my books means that I've succeeded. It's hard to really say what success looks like, because I'm still defining that for myself.

“That’s beautifully said. Okay, spill, what’s one trope you secretly love?”

I'm not sure any of my trope favs are a secret at this point, haha! I really, really love MM romance that's full of banter and love. Also fated mates and one bed. The one bed trope is probably my absolute favorite. I think hurt/comfort is probably one I don't talk about as much though.

“I agree hurt/comfort and one bed. 🔥 What’s your favorite part of writing?”

The first draft! Getting the words on the page and out of my head. I love seeing the word count go up, I love knowing that I'm breathing life into a new idea, I love the initial act of creating.

“First-draft energy is such a high. Has a reader ever surprised you with their interpretation of your work?”

People have resonated with characters that I didn't think they would as much. Peony Hawthorne from the Seer's Blessing Trilogy specifically. I loved her, but I didn't think she would be a hit with readers, but I've had so many readers tell me how much they want more of her!

“Peony is a gem. What do you hope readers take from your books?”

Girl power, the magic of finding the right people to love you, and seeing how your worth and value mean more than you think. I write a lot about found families and stepping into your power, and I hope my readers carry a little bit of that with them.

“That’s exactly what I feel reading your stories. Series or standalones, what’s your favorite to write?”

I've done both, and it's a toss up for me. I think I prefer series just because I tend to love my characters and want their stories to keep going.

“Same! Hardest scene you’ve ever written?”

The ending of Visions of Kings. It's the last book of the Seer's Blessing Trilogy, and I've been writing those characters for soooooo long that the idea of saying goodbye to them was gut-wrenching. I'm happy with the ending, and it was easier once I firmly decided that this world would continue on.

“I know that pain. I'm about to write the final book in The Always Series. I've put it off and put it off because it's my baby. 😩 Okay, Australian spiders. Be honest, are they as terrifying as the internet says?”

I lived in Taiwan for a little while, and there was a very large, (probably) harmless spider that lived in my apartment. He was about the size of my hand. We had a mutual understanding: Carlyle (the spider) would stay out of my room and he was free to eat all the bugs to his little spider's heart's content. I never actually saw him in my room, and the mosquitos decreased. Win win.

“Carlyle the peacekeeper. 🕷️ Respect. Do you have any writer's rituals?”

My only ritual is to wait until my kids are asleep so I can focus for more than 35 seconds at a time. 😂 Once they're in bed, I usually get some water and turn on some music.

“Relatable! Are you a plotter or a pantser?”

Ploooootttt all the way. I've done both and I can't be a panster. My memory is terrible and I write myself in circles or into a corner. 🤣

“Plotters unite! How do you know when a story’s really done?”

It's just a feeling, usually after I've read it and decide I don't want to toss my computer.

“That’s the official test. 😂 How do you juggle writing with the business side?”

Actually, I really enjoy the business side. I've had to learn so many things about publishing that it's given me some more self confidence. It's a lot, but mostly I try to take about 15-20 mins once a week to just review everything and then mentally set myself up for the next week. Marketing is my own personal hell though. Still trying to get my hands around that enough to not hate it!

“Ugh, yes. Marketing is the boss battle. Best writing advice you’ve received?”

You can't edit a blank page. The first draft just needs to exist. It's so freeing to just get it out instead of trying to make it perfect.

“Wise words. Now the real question… Vegemite: tried it?”

I've never tried it but I'd love to!

“You must. It's so good. Is there a book you wish you had written?”

The Voyage of the Damned by Francis White. It's my current fixation, and it's written beautifully with humor, mystery and romance. It's like all of my favorite things in one book!

“Do you write with music or silence?”

I usually write while listening to BTS, but sometimes I change it up and prefer silence. Depends on how overstimulated I am that day.

“Mood. What Aussie dish are you most excited to try?”

Pavlova!

“An excellent choice. 👏 What’s your favorite way to connect with readers?”

I love chatting on Instagram or at book events.

“Last question for the aspiring writers out there, what advice would you give?”

Just go for it. Write the story you want to write and then find someone to read it. You want honest, gentle feedback in the early days of writing. Someone to love on you and still tell you that's a run on sentence and that you need to chill with the commas.

“Oh, I feel that. Have you seen many Aussie TV shows?”

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries is a favorite! I recently watched a show called The Survivors, Bluey of course, and Bondi Ink.

“And finally, give us a peek behind the scenes. What’s your process from idea to final draft?”

I am a plotter. Typically, an idea comes to me, I call one of my writing besties and word vomit everything to them, and then they talk to me until my randomness makes more sense. I use a tried and true outline that works for me, and then work my way through it. Once the outline is done, I start writing. After the first draft, I do a reread, make all of my notes on what I want to change and make updates. Then it goes to my first beta reader: my mom. She gushes over how everything is amazing, and then it goes to another round of more critical betas. More updates. Probably some crying. Definitely too much coffee. Then I do a proof and have someone else proof it. Then formatting and waa-laa, a book is born!

“Waa-laa! I love it! 😂 Jana, this has been incredible. Thank you for sharing all of this and for keeping it real”

Thank you for having me.

“To the readers:

Be sure to follow Jana on social media, links are down below. Show your support by grabbing a copy of their books, diving into those fantasy worlds, and most importantly, leave a review. We live for that feedback, and it helps more than you know.

Until next time!”