Author Jennifer Allis Provost

Jennifer Allis Provost is a native New Englander who lives in a sprawling colonial along with her beautiful and precocious twins, a dog, two birds, three cats, and a wonderful husband who never forgets to buy ice cream. As a child, she read anything and everything she could get her hands on, including a set of encyclopedias, but fantasy was always her favorite. She spends her days drinking vast amounts of coffee, arguing with her computer, and avoiding any and all domestic behavior.

What is the current project you are working on?

Right now I have three projects: The fourth and fifth Chronicles of Parthalan, Golem and Elfsong, and a stand-alone novel called The Copper Girl.

Golem takes place shortly after the events in Rise of the Deva’shi. Latera, the warrior who killed the demon lord and saved Parthalan, hovers near death with Aeolmar frantic to save her. As she slowly recovers, secrets from Aeolmar—and Asherah’s—past threaten not only Aeolmar and Latera’s happiness, but their children’s lives as well.

The Copper Girl is about Sara, an exceptional girl who’s desperately trying to seem ordinary. Magic has been outlawed for almost twenty years, and Sara’s just going through the motions at her boring office job—after all, she doesn’t want the government to kidnap her like they did her brother. But Sara’s a descendent of the Raven clan, arguably the most powerful magical family in history, and magic finds her.

How do you set your book apart from other books in the genre?

I try to add something unique into my stories. For instance, in Heir to the Sun there are two boy-meets-girl storylines, but one involves a priestess and a warrior, while the other is about an amnesiac former slave and a king. Not your standard love stories by any means.

What inspired you to become a writer?

I’ve always been a creative person, whether it be writing, painting, even making jewelry. Writing is what I’m best at, so I stuck with it.

What is the best thing about being a writer?

Oh, so many things. The worlds I can create, the characters who speak to me, being able to add those little details that take a book from good to awesome. I also love getting out and meeting readers at conferences, signings and conventions.

What is the worst thing about being one?

When you get back that first round of copy edits and realize that your perfect prose is riddled with grammatical errors. Or, even worse, when your editor points out a plot hole the size of the Grand Canyon. How do I cope, you ask? Well, first I scream, cry, maybe even stomp around the room a bit. When I’ve calmed to the point where I won’t chuck my laptop across the room (hey, it was expensive) I try to look at the edits objectively. I tackle the grammar first, then I set to filling in those holes. It’s tedious, maddening, and makes my want to claw my eyes out, but if your story’s worth writing, it’s worth perfecting.

What advice would you give to an aspiring writer?

Read. A LOT. A book a week, more if you can. You want to read your genre,of course, but I would also recommend some classic authors, as well:

Dickens, Shakespeare, Austen, Wilde. Anything by Mark Twain; he was both prolific and brilliant. Research award winners for your genre and read those; for instance, if you write science fiction, check out past Nebula award winners. Learn what works, and what doesn’t. Learn what’s been done to death, and what you can make your own.

What is the estimated number of projects you have worked on?

Novel wise, The Chronicles of Parthalan is a five book series, of which two are in print (Heir to the Sun and Rise of the Deva’shi), with The Virgin Queen’ forthcoming winter 2011. I’m also working on two stand alone novels, The Copper Girl, described above, and Dreamwalker, about some feisty Scottish fairies. Short story wise, Zombie Love Song, appears in the Hell Hath No Fury anthology by May December Publications, and All In is a part of the UnCONventional anthology, which will be released January 2012 by Spencer Hill Press.

What do you like to do besides writing?

Long walks on the beach, foot massages… Seriously, I enjoy anything that speaks to my innate creativity, such as painting, crafting, even gardening. I also have a husband and a set of twins to wrangle.

Who is your favorite author?

Can’t pick just one! Robin McKinley, Jacqueline Carey, Patricia Briggs, Madeline L’Engle, Jim Butcher, JRR Tolkein, and CS Lewis, to name a few.

What are some of your favorite books?

The Hero and the Crown, The Blue Sword and Sunshine by Robin McKinley The Time Series by Madeline L’Engle, The Kushiel series by Jacqueline Carey, especially the Imriel trilogy Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay

How would you describe the writing "scene" where you live?

There are a few local conferences at Bay Path College and Mount Holyoke, but overall the scene is pretty light. What we need are more indie book stores!

How has social media changed the publishing industry?

Love social media! Now authors can take their products directly to readers,and no matter where you live you can be part of the action.

What is your thought process like when you're writing?

I get to know my characters. I try to understand their hopes, fears, motivations, so I can flesh out a believable, three-dimensional character. It’s like method acting for the mind.

You could have any super power. What would it be?

The ability to bestow a healthy, long life to another.

Do you believe in life on other planets?

Sure. It would be supremely arrogant for humans to assume that in the vastness of space only Earth was granted life. Of course, all this other life may be nothing but squishy slime molds.

What is your opinion on book to movie adaptations?

If you don’t have the budget/time/wherewithal to do it properly, then don’t do it. Case in point, Peter Jackson’s adaptation of Lord of the Rings. He pulled it off, no small feat with a project of that scope.

Other adaptations that have been done well (in my opinion) are The Last Unicorn and The Princess Bride. As for bad adaptations… Well, that’s a pretty long list.

If you could have any first edition book. Which would it be and why?

Without a doubt, The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley. It’s my favorite book of all time—I first read it in the fourth grade, and I reread it every few years. Someday I hope to write something that awesome.