Jeri Smith-Ready

Frequently Asked Questions

Updated January 17, 2010

Where do you get your ideas?

Some people claim that I harvest them from the dreams of sleeping innocents, but that's a slight exaggeration.

Seriously, most of my ideas come while I'm listening to music, often in a moving vehicle of some sort. There's probably a disturbing psychological explanation for this, but I hesitate to examine it too closely. Never look a gift idea in the mouth, right?

How long have you been writing fiction?

Since February 1995. It took six years to get my first book published, then another (yikes!) five years for the second one. Since then, they've been coming out on a regular basis, one or two per year through at least 2011. Thank you very much if you've helped me realize my dream (and stay employed) by buying or borrowing one of my books.

What’s your vampire series about (besides vampires, I mean)?

The WVMP Radio urban fantasy series is about a cadre of vampire DJs and the con artist trying to redeem her sordid past by helping their radio station stay afloat. Visit WVMPradio.com to learn more about the DJs and their station. The books, in order, are:

Wicked Game (May 2008, mass market reissue April 2009)

Bad to the Bone (May 19, 2009, mass market reissue March 2010)

Bring on the Night (August 2010)

Lust for Life (tentative title) (August 2011)

Check out my Books page for more information.

What is the chronological order of the Aspect of Crow trilogy?

“The Wild’s Call” (serial short story, takes place mid-21st century, currently only available as a free e-book from Kindle)

Eyes of Crow (novel, takes place several thousand years in the future)

Voice of Crow (novel, starts right after Eyes of Crow ends)

“Storm Reaper” (serial short story, starts two years before The Reawakened)

The Reawakened (novel, starts eighteen years after Voice of Crow ends)

Note: the short stories are stand-alone, optional pieces and can be read before or after any of the novels.

At the risk of repeating myself, check out my Books page for more information.

So you’re writing YA now, too? What’s that all about, and when does it start?

My young adult series is about a sixteen-year-old girl on a quest to discover why she and everyone younger than her can see ghosts. The two-book series will begin with Shade on May 4, 2010 followed by Shift in May 2011. For more details on the plot and characters, check out this blog post.

What age ranges are your books appropriate for?

Shade is for ages 14 and up. My Aspect of Crow trilogy is probably fine for 14 and up, while my urban fantasies (the WVMP Radio vampire series and Requiem for the Devil) are probably better for 16 and up.

Where can I find your first book, Requiem for the Devil?

Any online bookstore. Most have both the paperback and the electronic versions. In addition, your local bookstore can special-order the paperback for you.

Will Requiem ever have a sequel?

Nope. Not every book needs a sequel. After a lot of consideration (and years of working on follow-ups), I've decided to keep that universe to just one book. If you like the style and tone of Requiem, you’d probably like Wicked Game.

Which internets are you on?

I have a MySpace page, and I’m also on Facebook, LiveJournal, and Twitter, so come friend me!

How old are you?

Old enough to say, “Next question?”

Let’s talk about my needs now. How can I get an autographed copy of your books?

One of these ways:

• Fill out the contact form and ask me for a signed, personalized bookplate. Tell me which book(s) you’d like, how you’d like it personalized, and (most important) your mailing address. No charge to you! Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery. My adminstrative staff consists of an as-yet-uncloned me.
• OR, Send your copy of the book to me at P.O. Box 66, Westminster, MD 21158 with a self-addressed stamped envelope for return. Let me know how you’d like it personalized.

Will you read my work and refer me to your agent/editor?

Sorry, but for legal reasons (not to mention lack of time), I can’t read fiction that isn’t already under contract to be published. If your work is under contract and you’d like me to give you a cover quote or “blurb,” have your people call my people. My people = literary agent Ginger Clark at Curtis Brown, Ltd.

I'm looking for advice on how to get my book published. Can you help?

Since each career is unique, I hesitate to offer specific advice to aspirig authors. Writers organizations such as SFWA and RWA are generally reliable resources. However, I'm always looking for new blog topics, so if you don't mind me using your e-mailed question as a jumping-off point for a general discussion, please feel free to ask.

I sent you an e-mail but you never replied. What’s up with that?

I try to reply to e-mail within the week, but recently (as in October 2008 through the present), certain time pressures have caused me to get behind, and for that I am truly sorry. You can check my travel schedule or my blog to see if I’m out of town or on a tight deadline.

Also, I get a ton of spam at my business e-mail address. If you haven't heard back from me after a month or so, I might have accidentally deleted it, especially if your subject line was “Hi” or “For Jeri” or “med$ at the best prices 4U!” Consider resending the message with a subject line such as “Wicked Game is the best book ever.” Or just use the contact form.

How do I subscribe to your quarterly newsletter?

Just type your e-mail address into the box at the top of this page (the one that says “Sign up for Jeri’s newsletter”). Each issue has at least one contest, so sign up and win stuff!