Today we’d like to introduce you to Jae Mazer.
Hi Jae, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
As a child, I loved stories! I always had my nose in a book. My mother was an English professor, and my dad was a genre fiction junkie, so I got the best of both worlds. I was always writing short stories, right from grade school through university. When I moved to Houston about a decade ago, I decided to start taking my writing more seriously. I got a few short stories published in various magazines and journals and completely my first full-length novel, Landing in Eden. After shopping that manuscript around for a bit, I landed a dead with Netherworld Books in the UK. It was like pushing a boulder over the tip of the mountain. My writing career took off, and now I have over a dozen published novels, stories in over two dozen anthologies, and several literary awards.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Writing and publishing has their struggles. As much as I’d love to hole up in a cave with a computer, a record player, and an array of beverages, being an author is more than getting words and thoughts on paper. It’s not as easy as just writing a good story anymore. As an author, even a traditionally published one, marketing is an essential part of the craft. Getting your stories in the hands of readers involves making quite a presence online, participating in literary events, and interacting with your audience. For an introvert, this can be exhausting, but nothing brings more joy than mingling with people who find enjoyment in the tales I’ve spun.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a storyteller! I write mostly full-length novels and short stories, though I have dabbled in flash fiction, screenwriting, and songwriting. Although I do have some award-winning literary and romance stories on the market, I am best known for my work in horror. All of my novels fall into the horror genre in a range of themes, including folk horror, supernatural horror, body horror, and speculative fiction. What am I most proud of? That’s a tough one. All my stories are like my babies. I love each of them in their own way. I have a few that are particularly close to my heart, though, because they mirror my life in a contorted way. I will let my readers try to figure out which tales those are…
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
The most important characteristic? The ability to weave a good tale. As an author, first and foremost, you have to write a story that readers enjoy. It has to grab their attention, keep their attention, and imprint it on their brains long after they close the covers. After that, persistence is key. Authors experience a lot of discouragement, including criticism of their work, rejections, online bullying. But you have to keep chugging, keep creating, and keep honing your craft. I always like to improve my writing by taking classes, participating in critique groups, and reading an immense amount of books.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jaemazer.com
- Instagram: @jaemazer
