Author Spotlight: Jamie Eubanks

Introducing paranormal-suspense author Jamie Eubanks and her novel Hidden Doors, Secret Rooms:

1. Tell us a little about yourself.
In addition to writing, I'm a licensed private investigator and run a private investigations company. One of my all time favorite activities is Martial arts training. So it's not uncommon for me to be at my favorite dojo, working with weapons or engaging in open-hand kata, or sparring. 

2. When did you start writing, and why?
Even as a child, I made up stories as a form of self entertainment. But what finally set it in motion was when I worked as an entertainer - singer and bass player - in various night clubs. While my creative side loved making the music, I never quite adjusted to being on stage and in the spotlight, as I'm a fairly low key kind of person, and am more comfortable spending a quiet evening alone with a book. Then one day, as I'd done so many times in the past, I picked up a paranormal suspense novel. It was my first exposure to Dean Koontz, and I totally fell in love with the characters. When I finished that book - LIGHTNING was the title - I started tearing through the genre, one after another. I had to find everything that was Dean Koontz, then I discovered Stephen King and off I went again, reading one after another, unable to get my fill. From that time on, I'd toyed with the idea of writing. And one day, I picked up a note pad and started.

3. What do you write, and why? What do you enjoy about what you write?
As a child, the family would go on these cross-country drives, and believe me when I say it can get very boring, in a maddening kind of way, for a child to share the backseat of a car with two other children for 8 hours or more, every day for a couple of weeks. To keep from going insane, I decided to find a way to occupy my mind. As we drove down the road, I'd pick out a house, and I'd make up scenarios in my head, invent an entire family to reside in that house, and let my imagination conjure up personalities, conflicts, giving the characters not only a present, but a history, and try to picture what they did with their days, how they lived their lives. Writing is a natural progression of that.

As for why I enjoy paranormal suspense? Most genres have certain rules that are pretty much written in stone - the rules of nature as we know it. With paranormal suspense, the writer has more leeway, has the opportunity to create his/her own rules, to create worlds would could only live in the imagination.

4. What is your latest book or series? Any forthcoming books?
HIDDEN DOORS, SECRET ROOMS is my debut novel. I'm presently working on another paranormal suspense tentatively titled ONE LAST TIME, as well as an untitled novel in its first stages. There are several others, as well - all in rough draft form. And all of them paranormal suspense.

5. "Welcome To My Worlds": Tell us a little about the world of your latest book or series.
HIDDEN DOORS, SECRET ROOMS is a paranormal suspense about a woman who, through no fault of her own, becomes the object of a search and kill mission. Thrust from her comfortable lifestyle, Jillian Braedon finds herself living a nightmare of threats against her life, homelessness, and being at the complete mercy of a stranger, as she and her young daughter attempt to evade those who wish them dead.

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6. Introduce us to some of your characters. What do you like about them?
Jillian Braedon, prior to the beginning of the story, lived a very comfortable lifestyle as the young wife of a prominent psychiatrist and, more recently, mother to little Valerie. For as long as Jillian could remember, everything she could want was all but handed to her. This was a tradition she assumed would be passed down to her own little girl. Then, illness struck in the form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, followed by a procedure that made her and little Valerie a target for death. Coming from such a background, Jillian needed to toughen up and quickly, or die. Instead of becoming bitter and giving up, though on occasion the anger and frustration shows through, Jillian handles the situation with determination, mostly because her little girl's life depends upon every action Jillian takes.

John Mills is a retired musician who, after the deaths of his wife and son, moved to an isolated desert area where he'd hoped to live out the rest of his days in solitude. He was angry at the world, angry at himself, as he shouldered the blame for the deaths of his family. Although John would just as soon remain in his self-imposed exile forever, when little Valerie shows up at his door during a blizzard, and begs for help, John's protective instincts kick in.

7. A fun fact you would like your readers to know about you or your book.
John Mills character came from my love of music. When I wrote "Yesterday's Dreaming of You" - the song John sang in Chapter 9 - I knew I had to write something that his character would create, and not a song I, Jamie Eubanks, would write. I'd never written lyrics from someone else's perspective before. Dialogue is easy. If you know your character, you know what he'll say. But lyrics? If you can imagine climbing into the head of a fictional character in order to pull words out of his heart, that pretty much sums up what it felt like.

8. Blog/site link, and where your book is available.
Please feel free to stop by and say hello at: www.facebook.com/JAEubanks1
HIDDEN DOORS, SECRET ROOMS is available in paperback and Kindle at Amazon.com
Amazon US | Amazon UK

Find the author on:
Facebook | Goodreads

Praise for Hidden Doors, Secret Rooms:
"This is a phenomenal first novel; an excellent read for anyone who
loves mystery, and would-be writers who want to learn exactly how it's
done." - KIRKUS REVIEWS

"This brisk and original cat-and-mouse thriller exceeds expectations
with unpredictable results...Fans of mysteries and thrillers will find that
this book exceeds any expectations they may have had going in, primarily
due to its unconventional plot line." - CLARION REVIEW

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