I am honoured to present to you Jay Wright Tompkins, whose debut novel Voyager was released just last month. With an intriguing premise and an absolutely stunning cover, I was immediately hooked, and everything that Jay told me in their interview below only served to amplify this! Make sure to go and boost their novel… after you’ve read the interview, of course!
Jay, tell us a little about yourself! Who are you and what do you do?
I am an indie sci-fi writer from West Virginia.
How did you become an author?
I've always been interested in storytelling and worldbuilding, especially in the sense of massive sagas like Star Wars, Dune, and Avatar. After getting back into a lot of these worlds and universes over the past few years, I knew that I had stories I wanted to tell, so I committed to writing my first book.
Who’s your favourite character that you’ve ever written?
My favorite character that I've written is Zoe, the deuteragonist of Voyager. She's used to always playing second fiddle to her girlfriend, Sarasvati, and by the events of this book she has sorta settled into that. But that doesn't mean she's completely dropped all of her boundaries and dignity. When Sarasvati oversteps, Zoe's not afraid to put her in her place, and it's Zoe that really gets the ball rolling with Sarasvati learning to be a better person. Zoe's a pacifist, kind of a hippie, and where Sarasvati destroys, Zoe creates.
Do you ever experience writer’s block? If so, how do you overcome it?
Yes, I do. I find that stepping away from writing for a minute and focusing on something else helps, so that you can come back to the project with fresh eyes. Personally, I like to play guitar, play video games, or work on a woodworking project.
What do you consider to be the hardest part of writing?
The first draft. It's difficult to not be hard on yourself when writing the first draft, because it's easy to forget that the first draft doesn't need to be perfect.
And how about the most rewarding?
Either seeing a printed copy of my book for the first time, or seeing my book on retailer's websites for the first time.
What is one piece of advice you wish you had listened to, either in life or with regards to being an author?
Take your time. This applies to everything really, but especially in writing. When it comes to writing, let it cook; don't rush the process.
You’re putting together a party. Which characters from the Sapphic Fiction genre would you invite?
Sarasvati and Zoe, also Juno Marcus from Junker Seven, Jodi McCarty from Sugar Run, and Cameron Post.
Is there anyone you’d like to highlight, while you’re here?
Louis Vernico, whose awesome mystery/action queer detective WIP I have been beta reading.
How can people connect with you?
I'm most active on Twitter at @jtompkins318. I also have a website, jaytompkins.com.
Finally a light-hearted one. What ice cream flavours and toppings would you put together in your ultimate sundae?
Vanilla ice cream with pieces of Oreo's and Reese's.
If you enjoyed this interview, then make sure you’re following my social media accounts (@kblakemanwriter on Twitter and @katherineblakemanwriter on Instagram) to get all the latest updates! And if you want to support my own Sapphic Fiction journey while you’re here, The Summer We’ve Had is available now, and Love You However is coming on March 22nd!
