Another reason this is so exciting? Jelsa has been an acquaintance of mine for years, and I'm just super excited for her.
So without further ado, please welcome Miss Jelsa Mepsey.
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How long have you
been writing?
I began writing when I was 13. So, 7 years, since I’m 20.
Are you a plotter or
a pantser?
It depends on the novel how much I lean towards being a
pantser. If I ever do plot, it’s very minimal, and intentionally so. When I do
this, I write a line per chapter detailing what I’m going to do in a bare bones
state, and add more as I continue writing. I tend to write as I go because most
of my best ideas come when I do that, and then I go back and fix any
inconsistencies I previously had.
Second Chance is your debut novel. What was your experience like in
querying?
Despite the many warnings from people telling me that
querying would be a terrible, horrifying, soul-wrenching experience, I actually
really enjoyed querying. At first I had a difficult time hitting the send
button on emails, but then I learned to believe in my work and just send the
queries. I received positive feedback with my rejection letters, so I just
continued to push forward, revising my work, and just kept going for it.
Overall, it taught a lot of perseverance and patience, and as fun as it was,
I’m glad to be done with it.
How many other
manuscripts had you completed before Second
Chance?
First drafts wise, I completed 39 manuscripts prior to
writing Second Chance. In terms of
manuscripts that are actually possibly ready for publication, however, I have
around 3-4 that I plan to further revise, then seek publication for.
How are you feeling
right at this moment, amidst your blog tour and marketing your novel?
20% nervous wreck, 30% stressed out, 51% ecstatic. Whoops,
that’s 101%. Told you I was ecstatic, stressed out, and a nervous wreck.
What advice do you
have for other aspiring writers, both those with finished manuscripts and those
with unfinished?
For those who have finished a manuscript, my advice is to
keep revising until you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it’s ready to face
the public and stand on its own, without any excuses or other support to back
it up. If you have the resources available to you, find other writers who know
their craft and who are willing to be brutally honest with you. Even if not,
people who read a lot are also good candidates for this.
For those with unfinished manuscripts, my advice is to keep
writing, because that’s the only way to come up with a finished manuscript.
Then follow the steps above.
Will we be seeing
more from you in the future?
That’s a great question! I just submitted another novel to
Winslet Press, my publication company, for consideration. I hope to have updates
on that in the near future.
Is there anything you can tell us about your novel, Second Chance, regarding the plot or characters? What can we expect?
You can expect to see the story told in before and after, in two points of view! That's all I'll say for now.
When's the release date for Second Chance?
July 15, 2014!
Is there anything you can tell us about your novel, Second Chance, regarding the plot or characters? What can we expect?
You can expect to see the story told in before and after, in two points of view! That's all I'll say for now.
When's the release date for Second Chance?
July 15, 2014!
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Jelsa Mepsey is in the process of double majoring in psychology and child development and minoring in music at the University of Texas at Dallas. She has been writing since she was 13 and doesn’t regret a single moment with her various pens. When not writing, rock climbing, or doing something related to music, Jelsa can be found at her local library with a stack of at least ten books, staring at her dog Waffles for inspiration, or preparing to apply to seminary for a graduate degree in biblical counseling.
Website: http://jelsamepsey.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jelsamepsey
Twitter: @JelsaMepsey
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