Jamie Ford first visited with us at the release of his debut novel, HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET, when the steam was just clearing the stack.  That was nearly a year ago and, boy, what a year.  Bestseller lists, book tours, a paperback release, and film-adaptation rumors, and the train just keeps on rolling.

So I asked if he’d come back and update us on a life in the year of a really successful debut novelist. He said yes.

We’d like to thank him for taking the time to be part of our “5 Minutes Alone” interview series.

AuthorScoop: So, it’s been quite a year for you.  Of course this process began well more that a year ago, though.  What’s the timeline of HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET, from its inception to AuthorScoop hitting you up with this questionaire?

Jamie: Well, after I sold my soul to the Devil in the spring of 2006, it’s been a blur, lots of book touring, editing, fire and brimstone, etc.

AuthorScoop: For a debut novel to have made this big of a splash, you’d have to get a unique take on your freshman year in the publishing trenches.  How’s the water in the deep end?

Jamie: I’m still holding my breath. The book has this life of its own now. Whatever the book does is great, but I’m still just this obscure creative person doing my thing, and I’m fine with that. When HOTEL hit certain bestseller lists, it was exciting and all, and obviously my editor and agent are thrilled, but the sun doesn’t shine brighter, birds don’t chirp any sweeter, and food doesn’t taste any better. Life just keeps going. Business as usual. Though I still get calls from friends and relatives asking, “Hey, did you know your book is at Target?”

AuthorScoop: With all of your book tour travels and general hubbub, it’s probably safe to guess that this last year has been unlike any other.  But what’s been the same for you?

Jamie: I never dreamed I’d spend so much time on the road. In 2009 I must have spent 100+ nights in hotels. Nice hotels with room service, but still, that’s a lot of time away from home, away from my family, away from my writing desk.

The things that haven’t changed have been my home life. I didn’t go out and buy a Porsche or anything. After I got my first royalty check, I think I went out and bought the first season of Mad Men, and then a week later the second season, that’s about it. I love the process of writing, the research, the time spent in Storyland. I’d write even if no one read my books, it’s just an enjoyable creative pastime. I still read pages at a local open mic night. Plus, I really live off the grid. It’s so nice to fight my way through LA traffic and come home to Montana. I’ll be in my backyard mowing the lawn and my neighbor still asks, “Hey, are you ever gonna finish that novel thing you were working on.”

AuthorScoop: And with the accomplishment of this past year secured, what new advice would you offer to aspiring novelists?

Jamie: Don’t sign the contract in blood. If only I’d known…

AuthorScoop: What’s next for Jamie Ford?

Jamie:Just handed in a new book, Whispers of a Thunder God, to my editor at Ballantine. I wrote it off and on, between my travels, during my travels, so there’s more rewriting involved this time. Sort of like putting on your dress and then deciding to iron it, there’s some pain involved.

I’m also researching a YA project and still kicking around a short fiction collection. And there’s talk of a stage production of HOTEL, but like the film thing, it’s a longshot.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, January 14th, 2010 at 4:36 pm and is filed under *Jamie's Posts, 5 Minutes Alone, AuthorScoop Exclusives. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.