The Other Inheritance by Rebecca Jaycox

 Rebecca Jaycox grew up in the tiny town of Berryman, which borders the Mark Twain National Forest and the Courtois River about 70 miles south of St. Louis. The beautiful landscape fed her imagination, and she began writing stories at age 10 and never stopped. Always seeking adventure, Rebecca moved to France after she graduated college with a journalism degree to teach English at a French high school. Bitten by the travel bug, she has recently visited Italy, Greece, Austria, Spain, and finally made it to her bucket-list destination of Istanbul last summer. Rebecca now lives in New York City with her husband, Gregory. She is the curator and program director of the YA Lit Series at the 92nd Street Y--one of New York's premier cultural centers. She enjoys reading and writing fantasy, urban fantasy, steampunk, and science fiction. The Other Inheritance is her first novel.

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The Other Inheritance

Seventeen-year-old Reggie has been having a tougher time than usual. As if dealing with her alcoholic mother and fighting school bullies isn’t enough, this biker dude shows up in her dreams, babbling about magic and a world called the Other. 

Then, in biology class, her finger brushes a dead frog set out for dissection and it leaps off the table, scaring everyone, including her.  
Reggie’s life is changing, and she has no idea why. Or whether she should believe the man in her dreams, who claims she’s in danger and that someone is coming to take her to a safer reality. But if there’s one thing she’s learned, nowhere is safe.

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Interview with Rebecca

Why did you decide to be a writer?

I didn’t really decide; as cheesy as it sounds, writing found me. I’ve been writing down stories since I was 10 years old, and no matter what other profession I’ve tried, I always come back to writing. Always.

What genres do you write?

I write fantasy, UF, and steampunk. 

What is the biggest obstacle you face as an author and what do you do to overcome it?

Time. Time is my enemy. I work full time at a “career” job, meaning my job isn’t a 9-5 that I can put away at the end of the day. I program YA Lit events at the 92^nd Street Y and do fundraising. This sometimes means nights and weekends, and honestly this isn’t an obstacle I’ve overcome just yet. I do my best to set aside a few hours during the week and on the weekend. It’s a constant struggle. 

What fears do you have about writing and being an indie author? How do you cope with your fears?

My fear is that no one will read my work! I don’t have the resources a big publishing house has. All I can do is reach out to bloggers like you and get the word out the best I can. Thanks again!

Does your family support you in your writing, or are you on your own?

My family is completely supportive! I’m very lucky in that respect. I dedicated my first book to my mother who is my biggest cheerleader!

What inspires you to write?

Traveling! Other than writing, traveling is my favourite thing to do! Travel introduces me to different cultures and that inspires my world building. Last year, I went to Italy, Greece, and France. The architecture there is stunning, and you can bet that shows up in my writing. 

What are your goals as an author? Where do you see yourself in five years?

My goal as an author is to produce enough quality work that I can make a living writing without having that full time job to support myself. I think that’s every author’s dream, right? To do what you love and get paid for it.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on an adult UF featuring a witch in over her head with a dragon. It’s been fun. I’m also starting the sequel to The Other Inheritance. There will be a giant cornfield!

What was the hardest part about writing your latest book?

The hardest part about writing The Other Inheritance was knowing when to let go. I went through six drafts and at one point, I had to tell myself enough is enough. This is good; walk away. 

Do you ever base your characters on people you know?

Yeah, loosely based, but definitely. I write what I see around and me, and if I see certain character traits in people that I know that I want to write about, I use them. A lot of writing just comes from observing the world around us.

Are you a pantser or outliner?

I’m a bit of both. Sometimes I’ll outline the first half of a book so I can get started fairly quickly, but after that, anything goes! 

What book or series do you enjoy reading over and over again?

The Kate Daniels UF series by Ilona Andrews and the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. I’m a huge UF fan.

Do you have any advice for other indie authors?

Persistence, persistence, persistence! I signed with a small press in January 2013 after shopping my book around for eight years. Don’t give up and keep trying, it will happen. 

Do you have anything specific you'd like to say to your readers?

I hope you like the book! Reggie, my heroine, is a strong character and I hope readers can relate to her. I only wish I was that cool at 17.