Ed.: The Spellbounders want to help authors promote their debut books. Marissa Malson recently published The Not So Average Life of Average Jane: She’s watching you. But you’ll never notice her. Jane has recently discovered that being average is now her “superpower.” As a private eye solving murders, she can get in and out of dangerous places undetected. Which sets up a premise that promises all kinds of mayhem and mischief.
Q: How is Jane like you? NOT like you?
A: Jane definitely has a lot of me in her. We both love sports and are independent and determined. Although I’d say I’m more fashionable than Jane, since I don’t need my BFF to style me like she does. And while her sense of humor and some of the things she says are things I would say, she is a bit feistier than I am.
Q: Are any characters in the book inspired by real people?
A: Jane’s mom definitely shares similarities with my mom. Not in the nosiness, but I can tell you I’ve spent a lot longer at the grocery store than I intended to thanks to “can you get this and that” texts from her. This habit of Jane’s mom, comes directly from mine. Many of the minor characters in the book also are named after my family members and friends. And, like Jane, I have a Russian Blue cat.
“I had a hard time putting it down. … The ending is especially fun.”
Q: What’s your favorite scene and why?
A: That is tough! I love the scene when Jane meets Joe. I feel like it’s a situation that would only happen to her — emerging from a trap door, dressed as a teenage boy, only to meet the most handsome man she’s ever seen. And without spoiling anything for readers, I also love the heist and how Jane outsmarts everyone without ever arousing any suspicion.
Q: Do your characters ever surprise you as you write with them?
A: I knew I wanted Jane’s grandma in the story, but in the beginning I didn’t think she would play as big of a role as she did. I also wasn’t expecting Jane or her family to have personal ties to the villains. Those pieces developed as I wrote and I was surprised at the direction the story took.
Q: How do you balance character development with advancing the plot?
A: With mystery and suspense it’s important to keep the pace and the plot moving. Readers want a page-turner, which is why I chose short chapters with alternating points of view. But at the same time I wanted readers to connect with the characters to really feel like they were part of their world. Showing their everyday life and glimpses into the past to understand their backstory helped accomplish this. Readers also really loved Jane’s internal dialogue because it showed so much of her personality and helped them develop a relationship with her character.
“Color me amazed that this is the first book this author
has written. Where has she been?”
Q: Is it hard for you to make the characters multi-dimensional, i.e., not all good and not all bad? How do you achieve this?
A: I actually didn’t find that part hard. I’m a “free writer,” so I did not storyboard or outline my characters. I let them talk to me and unfold in unique ways, and like real people, they have a lot of different dimensions to them. One thing that has struck me is how much readers loved and were rooting for Jane. I didn’t anticipate how much of a bond they would form with her. It can be common in mysteries and thrillers to not have any likable characters, especially when the book is very plot driven. Sure Jane’s not perfect, but she is a character readers could cheer for.
On the flip side, the villains in the story had some good in them at one point in time, but they took different paths when life got hard. I think it shows that people start out inherently good and makes even the villains relatable in some ways.
Q: How much does talent produce good writing talent and how much is from practice and editing?
A: Prior to writing The Not So Average Life of Average Jane, my writing experience was in journalism and content writing for marketing. I considered myself a strong writer, but I never had the desire to write a book, and I had no experience with creative writing. However, I’m an avid reader, and I think between reading mysteries and having a solid foundation for writing it gave me an advantage, especially when it came time for editing and revisions because I was starting in a good place. That said, I learned so much from my editor! She helped me develop creative writing skills and think about my writing in a whole new way. Working with her has made me a better writer! And as with anything I think practice does make perfect.
Q: I knew a film critic who was witty and clever in print, but not a hint of that in her everyday life. Are you as amusing in everyday life as Jane?
A: My family says I am! Jane and I definitely have a very similar sense of humor, but I think her humor comes across more than mine because we get to hear her inner thoughts and commentary. Although I have been known to make my family and friends laugh out loud!
“The blend of humor and suspense kept me on the edge of my seat.
I can't wait for Jane's next adventure!”
And Marissa has a special offer for Spellbound subscribers here. Check it out!
Marissa Malson Marissa Malson is a marketer turned author. She is the owner of Just A Good Book Publishing. “The Not So Average Life of Average Jane” is her first book. But it won’t be her last.
Thrilled to be featured here! Thank you! :)