Interview

 

Jerry Harwood

STZ: You have written books in multiple genres. Do you enjoy writing in any specific genre more than the others?

JH: My favorite genre is probably young adult fantasy but a close second is horror. Those may not sound connected and I suppose they aren’t really. However, as a middle school and high school student that’s what I read. Fafnir and the Grey Mouser, Dune, Deanne Koontz, and Tales from the Crypt. I suppose now my joy is to write books young males would enjoy like I did. Since those two genres opened up the world of reading to myself I gravitate there more often than not.

STZ: Where do you get inspiration for your stories?

JH: I think my big picture ideas come from mash-ups of stories I’ve read. My recent young adult fantasy derived from reading a nonfiction work on King Arthur and Timeline by Michael (Jurassic park guy). Internally, my characters are all too often people I know in real life. 

STZ: Who are some of your favorite writers?

JH: I run the gamut. I already mentioned King. Tolkien, Terry Pratchet, Louis L’Amour, Freida McFaden (she writes great male villains), Bernard Cornwell, Kevin Hearn, Mark Tufo, Jim Butcher, JS Morin, Michael Conley, Michael J Sullivan… I could go on.

STZ: Among the many interesting jobs you have had through the years, you currently teach English, and publish your students stories. Tell us more about that endeavor.

 

JH: I teach 8th grade ELA. My students write a 500+ word story every week. They choose from one of three prompts. One is always fiction and one nonfiction. We do a poetry section as well. After spring break they pick their favorite and we do two rounds of edits. Then I publish their stories as a collection. Ingram Sparks is great because you can publish where only the link accesses the book vs the Zon where it is forever public.

 

STZ: Can you tell us anything about a story you have in the works? 

JH: I signed a six book deal with Dragon Fire press for a King Arthur multi-verse young adult fantasy. I’m finishing up book four (book one and two are out!) where Arthur meets Mordrid.

STZ: Where should we go to find your stories?

JH: All of them are on Amazon. Most are in other stores and platforms. A few are audio with more in the way. My website is www.jerryharwood.com

STZ: Is there anything else you would like to tell the readers?

JH: A few notes come to mind:

-1 support local art whether it be written works, music, painting, theatre, movies, or anything else

-2 don’t be afraid to do something artistic yourself!!

For more information about Jerry and links to buy his books, visit https://www.jerryharwood.com/