Indie Authors Uncovered - Meet the person behind the pages - Mari Jack - Steamy, Romantic and often Musical.
Where were you born?
I was born in Hastings, New Zealand.
Where do you live?
I now live in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.
Do you have fur babies?
Yes, I have a cat named Jasper.
He's tabby and white and loves sleeping on people's laps and sitting on the newspaper when we're trying to read it.
Do you use a pen name?
Yes.
Mari Jack is my pen name and I use it because I can't stand my birth name, Mariana.
What kind of writer are you?
- Modern Day Laptop/PC Writer
Name one book you loved as a kid - one you loved as a new adult - and one you love now.
- One book I loved as a kid was Kristy and the Missing Child in the Baby-Sitters' Club series by Ann M. Martin.
- A book I loved as a teenager was Family Secrets in the Sweet Valley High series by Francine Pascal.
- My favorite book now is Can't Help Falling in Love by Bella Andre.
Is there an author you look up to? Or had an influence on your craft?
Bella Andre is an author I look up to.
Her romances stand out for me strongly, especially Can't Help Falling in Love, which is in her San Francisco Sullivans series. It's a sexy firefighter romance!
How would you describe your craft in one sentence
Steamy, romantic and often musical, with important messages about how we treat marginalized people in our society.
At The Dreamer's Bookshop, we embrace diversity and advocate for invisible illnesses. How do you feel about those topics? Do you include messages in your writing?
I feel strongly about inclusivity and removing stigma from illnesses and disabilities, especially in these uncertain times. Stereotypes of disabilities especially cause harm and fuel hate and discrimination against disabled people.
The messages I include in my writing involve making it clear to readers that the stereotype that autistic people can't feel empathy or read other people's body language is outdated and ableist and needs to stop right now.
The disabled characters I've written in my books are anything but incapable of everyday activities, yet at the same time, are not inspiration porn. You know what that means; being portrayed as a miracle because they can do everyday activities. That needs to stop, too.
Do you have red lines when it comes to writing/reading?
Hmm, I'm not a hundred percent sure what "red lines" mean, but if they mean boundaries, I don't like books that spread hate or misinformation about racial minorities, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, etc. I've already given bad reviews to books that claim autism is a "threat" and that vaccines cause autism.
Was there a review that touched you more than others?
One particular review on Goodreads of Dawn Rising, the first book in my American Opera series, read, "It's like a new-age Phantom. So beautiful, I cried."
I wasn't even thinking of The Phantom of the Opera when I wrote it, but I suppose it is similar. It's a review I'll always treasure.
If someone asked you why you write, what would you answer in one sentence?
I write because not only did it help me find happiness and purpose during a tough year, but it also gives me a voice about social justice issues that no one seems to be talking about enough.
Which book are you most proud of and why?
I'm proud of all of them, but the one I'm most proud of is Dawn Rising.
The main female character is neurodiverse and breaks all the stereotypes of neurodiversity, like incapability of falling in love.
What would you tell an aspiring writer?
Don't give up, no matter how hard it gets.
If more than one critique reader of your work agrees on something that needs to be changed, change it. There's a chance the majority of readers will agree on it.
What's a wish you have for yourself as an author?
To have my work stand out among others and not blend in, even if certain types of romance are trending.
What's a wish you have for yourself as a person?
To have my voice heard about social justice issues, particularly about disability rights. Disabled people are human beings too.
Do you have a message for your audience
If you want something badly, go for it.
Don't let anyone tell you that you can't have or do it.
