EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Courtesy of Jazmaonline.com

Allen: What does your family think of you being an author?

Jason: They absolutely love it. My daughters show me off in their 1st grade class

Allen: What sort of things in your past helped inspire you to write novels?

Jason: American Werewolf In London inspired me to write werewolf novels, and my mother inspired me to start writing

Allen: Where do you live? Does your location get worked into setting of your novels? Also, how old are you?

Jason: Poughkeepsie New York. Not really, I pick exotic locales, like the woods of Washington, or even Africa for Contagion. My new sci-fi novel Europa, deals with Jupiter and outer space and Yellowstone National Park. 31, 32 this August.

Allen: What genre do you feel most comfortable writing?

Jason: Horror, sci-fi with lots of sarcastic characters.

Allen: What was your childhood like?

Jason: I developed strong bonds with my mother, father and uncle. Straight A student, always writing in some form or another. Big into transformers, GI Joes bad Batman, and my love for great whites, favorite movie is Jaws.

Allen: Did you read many comic books as child?

Jason: Not really, MAD Magazine

Allen: What sort of jobs did you have in past?

Jason: Basically retail, but I did work at radio station doing sports broadcasts.

Allen: How did you become associated with Stonegarden Publications?

Jason: I researched them on internet and took a chance.

Allen: Tell me about 3 books in Quiver trilogy. What spawned concept for novels?

Jason: Basically a cursed family bloodline that needs to be severed otherwise each succeeding generation will continue to grow in power. It spawns the globe starting in the woods of Washington and ending in a deserted Siberian prison camp in Russia.

Allen: How can novels be ordered? Also, can Quiver books be found in most book stores that carry new novels?

Jason: my novels can be ordered through the stonegarden.net site, and any online retailer {Amazon, Target etc} Or just go into any bookstore and they can order you a copy.

Allen: Take me through an average work day for Jason Gehlert.

Jason: I get up at am, get my daughters ready for school by 830. I then work my new job at Nabisco from 830-5 and either my second job also retail from 6-10, or I am home with the family. I usually set time aside at night like 9p-12am to write and Saturday's all day for writing or working on promotions. I constantly check my emails, blogs and making new video promos for my books.

Allen: How long did it take to write your newest book Contagion?

Jason: Contagion took about 7 months start to finish.

Allen: Tell me about story of your newest novel Contagion.

Jason: Basically a sinister virus overtakes a small South African colony and world-renown doctor Quentin Forsythe is sent to find a cure, and finds that the colony's inhabitants have turned into zombie like creatures. Another team of doctors are sent to find Quentin, as well as the US Army on orders of the President to quarantine the colony at all costs. Throw in a rebel dictator who wants the cure for himself, and all hell's ready to break loose. Horror Fiction Review calls it fast-paced, ambitious, fun, exciting and written like a cult-movie

Allen: What is order ISBN number for Contagion?

Jason: 1600760902

Allen: Do you sell autographed copies of your books?

Jason: Out of the trunk of my car, and at my book signings. But I will sign anyone's book per special request.

Allen: How do you promote your books?

Jason: Through stonegarden forums, emails, flyers, videos, my myspace site (myspace.com/quivertori/) my own website (www.jasongehlert.com), various blogs at www.blogger.com, and a www.gather.com site as well. I also engineer many book signings at my local stores and radio interviews, book reviews, and online reviews with people such as yourself.

Allen: Who are some of your cover artists?

Jason: My wife Tammy did Quiver 3, Brian Yount did Quiver 2, and Contagion, Peter Swanson, a fellow stonegarden author has done my new series Europa.

Allen: Do you go to any book or even comic book conventions?

Jason: I will be attending my first, the World Horror Convention this march 27-30 in salt lake city, Utah

Allen: Do you read any comic book series now? If not who are some of your favorite comic book characters?

Jason: I am working on getting my short story The Woodsman into a graphic novel. The Joker is my comic book character.

Allen: Have you ever considered any of your novels being turned into graphic novels?

Jason: my Amazon short The Woodsman possibly in negotiations for adaptation into a graphic novel.

Allen: Who are some of your favorite authors?

Jason: Stephen King's early work, James Patterson {we both are from Newburgh NY}, my wife, Bob Morgan of Stonegarden

Allen: What are some of your hobbies?

Jason: Writing, football, more writing, spending time with my twin daughter's

Allen: What sort of movies do you like to watch?

Jason: Westerns, horror, science fiction and sometimes goofy ass comedies like Smokey and the Bandit

Allen: Do you like watching cartoons? If so what are some of ones you watch?

Jason: Simpson's, Sponge Bob and Fairly Oddparents with my daughters.

Allen: Tell me about future Europa novels? When will books be published? Who is cover artist? What is general story line?

Jason: I can say Europa has been accepted for a possible 2009 release, and the covers are done by our very own Peter Swanson of stonegarden. Story line basically its 2045, Yellowstone's underground super volcano erupts, wipes out Earth, our President sends 4 teams to Europa and New Earth {another Earth like planet 20.5 million light years away} to try and colonize them. Along the way we encounter a dangerous alien species called Carnelians whose home world just so happens to be New Earth.

So, the second and third entries will focus on our team's battling these nasty aliens on New Earth as we try and colonize a new home.

Allen: If Contagion or Quiver got turned into movies who would you like to play lead roles and why? Also have books been optioned for movies?

Jason: Gee I don't know. Sean Connery for role of Adolph in Quiver, after that I don't know. I knew at one time, but the names have faded from memory.

Allen: Have you ever published other older stories in magazines or other publications?

Jason: Nope.

Allen: Have you ever wrote using pen name? If so what were name or names?

Jason: Nope, I use my real name

Allen: How can someone contact you?

Jason: My email MacGy4@msn.com or leave me a note on the Stonegarden forum.

Allen: What has been reader reception to your novels?

Jason: Word of mouth has been excellent on the Quiver series, even better with Contagion. They like the fast pace and zombie theme

Allen: What inspires your creativity?

Jason: Coffee and an active imagination

Allen: What is harder the plot or creating characters?

Jason: The plot

Allen: What would you really want new readers to know about your stories?

Jason: They are different, unique and the characters are very well developed, no cookie cutter type stuff, even the supporting cast has great lines...

Allen: Thank you so very much Jason for participating in Jazma interview. Would you like to lead us out with any words of wisdom about creating novels?

Jason: Work hard, keep persistence close by, and keep pounding the pavement. Share with friends, forums, and other writing groups.