Rock Star Writers: Jessie Harrell

Jessie Harrell

Today is super exciting! Why? you ask. Because I have the privilege of interviewing Jessie Harrell on my blog. In addition to being a fabulous writer, she is a kind and amazing person, as well. Jessie took precious time from her busy schedule to answer some questions for me about her recent book, Destined. If you haven’t read it…well, you must!

When Psyche receives a prophecy gone horribly wrong, she learns that even the most beautiful girl in Greece can have a hideous future. Her fate? Fall in love with the one creature even the gods fear.

As she feels herself slipping closer into the arms of the prophecy, Psyche must choose between the terrifyingly tender touch she feels almost powerless to resist and the one constant she's come to expect out of life: you cannot escape what is destined.--from Goodreads

Why the retelling of the mythological story of Psyche and Eros? Why not Pyramus and Thisbe? Or Orpheus and Eurydice?

Cupid & Psyche is the myth I fell in love with while I was in undergrad (way back when).  For some reason, that particular myth always stuck with me. It could be because it's a precursor to Beauty & the Beast, or just an epic love story with a happy ending, but that's hands down my favorite myth.

What made you decide to become an Indie publisher?

The time was finally right to get Destined into the world. After all of the editing and critiques and learning (basically, over four years), I finally knew I was close. But I also knew that traditional publishing would take at least a year or two, and Greek mythology was hot last year. I didn't want to miss that trend by being a traditionalist, so I went for it.

Aside from the book being a great read, your cover is divine. Did you design it yourself?

I wish I could take credit for that, but computer design is a skill I lack. I found a cover designer, Josh Longiaru, and we worked together. I sort of had a general idea of what I wanted, but Josh really put the artistic touches on it once we found the photograph I loved for Psyche. It was so much fun though - picking fonts, tweaking the design. I hope I get to do it again someday soon!

Any advice for authors (like myself) who are considering the Indie route?

Invest in yourself. Hire a cover designer if you're technology challenged (like me). Hire a professional editor. Try to make your novel error-free and professional looking, and you'll already be one step ahead of the game. Not everyone is going to like your book, but you shouldn't give them a reason to reject it based on things you can so easily change (typos or low budget cover).  Like I say, you have to invest in yourself and your future -- and yes, that takes time.

If you could be any mythological character, who would it be and why?

I'd probably go for something a little different, like being Pegasus or a centaur. For Pegasus, you don't mess with a kick-butt flying horse -- and he's beautiful. So double bonus. I always think of Disney's Fantasia when I think of centaurs, all dancing around a meadow and prancing in waterfalls or picking flowers while classical music plays in the background. Ahhh.... what a life.

If you were the casting director, who would play Psyche, Eros, and Aphrodite in the movie version of Destined?

Aphrodite is the easiest of those -- I always pictured her as Heidi Klum when I was writing the novel.  Nicole Kidman would be a good second choice too.  Someone older but still drop dead beautiful.

When I was writing the book, I had the image of a young Leonardo DiCaprio in my head for Eros. But since I can’t reverse the clock for him, I’d want someone like Alex Pettyfer (yeah, who wouldn’t?), Lucas Till or Aaron Johnson (minus the facial hair). For Psyche, I think someone like Imogen Poots, Shenae Grimes, or Keira Knightley would be good fits.

Any plans to publish another book soon? Or...are you currently working on another novel? If so, is it also based on Greek mythology?

It seems that all of my ideas are based on mythology one way or another. I guess you'd say that's my "brand." In the novel that I've co-authored (and am still editing) called Beneath the Surface, the roots of the myth draw heavily on Greek mythology, although it is present day.  I'm also working on a short story for the #yalitchat anthology, which will be loosely based on Egyptian mythology. Eros also has his own short story, called Before, coming out in The Indelibles' anthology, In His Eyes, on Valentine's Day. And for die hard fans of Destined, I'm planning a companion novel, set in ancient Greece but drawing on different mythology.

If you haven't yet read Destined, all you have to do is click here. I highly recommend it. You can find Jessie at her blog, The Daily Harrell.