20 Questions with Jo Denning

Today's guest is Jo Denning, author of the urban fantasy, Dead Blood City. Jo is here today to answer 20 questions about her life, writing and goals.

1. Are you a morning writer or a night writer? I write whenever I can! But, usually, it is earlier in the day on weekends or whenever I have a break at work.

2. Do you outline or are you a pantster? I always create a detailed outline before I start writing. Then I create scene cards, a strategy discussed in ‘Story Genius,’ to make sure every scene has a purpose. I jump around to different chapters and scenes when I write so a good outline helps me stay on track.

3. Which comes first – plot or character? Characters, definitely. People only think they care what happens in the story. What they really want to see is how characters change in response to what happens.

4. Noise or quiet when working on your manuscript? I create playlists for every story or book I write to get in the right headspace.

5. Favorite TV show? Currently, Vincenzo. A Korean-Italian mafia lawyer becomes an unlikely Robin Hood figure for the residents of a shopping mall.

6. Favorite type of music? Alternative rock. I love bands like Rise Against, Paramore, and The Offspring.

7. Favorite craft besides writing? Drawing. My undergraduate degree is in painting and drawing.

8. Do you play a musical instrument? I once pretended to play a violin.

9. Single or married? Married.

10. Children or no? Never.

11. Pets? Two cats. One fluffy, one feral.

12. Favorite place to write? Alone.

13. Favorite restaurant? A traditional taqueria near mine and my husband's first apartment.

14. Do you work outside the home? Yes, I'm a clinical social worker aka behavioral health therapist.

15. What was the name of the last movie you saw? Rurouni Kenshin: Origins.

16. Favorite outdoor activity? Hiking.

17. Pet peeve? People not cleaning up after themselves.

18. Your goal in life? To help people make lasting, positive change in their lives.

19. Your most exciting moment? One time a kid ripped my hair out of my head with his teeth and spat it in my face. That was pretty exciting.

20. The love of your life? My husband.

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