Frequantly Asked Questions

Eruditio est Gnarus

 

About the Books

Q: Your first book, Cutting Edge, was a high-tech thriller, your second book, Into the Fire, was a drama, and your third book, House of Secrets, is a mystery. Do you have a short attention span or something?
A: What? Oh, sorry, I wasn't listening. Next question.

Q: Is House of Secrets a series? How often will more Shandra Covington books come out?
A: I've received great feedback on House of Secrets and the plan is to publish two Shandra books a year. Shandra's a busy woman.

Q: House of Secrets doesn't really seem like most LDS novels. There's no baptism, faith promoting stories, conversions. Is that intentional?
A: Yes it is. I think faith promoting stories are great, and I've read lots of them. But I also feel like there is a big need for gripping novels that are national caliber without all the sex, graphic violence, and profanity that fills the pages of so many nationally published works. My publisher Covenant felt the same way so that's what we're doing. Shandra Covington mysteries are designed so that Mormons and non-Mormons alike can enjoy the story. There are a few Utah jokes and things like that, but essentially, they're just good, clean, mysteries, that should keep you up at night turning pages.

Q: Was it hard to write from a first person female perspective?
A: Really not. Unless all of your characters are yourself, you have to get into the head of someone that you don't know at first. Whether that person is male or female, CEO or beggar, you still have to fit into their shoes. But the more you write the character-the more you come to understand them-it gets to the point where you can see things through their eyes without too much difficulty. If you find yourself struggling to know what a character will do or how they talk, you probably don't know them well enough yet. Occasionally I get something wrong, but my all female critique group along with my wife and daughter, keep me in line.

Q: Will there ever be a follow up to Cutting Edge or Into the Fire?
A: Into the Fire was my way of putting the biblical story of Job into a modern perspective that people could relate to more easily. See my Into the Fire book notes for more on that. I don't see any way to write a second book there. On the other hand, I've always planned on writing a sequel to Cutting Edge. In fact I have a pretty good idea of the storyline. The problem is that when I wrote Cutting Edge people went, "Oh he writes guy books." That's not what I intended, but the circuit board cover scared off a lot of female readers. So I shied away from doing another high tech thriller right away. But don't be surprised at all if Travis and company show back up in the next year or two.

Q: What can we expect from future Shandra Covington books?
A: Knowing I was going into a series, I wanted to give Shandra enough dimensions and issues that they wouldn't all be resolved in one book. Her issues with relationships. Her feelings of being adrift, with no real knowledge of her family background. The barriers between her and her brother. And of course, her father who deserted the family when she was little. Each book is an exciting, fast paced mystery. But at the same time issues span books. We get to see Shandra as a real person who grows, slips back, struggles, and drives forward anyway like the rest of us. I promise that the end of each book will wrap up that particular mystery, but there are bigger mysteries that may span the entire series.

 

Writing and Publishing

Q:What is the best piece of advice you could give to an aspiring writer?
A:Understand why you are writing. Not just your long term goals, but short term as well. For example let's say you write a great short story. You submit it to magazines and you don't get published. Does that mean you failed? Only if your sole purpose for writing the story was to get published. But what about improving your writing skill, the joy of creation, self expression? Can you write to improve your skills now and still have a goal of getting published? Absolutely. Most published authors write lots of things that never get published. And we all improve the more we write.

Q: I want to get published. How do I go about it?
A: There are probably as many ways to get published as there are things to write. If you're interested in non-fiction, consider starting with your local paper. Writer's Market, which you can pick up in the library or bookstores also has lists and lists of publications for every subject imaginable. And with the Internet, you can search for webzines on any subject. Then send a letter or e-mail (check their guidelines if they have them) and ask if they'd be interested in an article on . . . whatever your interested or knowledgeable in.

 

Personal

Q: If you go by Jeff, why do you write as Jeffrey S Savage.
A: Shortly before my first book was to be published, I got a call.

Caller: Is this Jeff Savage?
Me: Yes.

Caller: Jeff Savage the author?
Me: (Feeling quite proud since my first book wasn't even out yet and already I was Jeff Savage-THE AUTHOR.) That's right. Caller: We'd like to schedule you to come to our school.

Me: Whoo-hoo-I mean, ok, let me check my calendar.
Caller: You are the author who writes children's sports books.

Me: Umm, no.
Caller: Oh, sorry wrong number. Click

Turns out Jeff Savage, who also lived in the Bay Area where I wrote my first book, has published about a gazillion books. If I didn't want to get lost in the shuffle I had to make a change. Also if I ever end up being called as a General Authority (Like that's gonna happen!) I'm all set. So far it's worked out okay.