J.J. Jarrett

J.J. Jarrett is an award winning author from Southern California. Readers enjoy the truth, lessons and emotion in his writing. Usually fast pace and sometimes in your face. "The goal is for my writing to have a pulse," he says. Look for his new novel "Dreamers" coming in 2017.

Interview with J.J. Jarrett about his latest release “Being Bad”

March 9, 2016 / bjj365

What inspired Being Bad?

Jarrett: In Steinbeck’s novel East of Eden, about 3/4 through the book Cal decides he is just like Catherine (his mother) just bad or evil. After reading that it stuck with me. I would just think about Cal. I would also see a lot of people on T.V. and some around me making bad choices and making excuses. I sat down and wrote the words: He’s a bad mother fu#*er. A few weeks later I had Being Bad.

You mentioned Steinbeck does he influence your writing?

Jarrett: Anything you read influences your writing. The stuff I really like influences it more than the stuff I don’t like, but it all influences the way I write. If I hate almost everything another author does I may still find one thing I like. I also learn a bunch of what not to do.

Who are your favorite authors?

Jarrett: Classics; Steinbeck, Faulkner, Jack London. I think it is important to read classics. I also like Charles Bukowski and the famous beat author Jack Kerouac.

I like Elmore Leonard and Stephen King they should both probably be considered classics already. Dennis Lehanne is my other favorite.

What about you? Do you like to read your own work?

Jarrett: Yes. Usually I remember writing it thinking it was going to turn out totally different.

Do you have others you are going to self publish?

Jarrett: Yes. I enter most of my stories into national and international writing contest. The majority of these contest require that the story has never been published (including self published). As the results come out on these contest I will start releasing more short stories. I also have finished a manuscript called "Dreamers". It will be on Amazon and in print before the year ends.

So did "Being Bad win any contest or why is it published first?

Jarrett: BEING BAD never won any contest.

BEING BAD is first to be published simply because it is probably my DARKEST and MOST EXPLICIT and there are very few contest for a story like it.

Enjoy.