Interview with middle grade author J.D. Gordon

Author Jimmy "J.D." Gordon is here today to talk about his middle grade book described as "spooky meets sports," Field of Screams.

Jimmy visited here last December to talk about his action-adventure novel Dartboard.

Jimmy will be sending one randomly drawn commenter an autographed copy of each book in his backlist, an autographed copy of a book his daughter wrote, a $20 Barnes and Noble gift card, and his/her name used for a character in the next book in the series. To enter to win this package, leave your e-mail address with a comment below. You can increase your chances of winning by following his tour and commenting at other tour stops.

Bio:
Firefighter and paramedic-turned-author Jimmy (J.D.) Gordon was born and raised in Chicago where he developed a taste for the finer things that the Windy City has to offer - pan pizza, live blues and the Cubs. Jimmy loves spending time in the Florida Keys and the Caribbean. He now lives with his wife and children in Glen Ellyn, a suburb of Chicago.

Jimmy basically dropped into the world of literature, literally. After falling off a train and breaking his knee, Jimmy had to spend quite a bit of time recuperating. While visiting the firehouse, his peers asked what he planned to with all that time away. This is when Jimmy said the words that he now claims to have changed his life: "I should write a book."

Despite some skepticism from his peers ("You don't even use punctuation on your run reports!"), he completed a novel, Island Bound, and made it a point to use punctuation throughout.

After another injury, sustained on the job, prematurely ended his career, Jimmy decided to try writing full-time

Welcome back, Jimmy. Please tell us about your current release.

While baseball is the game of the day for Andy Biggs, an evil force lurks beneath the old Maryknoll Stadium. A ghostly witch doctor is turning teens into zombies to help summon the demon Jumlin into humanity. It's up to Andy and his band of paranormal sidekicks to save the world and thwart the witch doctor and even Jumlin himself!

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What inspired you to write this book? 

Honestly, I don’t do inspirations. I was ready to start another book. I umpire baseball and I’m a big fan of the game. I think that might be as close as I can’t get to any sort of inspiration. The story takes place in old baseball stadium where teens attend a summer camp.

What exciting story are you working on next?

I’m about two chapters into the next book in the series, that one is titled, or will be, The Pumpkin Jamboree and the Legend of Stumpy Scout.

When did you first consider yourself a writer? 

Oh, my gosh, I’ll have to let you know when the day comes. I’ve written seven novels now, I even wrote for a newspaper for a while. I still don’t consider myself a real writer. I’m not sure why. I just feel like a guy who types.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write? 

I’m a parent first. My injury with the fire department really changed my life. My wife, honestly, had always been the real bread winner. I was hurt in the line duty so I was pensioned off, meaning I still receive some sort of compensation. Though getting hurt sucked it did leave me with the time to take care of my kids while my wife works. I’m a mister mom and proud of it. I start my day off getting the kids together and ready for school. I drop them off, then it's off to the fitness center to keep the injury in check with exercise and stretching and so on. Then the rest of the day is spent writing. Until I pick the kids up. Once everyone settles down and goes to bed, I’m back on the computer to the writing. So, much of my day is spent typing away.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Um, I like writing with a martini sitting next me, in the next seat of course, right……

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

That changed on a monthly basis, I wanted to be a soldier, I wanted to fly a helicopter, I wanted to be a marine biologist, I wanted to be a realtor, and that continued into my adult life. Maybe that’s why writing fiction seems to be working out? If I feel like something, I just add it the story.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Send me email and hit me up on Facebook please!?!

Thanks for stopping by, Jimmy. Readers, remember, Jimmy will be sending one randomly drawn commenter an autographed copy of each book in his backlist, an autographed copy of a book his daughter wrote, a $20 Barnes and Noble gift card, and his/her name used for a character in the next book in the series. To enter to win this package, leave your e-mail address with a comment below. You can increase your chances of winning by following his tour and commenting at other tour stops.