Meridian Six (11 page)
Web site:
http://www.JayeWells.com
An Interview with Jaye Wells
How does the world of Meridian Six fit into your Sabina Kane or Prospero’s War series?
It doesn’t fit into either, actually. It’s something totally new. Originally, I wrote a short story about this character that appeared in a tiny anthology no one’s read. But the story kept tugging at me over the years, so I decided to expand the short story into a novella.
So it’s an entirely new world altogether, but I think my readers will find lots to recognize in Meridian Six. She’s tough and smart, but also broken and haunted. Those are my favorite characters to write.
More vampires? Is this a theme with you?
I knew when I finished my Sabina Kane series that I wouldn’t be able to write a contemporary vampire story again for a while. The mythos in that world too so much work and I didn’t want to do another one unless it could be original.
I love writing about vampires because they are amazingly flexible archetypes. They can be good guys or villains, depending on your needs. For this world, I needed them to be the ultimate totalitarian regime.
As for whether they’re a personal theme, well, I think it’s more of a societal theme. Vampires are the ultimate narcissists, right? They’re monsters that look the most like us, but they also act the most like us. I’ve known my fair share of psychic vampires and I’m sure most of my readers have, too.
You’re known as much for the humor in your work as the intricate world building and emotional gut punch. Where did the funny stuff go?
It didn’t feel natural in this world. It’s not that there’s zero humor, but it’s way more muted. I guess my characters have a hard time cracking jokes when they’ve lived on the run so long. Plus, the dark stuff is its own kind of fun sometimes.
Where did you get the inspiration for Meridian Six’s story?
Oddly enough the credit goes to a light bulb. Not one of those imaginary ones that pop over someone’s head when they get an idea. I’m talking literally a light bulb.
I was driving one night and noticed someone had replaced a porch light with a red bulb. It caught my eye because it was so unexpected. The entire drive home I entertained myself with a story about vampire underground railroads. That’s pretty much where Carmina and the Sister’s of Crimson came from.
What other projects do you have in the works?
The Prospero’s War series debuts in January 2014. The first book is titled Dirty Magic and features a new protagonist named Kate Prospero. She’s a cop on the arcane beat who gets embroiled in a case involving the Magic Enforcement Agency and a dangerous new dirty magic potion that turns the users into beasts that crave human flesh. I pitched the series as
The Wire
and
Breaking Bad
with wizards. This series is far more episodic than my Sabina Kane series was, but no less action-packed or complex as far as world building is concerned. In fact, I created an entire Rust Belt town called Babylon, Ohio that has its own magical slum called The Cauldron for this series. I’m very excited about it.
Do you have other stories planned for Meridian Six?
I’m considering publishing a series of novellas about Meridian Six and her band of rebels. Unfortunately, I don’t have time at the moment to commit to full-length novels, but novella length allows me some more flexibility. I definitely have more story to tell about this world, and if people enjoy this story I’ll definitely keep writing about it.
Table of Contents
A Letter to Readers
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
Six.
Seven.
Eight.
Nine.
Other Books by Jaye Wells
About the Author
An Interview with Jaye Wells
Table Of Contents
Table of Contents
A Letter to Readers
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
Six.
Seven.
Eight.
Nine.
Other Books by Jaye Wells
About the Author
An Interview with Jaye Wells
Table Of Contents