J.J. Bonds is an independent author who writes Young Adult Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy. Her debut novel, Crossroads, was released in fall of 2011. It is the first in the Crossroads Academy series. J.J. lives in Carlisle, Pennsylvania where her love of all things paranormal keeps life interesting. She lives with her husband, daughter, and two rambunctious dogs.
Young Adult: When did you decide to start writing?J.J. Bonds: I was in 7th grade when I first realized that I wanted to be a writer. That was the same year I wrote my first book, an environmentally focused children’s tale about sea turtles. Once I discovered YA literature, I was certain that my future was in writing, although I will admit that by the time I got to college, being a published author seemed like an impossible dream. *shakes head* If only I could go back ten years and have a chat with my overly pragmatic adolescent self.
I took some detours after college, but eventually found my way back to YA literature in 2010 when I started writing Crossroads while wrapping up my MBA. I haven’t looked back since!
YA: Tell us a little bit about your latest work.
J.J.: In Red Dawn, Katia returns to Crossroads Academy for her second year at the prestigious boarding school. And while she’s planning for an uneventful year hanging with her best friend Shaye and swooning over her sometimes crush Nikolai, it doesn’t take long for things to take a turn for the unexpected.
Katia’s not exactly great at fitting in or taking orders and while she’s learning to control her temper, she’s still a ‘punch first, ask questions later’ kind of vamp. I think readers will be pleased with the faster pace of Red Dawn, the non-stop action, and the developing relationships. Oh, did I say relationships? Fans of the series will be pleased to discover that Nik will play a much larger role in Red Dawn and yes, he’s as sexy and sarcastic as ever.
YA: What are some of the qualities in your latest work that set it/you apart from what’s currently out there on the market?
J.J.: One of the things I love most about the Crossroads Academy series it’s the heroine, Katia. She’s gritty, tough and not exactly the girl next door. I love a strong female lead who can take care of herself and who doesn’t define herself by her relationship status. That’s one aspect of the series that sets it apart from some of its YA counterparts.
I would also suggest that the vampire mythology in the Crossroads Academy series is a little different than what readers are accustomed to as these vamps don’t sparkle in daylight. 😉
YA: What attracts you to the Young Adult genre specifically?
J.J.: I love reading and writing YA for the characters. There’s something undeniably exhilarating about first kisses, first heartbreaks, and just growing up. I love being able to tap into my younger self and experience those emotional highs and lows through the eyes of my favorite characters. I can relate to their challenges, celebrate their successes, and connect with them in a way that is more emotionally charged than if they were adults as they change and grow.
YA: Who would you count among your strongest influences for your latest work, and why?
J.J.: Although I haven’t read their work in years, I’d have to credit RL Stine and Christopher Pike with sparking my interest in YA Paranormal. I didn’t have a name for it growing up, but that’s what I was reading and their books fed my imagination, my love of all things paranormal, and ultimately the types of stories I’d later create for my readers.
YA: Who or what do you hope not to be compared to?
J.J.: Tricky question! One series I hope that my work will not be compared to is Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. When I first drafted Crossroads, I wasn’t aware of the Vampire Academy series, although I’ve heard wonderful things about it and have since added it to my TBR list. I understand from readers that there are some parallels in the two series, although they are also vastly different in many ways too. While I would be flattered to be compared to such a renowned author, I’d like my work to stand on its own and would never want to be seen as a knockoff.
YA: Do you have pursuits outside of young adult fiction?
J.J.: How much time to we have? 😉 In addition to writing, I am an avid reader, zombie enthusiast, football fan, and lover of all things paranormal. I also work as a Publicist for Entangled Publishing, which allows me to connect with other writers and help promote their work!
