Author Interview: J.L. Hoyt

Hello, everyone! Welcome back to Friday Night Writes! As always, our goal is to shine a spotlight on members of the book community and introduce readers to awesome authors, narrators, event hosts, influencers, and more.

This week, we'd like to introduce our featured guest, author J.L. Hoyt!

J.L. Hoyt

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Who are you?

I’m a storyteller drawn to the intersection of technology, humanity, and wonder. I’ve spent much of my career producing creative work and collaborating across film and tech, and now I’m channeling that love for narrative into fiction.

What are a few of your favorite things/least favorite things?

Favorites: family & friends, creative mediums of all kindsLeast favorites: cruelty, hate, mornings without Chai tea

Did you always want to be an author?

Not always. My aspirations always included helping people and creativity. My passion for creativity and storytelling felt like the right way to reach people, but originally through film and media.

What did you want to be when you were a child?

I loved the idea of being a filmmaker — somebody shaping worlds.

When did you know you wanted to be an author?

When writing clicked: Over time I realized the stories I wanted to tell lived best in books first.

Do you have anything that you’re truly passionate about outside of writing? (Could be a cause, a project, etc.)

I’m passionate about youth and lead a group through our local church

How long have you been writing?

Professionally focusing on fiction in recent years, though storytelling has been part of my world for much longer.

Which genres do you write in?

YA crossover, sci-fi thriller, speculative elements grounded in emotional realism and fantasy/romantasy

Are you independently published or traditionally published? Why did you choose this route? What are the benefits/drawbacks?

Hybrid. Not a path I’d pursue again.

What do you enjoy most and least about being an author?

Favorite: discovery — when a character surprises me and a moment lands

Least: the days when doubt gets louder than momentum

Are you a plotter, a plantser, or a pantser?

Plantser. I love having a spine but the story needs room to breathe and evolve.

Do you have any writing routines (things you do that help you write)?

I write best in pockets, not marathons. Music helps. So does stepping away when the scene stalls and letting my brain solve it in the background.

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Music and just showing up to do the job, even if its not my best work.

How many WIPs do you have going right now? Can you tell us anything about them?

Three

How many books do you currently have published? Tell us about them.

Just 1 – Codeborn. Izzy Falman is part human, part code and all teenage girl!

Where do you get the inspiration for your books? Do you insert pieces of yourself and people you know into your books?

Ideas come from a variety of places. Yes, pieces of my life and people shape the emotional truth, but characters become their own beings.

Are there any other authors who have inspired you?

Too many to link them all, but certainly the greats: C.S. Lewis, Tolkien and more modern day Pierce Brown,

Do you prefer standalone books or book series?

Series. I love long arcs and slow-burn discovery.

Do you have a favorite and least favorite of your characters? Why?

Certainly there are characters that I don’t approve of their actions and that are harder to write. Walsh and RJ are two of those for me.

What is your most popular book?

Codeborn

Which of your books do you wish received more love than it does?

I hope readers take their time with this world as it grows — and find their own meaning in it.

How do you handle the author/life balance? (i.e. writing/editing/graphic design/home life/etc.)

It’s a dance. Protecting writing time means placing boundaries around everything else.

What do you do for your mental health and to recharge your creativity?

God, Nature, reading, silence, and time with people who keep me grounded.

Do you have any advice for unpublished writers or people who hope to become authors?

Yes. Keep showing up. Sometimes that’s the hardest part! Not letting the noise get to you.

What was your most recent five-star read?

Mary Pearson’s

What’s your favorite Dinosaur?

Velociraptor. Small, smart, underestimated.

What is the best gift you have been given?

The truth

How many pairs of shoes do you own?

More than I should

What's the most daring thing you've ever done?

Put myself out there

Are you a clean or messy person?

Clean

Do you collect anything besides books?

People

If you could be a shifter what would your alternate form be?

Dragon

What are you interested in that most people aren’t?

God

Where can we find you online?

Www.artificialbloodlines.com

Do you have any planned events?

None right now

Are You doing a giveaway?

Limited Edition copy of Codeborn

Are there any rules or exclusions? (ex. Signed books available to the United States only)

US only

How can readers expect to hear from you?

Follow me and I will message the winner post our interview

Thank you so much for joining us, J.L! It's been a pleasure chatting with you!

To all of our readers, thanks for spending some time with our guest author this week! We hope you've enjoyed this interview! In the meantime, be sure to check out J.L. Hoyt's website so you can keep up to date with her journey. Building a better, stronger community is what Friday Night Writes is all about!

Be sure to join us next week when we talk to author Dirk Biesinger!

See you soon!

The Friday Night Writes Crew

Evie Black & Samantha Moran

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