Guest Post with A.L. Waddington ~ JeanBookNerd

Book Nerd Interview

A.L. Waddington completed her undergraduate studies at University of Texas Dallas and Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis with a BS in Psychology. Angela and her husband, Ty, have a son, two daughters, a puppy, and an oversized cat. They reside in Indiana.

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What fiction most influenced your childhood, and what effect did those stories have on ESSENCE

As a child and teenager, I spent hours reading. While I enjoy movies, there is no greater escape from reality than getting lost in a good book. My father is an avid reader and got me addicted from a very young age. I started reading the typical grade/middle school classics like Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary, but then my dad introduced me to Stephen King by the time I was in eighth grade. I devoured his books, I still do. I also love Anne Rice and her collection of work. She has an amazing gift and imagination. From there, my taste broadened exponentially and now I will read pretty much anything that I find intriguing regardless of the genre.

I am sure my passion for books has greatly affected my work in more ways than I can possibly state. Reading enhances the vocabulary of the reader, increases their comprehension level and stimulates areas of the brain that are left dormant with other activities. It is a blissful addiction that I hope I never lose. I know the stories I read when I was younger allowed me to escape reality and get lost in a world of the author’s creation. My goal as a writer is to share that gift with my readers as well. I want to take them into Jocelyn’s world and make them question their own moments of déjà vu and their perception of reality.

Jocelyn Timmons does not believe she is anything special — just an ordinary high school senior, living an ordinary life full of school-work, volleyball and friends. She’s about to find out how wrong she is.

Jackson Chandler moved in to the house across the street. His dark wavy hair, green eyes and charismatic personality draws everyone to him. Everyone, but Jocelyn.
Whenever Jackson gets near Jocelyn she feels ill and dizzy. When he touches her, she blacks out and has visions of another life, in another time. As the odd hallucinations evolve and become clearer, she feels a strong pull towards the people she sees there. Frightened, she watches her once stable life begin to crumble around her and she begins to question her own sanity.

Could it be possible that these episodes are actually her own memories of a life she is living somehow, somewhere, some-when? Maybe this is time-travel or some other paranormal mysticism? Our minds often wander, but can our souls?