Diane Capri Reveals Indie Author Jillian Dodd

A year ago, I began this unexpected indie journey. Along the way, I’ve been blessed to meet some amazing independent authors who helped me travel the path with unexpected warmth and generosity. If you’re reading and enjoying my books and this blog, we have these authors to thank.

Above all, these folks demonstrate every day that We Are Not Alone.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be revealing some of these authors to you; writers who work hard to bring their shared love of reading to readers like us. We begin with my friend, the delightful young adult author from Nebraska, Jillian Dodd.

Maybe you’ve seen Jillian’s books at the top of the charts. She’s the bestselling author of That Boy and That Wedding. But the real question is: Who is That Girl?

Author Jillian Dodd

She doesn’t look like a woman who would drink from a keg in a cornfield, does she? That’s not all you’ll find surprising about this woman in pink here where Diane Capri Reveals Jillian Dodd.

Jillian Dodd grew up on a farm in Nebraska, where she developed a love for Midwestern boys and attended the University of Nebraska. It might be no surprise to learn she’s a Huskers fan!

Diane Capri: Jillian, where are your fans most likely to find you hanging out?

Jillian Dodd: It’s fall, so that means on the weekends I’m watching football. Even though we live in Texas, we have season Husker tickets. I go to as many games as my schedule allows. Three this year. My son is a nationally ranked semi-professional kart racer, so we spend a lot of time traveling, racing, and at the track. When I’m at home, I’m usually on my computer writing or working. I have a great office, but you can usually find me on our covered porch.

Diane Capri: Besides your son, who else is hanging out there on that porch with you?

Jillian Dodd: *laughs* Well, it’s crowded! I met my own prince in college, and we have two amazing children, a Maltese named Sugar Bear, and a Labrador puppy named Camber Lacey.

Diane Capri: As I said earlier, you’re the author of That Boy and That Wedding. Love the covers by the way….But you also have a new series, don’t you?

 Jillian Dodd: I actually just released Stalk Me the first book in a new six-book series called The Keatyn Chronicles. The series is about a 17-year-old girl, who is the daughter of a famous actress. She has a life and luxuries most of us only dream about. But she’s at the age where she is questioning everything in her life. Are her friends really her friends? Is having the coolest clothes and the perfect boyfriend going to make you happy? Should you listen to what your friends say or do your own thing? So while she has a glamourous life, inside she goes through all the same things we go/went through as a teen. Friends. Boys. Love. Sex. Peer pressure. I’m having a ball writing it. If it were a TV series, it would be one of those guilty pleasures. Like my addiction to Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars.

 Diane Capri: That all sounds like great fun for your young adult readers. Tell us, when do you work? Are you a morning person?

Jillian Dodd: I am definitely a night person. Our house is always very busy. We have three dogs, two teenagers with lots of friends that like to hang out here because of the huge bowl of candy we always keep, and a husband that offices from home. Night time has always been my most productive time. It’s quiet. I can think. And I seem to be most productive. It’s not unusual for me to be up working until 2 or 3am.

Diane Capri:  You look like you’re having a great time here. Anyone ever give you a piece of advice that’s really stuck with you?

Jillian Dodd: This advice wasn’t recent, but something my grandpa told me. “If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullsh*t.” Although my writing career started later in life, I have always made up stories. So baffling people with stories that sound real has always sort of been my specialty.

 

Well, Jillian, we can see that you’re having a great time these days! Readers can interact with you and your daughter, Kenzie at the blog you write together, Glitter, Bliss, and Perfect Chaos. Check it out, everyone — and meet the Husker Fan for yourself at  www.JillianDodd.net  Click here to connect with her on Twitter, or Facebook. Or leave a question for Jillian in the comments below.

 

 

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43 Responses to Diane Capri Reveals Indie Author Jillian Dodd

  1. Louise Behiel September 25, 2012 at 9:27 am #

    Diane, what a strong beginning to a new series of blog posts. well done. Jillian, as a Canadian, I have to admit I don’t understand the college football thing but obviously, you’ve got it . Stalk Me has an amazing cover. A person can’t avoid picking it up or looking inside when they see it.

    well done

    • Diane Capri September 25, 2012 at 9:30 am #

      Thanks, Louise! Jillian is an amazing author with a growing audience. It was an honor and a privilege to feature her.

      • Jillian Dodd September 25, 2012 at 3:20 pm #

        Thanks, Louise! I really like the cover too. It’s a new version. And just think hockey!! That’s big in Canada, right?

  2. Ginger Calem September 25, 2012 at 9:44 am #

    Super fun interview! Way to start with a bang Diane and Jillian! All your covers are fabulous. Really looking forward to all the Reveals!!

    • Diane Capri September 25, 2012 at 11:44 am #

      Thanks, Ginger. Jillian is having a great month with Stalk Me, isn’t she?

      • Jillian Dodd September 25, 2012 at 3:21 pm #

        Thanks, Ginger. It was fun creating covers for all six books. I actually like the ones for the later books the best!

  3. August McLaughlin September 25, 2012 at 9:45 am #

    Wonderful interview, ladies! You dazzle and baffle us, Jillian—in fabulous ways. 🙂 So glad you’re having a blast writing. You deserve all the success you’re enjoying and more!

    • Diane Capri September 25, 2012 at 11:45 am #

      Appreciate you stopping by, August!

      • Jillian Dodd September 25, 2012 at 3:21 pm #

        Thanks, August! I do think writing is really fun. Now if I could just have a second me so I could get everything done!!

  4. Amy Shojai September 25, 2012 at 9:46 am #

    Love the launch of your new “reveal” series, and delighted to learn more about “that girl” Jillian. I’m about 1/3rd of the way through STALK ME…have to take a break now and then because I just want to SHAKE Keatyn (and some of her friends). But boy, does it take me back.

    • Diane Capri September 25, 2012 at 11:45 am #

      Do we ever outgrow high school, Amy? 😀

      • Jillian Dodd September 25, 2012 at 3:24 pm #

        I reread my diaries from high school before I embarked on writing this book. I really shook my head so many times wondering what was i thinking? But then, when you’re that age, you don’t think. Which is really the brilliance of being that age. I was talking to someone recently about how they would like to go back to 18. How they would do things differently. But then we decided they might have been smarter, but it’s those experiences that are what made him who he is today. Plus he figures he wouldn’t have had near as much fun!!

  5. shannon esposito September 25, 2012 at 9:57 am #

    Wahoo! What a fun interview to launch with, Diane! Jillian, your porch sounds like a great place to hang out…lots of love, family and furballs!

    • Diane Capri September 25, 2012 at 11:46 am #

      Kinda made me want to start watching football, Shannon — but what was I thinking??!! 😉

    • Jillian Dodd September 25, 2012 at 3:25 pm #

      Probably why I sit outside and work so much. The house is chaotic. But I know when the kids go to college, I will miss it. Thanks for stopping by!

  6. Jennifer L. Oliver September 25, 2012 at 10:11 am #

    Your reveal series is getting better and better, Diane!
    Congrats to Jillian for her continued success with her novels.
    Stalk Me is on my TBR list, Jillian, but I hear its getting rave reviews. Makes me want to move it up on my list!
    Looking forward to more “reveals” in the future!

    • Diane Capri September 25, 2012 at 11:46 am #

      Appreciate the kind words, Jenn!

      • Jillian Dodd September 25, 2012 at 3:30 pm #

        I have been really fortunate from a review standpoint so far. Even the one bad one I received recently was so long and passionate it made me happy. And a big thanks to Diane for having me!!

  7. Sheila Seabrook September 25, 2012 at 12:00 pm #

    Jillian, I love your covers. Congratulations on your success. It was great to get to know you a bit better. 🙂

    Diane, love this series on authors!

    • Diane Capri September 25, 2012 at 3:04 pm #

      Thanks for stopping by, Sheila!

      • Jillian Dodd September 25, 2012 at 3:31 pm #

        Thanks! I don’t think I mentioned it anywhere but the covers and interior drawing for That Boy and That Wedding were all done by me. I love art and painting and all that stuff. Thanks for stopping by!

  8. Jennette Marie Powell September 25, 2012 at 1:20 pm #

    Thanks for a fun interview, Diane and Jillian! It’s always fun to get a look at the story behind the stories!

    • Diane Capri September 25, 2012 at 3:05 pm #

      I like that part, too, Jenn!

      • Jillian Dodd September 25, 2012 at 3:32 pm #

        Thanks!! Diane had some great questions!!

  9. Kassandra Lamb September 25, 2012 at 2:38 pm #

    Jillian was a great choice to start off this series, Diane! But what’s with showing us that crazy picture and then not explaining it? I never thought of you as an Elvis impersonator fan, Jillian! LOL

    • Diane Capri September 25, 2012 at 3:05 pm #

      I think it’s the Huskers thing, don’t you? Maybe Jillian will tell us!

      • Jillian Dodd September 25, 2012 at 3:35 pm #

        That picture was taken at the MasterCard Alamo Bowl in few years ago when Nebraska played Michigan. We had very good seats through MasterCard and ended up sitting right behind the two Husker Elvises (Elvisi?) Either way, they were a ball. One of them was the Lt. Governor of Wisconsin! It was an amazing experience as during the third quarter we got to go on the field (sidelines) with the team. (We also got to go to three Super Bowls thanks to MC. I’m a BIG football fan. College, Pro, all of it)

  10. Karla Darcy September 25, 2012 at 2:55 pm #

    Great interview. Since I’m from Ohio originally I understand loving Midwestern boys. That’s where I found my prince too. Thanks Diane and Jillian.

    • Diane Capri September 25, 2012 at 3:06 pm #

      Thanks, Karla. Come to think of it, that’s where I found mine…..hmmmmm….are we detecting a pattern here? 😀

      • Jillian Dodd September 25, 2012 at 3:36 pm #

        Yeah, they are sweet, aren’t they? Good values. Mommies that raise them to treat a lady right.

  11. Catie Rhodes September 25, 2012 at 3:01 pm #

    Jillian and Diane, I enjoyed this quite a bit. I loved Jillian’s grandfather’s advice. That’s a keeper.

    • Diane Capri September 25, 2012 at 3:06 pm #

      You’re right, Catie – good advice for a novelist, for sure!

      • Jillian Dodd September 25, 2012 at 3:37 pm #

        I have a sign in my office that hung in his office for years. It was the definition of TACT. “The ability to tell a man to go to hell and make him feel happy to be on his way.” I adored my grandfather.

  12. Elena Aitken September 25, 2012 at 3:03 pm #

    Great interview, Diane and Jillian! So fun and I loved getting to know you a bit better, Jillian.

    • Diane Capri September 25, 2012 at 3:07 pm #

      The things we find out about people in these Reveals, hmmmmm???? 😉

      • Jillian Dodd September 25, 2012 at 3:38 pm #

        Thanks, Elena!! (Jeeze, I was just chewed out by wordpress for “posting comments too fast” LOL)

  13. Tiffany A White September 26, 2012 at 11:37 am #

    I loved this, Diane! And of course, I love Jill. Thanks for hosting her today!! You are such a great support and it is greatly appreciated. 🙂

  14. Julie Hedlund September 26, 2012 at 12:32 pm #

    Amazing launch to this series Diane! So fun to learn more about Jillian and her books. I’m especially intrigued by the Stalk Me series, so Jillian — you have a new reader! 🙂

  15. Debra Kristi September 26, 2012 at 2:00 pm #

    Congratulations on your success, Jillian. Fabulous start to this new series, Diane. Super fun interview. Highly enjoyable. “Stalk Me” sounds really cool.

  16. Karen McFarland September 26, 2012 at 2:40 pm #

    Jillian Dodd is definitely in the pink! That IS your color Jullian!

    What a fun interview Diane and Jillian. It’s obvious Jillian that you have a true gift for story telling. Since you said that your diaries helped inspire your stories, what was it that inspired your book covers?

    And Diane, I think we have a theme here. My DH is from the mid-west too. They’re keepers! 🙂

  17. Angela Orlowski-Peart September 26, 2012 at 5:34 pm #

    Great interview, ladies. And such fun series. I’m looking forward to reading all of them 🙂

  18. Lynn Kelley September 26, 2012 at 9:20 pm #

    Congrats on the start of your new series, Diane. Fun and fabulous interview of Jillian! I love the covers of all three books. And, Jillian, you don’t look old enough to have kids!

  19. Jenny Hansen September 27, 2012 at 3:39 am #

    Fantastic interview! Having met Jillian in real life, I can tell you that (a) she’s awesome and (b) she doesn’t look remotely old enough to have teenagers!

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