Now it’s time to learn more about the authors we read. . .

What drew you to the genre you write?
Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Dateline, ha! I’ve always been interested in a mystery, but also the why. Why do the victims become victims? What were the circumstances surrounding the situation? I’m a whole picture type of person and I love research.

Tell us how you got into writing?
I was an early reader – second born kid always trying to mimic my older sister. I loved reading and we spent most of our time growing up at the local library. Then my parents bought me a printing press for Christmas when I was seven, so I could write my own stories and print them. I’ve never looked back. I have short stories that turned into plays. Lines of dialogue that turned into screenplays. And books that sit on shelves because they weren’t ready to query. Then came Vicious Cycle, my debut.

What jobs have you held before, during and/or after you became a writer?
I’ve had ALL the jobs. All of them, that’s why I started the podcast Make That Paper. I started in college at the local Detroit news station WXYZ. After graduating I continued at a different station – WDIV, then PBS Detroit. I worked as a presenter for the North American Auto Show, I was a barista, a make-up artist, a packaging design editor, actor, personal assistant, radio news writer, radio VO actor. I’ve done it all, honestly. Now I’m a professor to undergrads and author and I could not be happier.

How many books do you have published?
One – Vicious Cycle, and one on the way, Take Hart releasing August 4th both from Thomas & Mercer.

Where do you write?
Everywhere and anywhere – in my classroom during breaks, in my car in the car line or eating lunch. Over the summer I wrote Take Hart in an RV when I was supposed to be on vacation (oops) and my husband and kid were at the beach. I used to work in retail, and I would take blank receipt paper from the register and write lines when they’d come to me. Waiting in the pharmacy line I’ll pull anything resembling paper from my bag and write. I’ve learned to be adaptable. My posture is terrible.

What’s your favorite genre to read?
I read all fiction. All of it, every genre. Horror – which often shares a table with thriller ;). Romantasy, fantasy, cozy, mystery, sci-fi! I love stories. All of them.

What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
In one year, I was rear ended four times: Twice while stopped at a red light, once while I was stopped at a stop sign, and once when I was exiting the freeway off-ramp (that person had fallen asleep at the wheel!). My mechanic joked, with each visit, that this time he would, “Take the magnet out of my bumper.” Hahaha.

Who is an author you admire?
Megan Abbott – she is brilliant.

Have you any advice for aspiring or beginning writers?
Let it all go – every expectation you built up in your head about writing – let it go. Take advice and lessons that work for you and make sense to you and leave the rest behind. Just like everything else there is a lot of noise around writing on social media, if you allow yourself to become consumed with it, you’ll never get the words on the page. So let it all go and just begin.

What is next for you?
Oh! So much! I am beginning a new, standalone, novel that I am stoked about. I’ve been researching and learning and practicing magic for two years now to represent these characters well and I’m super excited to start diving in. And the tenth season of my podcast Make That Paper is coming out shortly. My partner and I talk to authors, screenwriters, actors, all kinds of artists about the day jobs and side gigs they work to be able to stay afloat while creating their art.

Where can we find you?
At home. Hahaha! Kidding. I’m at www.JaimeParkerStickle.com, and if Instagram or Substack are more your jam you can find me @JaimeParkerStickle on both sites. I love connecting!

Now to have some fun . . .

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner
Lunch, but no sandwiches. I like a nice, deconstructed sandwich plate.

Fruits or vegetables
Fruits

Sweet or salty snacks
Sweet (donuts!)

Ice cream or cake
Cake – especially wedding cake!

Cooking or baking
Cooking (But absolutely NEITHER. I don’t want to. I’m tired.)

Dining in or dining out
Dining in

City life or country living
Country

Beach or mountain
Mountain

Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall
Spring – always and forever, spring.

Extrovert or introvert
An overwhelmed extrovert.

And even more fun . . .

What is your favorite movie?
Adventures in Babysitting

You are stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?
I’m not sure if I should answer this like a contestant on Naked and Afraid or like it’s a fantasy. Sunscreen, sneakers, and a dog.

My bio:
Jaime Parker Stickle is the author of Vicious Cycle and Take Hart books one and two of the Corey in Los Angeles series. She is a writer, actor, podcaster, and professor of film and TV at Montclair State University. She is the co-creator and cohost of the true crime podcast The Girl with the Same Name as well as the hilarious podcast about side hustles, Make That Paper. Jaime lives in Los Angeles with her husband, son, two fur babies and a chameleon named Tilly.