From the Booking Desk:
I first became acquainted with Jay Roberts because we are both fairly regular commenters on the Jungle Red Writers blog. If you haven’t visited that site, the community those authors have build is really something special and many of us who visit regularly have struck up friendships independent of the blog itself. So much so that when several of those authors held a launch in Boston last year, I traveled up for the event – which also allowed me the opportunity to meet Jay in person.
Jay is a huge fan of the crime genre, writing reviews on both his Goodreads page and for Mystery Scene Magazine. His interests also extend beyond the literary world, finding him writing about the music industry in multiple locations.
I hope that you will enjoy getting to know a little more about a book advocate I am happy to call a friend.
Name: Jay Roberts
Location: Wareham, Massachusetts
This person from my personal life is such an inspiration:
It may be a bit cliched, but I’d probably have to say my answer to this would be my parents, George and Patricia. They are both gone now, but they gave my two siblings and I a great foundation from which to build upon. As parents, they backed us up when we were right about something and made sure we knew when we’d messed up. My love of reading comes directly from the two of them. They encouraged reading early on and made sure that we had a wealth of material (and diverse topics) from which to choose. My dad was a cop and when he was in the hospital for the last time, a man that he’d once arrested came to visit him. He thanked my dad for helping him get his life turned around. As for my mom, I like to joke that while my dad was a cop, she was the chief law enforcement officer of the household. You messed with the order of things at your peril. And she didn’t take any guff from anyone! They both had wicked senses of humor, dry as it may come across. I’m sure that I haven’t reached their level of accomplishment but they gave me a great home and a great life so I try to be worthy of their efforts.
One of the people I admire most in the crime fiction community is:
From a personal standpoint, I’d have to say Hank Phillippi Ryan. I first met Hank a few years ago when she came to a book signing for Ingrid Thoft (this doesn’t include having grown up watching her TV reporting for years). Obviously I was also in attendance and she ended up sitting across the aisle from me. I leaned over a bit and got her attention to say that I loved her books. Since then, I’ve gone to a few more of her own signings and she’s always treated me wonderfully. She’s gone out of her way to introduce me to other authors and points out that I write for Mystery Scene magazine. The capper of all that largesse has to be when she did a signing at my hometown library and singled me out by saying that I was a very good book reviewer…with my senior year English teacher standing in the back room. It’s that kind of unexpected kindness that has made me a big fan of hers. Of course, knocking out one top notch thriller after another hasn’t hurt either!
STALKER ALERT! If this fictional character were real, they would likely need to get a restraining order against me:
Kaywinnet Lee “Kaylee” Frye from the TV show Firefly. If you’ve ever seen the TV show, you’ll know why I chose this particular character.
People are always surprised that I am a fan of this individual (singer, actor, or artist):
Debbie Gibson. Yes, despite being a passionate hard rock and heavy metal fan (I write album and concert reviews for two different websites), I can’t help but acknowledge that I have an abiding love for the early pop music albums of Debbie (now Deborah) Gibson. Don’t Judge!
My personal catch phrase is (or should be):
I’m not sure that I have a catch phrase like “Dyno-Mite!” or anything. However, I do know that I’ve been particularly enamored of the Ben Franklin quote “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety”. Of course, the quote doesn’t actually mean what I thought it did when I first heard it, but I’ve loved it regardless of the actual meaning.
Yay, Jay! I’m so glad to see you here. Can’t wait for the next time our paths cross.
Well, I’m sure that I’ll be making an attempt to get to a signing when the next Country Store mystery hits shelves!
Who doesn’t love Kaylee? And Debbie Gibson? Would never have guessed.
Great sketch!
Jay is awesome! Waving hi. So glad you two met.
I agree Hank is the best!!
It seems lots of people have those opposites in their interests. Debbie Gibson goes great with heavy metal, right?
Edith, I’m sure that I will make it to a signing when the next Country Store mystery hits shelves.
Liz, I don’t publicize my love of Debbie Gibson much. Plus, I’m far more interested in my rock and metal these days anyway.
Beth, yes she is.
Mark, opposites attract even within one’s own self it would seem.
I’m always happy to read Jay’s comments on JRW.
Thank you Kristopher to help me know a little more about him.
Danielle, well I try not to be too boring when I respond on JRW.