Q: Welcome! Please tell us a little about yourself; your name, where you live, creative endeavors, and anything else you want to share.
A: I am Jess Hanna and I live in the Grand Rapids, MI area, referred to as West Michigan. I mostly partake in writing for a creative endeavor, but I have been known to decorate for a birthday party like nobody’s business.
Q: Your latest book, Camp Deliverance was released on Oct 31. What is this book about?
A: Camp Deliverance is a supernatural horror story about a bully who is sent to a summer camp dedicated to working with troubled youth. Here is the full description:
Craig Donaldson is a bully who is a magnet for trouble. When a harmless prank goes wrong, his mother ships him off to Camp Deliverance as a last-ditch effort to set him on the right path before he is forced into military school.
As soon as he arrives at camp, Craig knows something is not right. The plastic smiles of the staff match the good intentions advertised in the brochure, but an unsettling darkness seems to lurk beneath their paper-thin facade.
As disturbing events begin to escalate, Craig and his friends seek to uncover the dark secrets behind them, but are unprepared for the terror that awaits them. The limits of their sanity are tested when the true nature of the camp is revealed and their only hope is survival.
Q: What inspired you to write Camp Deliverance?
A: I was first inspired to write a summer camp-related story from my love of “campy” horror movies from the 80’s. While most were slasher flicks, some included enough supernatural content to fit within my preferred genre. There is just something about the remote location and unfamiliarity the characters have with their surroundings that make a camp the perfect setting for horror. Oddly enough, the title was inspired by a failed name for a vacation bible school (VBS) program.
Q: Did you go to a religious camp as a child or have any experiences that you relate to in this book?
A: I did not attend a religious camp as a child. I spent one summer at the YMCA day camp, but most of my inspiration came from the experiences of others who attended and worked at summer camps regularly.
Q: What do you want the readers to take away from reading your book without giving away any spoilers?
A: I want readers to be able to discern counterfeit spirituality for the truth by recognizing when someone who claims to be godly or spiritual is not really who they portray themselves to be. It is also important to see that the bully, the sensitive creative type, and even the strong-willed girl are real people who are affected deeply by the things that happen to them.
Q: What sorts of themes can readers expect in Camp Deliverance?
A: There is a psychological horror element, where the characters are not quite sure if what is happening is truly happening. There are themes of loss and grief, and rising to the occasion.
Q: How did your faith influence you in writing Camp Deliverance?
A: I wanted to write Camp Deliverance from the perspective of a teenager with limited exposure to religiosity. For some of that I had to reach into my past to the time before I knew Jesus Christ as my savior and what I felt and thought about religion. It was important to me to show the true Christians as truly Christian, to vastly contrast the experience between the two.
Q: What is one of the interesting things you learned or discovered while writing this book?
A: The food at summer camp is not so bad. I was expecting hot dogs and peanut butter and jelly, but the kids eat very well.
Q: Where can readers find your books and other work?
A: Readers can find my books on Doorway Publishing at:
doorwaypublishing.com/jesshanna/
And on my personal website:
www.jesshanna.com
Q: Can you give us a hint of any future projects you may have in the works?
A: I am in the process of preparing my next book, which features a serial killer. Like all my other work, it will be in the supernatural horror vein, so expect more of those types of shenanigans.
Q: What is the last book you read that you can recommend to your readers?
A: The last book I read was Odd Hours, by Dean Koontz. I love most of what Dean writes and the Odd Thomas series does not disappoint.
Q: As an encouragement to other authors, could you share any advice, tips, or tricks that you have found helpful in your writing process?
A: Don’t be afraid to let your writing sit and fester for a bit after writing the first draft. Sometimes, the process of getting all of your ideas out is cathartic and draining and amazing, but taking a break for a bit and coming back will help you make the story even better.
