Interview with Jessica Ungeheuer

When and how did you start writing?

I wrote my first “series” when I was in first grade. I’ve always been a gamer so I remember writing little fan stories about street fighter and drawing fan art. I also was always big on halloween and remember writing a tale about a couple of witches that start off as evil, but end up becoming allies to a couple of kids, and they lived in a big tree, haha.

Tell me about your book(s)

I currently have one novel published and working on three more right now because I can’t stop my brain from coming up with things. My debut is a horroromance urban fantasy, Z.E.R.O: Zombie Elimination and Rescue Operatives, set in an alternative Tampa Florida where monsters are real and there is a secret group of monster hunters that keep them at bay so that the greater population can live their lives carefree of knowing monsters exist. I’m working diligently on the sequel and an anthology of short horror stories set in the same universe. I’m also working in a completely different genre of a YA space opera.

What writing advice have you been given that really helped you?

When I took screenwriting classes in college, my professor really opened my eyes to a better way of writing characters that seem more real, and less two dimensional. She had us write a timeline of our main characters from birth that noted every major life change/experience they had. This helped me with forming my characters because it made me think of how these events could have changed and affected their lives, turning them into the people that we meet when you start the story.

What have been your greatest obstacles to overcome when writing?

Dedicating time to writing actually. When I first started writing again it was during COVID. I was working remotely in a call center with a lot of down time. So it was easier to read and write. Now I’m back to working long days in the office, and recently a new mom. So I’ve been struggling to find time to write. When I usually get a minute to sit down I end up falling asleep, haha. Definitely trying to set goals to write more this year and learning how to rebalance my other duties around it.

What do you want your readers to feel when they have closed the last page of your book?

I hope that they enjoyed the adventure, and don’t hate me for the epilogue, haha. Honestly I always felt that zombie stories were more about the people and not the monsters around them. That’s something I am trying to explore with this series. I’m a big fan of Supernatural, which definitely influenced this book series, and I loved that the show wasn’t just about the monster hunting but focused on the main characters trying to make the best of their lives and even seeking some sense of normal despite what they deal with. I took that same concept into writing Z.E.R.O. One main character “grew up in the life,” of monster hunting, while the other is an outsider like you and I. While the outsider finds this life of monster hunting interesting and at times fun, my other main character is jaded and fearful.

I also went into this book examining mental health, depression, and loss. I wanted to write a story that said it’s okay to not be okay. That some people need more time than others to heal from trauma, and everyone deals with trauma differently.

What’s the best thing someone has said about your writing?

Just hearing that someone read it and enjoyed it was great. I have to say, I do love when people tell me they love my characters. I was surprised that my most obnoxious ill mannered one was the most popular!

What advice would you give other writers?

Keep writing. Don’t stop. The more you write, the more you will improve. Find a community of fellow writers. We spend so much time writing in our little bubbles, but it’s important to have others read and critique your work. It’s also nice to have a group of like minded people you can rant to about your woes; whether it’s getting a character in line or querying for publication. I have an amazing group of writing buddies that I have met on X/Twitter that have really helped me to improve.

You are an artist as well as a writer tell me about that.

I’ve been drawing longer than I have been writing. I actually really wanted to go into animation at first. Storytelling was always in my blood I guess. I actually went to school for an Art degree. I’m using that experience more now with self publishing than I have since I graduated sixteen years ago. (Wow, that sentence just made me feel old, haha). I used my art and multimedia knowledge to design my cover and the internal graphics in my novel.

I grew up a big anime fan and gamer, so my art style is very anime-like. I really like drawing characters and I’m hoping with more free time in my future I can draw more characters for my friend’s books too.

Art and writing are both creative pursuits do you approach them differently?

I want to say yes and no, lol. When it comes to my writing, I’ll see a scene playing out, almost like a film clip, in my head. I’ll hear the voices and characters. If it’s interesting enough or if it keeps popping up I’ll start writing it. I’m a pantser so the stories flow as they come to me.

With my art I guess it’s kind of similar. Though I feel my art requires more outside influence and planning. I work best when I have a prompt. Once I have that, I start planning posing, layout, and color palette. It usually involves an internet dive of looking for things similar to what I’m trying to do and I miss-match things together until I find something that works.

My art teacher used to say, “Art is never finished, it’s just stopped in an interesting place.” And I take that thought into my artwork and writing, always trying to make sure I stop working and re-working a piece and just being happy with the result.

Not sure I really answered the question, but that’s the best I got. :)

What are your current projects? What should we be looking out for?

Like I mentioned above, I’m actively working on finishing my first short story anthology. I’m having a lot of fun writing it because I’m working in different writing styles. I’m writing a crime noir, a Lovecraft/Poe style of falling into madness, a story written in the format as a screenplay, and a novella. I’m also really leaning into more of a horror angle with these tales, so I hope to scare a few people, haha.

I’m also working on the much asked for sequel to my debut. I have a draft but it’s a monster in itself that I am working on editing down before sending off to beta readers.

In between all that I’ve been working on a completely new standalone YA novel in a different genre. Its heavily influenced by some of my favorite anime, Outlaw Star and Cowboy Bebop. The characters are fun, it’s full of action, and the setting is epic. I’m hoping to try querying it when it’s done.

What would you do if you didn’t write?

I honestly have no clue. Writing has been with me since I first held a pencil. I can’t imagine never being creative. If I’m not writing, I’m drawing. If I’m not drawing, I’m working on a crochet project. I’m always doing something creative.

What is your ultimate dream as a writer?

I guess my ultimate dream is to have one of my stories made into a feature film. I always wanted to be in film. I thought that avenue was through animation, but then I learned of other areas. Directing and telling stories has always been a goal. (I used to watch the Oscars as a child and imagine being there someday.)

I also would love just to have more people reading my books. I recently did my first author event where I got to stand in front of a bunch of people and tell them about my work. I was super nervous, but seeing people’s eyes light up when I told them about my story and wanting to read it made me happy. I would love to get more opportunities to do that.

Bio

Jessica Ungeheuer (she/her) is a writer and artist. While earning her visual arts and digital media degree she studied creative writing and screenwriting. Her favourite genres to read and write are dystopian sci fi and horror. She lives in sunny Bradenton Florida with her husband, son, and two mischievous cats. You can find her artwork and other stories on her socials through her linktr.ee/JessicaUWriting, or on Twitter and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/phoenixfire110/

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