Q&A: J.T. Geissinger, Author of ‘Blackthorn’

We chat with author J.T. Geissinger about Blackthorn, which is a scorching new enemies-to-lovers romance filled with explosive secrets, nail-biting, gothic suspense, and the dangerous lure of dark magic.

Hi, J.T.! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

I’m an animal loving Aquarius who writes kissing books for a living and procrastinates as a hobby.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I’ve always loved to read, but it wasn’t until my 40^th birthday that I decided to finally write that novel I’d been thinking of writing since forever. Like I said, I’m a procrastinator. J

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: That is asking a lot of my addled brain. No clue.
• The one that made you want to become an author: The Road by Cormac Mccarthy
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer

Your latest novel, Blackthorn, is out November 4^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Gothic. Sexy. Twisty. Mysterious. Unhinged.

What can readers expect?

Whiplash. It starts off “normal” and ends in a fever dream. Expect to question everything and walk away uncertain of your morals if you enjoyed it.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

There are several sequences where the character is completely confused about what’s real and what isn’t. Those were fun because I enjoy traumatizing my characters as much as I do my readers.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

The funny thing is, once I finish writing a book, it goes on a dusty shelf in the back of my brain, and I have very little recollection of the process of writing it. It’s probably a trauma response. The one part of the writing process that I recall vividly I can’t share because it involved prep for a colonoscopy.

What’s next for you?

I’m working on a secret project that will be announced soon that I think my readers will lose their minds over. Or I will. Coin toss.

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?

I LOVED All Fours by Miranda July because it was unique, subversive, and brilliantly written. I’m also loving Wisdom Takes Work by Ryan Holiday, one of my favorite non-fiction writers. I’m looking forward to Huntsman by Naima Simone and the new Ian McEwan, What We Can Know.

Will you be picking up Blackthorn? Tell us in the comments below!