An Interview with Jastrow Hill

Jastrow Hill is a retired attorney who spent thirty-four years in law enforcement and law. He has had an ongoing love affair with books since first grade. He currently buys and sells books, collects books, and writes books.

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

Before I write a story, I build it up in my head and then choose a title for it. I am currently writing my fifth manuscript which will be my second published book. I had the title ready before one finger hit the keyboard. The Paroxysm Deception did change somewhat during the editing process, so I am capable of changes!

How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?

When I come up with a title, I then envision the book cover. Once I have it, I loosely mock it up and place it next to my computer. I provided the mockup for this cover to Ronaldo Alves at Atmosphere Press and we talked about it for awhile. What he came up with was obviously much better than mine. It’s pretty wicked-looking! To me, covers sell books.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

My mom and dad were avid readers and encouraged me to read. When I was very young we played card games a lot. My mom used a deck that had the great authors on the back such as Longfellow, Wadsworth, etc. That had an impact on me since she was telegraphing that authors were important. Around the age of ten or twelve I would buy used magazines for five cents at a second hand store. For fifty cents, I was stocked up. I love books and masterful storytellers. I am astounded by Samuel Johnson’s writing and very entertained by Joaquin Miller to name a few.

I have done a lot of different things in my life, and writing a book was something I always wanted to do. Like most people, my pursuit of writing for me had to wait until after I was retired and not writing for others. The impetus for this book was using my experiences to provide a story that I hope is entertaining and possibly meaningful to the reader.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I worked at a grocery store in high school and enjoyed it immensely. It was my first respectable job where I was treated as a fellow employee. Good times. I have climbed many mountains, including four fourteeners.

What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

I think that it was the work that it took to pull such an endeavor off to completion and the excitement I received from friends and family.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

“School’s Out Forever” by Alice Cooper and” Sweet but Psycho” by Ava Max.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

I just want people to be entertained and to feel like they got their money’s worth. Would it be nice to have awards and a large reading audience? Yes, but I write for art and storytelling and entertainment.

What new writing projects are you currently working on? Or, other projects that are not writing?

I have a great whodunnit going. Its going to be very exciting.

How was working with Atmosphere Press? What would you tell other writers who want to publish?

Atmosphere Press backs up what they say. They are an amazing asset if you don’t want to query or you are getting turned down and don’t have the desire to go it alone. Hybrid publishing is the future. Atmosphere Press is at the front of the pack.

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.