Jackson Pearce: The Famous Author Interview

Greta: Today, we have a famous author floating around the Wastelands! Can you smell her?!! She smells so clean, new, and shiny!

Darkfallen: Dude! Quit smelling her. It's probably wigging her out.

Greta: Oh right.... Sorry 'bout that.

Paranormal Wastelands is proud to present: An interview with Jackson Pearce. Famous author of Sister's Red and Sweetly.




Darkfallen: Hi Jackson!! Welcome to the Wastelands! Take a seat. Greta! Chop chop with the hor' dourves.

Greta: We're out of candy.
Darkfallen: Seriously, we don't have any leftover from Zompacolypse?
Greta: You made me throw it all out after Thanksgiving.
Darkfallen: Oh right.... Well, sorry, you'll just have to feast off our filling questions.

In "Sisters Red" the cat's anem is Screwtape. Screwtape? How did you come up with such a name? Did they like lose a bet when they named that cat? Did it almost get named Hammertapemeasure or something? I mean... what's a screwtape?
Screwtape is named after the CS Lewis book THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS. :)

Darkfallen: Oh, well we aren't that smart. So, Greta, what would you have named him?
Greta: Mr. Cuddles
Darkfallen: Uhhh.... that doesn't sound appropriate
Greta: Oh yeah, and what would you have named him?
Darkfallen: Overlord Snickerdoodle




We absolutely LOVE the idea of using THE FENRIS!! As an avid lover of Red Riding Hood retellings I thought that was most awesome. What made you decide to put THE FENRIS into Sister's Red and why NAME the werewolves that and not just one main wolf?
The Fenris/Fenrir is a Norse wolf monster. I liked the idea of mixing mythology and fairy tales together, since they're sort of like cousins anyhow. I also liked the idea of using an old monster. I'm not the only one that thought it was a good idea, I've realized-- in the Harry Potter series, the Death Eater werewolf is named Fenrir Greyback!

Greta: WOAH! I did not know that about Harry Plopper!
Darkfallen: You mean Spider Pig.
Greta: Oh yeah... SPider Pig

We really wanted to get into the head of A FENRIS. Any plans on doing something like that? Maybe a PETER AND THE WOLF book or something like that?
Probably not. The underlying theme of the series is that humans, by nature are not evil-- they just have evil thrust upon them. My monsters are soulless-- there's nothing but darkness in their heads.

Greta: Kind of like yours, Darkfallen.
Darkfallen: Why thank you... wait... did you just call me stupid?



Scarlett was the urban fantasy badass in my opinion. I was on Team Rosie and Darkfallen was on Team Scarlett. I really liked how she was missing an eye and was bitter because you know...the dang Fenris made her a pirate... but was it your intention to kinda make her like the YA version of the UF type of chicky? Like, I see her getting older, dressing in leather, and going around smacking things with her sword like the adult UF girlies do. Is that her future?
To be honest, I'm not sure what Scarlett's future is. People often ask me-- does she find love, does she stop hunting...but the truth is, Scarlett is fighting for a world without werewolves, which would be a world with no place for her. I'm sure she'll fight to the bitter end, but I'm not sure what that end will be-- or if she'll be wearing leather. :)

Darkfallen: Sigh
Greta: OMG! Quit crushing on her!
Darkfallen: She's just so awesome
Greta: Yeah, I'll say. You freaking wallpapered the walls of the Wastelands with her picture. Where did you find those anyways?
Darkfallen: Oh, I hired an artist.
Greta: With what money?
Darkfallen: Oh just some that I found lying around in a green wallet
Greta: Damn it! That was mine!
Darkfallen: Oops, my bad.





We totally dug how Silas was 20 something and Rosie was 16. We were like "YES!" but we've been told that we're odd. Did you get any guff about that? Silas being an adult and Rosie being a minor?
I get all sorts of guff about that-- mostly from adults. I want to remind them that at 16, they wouldn't have been too concerned if their kind, handsome, awesome boyfriend was 20. :)

Darkfallen and Greta: Fo shizzle!


Darkfallen: So, Jackson, like Greta said, me and her were torn in half over Rosie & Scarlett.

Greta: What the hell? What do you mean like 'I' said? I changed that question to make it look like we both asked that.

Darkfallen: Why did you do that?

Greta: To make it seem more you know.... uhhhh.... Team Us.

Darkfallen: Oh well... sit over there and shut-up while I ask this. As I was saying....
While Greta was lost in swoon-town with Rosie & Silas; I was on the brink of tears over Scarlett. I mean the one thing she despises more than anything is the soulless Fenris, only if you think about she is soulless now. The Fenris stole her soul the day they took everything else. Was that your intent? To split the readers down the middle? And, speaking in code so we don't spoil anything, the ending! Bittersweet work of art. I think that was the part when my heart officially split in two separate halves. Was that your goal?
Scarlett has definitely sacrificed a huge part of her life/heart/soul to hunting the Fenris-- but I wouldn't say the Fenris stole that from her. I think she gave it up willingly to hunt them down. I didn't necessarily have a goal in mind as far as the readers go though-- my goal was to create a character who was deep, conflicted, and perhaps a little dark herself.

Greta: Fine then! I'm going to ask my own personal question. So naaaaaa.

Darkfallen: What does Naaaa mean?

Greta: It's me sticking my tongue out and Naaaaa'ing at you.

Darkfallen: Is that how you spell it?

Greta: I don't know.

Darkfallen: I don't think it's spelled right.

Greta: Well, how would you go about spelling it?

Darkfallen: Not like that. That looks like a dog tried to write.

Greta: Dude! Shush!
Anyways, this question is about Sweetly. First off.... as a Greta I am really really picky about Hansel and Gretel stories. And I super loved that you did it in a good way. No fat German kids pigging out on sundaes like in Bugs Bunny, but 2 teens that got tossed out because of Daddy dying and Step Mommy saying "toodles". Most awesome! But what got me was how you changed the names to ANSEL and GRETCHEN. Gretchen?!!! Did you ever consider the name, GRETA? Gretas of the world want to know ;)

Darkfallen: Sorry Jackson, she has an obsession with her name. *Darkfallen rolls eyes*
Jackson: Haha, nope, it was always Gretchen!

GRETA: What?!! I'm crushed!
Darkfallen: I'm sure you'll live
Greta: No way! I'm devastated.
Darkfallen: And you'll live.
Greta: No I won't! I demand retribution.
Darkfallen: Do you even know what that word means?
Greta: Not really
Darkfallen: You're so lame, you know that?




So, like are the Fenris kind of like a zombie plague? We ask this because Sister's Red takes place in Georgia while Sweetly takes place in South Carolina. Are we doomed to howl at the moon? (not that that's a bad thing)
Nope, the Fenris are everywhere-- but just like any large predator, they do better in areas where they can stay hidden one way or another. Cities and rural areas provide that-- suburbia, it so much.

Darkfallen: Did you hear that?
Greta: Hear what?
Darkfallen: What sound... it sounded like something scratching at the door.
Greta: Do you think it's a....
Darkfallen: I don't know. Go check it out.
Greta: Are you insane! You go check it out.
Darkfallen: Ok.. Ok... Tell you what, let's go together....

*Darkfallen takes a few steps then walks back to the couch leaving Greta to fend for herself and the possible door monster.



Darkfallen: I heard that you learned how to make chocolate before writing this. Did you have any cavities during the making of this novel?
Ugh, I always have cavities. I brush my teeth, but I've got a million!

Darkfallen: Wow! That sounds like Greta's mouth. Hey Greta! You hear that! Your teeth suck!

Greta: *shouting* What? Hey! Where are you?
Darkfallen: Nevermind that... go see what was at the door.



Darkfallen: Greta believes that retelling of fairytales is the next zombie vampire. Do you have any advice out there for the struggling author that is writing their own retelling? Or, you know, how to get an agent to read more than the first 10 pages? lolz
My advice is to read as many different versions of the fairy tale you can find-- and to experiment with different ways of changing the story. Don't be afraid to leave things out or add your own spin; the original fairy tales are your base, not your bible. :)

Darkfallen: YOu hear that Greta!?!
Greta: What?
Darkfallen: Jackson just gave you some useful information.
Greta: What?!!
Darkfallen: Are you done with shooing away with what ever is at our door?
Greta: What?!!..... Ahhhh!!..... What the hell is this thing? Oh snikeys!! Look at it's teeth it's. .....


Darkfallen: Hmmm.... I should probably be concerned but ummm... I'm sure she can handle herself. Thank you Jackson for stopping by the Wastelands. It's been most awesome and I'm sure Greta will have the door cleared of any kind of door monster before you get the coat. We totally love your books. Are are truly a fabu author and we can't wait for more. So tell me... What's next? We know that Fathomless is the title of your next project and from the Goodreads page it says it is going to be the retelling of The Little Mermaid.

*Greta walks with her clothes torn to shreds.

Darkfallen: Hey, Look what the cat drug in!
Greta: That was NOT a cat!!
Darkfallen: So, I'm wrapping things up here.
Greta: What?!! Without me?!!
Darkfallen: You took to damn long.
Greta: But....
Darkfallen: Ok fine, you big baby... you can ask the last question.
Greta: About "Fathomless"
Darkfallen: YUP!

Greta: Ok then, just so you know I'm super excited to see how you modernize this... but am very curious... will we see a seashell bra in this?
No seashell bras! In fact, no clothes at all...hm...

Greta: No way!! Do you think it will get made into a porn?
Darkfallen: You see the things I have to put up with?

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY THE WASTELANDS, JACKSON!!!!!

Sisters Red (Fairytale Retellings #1)

Title: Sisters Red
Author: Jackson Pearce
Published: 2010
Synopsis from Goodreads

Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris--the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.
Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts ferociously alongside her. But even as more girls' bodies pile up in the city and the Fenris seem to be gaining power, Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves. She finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax and Scarlett's only friend--but does loving him mean betraying her sister and all that they've worked for?




In the Beginning there was a Greta Squee
Zo-my-Gawwwwwwww!!

Lions and Tigers and NO!!!

Hi ho, Hi ho, it's off to .... NO!!

Lions and Tigers and... WHere the hell are you getting that from?

Oh right?!!

I've seen the werewolves of LONDON! I've seen....

NOES!!

STOP IT!!

Are you ready to behave now?
Ummm.... wait... I think I'm talking to myself again....

BUT!!

Zo-MA-GAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!

This book was absolutelyfreakingtasticaloverdatopplesfullofmostawesomepossom stuff!!

SUPER LOVES!!!

SUPER DUPER LOVES!!

So, we know the story of Red RIding Hood, right?

Little underage girl goes out into the woods and gets perved on by a big bad wolf then winds up at Granny's where the wolf eats her, pervs more on Little Red, then gets murdered and a live grandma pops out of her belly.

Or in other stories, Little Red has to eat Grandma.

And then there's other ones where the wolf abuses Little Red.

But this is a different kind of retelling of LIttle Red Riding Hood.

AT first I thought this was a retelling of SNOW WHITE and ROSE RED.

It would work because the book is called SISTERS RED. BUT... they're last name isn't RED. It's MARCH.


A Darfallen Review
Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris--the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.
Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts ferociously alongside her. But even as more girls' bodies pile up in the city and the Fenris seem to be gaining power, Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves. She finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax and Scarlett's only friend--but does loving him mean betraying her sister and all that they've worked for?

I need to start by saying that this book was AMAZING!! No really it was. It was a read that no matter how much it ripped my heart open I couldn't put it down. But Jackson Pearce has that effect on people. Her writing is like an uncontrollable magnetism. I force to devour it in one sitting that is so strong you forget what sleep is, or why you need it, because as long as there is more words on the pages to read sleep is not a necessity.

Sister's Red is a re-telling of Red Riding Hood but in a completely unique way. While I love how Pearce slipped in some of the old lore the best part is her ability to twist Red Riding Hood into something different, something better even. In Sister's Red you have two sister. Two little girls that had childhood fantasies of dolls & unicorns riped away by man eating wolves. By the Fenris. And just like Plato said once you have left the darkness and seen the light you can never go back. Scarlett and Rosie were forced from that dark cave that day. The day they lost their grandmother. The day they watched a man transform into a beast.

This story comes from both Scarlett's and Rosie's POV which I think was completely necessary so that you could see just what it was like for both of them. Scarlett if the older sister. She saved herself and Rosie from joining their grandmother's fate that day, but it cost her so very VERY much. While Rosie is still beautiful, and sweet; Scarlett is scarred up from her battle with the beast. And the physical scars have nothing on the emotional damage. They stole her life that day even though she lived. And for me Scarlett won my heart so this review is going to be more about her I'm afraid.

It's not the way I wanted it to go...

I wanted her to find love...

Love for something more than just the hunt. For her to know the feel of electric heat that races through you body at the slightest of touch from that love. A love doesn't stem from hatred and therefore isn't tainted by it. Even thought everyone told me it wouldn't happen. Rosie told me. Silas to me. Even Scarlett told me. I couldn't help but wish for it anyways. And that is what tells you this a great book. Because it has the ability to make you care enough to want something. Even the wolves told me with their sickening laughs and devouring smiles of pleasure, that Scarlett would never have a HAE. They stole it from her over and over again. It started with a salesman, a grandmother, and an eye...and they will keep stealing it away until the day she dies. Because while the wolves forced Scarlett out of the darkness of the cave, into the light, that light has trapped her into in even worse darkness. One that she CAN'T be pulled from. There is no light to find here. And for that I want to kill every last one of them. I want to join her in the light of internal darkness until I can find a way to pull her out. Because I get it. Because I know what it feels like to know something you shouldn't know. And once you know it you can't unknow it, and to do nothing would be unfair. You feel a need to protect others from loosing their innocence. In this case it's the Dragonfly girls, and losing their innocence would mean losing their life.

See what I mean? This books makes you FEEL! The kind of book that will make you cry in your sleep both from nightmares of monsters that take girls leave nothing behind but bloody elbow reminders AND from shear heartache.

Yes Scarlett is your typical Bad-ass chic that takes on the paranormal bad guys. But she is more then that. There is a constant hum of pain that stays just below the surface. An unstoppable torment that never goes away. What the fernis did to her stole her soul, her heart. And reading it broke mine.

I also really loved Silas & Rosie. I don't think that Silas ends up with the right person, but after reading the whole book I get it...I think. Or at least I'm trying to. Overall this was a great book. It could easily be made into a series, even thought I know that it is not, but I would love to see more books about Silas, Rosie, & Scarlett. And the ending?

This has one of those endings that leaves your heart torn in two. Equal parts happy and sad....but none the less beautifully broken...


Super Awesome Greta tips about Fenris
This is probably one of the most original RED RIDING HOOD RETELLINGS that I have ever read. And I've read quite a few in the last year since I've become super obsessed with the story.

I also adore the idea of the fenris.
Fenris is actually like the man-made wolf son of Loki and is super awesome and from what I hear is the original wolf of the original RED RIDING HOOD. He's also the wolf that eats the sun.

Back in the Viking days the manly men got super scared during solar eclipses and thought that the wolf was eating the sun.

Super cool, right? Ok... I'm just a dork with those kinds of things ;)

Anyways... super loved every aspect of this book!!!

You should totally read it!!