I was lucky to get an interview with J.E. Purrazzi, the author of Tawhiri, one of this year’s #SPFBO9 entries.

Please, tell us a bit about yourself…
As a third-culture kid, I grew up in the jungles and mountains of Papua New Guinea and spent my toddler years in the more typically “South Pacific Island” Sepik region. In the years since returning to the United States, it's been my great joy to work with children of all ages and from all manner of backgrounds. I’ve since moved to a nice, relaxing desk job in a mechanics shop full of boisterous, hilarious guys. Through it all, books have been my constant and my home. I always knew I would write one day. It just seemed like the logical next step.

Why should I buy your SPFBO9 entry?
I have described Tahwiri as Peter Pan meets Moana with a Gibli-esque pace. It won’t get your heart pumping, or work your brain too hard, which was perfect for me when I was struggling with depression and anxiety and trying to find my ‘spark’ again. That may not sound good to every reader, but if you are tired and hurting and just want to enjoy some escapism, it might be just what you need to kick off your summer. If that is not convincing, the setting might draw you in. I took most of my inspiration from my childhood home while mixing in various happy memories from Hawaii and New Zealand, and the Pacific Ocean which I loved so well.

What got you into writing? And how long have you been doing it?
As I indicated earlier, books have always been my home. I always knew I would publish a book one day. I wrote my first book when I was in elementary school, and several full novels in high school.

I started taking my writing seriously during a very dark time in my life. I needed to feel like I was creating something that would last, and something that mattered. It’s been six years of publishing and countless more of putting words on page… or scribbling them out in my head. Whatever was closer.

Have you participated in the SPFBO before and where did you hear about the competition?
This is my first year participating in SPFBO. I did enter in the 2021 and 2022 SPSFC contest, as my brand and content is largely focused on SF. I can’t remember where I first heard of the contest, but most of my familiarity with it comes from my close friendship with Janelle Philips, a judge with BookNest.

Why did you choose to write fantasy?
Is it cliche to say Lord of the Rings? Probably so, but it’s the truth. As a teen, I picked up the first Lord of the Rings book and fell absolutely in love. I always imagined my published books would be epic fantasy works full of magic, swords, and battles. While I will probably revisit some of these books in the future, and hopefully publish them, I found my tastes and my interest as an adult lend themselves better to Science Fiction.

Which other author has had the biggest influence on your writing?
Of course, as I mentioned Lord of the Rings, Tolkien is a given. To be honest, I am not entirely sure I could choose one author because I have read so broadly and have such diverse tastes.  I can usually choose one or two major inspirations in various projects, but I can’t say there is one particular author whose influence is in all my works.

If you were to win the SPFBO, what impact do you think this would have on your writing career?
I will be dead honest because I don’t know how else to be, I don’t expect to win. Tawhiri is a project that I have great love for, and I have been excited by how well it’s been received already, but it’s a simple, gentle, cozy book and not one to put up a fight. I have not read many other books in the running, but I am sure there are many that deserve a win more.

That being said, I’m not entirely sure winning would be the best thing for my career because I am primarily a Science Fiction writer and Tawhiri is super off-brand. While I do intend to publish more fantasy, I would hate to draw a large number of readers who expect epic fantasy from my brand, only to find my next several series are Cyberpunk and sf horror. While Sci-Fi readers tend to cross into fantasy, I find a lot of fantasy readers aren’t interested in Science Fiction.

That doesn’t mean its not of value for me to participate. What I am hoping for is for some great relationships. I would love for a few reviews to get Tawhiri kicked off, and some connections with fellow authors who are passionate about quality writing. Perhaps some opportunities for collaborations in marketing, anthologies, or other projects in the future. I would be honored to win but the biggest prize for me is the community I get to take part in. And of course,  for opportunities such as this.

What challenges did you face during the writing or publishing process, and how did you overcome them?
The Legend of Tawhiri was a mental health project for me. I was still grieving my Mom’s passing from breast cancer in 2019, and working through emotions of how to support my dad and teenage siblings as he grieved and later remarried. Meanwhile, my husband was disabled from a mental-health-related disease, and I lost my position as a nanny after seven years because I had to report the family for abusive behavior toward the children I had helped raised from infants and would never get to say goodbye to.

My own depression and anxiety were overwhelming and I needed escape.

Thankfully, I was able to find an incredible job during the final polish of this book, and my community supported me in ways I could never express. But for the longest time, Tawhiri was my only refuge in a time when everything else in my life was painful.  I think this is why, while it’s objectively not as good as my other publications, it’s a book with a very special place in my heart. It's a book about healing, beauty, and belonging and it doesn’t need to be anything else.

Do you have any tips or an author app, tool, or resource that you can really recommend we try?
So many! I once had an extensive web page dedicated to my recommendations and I miss it now. However, I will say that the most essential resource is the community. Your fellow authors are not your competition, they are your life-support. Your readers are your people, and they are the only people you need to worry about connecting with. There are a million resources all around the internet but the only one you can’t do without is community. Keep your ears open, and depend on your community, and you will find all you need.

And now it's time to yank out your Palantir! Let’s talk about the future. What new projects are you working on?
I am juggling multiple projects. My Gothic Horror standalone, Within, is currently in beta and I will be reworking it for another round before October. In the meantime, I am writing the first book of two Cyberpunk series and a secret project that will make some of my readers very happy.

Apps that are based on artificial intelligence (AI), such as ChatGTP and Midjourney, along with apps aimed specifically at authors, have caused quite a stir. Do you expect these new technologies will make your life as a self-published author easier or harder, and do you expect that they’ll mean you’ll earn more or less?
I will be honest, I am glad I am still working full-time during this transition. I do think there will be some major disruptions, and I really hope guidelines will be set out quickly to protect authors’ rights. I don’t feel like it’s possible for AI to replace authors and artists, though. There will be a while in which the market becomes more flooded with low-quality books than it already is. This will probably set the bar even higher for authors, and many will have to work much harder to stand out. Human-made work might become a bit of a luxury item. My hope is that it will be a good thing eventually, that will allow quality indies to be taken more seriously. But I do think it will be a difficult transition, and that finances will still be the largest hurdle for a lot of really good writers.

Do you have any dreams you’d like to share?
I will interpret this as being hopes for my future. I’ve just launched my developmental editing services, and I am hoping to partner with some great authors. I have loved working with other authors on creating their vision, and I hope to continue that. My ultimate goal is to be able to retire from the working world to work full time as a developmental editor, writer, and artist. I love to learn and I love to teach, and I don’t expect I will stop while I am able.

Anything else you would like to say before we close?
Of course!

For my fellow authors: best of luck, everyone. Thank you for the honor of being counted among you. I’m so proud of us.

And for readers out there, don’t let that “indie” category daunt you. Not only are indie books incredible books, indie authors are incredible people.

Thank you for some interesting answers, J.E. Purrazzi. I wish you the very best in the SPFBO. I hope a lot of readers discover your writing. Thanks for doing the interview!