Interview with Jim Fraiser

Author of Shadow Seed and The French Quarter of New Orleans

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

From Greenwood MS now live in Pass Christian after a long residence in Jackson. Work as a federal judge in New Orleans

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

My children and I had wanted to live on the coast, and near New Orleans for years, but were stopped by Katrina. My career finally provided the opportunity in 2015.

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

My first novel, Shadow Seed, was nominated for best fiction 1997 by the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters. I had found my grandfather’s turn of the century diary, and wanted to contrast modern life with his time period, and also write a legal thriller.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

The novels are cross-genre thrillers with philosophical or literary underpinnings in the tradition of A Time to Kill and Thanatos Syndrome. The non-fiction is about the history, architecture and culture Of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

Lovers of history, architecture, the South, and those who enjoy fast paced fiction with snappy, believable dialogue. My work is for thinking readers.

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

What you thought you knew about history is mostly wrong or way incomplete; and that publishers occasionally get it right.

If you could, what advice would you give to your past self before embarking on this journey?

Rewrite. Repeat more times than you think necessary.

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

Ideally, everyone. Realistically, 30,000 would suit me.

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

I wish I had enjoyed the luxury of writing full time, but I had to also be a lawyer, judge, journalist, professional actor, law school and college professor. And (most importantly) a full time dad of three. Sigh.

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

Writing dialogue for fiction and readable prose for nonfiction. I was a great quarterback for publishing books like The French Quarter of New Orleans by envisioning the project. Selecting the subjects and homes to include, and managing the photographer. I helped out with the marketing with my contacts in the press by getting many reviews and helpful feature stories. But I had great publishers and editors to work with!

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

Writing description. Difficult task. My editors had no problems with my support and getting the work done in a timely fashion, so none there. Ditto marketing. I loved working with publishers and they were all very helpful to me.

When do you think you will write your next book?

Am writing one now and sent the manuscript off to three publishers who have not rejected it yet! In An Enemy’s Country, a political thriller set in modern day Jackson, New Orleans in 1814-15, and Paris in 1783, about a realistic family dealing with domestic terrorism and a looming COVID

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

Self published 3, 4 hybrids, and 10 published traditionally.