A Conversation with Thriller Writer Jess C Scott

with Jess C Scott

We are delighted to welcome back thriller writer Jess C Scott to Omnimystery News.

Jess's first book in her "Wilde Twins" series is Playmates (jessINK; April 2014 trade paperback and ebook formats), a psychological thriller about an "evil twins" serial killing team — and their slow descent into amoral mayhem. She visited with us last week to give us a bit of backstory to the series, and we asked her if we could follow up with a few questions about it.

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Omnimystery News: Into what thriller subgenre would you place the Wilde Twins series?

Photo provided courtesy of
Jess C Scott

Jess C Scott: I would categorize them as psychological thrillers. There is probably a cross-over with elements of some other genres. When I was first starting out with indie publishing, I had a lot of trouble categorizing my books. Nowadays I am becoming more focused.

I decided to write in the psychological thriller genre since it brought together many themes and subjects I enjoy exploring (such as the darker side of human nature; crime; and realistic human relationships).

OMN: How would you tweet a summary of the series?

JCS: A psychological thriller about a brother sister serial killing team — and their slow descent into amoral mayhem.

OMN: How do you go about researching the plot points of your stories?

JCS: I usually fact-check in a number of ways, though what I tend to zero in on is an element from the collective unconscious. I have a deep interest in the psychological component of humanity. The subject matter is invigorating and fascinating.

With this project, the most exciting topic to research was the internal motivations and mindset of a potential serial killer. There are certain traits that seem to pop up in the personal histories and backgrounds of many real life serial killers, and these were incorporated into the book's characters.

OMN: What about setting? How important is it to the story?

JCS: Sometimes the setting is an entirely fictitious place. If I make references to a real place, then I stay true to the geography and local environment in terms of description. External setting is never the number one priority in my books (not for now, at least), as I am much more concerned with developing realistic characters to keep the plot going.

OMN: If you could travel anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, to research a setting for a book, where would it be?

JCS: It would be to any exotic location with a rich, cultural heritage. That combination of unfamiliarity and depth is very enticing and inspiring! The more mystique there is in the locale, the better.

OMN: Tell us a little more about the series' titles and covers.

JCS: I had the structure set up in my mind from the beginning that the series would be divided into three books: Playmates, Bedmates, and Soulmates. Each segment follows the evil twins throughout childhood, teenage years, and early adulthood.

I wanted the book cover of Playmates to convey an eerie mood with an emphasis on the close bond between the characters as young kids. The title was a bit tongue-in-cheek too, since it hints at one of the themes in the second installment.

OMN: Complete this sentence for us: "I am a crime novelist and thus I am also …".

JCS: … a keen observer of human nature and human behavior. You leave no stone unturned in the search for what lies beneath the surface or beyond the obvious. (Yes — I am quite, quite serious when pondering such matters …)

OMN: Give us a Top 5 list on any subject.

JCS: Top 5 Songs for a quick energy boost:

"I Want to Break Free" by Queen;
"Turbo Lover" by Judas Priest;
"Kinda I Want To" by NiN;
"All Apologies" by Nirvana; and
"Honey" by Moby.

OMN: What's next for you?

JCS: My approach has always been to take whatever life throws at me next. I'll be having a busy summer this year on the whole — no complaints!

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Jess C Scott writes psychological thrillers and blogs about Singapore's political history. Jess is also the founder of jessINK, a publishing company dedicated towards creating "meaningful entertainment."

For more information about the author, please visit her website at jessINK.com or find her on Facebook and Twitter.

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Playmates
Jess C Scott
The Wilde Twins Series

As kids, Tania and Trevor's unsupervised play time offers a lifeline to sanity amidst the chaos of family dysfunction. When danger threatens Tania, Trevor isn't willing to stand by and watch his sister get hurt.

The instinct for survival is only rivaled by the killer instincts the Wilde siblings encourage in each other. Instincts that turn into a deadly game igniting their first taste for blood.