Meet author Jo Salazar
- Kara M. Zone
- Feb 22
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 22
Jo Salazar grew up in the river bottoms of west-central Illinois. Today, she lives in Chicago with her husband, Uli, and their dog, Data.
Her fascination with zombies started when she watched Night of the Living Dead at a friend’s house as a little girl and refused to sleep alone for weeks.
Website: www.josalazarwriting.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_jo_salazar_/
What’s your favorite genre?
I’m sure it’s no surprise, but my favorite genre is zombie apocalypse. There’s no question about it. I love an end-of-the-world scenario and all the survival tactics that go with it. Adding zombies to the mix creates a layer of complexity and horror that engages me.
The zombie apocalypse genre is such a cool way to observe human behavior and group dynamics, and I love to imagine what I would do, where I would go, and how I would survive. Give me zombies over romance and fantasy any day!
Did you want to be anything besides a writer when you were a kid?
I always loved writing as a little kid but never thought of it as a career. I didn’t have the best teachers in high school, so writing wasn’t nurtured. When I was 19, I decided to become a social worker.
After college, I worked in a residential treatment center for adolescents, similar to the one featured in The Dead Weight. Later, I worked as a school-based therapist. I’m still a licensed clinical social worker, but I work in healthcare leadership now and spend my early mornings and weekends writing. My career has inspired me to write.
Was there ever a name you wanted to use for a character that didn’t fit their personality, so you had to change it?
I don’t think I’ve ever shared this publicly, but Quinn wasn’t always going to be named Quinn! I changed her name in the final draft just before the manuscript went to the proofreader.
Quinn was originally Cameron, my nephew’s name. I thought it would be fun to give him a little shout-out, but as I got closer and closer to publication, I decided not to attach his name to a teenage psychopath. He’s a good kid.
What is the loftiest goal you’d like to reach as a writer?
This is a lofty goal, especially for a debut indie author, but I want to see The Dead Weight become a movie. I dream about it. I imagine the soundtrack, picture the actors, and envision the scenes. I’d die if it happened! It would be especially fun to shoot as a movie because all the locations I mentioned in the book exist in real life, in little towns along the Illinois River.
The campsite, the river, the boatel, the farm, and the floating casino are all real places. I created a mini-documentary about each location and explained why I included it in the story.
You can find it on my website: www.josalazarwriting.com.
What helpful tips would you give a fellow writer having difficulty plotting, developing, etc.?
I know it sounds obvious, but keep writing. Just because it isn’t good now doesn’t mean it won’t be good someday. Just because you’re in a plot hole doesn’t mean you can’t climb out of it. Just because you’re out of ideas doesn’t mean you will be forever. You have to trust yourself.
When I started The Dead Weight, I had no idea what the hook would be and how it would end. I rewrote it half a dozen times until I felt I had something worth reading. I’m so glad I didn’t give up—and you shouldn’t give up either.
The world needs your story.
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Do you have a question you'd like to ask Jo Salazar? Leave a comment below, and I'll make sure it gets to her!
Want to learn more about LCB?
Visit her today:
Website: www.josalazarwriting.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_jo_salazar_/
Buy her books: tinyurl.com/thedeadweight
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Looking forward to hearing from you soon!
All the best,
Kara
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