Interviews/Jina Bacarr

This is a navigation hub for official and fan-run interviews for Jina Bacarr.

## Fan-run

There was only one episode with Astral so we will hear from storywriter Jina Bacarr. She also wrote another favorite, "Roxy Rumbles".

**1. Could you please introduce yourself including a brief career history?**

I'm Jina Bacarr and I wrote two episodes of JEM: "Roxy Rumbles" and "That Old Houdini Magic." I love to travel, indulge in dark chocolate truffles and spend rainy days in museums.
My interest in travel has led my career down an interesting path. I've written novels set in several foreign locales, including the RIO Award-Winning erotic novel, The Blonde Geisha, as well as the award-winning non-fiction book, The Japanese Art of Sex.
Along the way, I worked as the Japanese consultant on KCBS-TV, MSNBC, TechTV's Wired for Sex, Canada's The Pleasure Zone, British Sky Broadcasting's Saucy TV, La Biennale Arts Festival in Venice, Italy, Men's Health Guide to the Best Sex in the World, Passport to Pleasure, The Vision Board and 69 Sexy Things 2 Do Before You Die for Playboy TV.
I also wrote Naughty Paris, Tokyo Rendezvous (Naughty Bits anthology), Spies, Lies & Naked Thighs and Cleopatra's Perfume (nominated for 2009 Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award in Erotica Fiction). My latest novel is The Blonde Samurai, a Top Pick! 4 ½ star review from Romantic Times and a Fresh Pick from FreshFiction.com
**2. Would you mind telling us how you got involved in writing the two Jem stories?**

I had written a lot of animation and daytime TV scripts before JEM and when Christy Marx, the story editor for JEM, was looking for writers, she asked me for ideas.
**3. Both of your stories were in season 3. What were you doing during seasons 1 and 2 (1985 - 1986)?**

I was writing for other animation shows (M.A.S.K., Bionic Six, Popples, etc.) and Zoobilee Zoo (live action kids' show) along with daytime TV and cable and a column for MicroTimes.
**4. The first story, “Roxy Rumbles”, focused on Roxy learning to read. Were you asked to write a public service story about literacy?**

I don't believe the writers were asked to write certain stories. I'd always love reading comics as a kid and couldn't imagine not knowing how to read. I wondered what that would be like for a teen like Roxy who was in the spotlight.
**5. Why did you choose Roxy of all the Misfits?**
Roxy seemed the most vulnerable to me, which made her interesting as well as good story material. Here was a talented teen who couldn't read--how would she handle it?

**6. Your second, “That Old Houdini Magic”, was the one and only episode that featured Astral. She was supposed to be a released doll before the toy line was discontinued. Did Hasbro simply ask you to write a story using this character?**

No. I welcomed the opportunity to develop her character.
**7. The Stingers were also relatively new as well. Was it your choice to use this band or were you instructed to use them?**

I believe the choice of music was left up to the producers of the show.
**8. If you were to have changed the band to the Misfits, would the story have been slightly different since none of them were the con artist that Rapture was?**

Yes. The best stories come out of character so the storyline would have reflected the character strengths and flaws as well the backstory of that character.
**9. Both stories seemed to focus primarily on one character, Roxy and Astral, instead of the band as a whole. Is this your general writing style?**
When you’re writing a script or book as part of a series, you want to involve the whole band in the story, but you want to give the audience someone to root for as well experience their journey to solve the story problem.

**10. If Jem continued onto a season 4, would you have continued to write stories for the series?**

Absolutely!! I loved the idea of teen fashionistas having their own band as well as getting to know the individual band members through their stories.
**11. Were you sad when told the series was at an end?**

Yes. Working on JEM was a rewarding experience, both professionally as well as working with Christy Marx.
**12. So how did you meet Christy Marx?**

During that time I was writing for different shows and I was excited to meet another woman writer who also wrote action adventure--a rare thing back then.
**13. What was the experience like working with her like when submitting a story?**

We talked on the phone a lot, setting up story ideas and going over backstory and the beats of the script. We'd meet for lunch and talk story as well.
**14. Did you ever get upset if any parts of your story got edited?**

As any writer will tell you, writing is re-writing. Whether you edit it yourself or the story editor or producer makes the changes, it improves the script. Every writer needs a good editor. I was lucky to have Christy.
**15. What are you writing now?**

My latest Spice novel (erotic romance) "The Blonde Samurai" was released in February; [deadlink]
I also wrote a blog about Japan and Victorian England called "A Naughty Victorian Lady tells all…" [deadlink]
You can also keep up with news at my personal blog: [deadlink] and my website: [deadlink]
**16. Would you say your Jem episodes influenced your writing?**

Everything you write has an impact on what you write in the future. Each story or script teaches you something about craft or story or character along with the research you do to make the story come alive.
**17. Books are longer than 22 minute cartoon scripts. Would you think of this as a promotion or just a part of growing?**

A story is a story is a story…whether it's short or long; script or a novel.
**18. How do you come up with ideas on what to write?**

I have a passion for history, art, old ruins, vintage clothes, etc. so I've written books with a heroine who grew up in Japan in the late 19th century and became a geisha (The Blonde Geisha); a heroine who is an archaeologist then becomes involved in the world of espionage (Spies, Lies & Naked Thighs); a heroine who falls in love with a lost Impressionist in 1889 Paris (Naughty Paris); an American heiress who loves a samurai in 1874 Japan (The Blonde Samurai); and a cabaret dancer who travels to Egypt in 1939 and falls under the spell of Cleopatra's perfume.
**19. Is it all imagination or is some of it based on real life experiences?**

You never know where a story idea will come from--
For example, my love of all things Japanese. I studied the art of kimono with a sensei, teacher, whose family had been in the kimono-making business since before Perry's black ships sailed in Yokohama Harbor in the mid 19th century. I was the only Westerner in the class--it was a small group and I was also studying Japanese at the time so I was fully immersed in speaking the language.
Late one afternoon, we were having a kimono class and an American couple entered the shop, ringing the bell. The shop was closed but the front door was left unlocked so students could come and go. My teacher looked at me as if to say, "Tell them we're closed." I was so caught up in the moment I stumbled to find the words in English. I forgot that I was also gaijin or foreigner.
It was at that moment the seed for "The Blonde Geisha" was planted in my mind. I thought, what would it be like if an American girl who was raised in Japan became geisha at the end of the 19th century?
**20. What is it like working for/in a Sunbow studio with a writing team and writing on your own?**

Whether you're writing books (non-fiction or fiction) or scripts, you're part of a team. The actual writing in front of the computer is a solo act, but your agent, editor, producer, art director, studio, publisher are all part of the final product.
**21. If Jem made a return, be it movie or otherwise, would you write again if asked?**

Wouldn't that be fun? Especially with cell phones, iPads, computers, Facebook--yes, I'd love it!
**22. Could you please say something about the years of 1985-1987, the time of the Jem animated series, to where you are now?**

I was just getting started writing back then and was fortunate to get experience in the world of writing animation, documentary, cable and daytime TV.
Since then I’ve published several novels and nonfiction books (business books about working for the Japanese and “The Japanese Art of Sex.”) It’s been a winding road with many twists and turns, but a rewarding one.
**23. Would you like to sum up your positive experience with Sunbow, be it the staff or otherwise?**

I didn’t have any direct contact with Sunbow but the company always handled the contracts, etc. with expertise and in a timely manner.
**24. Please compliment Christy Marx.**

I worked primarily with Christy Marx, who was my contact with Sunbow. A lady with class, brains and a great sense of humor.
**25. Any final words to say to the Jem fans?**
Whatever your passion in life is, do it well. Learn your craft, don't be afraid to try new things and let your imagination soar. It's the magic that makes the elephant fly.

Thank you Jina for your time, wonderful interview, and cool pictures!
To read the follow-up for this interview please click here.