Today I’m conducting a session with…Jeanne St. James!

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#WIN an ecopy of Daring Proposal by @JeanneStJames #AmWriting Click To Tweet

 

 

Me: What personality trait of yours helps you most as an author?

Jeanne: Being creative. I’ve been writing since I was thirteen. I’ve always been involved in the arts in one way or another. Plus I have an active imagination. I also played the piano and used to draw, paint, cross stitch, etc. Also, being driven. If I wasn’t driven, I would have given up on being an author. You have to have thick skin and be very dedicated to be successful. And even then it’s a crap shoot.

 

Me: Creative. Active imagination. Driven. Dedicated. All vital to being a writer.

What personality trait of yours hinders you most as an author?

Jeanne: Self-doubt. I think a lot of authors deal with it. You read another author’s book and if it blows you away, then you come back and look at your own work and wonder if it’s even good enough to send out into the world.

You have to have thick skin and be very dedicated to be successful. @JeanneStJames #AmWriting Click To Tweet

 

Me: So many of the authors on this couch struggle with self doubt–me included!

What was your high point as a writer?

Jeanne: I think it was when I got my first acceptance letter from a publisher back in 2009. And then my first book was published. I went on to publish three books from the end of 2009 into the beginning of 2010. Getting an acceptance letter is a good motivator to continue to write, especially back when self-publishing was unheard of.

 

Me: When someone wants to publish your books it’s such validation!
What was your low point as a writer—a time when you questioned your path?

Jeanne: I question myself as a writer whenever I come across a bad review. Even though I realize my writing style isn’t for everyone, you put so much of yourself into your writing, it still makes you think twice. To get over it, I realize for every bad review there are more good reviews!

Getting an acceptance letter is a good motivator to continue to write. @JeanneStJames #amwriting Click To Tweet

Me: I’ve heard many a person say reviews aren’t personal–don’t take them personal. But it is hard when every word, every sentence, every paragraph, every page is a part of you.
Which of your characters are you most like? Why?

Jeanne: 
I put a little bit of me in all of my heroines. They tend to pick up some of my personality and my sense of humor (I’m sarcastic and have a dry sense of humor). And I write characters who I’d want to hang out with in real life. I write Alpha males who I’d like to be with in real life.

 

Me: How did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Jeanne: When I read books that moved me. I read a lot when I was young (as we didn’t have cable TV or the Internet, all the technologies that we have today). The more I read, the more my own stories developed in my head. I was given a typewriter and I just started writing everything down.

 

Me: How many books have you written? How long does it typically take you to write a book? What’s the most painful part of the writing process for you?

Jeanne: I would have to guess around ten so far. I have written books in the past that will never be published (but they were a learning experience). I’ve had a total of six published with publishers. And I have another five or six scheduled to be self-published this year.

Now, it takes me about two months to write a 55k-65k word novel. But only because I try to stay on track and write an average of 1000 words per day. The most painful part is once I get the first edits back from the editor.

I realize for every bad review there are more good reviews! @JeanneStJames #amwriting Click To Tweet

Me: Tell me about your erotic contemporary romance, Daring Proposal (The Dare Ménage Series, Bk 2).

Jeanne:

Since losing her husband years ago in a tragic accident, Eve Sanders hasn’t dated. Her husband’s death proved life is short, so why waste time denying her unfulfilled desires. Eve desires two men, but not just any two. Both happen to be former Super Bowl champions and best friends.

When both men participate in a Celebrity Date Night charity event, Eve’s determined to not only be the winning bidder for the retired NFL quarterback Lawrence “Long Arm” Landis, but also Cole Dixon, his former Boston Bulldog’s teammate. However, Ren not only has a problem with another man dating the same woman, but he definitely isn’t planning on sharing her in the same bed. Even if it’s with his best friend.

Openly bi-sexual, Cole is sexually attracted to Ren and has secretly wanted him for years. He’s never acted upon it, assuming Ren wouldn’t want to be with another man. Eve’s daring proposal gives Cole hope his dream with Ren will come true.

Being with two men is one of Eve’s fantasies, but never in her life has she been so bold. Not only is she nervous about proposing something so daring to the two men, but will both be willing?

 

Me: Share with us a favorite paragraph or two from your newest release, Daring Proposal (The Dare Ménage Series, Bk 2).

Jeanne:

Eve fussed with the waffle iron before going back to whipping the batter. She heard nothing behind her. The silence grew. Eve turned her head to check on them—to make sure Ren wasn’t strangling the shit out of Cole.

     What she saw made her drop the whisk. It clattered onto the counter, the batter spattering all over the counter and floor, all over her.

     They were in each other’s arms, not strangling, but hugging. She wasn’t sure if it was a passionate hug or simply a “buddy” hug. But she’d take it either way.

     She could see Ren’s face from where she stood.

     A flash of heat, a flair of passion crossed Ren’s expression, filled his eyes. Something dark and forbidden. But as quickly as it came, it was hidden by his hooded gaze. Almost as if he had been surprised by his reaction and didn’t want either of them to know.

     Eve realized he wasn’t against this at all. But he was fighting his reaction; he didn’t want to seem eager.

     “I’m sorry, Dix. I never meant to hurt you,” Ren mumbled.

     “We’ve already had this discussion. You didn’t. Now kiss me and make it all better.”

     Ren snorted and pushed Cole away. He took his coffee over to the table and settled in one of the chairs. He gave Eve a look.

     “When are the waffles going to be ready?”

     Eve turned back to clean up the mess, smiling to herself.

This is a ménage story with two men who are retired NFL players/teammates and best friends (both Alpha males). One is openly bi-sexual (Cole), the other man is not (Ren). What I love about the above excerpt is this was the aftermath of a very intense sexual scene that took a lot out of Ren for admitting his attraction to Cole. Ren was no longer in denial and was starting to accept himself for who he was.

 

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Abbie Roads writes dark emotional novels featuring damaged characters, but always gives her hero and heroine a happy ending… after torturing them for three hundred pages. RACE THE DARKNESS and HUNT THE DAWN are available now! SAVING MERCY Book 1 in the Fatal Truth Series is now available for pre-order.

RACE THE DARKNESS

HUNT THE DAWN

SAVING MERCY

About the author: abbieroads