What are the most challenging and the most rewarding aspects of writing?
The most challenging part of writing is keeping up the momentum. Sometimes, I look at what I’ve written during the day, and find that I haven’t even reached a thousand words. Also, when I’m nearing the end of the story, I just have to let the word count drift. It’s no use writing superfluous words. I just have to accept that the manuscript will be shorter than anticipated.
The most rewarding part of writing is getting that cover. The book instantly comes alive. My recent cover for ‘Lessons in Love’ just came through a few days ago. The heroine and hero are just as I imagined. Jinger Heaston the cover artist has done a wonderful job.
What is your newest release (or coming soon) all about? What inspired it?
‘Lessons in Love’ is due to be released on the 16th February, from Siren-Bookstrand.
Here’s the blurb:
English beauty Eva St. John is flown to Texas to shadow rugged billionaire oilman Jack McClaine, for the magazine article she is writing.
He has a reputation as a fast living, womanising rogue, who has quite literally come from the wrong side of the tracks. A self-made man who always gets what he wants.
Still nurturing a broken heart and a secret past she left behind her long ago, Eva intends to remain professional at all times. But will she be able to resist the inevitable sexual advances of the predatory Texan Jack McClaine? And will she really want to?
As a rule Jack McClaine never mixes business with pleasure, but for the beautiful and intriguing Eva St. John he will make an exception. Who is she really, and what is she running from?
I was inspired to write ‘Lessons in Love’ when I thought of all the people in the world who just didn’t get a good start in life. Would they eventually find love? And if they’d never been loved as a child, would they even know how to love?
What are your top 3 favorite paranormal books and movies?
I am a big fan of paranormal romance and urban fantasy. My favourite books are -
The Mane Event by Shelly Laurenston
Night Play (Dark Hunter book 6) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Dragon Actually by G. A. Aiken
My favourite movies are:
Twilight
White Noise
The Sixth Sense
What character (s) in any of your books is most like you?
Marielle, the heroine in ‘The Return’. I’m afraid one can’t help writing certain aspects of our characters. When I re-read it I can see certain aspects of myself in her character.
What is the most ridiculous thing that you have thought about doing to any of your characters but never did?
I was going to have Robert Tremayne the hero in ‘The Return’, jump off a cliff on Madeira. It’s called base jumping, and takes a lot of nerve. Of course the hero would have had a parachute. Marielle would have been left watching him descend the tallest cliff in Europe, wondering if he would make it.
Thankfully, I left that out. I found other ways to portray his bravery.
How do you keep track of your world building?
I have a storyboard approach, and write a specific number of words for each chapter. That way I know I will be near my word count goal.
What do you feel are the benefits of the new electronic readers such as Kindle 2 or Sony Digital Book Reader to the environment?
They’re very practical. They’ll hold a whole bookshelf. All that paper saved on printing, has to be environmentally friendly.
I think, the younger generation will embrace them far easier than older people. I know people who’ve received them for Christmas last year. Now they couldn’t do without them.
Now, that’s exactly how I feel about the internet. The internet has only really been around for the last ten years, yet I know I couldn’t do without it. I’m sure electronic readers will be the same.
What impact do electronic readers create on the bottom line for authors in the end? Do you feel they have a negative impact or positive, or no impact at all that you can see?
Electronic readers have had a massive impact on authors. It’s opened up a huge market that wasn’t there before. All the small epublishers have sprung up because of it. Ebooks will probably outstrip paper books soon. I know this happened recently at Amazon over the Christmas period.
Overall ebooks must have a positive effect on authors. They have to be good news.
Which authors works do you enjoy reading and do you have any other authors that you bounce ideas of?
I’ve always been impressed with Patricia Cornwell, and her Dr Kay Scarpetta novels.
At Siren-Bookstrand we have a particularly helpful group of authors. We ask each other questions all the time. There are plenty of groups on the internet too to join, where help can be sought.
Where do you see the paranormal/urban fantasy genre headed? Can you see it slowing down in the near future, or do you think that the immediate future is pretty bright for it?
I think the paranormal/urban fantasy genre is there to stay, and can only get stronger. People will always have an appetite for the ultimate fantasy I guess.
Where can readers find you on the web?
My website:
www.janbowles.com
And my Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/#/profile.php?ref=profile&id=100000172675945
Sneak Peek Excerpt of Lessons in Love:
“Just what is going on, Mr. McClaine?” Eva folded her arms across her chest, her mouth compressed with indignation, as she waited for his answer. Her gaze was drawn inexorably to his, and like a laser it burned into her. Then as a smile spread from his eyes down to the deep dimples at the side of his mouth, she felt the breath escape from her lips in a silent gasp. Why did he have to be so damned attractive? She had to fight the sudden urge to push the stray hair back that had fallen forward across his forehead.
“Mr. McClaine, are you going to answer my question?”
“Hold on now, darlin’, I thought we were on first-name terms already.” He smiled at her in amusement.
“No, we’re not.” She slumped into her chair and glared up at him. “Andrew Jameson could shadow you for a month. Why do you want me? I won’t be a pushover, you know. I’ll certainly write exactly what I think.”
He smiled easily and twisted around to meet her frosty gaze. “Now, why would I want Andrew Jameson to shadow me for a whole month? Live in my home. Share my food. Share my life. Why would I want him when I’d be much happier with you?”
Eva picked up a pen and pointed it at him. “You, Mr. McClaine, have a reputation. If you are expecting anything but a working relationship, then you are mistaken.”
“Well, that’s settled then, honey.”
She looked up watching the amusement play around his eyes. The creases channelled down to his mouth. “Don’t look so smug, Mr. McClaine. You may regret your decision to invite New Dawn magazine into your home. You may not like what I write. Be careful what you wish for, Mr. McClaine.”
“Darlin’, I’ve never regretted anything in my life.”
“I told you once before, Mr. McClaine, I’m not your honey, and I’m telling you now, I’m not your darling either.”
He laughed. “Eva, it’s just a figure of speech. It don’t mean anything.”
That afternoon a huge row developed with her boss, Simon Jessop, but he wouldn’t back down. If she pulled this off, he’d give her a raise. Even more than that, he’d give her a promotion. She wanted to know why he thought Jack McClaine specifically asked for her to do the article. His thoughts exactly mirrored her own. He had lifted his hands in the air, an expression of helplessness on his face, and said, “You’re a big girl, Eva. I’m sure you can handle yourself, and Jack McClaine.”
Well, thanks!
Eva felt like a dish served up specifically for Jack McClaine’s pleasure. What’s more, her boss had handed her over on a solid silver platter.
“Mr. McClaine, are you going to answer my question?”
“Hold on now, darlin’, I thought we were on first-name terms already.” He smiled at her in amusement.
“No, we’re not.” She slumped into her chair and glared up at him. “Andrew Jameson could shadow you for a month. Why do you want me? I won’t be a pushover, you know. I’ll certainly write exactly what I think.”
He smiled easily and twisted around to meet her frosty gaze. “Now, why would I want Andrew Jameson to shadow me for a whole month? Live in my home. Share my food. Share my life. Why would I want him when I’d be much happier with you?”
Eva picked up a pen and pointed it at him. “You, Mr. McClaine, have a reputation. If you are expecting anything but a working relationship, then you are mistaken.”
“Well, that’s settled then, honey.”
She looked up watching the amusement play around his eyes. The creases channelled down to his mouth. “Don’t look so smug, Mr. McClaine. You may regret your decision to invite New Dawn magazine into your home. You may not like what I write. Be careful what you wish for, Mr. McClaine.”
“Darlin’, I’ve never regretted anything in my life.”
“I told you once before, Mr. McClaine, I’m not your honey, and I’m telling you now, I’m not your darling either.”
He laughed. “Eva, it’s just a figure of speech. It don’t mean anything.”
That afternoon a huge row developed with her boss, Simon Jessop, but he wouldn’t back down. If she pulled this off, he’d give her a raise. Even more than that, he’d give her a promotion. She wanted to know why he thought Jack McClaine specifically asked for her to do the article. His thoughts exactly mirrored her own. He had lifted his hands in the air, an expression of helplessness on his face, and said, “You’re a big girl, Eva. I’m sure you can handle yourself, and Jack McClaine.”
Well, thanks!
Eva felt like a dish served up specifically for Jack McClaine’s pleasure. What’s more, her boss had handed her over on a solid silver platter.
You can find out more about ‘Lessons in Love’ at my website
www.janbowles.com Due for release on 2/16/10.
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