Tell us about you and your books
Are your
characters based on real people?
Sometimes. The good, the bad, and the ugly. AJ Sinclair in and her son (Will) and
husband from Will Rise from Ashes are based off my life. I wrote the first
draft as an outlet, to get it all out and “write what you know.” But then I
fictionalized the heck out of it and made it truly AJ’s (and not Jean’s) story.
Even so, I know her journey as a special needs parent, a woman with anxiety,
and a woman who has lost love ones all too well. I’ve also included snippets
from real life in all my books: complicated family dynamics, experiences and
trips, memories, and people who have impacted me in some way.
Do you research
your action/fight scenes? Yes! I love
researching as much as writing. It probably goes back to my science background.
I started writing in the historical romance genre so there is a lot of research
involved with that. I even watched YouTube videos on sword fighting. There are
a lot of fighting/battles in the historicals. But even for the action sequences
in my contemporary books, I’ve needed to do some research. In Soul of the
Storm, I consulted Vermont State Police and a canine search and rescue unit to
understand SAR procedures and rescues. Sometimes the contemporary research is
more demanding than the historical.
What was the
hardest book to finish and why?
Will Rise from Ashes, which is women’s fiction, was my hardest. Probably
because version 001 was just me getting feelings out on paper. It was my first
book in first person point of view, and my first contemporary novel. Eight
versions and three years later, it reached my editor’s desk greatly transformed
and loaded with invisible blood, sweat, and tears. A typical book takes me 6-12
months to write and revise before it’s ready to be seen by editors/publishers.
And then another year of editing to polish. This one took 3 years.
How much time do
you spend writing every day?
Hehe, a fun question with no answer. Anywhere from 0 to 8 hours, and everything
in between. Nooks and crannies all the way. I’m home full-time, but my kids are
still young, so if they are not in school, they are here. That includes
pandemics, sick days, snow days, summer, vacations…I juggle and I’m great at
tuning out when needed. I try to write more in the morning. Nowadays, weekends have
become writing time, along with some evenings. When in the throes of the creative
muse, I can write for several hours a day, every day, until it’s done. Since
the time my children were babies, I’ve adopted the nooks and crannies and
multi-tasking mentality. I try to not be hard on myself if I don’t hit a daily
goal. I look at the marathon over the sprint.
What are your
current projects? I just wrapped
up the final galleys and edits on my third historical romance (with a
paranormal angle) in my “hundred” trilogy, It’s called A Hundred Lies. I am
delighted (and a little sad) to bring this medieval series to a close. But it’s
bittersweet. It did not start as a trilogy. In fact, the first book is the
middle book! Then I wrote the prequel, and now sequel. Each can be standalones,
too. I start to wonder if I should write side stories about the secondary
characters…Up next though, another contemporary romance that’s been in the
works.
Do you have to
travel researching your book(s)?
I don’t have to travel to research, but if I can, I do. I love to travel. It’s
my middle name. Nature is my muse. I love hiking and exploring. I’ve been to
Scotland, Vermont, and Yellowstone National Park, all in the name of
research—and well, vacations. I went to New Zealand for my honeymoon. I visited
Guatemala on a mission trip (though I’ve yet to use that locale in a book). I
love the National Parks and the world around us—nature and history, art,
architecture. I visit museums, interview people, and do whatever I can to make
my stories authentic. I look forward to the next adventure, wherever it may be.
I live in New England, so I’ve also set books here, too.
And for something personal...
Has the dog ever
eaten your manuscript? No but a
cat typed on my computer and I missed a HUGE typo in the title of my science
thesis in graduate school (in the field of microbiology and immunology). That
error is forever branded on the hardcover book and on the title page.
Non-science people would not notice it, but I still do. Like, the TITLE. Not on
a page, but the printed title on a 300-page hardbound book. I must have edited
my thesis more times than I do a book manuscript (okay, maybe not that much,
but a lot) and I totally missed it. I blame the cat.
What makes you
cry? Too many things. I am a waterworks
gal over here. When my children struggle. When I experience grief and loss.
When I get frustrated or overwhelmed or feel unappreciated or unheard. When I
watch sappy movies.
What is your
favorite comfort food? Cheese, and
shape or form. Mild or strong. I love it all.
What is your
favorite time of year and why?
Summer! Though I used to love spring before I moved to New England. Our springs
are just an extension of a very long winter. I love summer because all my
gardens come into bloom. Flower gardening is an obsessive hobby for me. The
beauty of each and every flower brings me such joy. Lupine, phlox, day lilies, hydrangea,
peonies, irises, sage, catmint, daisies, black-eyed susans, petunias…so many!
And now I have raspberry bushes (oh, they rock!), blueberries, strawberries, apple
trees…and drum roll, my first year with a veggie garden. Wish me luck!
If you were
stranded on a desert island, what three things would be the most essential for
you? Aside from the usual food, water,
shelter, knife, and family: Lip balm, The Rock (Dwayne Johnson – just to help
us wrangle wild beasts, build things, and for some humorous entertainment), and
coffee.
Where can we find you online?
Download Will Rise From Ashes on Amazon and other online retailers
9 comments:
Thanks for hosting me today!
Thanks for a relatable look at a working parent/author. Your garden sounds glorious. Good luck with the veggies!
Great interview! You sound like a busy mom. Looking forward to reading your next book.
Thanks for letting us get to know you, Jean. I've just finished the draft of my first women's fiction so thanks for sharing your journey.
Delightful interview. Love all the places you've traveled. And I admire the fact you can tuck in writing here and there! Looking forward to the third book of your historical trilogy.
So interesting the way you weave parts of your life into your stories. Of course, I always thought writers do that anyway, it's part of who we are and it goes in our books.
So. Was the cat given attribution for contributing to your thesis?
Ha, Shirley. But we are now extra careful with laptops around cats. Current sweet cat - named Tres - and yes there is a cat named Tres in my newest book, A Hundred Lies, (pure coincidence! Named BEFORE I got Tres from a foster family) - and she loves to hang out with my husband all day now that he's been working from home. Sits right next to his laptop!
Thanks, everyone, for stopping by. Always happy to share more about life, parenting, and writing. :)
Hi Jean: nice getting to know more about you. I'm with you on loving cheese, and nice call re: Dwayne Johnson!
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