Today I am pleased to welcome Jennifer Haymore, author of A Season of Seduction
. Won't you please join us with comments or questions.
MQ1. When did you decide to turn your love of reading into a writing a career and how did you go about it?
JH: I have always loved to write, but I had always heard how difficult it was to become published, and that discouraged me for a long time. When I was younger, being a published author seemed to be a farfetched dream. But I still wrote. I’d finished an entire novel before looking at the business side of writing, and it was only then, after my daughter was born, that I thought it just might be possible for me to make a career out of this.
MQ2. What made you choose to write in the genre of Historical romance?
JH: Before I ever started reading romance, I read historical fiction. I eventually realized that my favorite parts of the historical fiction books I was reading were the love stories. So, since it was a combination of my two favorite things to read, historical romance ultimately struck me as the perfect thing to write.
MQ3. Do you have any rituals that help you get in the mood to sit down and write?
JH: There are a few things that help me to get in the mood:
(1) Sitting down with my long, eclectic playlist on my iPod
(2) Having a comfortable chair
(3) Being away from my kids (i.e. no distractions!)
(4) Having a hot, tall cup of coffee or tea nearby
MQ4. I noted that you list favorite authors, books and movies at your website. Do you ever picture particular actors or actresses as you write your characters - either before or after completion of the story?
JH: I very rarely do this. The characters turn into flesh and blood in my mind (as I hope they do in the readers’ minds) and I always have a very difficult time when people ask me to cast my books, because I can never find the actors and actresses who exactly fit the image in my head!
MQ5. When you do a series do you have each book plotted out before you start the first one or do the subsequent books flow from the first book?
JH: Generally speaking, the subsequent books flow from the first. As I wrote A HINT OF WICKED, I realized I’d have to write Becky’s story someday. I’m working on my second 3-book series now. I just finished the first one, and as I wrote it, the third story’s plot and characters came to life in my mind.
MQ6. Is there an ancillary character you have had the most fun with so far in your books?
JH: I love Lady Beatrice, the grouchy aunt and matriarch of the duke’s family. She is so vivid to me, and she has her own wild and delicious background that’s vaguely hinted at in the books.
MQ7. I realize you have personal experience in the battle against cancer. During this National Cancer Awareness Month do you have any special encouragements or comments that you would like to share?
JH: This battle I’ve had has changed my life in so many ways. I feel blessed to have been surrounded by the support and love of so many people.
I don’t think I’ve come across anyone who hasn’t been affected in one way or another by cancer. Great strides are being made in treatment as we speak, however, and I hope one day soon we’ll be able to cure all forms of this disease.
MQ8. If you could have readers finish a sentence what would it be?
JH: The one thing that makes a romance a keeper is…
M: Thank you so much and blessings to you.
JH: Thanks so much for having me!
Please check out
my review of
A Season of Seduction and enter
the Giveaway for a chance to win the book.
(Central) on August 26, 2011.
