Talk about dreams coming true. . .THE Jenna Petersen let this newbie interview her!
This is the best day- e.v.e.r!!
When I first started writing, I didn't have much in the way of guidance. One of the first sites I found was Jenna's Passionate Pen website.
I devoured every article with as much gusto as I would a package of mini Snickers. It was like being handed a lifeline after being adrift on a stormy sea hanging onto a pool noodle!
That my friends, is how lost I felt.
Jenna's pay-it-forward attitude is one of the reasons I'm such a fan. . .well, that and the lady writes one heck of a fantastic love story! Truly awesome talent!
Her latest release, WHAT THE DUKE DESIRES, seduced its way to book stores near you this week. (I must say the Cover Gods shined down upon her!) Despite her crazy schedule of release week, Jenna found time to hang out with us!
Without further ado, please join me in welcoming Jenna to our little clubhouse! Get that stash of special occasion chocolate and let's get rolling!
1) If you were a book, what would your blurb be?
Crazy author tries to survive release week by eating chocolate and petting cats. Will it work, or will all her hair fall our by the end of the week?
2) Using three words, describe your voice.
Dark, sensual, emotional.
3) What has been the biggest obstacle you've had to overcome in your writing career? What's been the highlight?
What's been the highlight? I wish my books came out closer together. I know it's frustrating for readers and it's definitely frustrating for me. There have been too many highlights to count! Meeting readers, seeing books on shelves, hitting lists, winning awards... it's all good!
4) If you had to start all over again, what's the one thing you've learn that would be the most beneficial?
Probably that many things would be completely out of my control and not go the way I expected. It might not change it, but at least I would be ready! LOL
5) How do you manage the demands of writing as both Jenna Petersen (historical romance) and Jess Michaels (erotic romance)? Any tips you'd like to share on balancing two pseudonyms?
Well, I don't write them at the same time, so it really is just having the ability to write more books a year, which I love! Having two pseudonyms is challenging, but now that I've combined them onto one website http://www.jennapetersen.com I find the work is a little lessened. I only have to do one site update, one newsletter, etc.
6) Congrats on The Passionate Pen's ten year anniversary!! What was the driving force behind creating a website for aspiring romance authors? Do you ever see yourself publishing a romance writer's reference book?
Really I just figured that if I was looking for the info, others might be too. So I made the site and it just exploded from there. I'm very interested in writing a writing book, actually. It's just finding the time and getting the right pitch together.
7) What can your fans look forward to from Jenna Petersen?
For the next couple of years my Jenna Petersen books are all going to be part of The Billingham Bastards series, which launched on October 27 with WHAT THE DUKE DESIRES. Readers can read an excerpt at http://www.jennapetersen.com/ or pick up the book at stores EVERYWHERE now!!
You can bet your last handful of Halloween candy, I'll be sunk into WHAT THE DUKE DESIRES this weekend! What a kickin' treat?! My favorite holiday and a new release from one of my 'Keeper Shelf' authors. OMG! Somebody smack me!
I'd like to extend a huge thank you to Jenna for all her hard work! With over 200,000 hits per day at The Passionate Pen, I know I'm not the only newbie she's inspired. She deserves mega kudos!! And here's hoping your Halloween is full of ooky-spooky fun TLN'ers. Thanks for sharing your time, too! Here's a handful of cyber-chocolate Kisses just for you! Better duck, I can't throw worth a darn! LOL
It wouldn't be Halloween without the a little THRILLER! Happy Halloween, my friends! Now, go forth and get spooky! Feel free to dish on your costume and trick-or-treating plans! Catch you next week- same bat day and same bat URL! Moo-Hah-Hah-Ha!
15 comments:
Hi Jenna and Sarah,
Great interview. I have been a frequent visitor to the Passionate Pen over the years. It is an amazing resource.
Regards
Margaret
Hi Sarah and thanks for having me today! :) And I'm so glad the site has helped you both! I'll be around today, so I'm happy to answer questions.
What a luscious cover! I can't wait to read this;-)
I have been blessed by the cover gods, for sure! :)
Great interview Sarah and Jenna! Oh I can totally ransack and destroy a bag of minis.... Dangerous!
When I started writing the Passionate Pen was a great resource for me, actually I still check it out now. Jenna's/Jess's books rock! I had the awesome pleasure of having a couple books signed at the Literacy siging in DC :)
Happy Halloween! And Thriller is my fav--since I was 3, I made my parents rent the video on Beta (remember BETA????) at the videostore, and I'd dance to it. lol
Okay off to a Halloween Parade at preschool :)
Hugs, Eliza
No problem, Jenna! I'm so thrilled to have you here today! Now, I just need George Clooney to call me up and all my dreams wi;; have come true. LOL
Margaret and Eliza, we should get buttons made for the next conference! It would be cool to see how many ppl love the Passionate Pen!
Paris, you are so right! Jenna's cover is kickin'!
Jenna, I'm a huge fan of your writing and of The Passionate Pen -- I wish you much more success!
I can't wait for the new book Jenna. I love your books. And I was so blessed when I googled How to write Romance and your site came up. It's the only one I refer back to again and again. Everything I needed to buckle down ad finally put pen to paper was there. Thank You!
Welcome Jenna! Thanks for joining Sarah on Lovestruck Novice.
I heard you speak twice while at Nationals. You were awesome! Thanks for your insight. I love Passionate Pen and like Sarah have popped over there many times to glean valuable information. Now I just need to find time in my crazy schedule to read one of your books! I hear only great things about them.
Best of luck! Sharon
Hello everyone! Well, I just got back from making a grocery run in the POURING awful rain and when I sat down I was very grumbly (and wet) but all these nice comments are like sunshine! LOL I'll try to address everyone individually:
Eliza -- I'm so glad Passionate Pen has been helpful! I hope you enjoyed the books, too! My brother was always afraid when Vincent Price laughed at the end of "Thriller". :)
Sarah -- I'm honored to be put in the same category as George Clooney. Yummy! It would be AWESOME to do buttons. I should design some and have them made up to mail out. I've often thought of trying to do a little group meeting or lunch at a National, but it seems to be hard to get people to commit to that.
Helen -- Thanks so much! I's so glad you've liked the books and PP :)
Avia (I'm shortening) -- Good luck with your writing! I'm glad PP has helped. :)
Sharon -- I just put in for a new wrkshop for next year at National, so maybe I'll see you there, too. :) Hope you'll enjoy the books if you find one! :)
Okay, going to go write, will check in later!
Hi Jenna! Yeah, everyone I know loves you, the Passionate Pen and your books. You are like our mom mentor! Can't wait to read your new series. What a good interview you did, Sarah!
A girl has to dream, right?! LOL
Hi Helen! Hope you're all set for NaNo! Good luck!
Avia- That's how I found PP, too! Gotta love Google! Thanks for stopping by. :o)
Sharon!! You lucky lady! I'd love to go hear Jenna speak. How cool would that be?!
Thanks, Kaye! You are so right! Jenna's site has the widest range of info I've seen. I'd totally wear a PP button with pride! LOL It would be like finally getting to be in the cool kids' club!
Sarah, nice interview. Kudos!
I must be the only one who hasn't heard of the Passionate Pen site *blush* -- nice to meet you Jenna.
Thanks so much for having me today! And Happy Halloween everyone! :)
Great interview, Sarah and Jenna! I'm definitely going to have to check out your work, Jenna!
Thriller's one of my favorite Halloween songs. Happy Halloween! :)
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