Romance at Heart Magazine Author Interview: Jewel McGuire

Interview with Jewel McGuire:

Hi Jewel. Thank you for doing this interview. I would like to welcome you to the Romance at Heart Interview and Author Grilling session. *bg* We are interested to find out as much about you as we possibly can, so lets get started...

- Please tell us about your latest book.

My latest book is my first published book titled The Bakkar Bride. The book is about three brothers, princes from a reclusive planet seeking admission into the Intergalactic Alliance to find solutions to their population problems. They are also using the opportunity to escape their own personal problems. They happen to meet a human female petitioning the Alliance for help to return home. Our heroes are quite taken with Mary Jane. One thing I love most about her is she is not your typical heroine.

- What can we expect from you in the future?

Right now I am working on finishing a series of futuristic books about a Special Ops team called the Phantom Warriors. They are fighting a powerful super nation and finding love in the most unlikely places.

- How do we find out about you and your books?

You can check out blurbs and the first chapter of The Bakkar Bride at my website www.jewelmcguire.com and also visit myspace place at www.myspace.com/jewelmcguire.

- How may readers contact you?

You can reach me through the contact link on my website or at jewel_mcguire@sbcglobal.net

- Do your fans' comments and letters influence you in any way?

Well, I have only had a few comments so far but those have put a smile on my face that lasted all day! Nothing can compare when a reader “gets” what you are trying to convey when you write. It makes it worth all the hard work.

- Do you have a favorite comment or question from a reader?

The best comment I have had so far was from a author I greatly admire. She said, about my first chapter. “Wow girl…just Wow! I love it and want more.”

- Why did you decide to write romance novels?

I have always loved to read. Romances are one of my favorites but I do love mysteries and biographies also. I became interested in writing romances when I found a fan fiction site and hitched up my britches and gave it a try. The encouragement and constructive criticism helped me so much. A number of those fan fiction authors have gone on to publish their own work, a great inspiration to me.

- How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?

Well…not so much of my life experiences except being happily married for over 30 years to a wonderful, loving and romantic man. I cannot say how much of my personality gets into my characters. I think that parts of me creep into all of my characters and perhaps some of their traits are ones I wish I had!

- When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to submit your first ms?

I played around with writing a couple of fan fiction stories when a few of the published authors I had met online encouraged me to try my hand at entering a writing contest or two. The first one I entered was right here at Romance At Heart. It was a picture prompt. I remember staring at the picture for days without one idea while my author friends kept asking if I had written an entry yet. I finally did it and won first place! After that I entered several more contests. I didn’t win, but one entry stuck with me and a conversation with my critique partner about the short story snowballed into a four book series. In between the first and second books In the series, I wrote The Bakkar Bride. I sweated the query and synopsis and with a lot of pushing by my critique partner, I submitted it.

- Generally, how long does it take you to write a book?

The first Phantom Warrior book took me about four months. The Bakkar Bride took me about three months. I changed jobs and lost momentum when I began the second Phantom Warrior novel and I hate to admit it has taken well over a year to write. I do want to plead the excuse of work pressure. Besides my day job, I acquired my husband’s lawn service business several years ago when he was disabled in an auto accident. My typical day begins before 4am and once I leave my day job, I work at the family business. I write on my breaks at work and in the evenings.

- Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?

Some days the words fly off my fingers and other days they just don’t come at all. I have found I do require some peace and quiet to work effectively.

- What is your writing routine once you start a book?

I don’t have a set routine. I usually know how a book begins and ends. I also “see” scenes that I know will be in there. I do not plot out my stories. I have found my characters take over and reveal themselves to me as we go along. Sometimes they surprise me. Barin did when I was writing The Bakkar Bride. I had no idea he was so tormented until he showed us all.

- What about your family, do they know not to bother you when you are writing - or are there constant interruptions?

They know, they just do it anyway! Seriously, my desk is in the living room but I can see and hear everything from the family room. My husband is a big TV person and I hate to admit, he is losing his hearing. For his birthday I bought him some wireless headphones so he can listen to the TV as loud as he wants, and I don’t have to. My biggest pet peeve is when the phone rings constantly.

- What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?

I love to go camping and fishing. I also read but these days I reward myself with a book. I take my laptop with me everywhere so I can write when the muse hits me.

- What truly motivates you in general? In your writing?

I cannot really say, I just know these stories sometimes come out from strangest things. The Bakkar Bride came from a rather vivid dream. The Phantom Warriors from a short story I wrote for a contest.

- Where do your ideas come from?

Everywhere. My dreams, an overheard conversation. A gorgeous man’s smile.

- Do you feel humour is important in women's fiction and why?

I love humor and romance! I just wish I could write it. Some of my favorite authors can combine humor, romance, and action into stories that grab you and won’t let you go. I think laughter is one of the most healthy things we can do for ourselves.

- What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels, do you find them difficult to write?

I don’t find them difficult at all. I find transitional scenes are hard for me. I like all kinds of love scenes from where the sex is implied to all out erotic scenes. I just like them to be well written and necessary. I don’t like to see sex for sex’s sake.

- What kind of research do you do?

Depends on what I am writing. With The Bakkar Bride I did quite a bit of research into time travel and space. With the Phantom Warriors I did a lot of research into our current Navy Seals, Army Rangers and Delta Forces. I have also done some research into the places where the stories are set. The second in the series has a character that is Japanese and I have had to learn some basic Japanese for the book.

- Would you like to write a different genre than you do now, or sub-genre?

Its funny, I started writing romantic suspense but when I entered a contest that required a story with a sci/fi or futuristic theme, I found a niche. Someday I would like to go back and finish the first suspense I started.

- What does your husband think of your writing?

He keeps asking me when he can retire.

- Do you ever ask him for advice?

No. His answer when I complain about being stuck seems to be oral sex. For the characters, thought I should qualify that answer.

- Please tell us about yourself (family, hobbies, education, etc.)

I have four daughters, two steps and two of our own. I collect anything with frogs. I am currently a bakery manager with the hips to prove it.

- Fill in the blank favorites –

Dessert- Cheesecake
City-Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Season-Summer
Type of hero- Alpha males with a touch of vulnerability
Type of heroine- strong, independent and sassy but wants someone she can trust to lean on time to time...

- What are some of your favorite things to do?

Reading, fishing, camping, hunting.

- Do you have a favorite author? Favorite book?

Right now, I am reading Janet Evanovich’s Plum series. My favorite changes depending on what I am reading.

- Who are some of your other favorite authors to read?

Janet Evanovich, Christine Feehan, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Mary Janice Davidson, Laurel K Hamilton. James Patterson, Robert Parker.

- Who, if anyone, has influenced your writing?

All of the above. But especially, Sapphire Williams.

- Are you a member of any author groups - RWA, critique groups, etc.?

No, my local RWA meets when I cannot be there. I wish I could join.

- What do you think of critique groups in general?

I think if you find one that does critiques impartially and constructively, they can be one of your best tools to improve your writing.

- Where do you see yourself in five years?

Hopefully, with the Phantom Warriors published and perhaps thinner.

- How long have you been writing - have you always wanted to be a writer?

I have been writing for four or five years. I only thought of writing in the last 5 years.

- How many books have you written, how many have been published?

I have written six and one will be published in March of 2007.

- Among your own books, have you a favorite book? Favorite hero or heroine?

My favorites always happen to be what ever I am working on currently.

- What book for you has been the easiest to write? The hardest? The most fun?

The easiest was The Bakkar Bride. The hardest has been Phantom Warriors: Beau. The most fun has to be Beau’s story.

- Which comes first, the story, the characters or the setting?

Sometimes it’s the story, sometimes it’s the characters.

- What are the elements of a great romance for you?

Believable characters, great conflict, and deep emotions.

- What is the hardest part of writing/the easiest for you?

The hardest part is finding time to write, the easiest is coming up with ideas, I have more ideas than time to write them.

- Are you in control of your characters or do they control you?

I like to think I control them but I have to admit, they go where they want, when they want. If I refuse to go there, they stop talking to me.

- Have you experienced writer's block---> If so, how did you work through it?

I have gotten stuck once or twice. I went back and reread what I had written so far and found that I had forgotten to put in a plot point and the characters were telling me they couldn’t go the way I insisted on without proper reasons for going there.

- What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?

Someone reading my work and “Getting” it.

- If you weren't writing, what would you be doing?

Reading.

- Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?

Don’t quit, keep writing and honing your craft. Keep submitting, it will happen.

Thank you very much for taking the time with us and answering our questions. I really appreciate this interruption to your busy schedule. Good Luck, and we will be looking forward to the next delightful creation from your talented imagination!

Yours in good reading,
Rose!

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