...read all about it !!
Today, please welcome Jennifer Ryan !!!
Thank you so much for inviting me over today.
Please tell us a
little about yourself...
I married my high school sweetheart over
twenty-two years ago. Yes, I still like him as well as love him. We have three
kids, two boys and a girl. She rules the roost, of course. I'm a complete
chocolate addict. Seriously, I eat it with every meal. Cookies are a breakfast
food. I love to garden. I find spending quiet time in the garden, digging in
the dirt, clipping flowers, and planting allows my mind to create. I find
myself plotting stories and thinking about my characters and who they are. By
the time I come in, I can't wait to get to the keyboard again.
What or who initially
inspired you to become a writer?
It wasn't just one who, but many. I love to
read. I used to devour books - eight to ten a week. I loved romance and falling
into the stories, hoping for the hero and heroine to get together, despite the
odds against them. Of course, they always did, but the journey is what I loved
most. Soon, I realized that all those
times I went to bed without finishing a book and spent the whole night thinking
about how I'd end it had only been practice for me to write my own, unique
story. The first book I wrote - Saved by the Rancher - finally got published
after many years of trying to get an agent and sell the book. It became a NY
Times bestseller last November. Such a wonderful achievement. More than I could
have ever hoped for, but it's thanks to those inspirational writers, Nora
Roberts, Sandra Brown, Judith McNaught, and Julie Garwood, to name a few, who
made me think if they could do it, so could I.
What kind of research
do you do for a novel and how extensive do you get?
Depends on the book and
plot. I watch a lot of crime TV shows. Hannibal, CSI, Criminal Minds, the
Blacklist. I love those intricate plots with a psychological twist. I'm writing
a book right now about a woman who has a meth addicted father who goes on a
binge and has a psychotic break. Since I've never used meth, or know anyone who
has, I had to rely on several drug prevention websites for information. My next
series is set in Montana (The Montana Men). The first book begins in January,
so I did a lot of research into the weather. How much snow do they get in that
month. What is the average temperature. Even the time of sunset. The days are
very short that time of year. In Falling for Owen, I wanted to set up a scene
where they record a phone call to set someone up. Turns out Colorado has some
very strict laws against that, so I had to change the scene. After all, Owen is
a lawyer and has to play by the book even if the villain doesn't.
Do you have a special
place you like to do your writing?
Such as an office, a spare room, the dining
room table, your couch? I have a very large open kitchen with a breakfast nook
and a small living room. I sometimes sit at the kitchen table, but most of the
time you'll find me in the living room in my favorite chair, my laptop on a TV
table, and a movie I've seen a million times on the TV. I have a hard time
working in complete quiet. I don't really watch the movie, it's more like white
noise. I think I've seen Sherlock Holmes about a thousand times.
As a reader, what
types of works do you like to read and do you think they influence the
genre/genres you write in?
I write romantic suspense and am drawn to that
genre, but sometimes I need a break. I love to read historical romances. It's a
complete escape. I fall into the story and another time. Some of my favorite
historical authors: Sabrina Jefferies, Hannah Howell, Monica McCarty, and
Stephanie Laurens.
What is your favorite
method of writing...as in laptop, desktop, Ipad or the old fashioned pencil and
paper?? And do you plot out your story
or go with the flow of your muse?
I've got a laptop with a wireless keyboard
and mouse, so I sit in my chair with the keyboard in my lap and type away. I do
not plot. In most cases, before I start a new book I've got the opening scene
and that is it. Half the time, I don't even have the characters names. Naming
them sometimes takes longer than the opening chapter. I also consider myself a
binge writer. I can work for hours over the weekend and write anywhere from 10k
to 20k words in two days.
When you need a break
or some time off from the trials of being a writer, what can you be found
doing?
Like I said, you'll probably find me in the garden, though it's looking
a little bear, since I've been on one deadline after another for the past year.
I love TV. I'm not afraid to admit that. Sometimes I'll binge watch all the
episodes of the TV shows I DVR because I'm too busy writing.
For fun, I have a few
personal questions,
Your Favorite 5
1) Favorite color - Blue
2) Favorite dessert - anything chocolate, but I
love chocolate satin pie
3) Favorite Season - spring and autumn. I'm a
not too hot, not too cold kind of girl.
4) Favorite song- Stay by Katie Armiger
5) Favorite Romantic movie - Sweet Home Alabama
(I have a thing for first loves.)
And a bonus, what is
your ideal romantic vacation??
Ocean beach or lakefront. No plans, just time to
sit and relax. Good food I don't have to cook. My husband and I relaxing,
having fun, and sharing some laughs.
Where can our readers
find you??
Email:
jen@jennifer-ryan.com
Twitter:
jenryan_author
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennifer-Ryan/520021168037391?ref=hl
Website/blog:
www.jennifer-ryan.com
Is there an upcoming
or current release you would like to share with us today and where can we find
it?
Falling
for Owen
The
McBrides Book Two
The
McBrides of Fallbrook return with reformed bad boy Owen. He'll do whatever he
must to protect the woman who's captured his heart. Attorney by day, rancher by
night Owen McBride conquered his dark past and made it his mission to help the
innocent—even at the expense of a personal life. But when a client's abusive
ex-husband targets Owen and his gorgeous neighbor Claire gets caught in the
crossfire, his feelings turn anything but professional. The mysterious beauty
awakens something in him, and he'll move heaven and earth to keep her safe.
Coffee shop
owner Claire Walsh learned the hard way that handsome men aren't to be trusted.
Owen may be sexy as hell and determined to take care of her, but she's
reluctant to put her heart on the line. His presence in her life puts a target
on her back, yet the more time she spends with him, the more she finds she
can't help falling for Owen.
One last thing before we let you leave us today :) Do you have a favorite recipe you'd
like to share? I like to cook and am
always looking for new recipes to try and share.
Lime Jell-O Pineapple
Orange Salad
1 lg. box Lime Jell-O
1 packet Knox gelatin
2-3 tblsp. mayonnaise
1 8 oz. block cream
cheese
1 20 oz. can crushed
pineapple (drained)
1 15 oz. cans
mandarin oranges (drained)
Boil 2 cups of water.
Add lime Jell-O and Knox gelatin packet. Stir in boiling water until completely
dissolved. Pour into 8x8 Pyrex glass dish. Add 1 and 1/2 cups cold water. Stir.
Put dish in refrigerator checking frequently until Jell-O is soft set (do not
let fully set, should be thick liquid, but not solid). Remove Jell-O from
refrigerator when ready.
In a large bowl, mix
together cream cheese and mayonnaise. Mix in drained crushed pineapple. Add
Mandarin oranges and the soft set Jell-O to bowl. Gently fold Mandarin oranges
and soft set Jell-O into the cream cheese mixture. There should be lumps of
green Jell-O mixed with cream cheese and fruit mixture. Pour mixture back into
8x8 Pyrex dish and refrigerate until fully set.
Great as a side dish
for BBQs and family get-togethers. My kids love it.
Jennifer, thanks so much for visiting us today. Your book sounds great and I love the cover and this recipe sounds great too, I can't wait to try it !!!
* * * * * *
Rafflecopter Giveaway (Two Digital
Copies of THE RETURN OF BRODY MCBRIDE)
Kate
Parello runs a volunteer program in Belize for Artists for International Aid,
where she deals with self-centered artists who use the program as a means to
repair their marred reputations. She loves the country, the people, and what
AIA stands for, but too many diva volunteers have turned her off to
press-seeking celebrities altogether and left her questioning the value of the
volunteer program. When she meets incredibly handsome and charming Sage, he
stirs emotions she hasn’t felt for ages, even though he represents the things
she despises.
