Author Interviews

Author's Interview

Let's start with you telling us a little bit about yourself, Jennifer.
I currently live in sunny California with my fiancé and two pets. I love spending my free time reading or writing. I actually enjoy my day job – surprise, surprise. When I’m not reading, writing, working or spending time with my loved ones, I’m watching as movies as I can. :)

What would people be most surprised to learn about you?
Let me start off by saying that not only do I love writing, but I also love theatre and acting. Being in plays and drama class in school was my most favorite thing. With that being said, most people would be surprised to know that I act out a lot of the scenes in my books. When I’m stuck on a scene (and I get stuck a lot!) I find I can work through them the best by getting up and acting them out – word for word, thought for thought, action for action. Before I know it, the scene is flowing fast and it all comes together. I actually strongly suggest it to my fellow authors out there – if you’re stuck, try acting it out. Maybe it only works for me, but maybe it’ll work for others too. Who knows, maybe there are other authors out there that do it as well.

When did you start writing, is it something you've always been interested in, or did it develop later in life?
I started writing as a profession about five years ago, but I’ve been writing since I was in grade school. I used to write little stories and attempted one book. My mom just recently reminded me of a Mystery/Detective story I was writing when I was thirteen. She told me how she thought it was a horrible story, but hadn’t wanted to say anything back then fearing it would hurt my feelings. We got a good laugh out of it because looking back it really was a pretty bad plot line. She then said how amazed she was now and never thought my writing back then would ever lead toward my writing novels today.

Don’t you just love it when your mommy says she’s proud of you?

Has it been everything you thought it would be or not?
It has been, and so much more! I ignorantly thought that all I’d have to do was write the stories – I never knew all about the promoting and social media work that came with it. When my editor had suggested starting a blog I about had a panic attack. And Twitter and Facebook… I’ll admit I was nervous and a little scared. Before becoming an author I’d never dabbled in the social media stuff. It was a challenge, but I worked though it with a lot of help from my editor and fellow authors.

How did it feel when you realized that your very first book was going to be published?
You know, I don’t think there’ll ever really be a true way to express that feeling. But the best way to explain it is it’s this ache in your chest from pride, excitement, happiness, nervousness, scared out of your mind, and so much more.
 
Literally and physically – it started with going as still as a brick house then re-reading the email (making sure I read it right the first time), then I moved on to bouncing around like crazy in my chair (yes, a few fist pumps were thrown), then running out to my fiancé screaming “They want my book! They want my book!” I think my heart might have actually stopped at one point, but I can’t medically prove that. ;)

What's your favorite part of writing a book?
“The End”

Writing those two words releases a pressure that’d been bearing down on my chest. The weight lifts and a big smile crosses my face. The work is complete and I couldn’t be more happy, satisfied, and proud.

Do you get time to read for pleasure? If so, which books do you enjoy?
Yes. I used to read A LOT, but over the last couple of years I haven’t as much. I’m starting to find more time recently to read again, but not as much as I used to or like to.

I pretty much only read romance books. My favorite genres to read are anything paranormal or sci-fi. I do love a good cowboy story from time to time. And then there’s sports – especially anything to do with hockey. Oh, and I can’t forget mystery, drama, action, dystopia, college…

Can I just say everything? Yeah, let’s go with everything!

Are there any other genres you'd be interested in writing?
I’d like to write a historical/regency era book, but I’m a little afraid. I love reading about it, but I don’t think I know enough (yet) about it to take a shot at it. Maybe one day. :)

Please tell us a little about your most recent release.
By My Side is a contemporary story with some kink. It’s my first time writing anything like this, so I’m a little nervous on how/if the readers will like it. It’s about a lawyer, Noah, who’s scared to give in to his desires for another man, and a bartender, Shea, who’s been burned before by a lover that won’t come out of the closet.

What can we look forward to in the future from you?
I am currently working on the fifth (and final) book in my Finding Home series. After that I’ve got many more works in progress and can’t wait to get going on them.

Anything you want to say to your readers?
A big, huge, ginormous thank you! I hope you’ve enjoyed my stories and have fallen in love with the characters as much as I have!

Jennifer Wright’s recent releases:
By My Side
https://www.pride-publishing.com/book/by-my-side

Noah has suppressed his urges for other men for years, but when a sexy bartender comes crashing into his life, all bets are off.

Due to his career as a lawyer and his father’s strict ways, Noah has always ignored the side of him that craves the touch of another man, not wanting to upset the calm waters of his life. But when he’s out one night celebrating his friend’s first win in a courtroom, Noah is taken aback by the raw lust that consumes him when he meets Shea. He wants to ignore what he feels for the man, but when Shea introduces a tantalizing side of sex that Noah has been dreaming of, he finds it impossible to keep Shea out of his life.

Shea’s been heartbroken before by a man who wouldn’t come out of the closet for him, and he doesn’t think he can go through that again. Can Noah let go of his fears of coming out to the world? Will the pleasures Shea gives him in the bedroom have Noah seeing what really matters in the long run?

Athis Dey (Finding Home 4)
https://www.pride-publishing.com/book/athis-dey

Is it truly better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all?

In Larken’s case, he isn’t so sure. He did love someone, then he lost them, and it hurt like hell. Now, Larken has to figure out how he’s going to get over it and find love once more. Then again, does he even want to care for someone so strongly for a second time? He’s had his heart broken once, and he fears it’s too soon to open up to someone else. But how can he really deny the new feelings that are growing inside him?

Khale, on the other hand, has yet to fall in love at all. It’s something he’s wanted his whole life, and now he finds that it may be within his grasp. Khale could love Larken with all his heart—he can see himself with the warrior for the rest of his life. But Khale also yearns for Vardel to finally accept him as his son, and this wanting misguides him, leading him into trouble. Now he needs Larken’s help—he needs the man he’s fallen in love with to save him, but he fears his secrets and possible betrayal will have ruined his chance of ever finding happiness.

Airos (Finding Home 3)
https://www.pride-publishing.com/book/airos

Zane has everything in his life under control and in order, but can he keep it that way when a young dragon is thrown into his life?

Zane was meant to be a warrior—end of story. Though he may not have had the most pleasant life living at the coven, he still loved being there. But the steadiness of his world came to a halt all within one day's events. A man he never saw coming has pushed the boundaries of what little normalcy he has, and learning of a secret love is just confusing him even more. Zane has never felt more torn on what he should be feeling…and for whom. Though if he assumed having two men plaguing his every waking thought was hard enough, learning of the danger his mother is in nearly has his head spinning off into another dimension.

The leader of the Dráguns is threatening to take everything away from him, his best friend is slipping further and further away from him, and a little dragon is managing to get under his skin in more ways than one. Sorting out what he has to do, what he wants, and what's right for him will be the biggest challenge he's ever been faced with. Will he follow his heart or will he take the easy path…or is the easy path the right path to begin with?

 
Excerpt from By My Side:
“Am I underdressed?”

Noah’s gaze shot up and met Shea’s. Had he been staring? Wait, what was the question?

“What?”

The corners of Shea’s mouth lifted as he looked Noah over. “Well, you’re pretty spiffy in your khakis, dress shirt and fancy-looking shoes.”

Noah looked down at himself. The club they were going to was definitely more upscale than Lou’s, so the dress code was a little more firm, but he knew the doorman personally and would have no problem getting Shea inside.

“Nah, you’re fine.” Hell yeah, you are fine!

Shea smiled at him again and Noah felt his resolve slipping further and further away. He needed to get away from the guy before he made a fool of himself.

“I’ve got to go to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.” Without waiting to hear what Shea could possibly say, he fled like the little pussy he was. In the bathroom, he splashed some water on his face, trying to figure out how he was going to survive the night. Maybe he could say that he suddenly wasn’t feeling good. Wuss! Even if it wouldn’t be incredibly cowardly of him, he couldn’t do that to Tate. His friend had really been looking forward to tonight.

Noah looked at his watch and figured Tate was ready to go now anyway. It’s time to face the music.

I can do this.

Noah exited the bathroom and while heading toward the living room, he heard Shea and Tate talking.

“Are you sure he’s going to be all right with it?” Shea asked.

“Yeah, Noah’s not like that. He’ll be fine with it, trust me,” Tate replied.

They’re talking about me?

Turning the corner into the living room, Noah found Shea and Tate waiting by the front door. “What will I be fine with?”

Shea’s head whipped around to look at him, his eyes slightly widened, while Tate had a more nonchalant appearance. Tate looked over to Shea, one eyebrow raised. Shea looked back to Tate and just shrugged his shoulders.

What the hell is going on?

“Shea was just wondering if you’d be okay with the fact that he’s gay.”

Noah prayed like hell that his expression didn’t show the absolute horror he was feeling on the inside. This wasn’t good. This wasn’t good at all. The only saving grace that Noah had on being able to survive the night was the reminder that Shea was straight and that he’d never have a chance with him. There had been a chance that he could resist temptation if he knew that said temptation was impossible to get. And now it wasn’t.

Fucking hell, what was he going to do now?

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