An interview with Juniper Bell

  

Juniper, Thank-you for agreeing to an author interview today.

Thank you so much for having me! 

Can you tell everyone a little bit about yourself? 

I live in Alaska, but we’re hoping to move to Hawaii someday (we can dream, right?)  I spend my time writing, reading, tending to my stepchildren, doing yoga, and (these days) shoveling snow. 

How long have you been writing? 

I began writing romance and erotic romance about three years ago, but I was a TV writer before that. My first job was writing for an encyclopedia. So one way or another, I’ve been writing professionally my whole adult life. But writing fiction is the most fun, by far! 

What is your writing process like?  

It’s mysterious. It starts with a tiny wisp of an idea, then I set my mind loose on it and see where it goes. Sometimes I plot ahead of time, sometimes I free-wheel it. It depends on the story, and what it seems to want from me. 

Can you tell us about your newest release Doll?  

How about if I share the blurb, which sums it up perfectly! 

Even a plaything can be pushed too far…  

Chloe Barnes thought her marriage to a wealthy politician would be the stuff of fairy tales. Instead, he took advantage of her naiveté and used her as a plaything to fulfill his twisted sexual needs. Ten years is enough. She returns to Bellhaven Island to sell the summer cottage she inherited, hoping the money will buy her freedom—and custody of her daughters.  

Fisherman Dustin McDougal never forgot the childhood crush he once had on the fairy-like Chloe. The woman she’s become has a haunted look that brings his feelings back, stronger than ever…with a mature edge. Along with all his protective instincts.  

Their passion blows stronger than a Maine nor’easter, awakening Chloe to the joy of true love. Yet it may not be strong enough to free her from the past… 

The story-line for Doll sounds intrigue, could you expand upon how you came up with the story line? 

My family has a long history with an island in Maine, which is a romantic but rugged kind of setting. Visiting there always brings up a lot of emotion in me, and this story is all about deep emotion. A woman trying to free herself from painful memories and find some joy through sexual healing – the storyline came from a mood more than anything else.  

What are you currently working on? 

I’m working on my first historical – a Regency erotic romance called “My Three Lords.”  You can probably imagine what direction that one’s heading.  

Where do you get your ideas for your books?

Well, there’s this great new store … just kidding. I wish there were a guaranteed way to find ideas. Or at least, good ideas. They seem to pop into my head at random moments, I have no control over it.  Sometimes they’re good, sometimes crappy. I think the key is to remain open to what’s around you, and inside you.

As an author, you must be an avid reader. What books do you enjoy reading? Who are your auto-buy authors? 

I’ll buy anything Susan Elizabeth Phillips writes. I’d buy her to-do list, if she offered it! I’m kind of a binge reader. If I find someone I like, I’ll immediately and obsessively track down all their books. I’ve done that with Julie Garwood, Jane Feather, Georgette Heyer even Nora Roberts – and that’s a lot of books!  I went through an Elizabeth Lowell phase, a Lisa Kleypas phase, Lori Foster … I could go on and on.

What books are on your keeper shelf? 

Going back to childhood here: Little Women. Everything ever written by Jane Austen. The Chronicles of Narnia. As well as my later discoveries (see above.)

What was the first romance book you read or the one book that has stood the test of time for you? 

Two books made me want to be a romance writer: Sweet Revenge by Nora Roberts and Fancy Pants by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I loved them both so much, but I didn’t know they were “romances.” I just loved the stories, the happy endings, the characters, the focus on a relationship. My career took a different direction, but those books stayed with me, and later on I thought, hey, why not see if I can write one? They gave me so much joy, and I wanted to be able to do that for others.

If your book was made into a movie, which actors would like to see as the lead characters?  

Eek! I don’t think I could watch. But for the sake of the box office, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

If you could switch lives with one of your characters who would if be & why?

My characters tend to have troubled pasts, so I’m not sure I’d want to switch lives with them! Then again, they do have all that hot sex … I guess I could handle it for a day.

When you are not writing or reading, what do you enjoying doing in your spare time? 

I like to ski for very short periods of time, plan trips to warm climates, and play make believe with my five-year-old stepdaughter. (Talk about ideas! She has a million a day.)

If you could ask readers anyone question, what would it be?

What pisses you off the most in a book? Annoying heroine, obnoxious hero, dumb plotline? I really hope we get some feedback on this, so I can make sure never to do it!

Where can readers find you on the internet?

My website is http://juniperbell.com/. I also have a blog at http://authorjuniperbell.blogspot.com/. I’m always open to new friends on FaceBook, and I’m also on Twitter as AuthorJuniper.

Thank you so much for having me on your blog!  And — You Do Not Have to Wait, “Doll” is available as of Tuesday at http://new.mybookstoreandmore.com/shop/product.da/doll.

***Leave a comment answering Juniper’s question and one lucky commenter will win a either a digital copy of Juniper’s first book The Extremist or a gift bag containing an autographed cover flat of “Doll” and hot chocolate (that is mentioned in the story). Winner’s choice. Good Luck