Interview with Jackson D'Lynne

I’d like to welcome fellow NJRW romance writer Jackson D’Lynne to my blog today. She self published her first book, The Diva & The Duke and she let me interview her.

What are your goals as a writer? Have you met them/How do you plan to meet them?

Goals? I have lots of those. My first goal was to write a full length novel, which I completed this year. My debut time travel romance novel, The Diva and the Duke, released on July 10^th. My next goal is to finish the series, and then my goal is to keep writing until I die. Simple goals, right?

I plan to meet my goals by writing whenever I can. I have four kids, so I don’t get to write as often as I’d like, but when I do, brilliance comes out, lol.

What inspires you to write?

Writing has always been my passion. There are times when a song inspires me to write a certain scene. Also, there are dark, strange flashes of ideas in my macabre mind that end up as a story idea in my OneNote notebook.

How do you develop your characters?

They develop as a flicker in my brain. They don’t really start fleshing themselves out until I start writing the book. Sometimes, I don’t even know how they’ll react to a scene until I am sitting there writing it. With The Diva and the Duke, the Twins (if you want to know who they are, you’ll have to get the book) didn’t begin their lives as deeply disturbing as they ended up being, lol.

Do you use critique partners? Why or why not?

I do. I have two critique partners – well, one is more like an opinionated reader, but she’s done a lot for me over the development of my series. She reads through the chapters, tells me what works, what she hates, what she likes, and what is inaccurate. My official colleague critiquer is pretty new to the writing game, but she’s highly educated and well-read so her ideas and opinions are much appreciated.

(Shout out to Helen and Carol!)

How long have you been writing?

I have been writing since elementary school. I wrote a short story that won a district wide writing contest. Since then, I’ve written a book of poetry and short stories that I published under my real name through Tate Publishing. By vocation (which means until I start making enough writing romance to STOP having another job) I am a freelance marketing copywriter, but I don’t like it because I don’t get to write what I want, I have to write what other people tell me to write. Boring. Like I said before, I’ve been writing forever, and I wake up every morning eager to appease my Muse.

Do you outline ahead of time or do you write from your head (are you a plotter or a pantser)?

Both. There are times when the plot to an entire scene comes to mind when I’m sitting in the car. I’ll make a note and then go home and fill in the points. When I finally sit down to write the scene, the meaty bits come together.

What is your writing routine?

I have four kids and a part time job, I have no writing routine. When I do find I have an hour or so to write, I turn on Anti-Social (awesome software), and I write. When the kids start to scream I step away from the computer and whimper a bit.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

Mediating sibling disputes, cleaning up German Shepherd hair (a never-ending task), trying to lose weight, writing marketing copy for my list of clients, listening to my Amazon Music collection (for inspiration, of course), snuggling with my 2 yo son and wishing he’d stay little forever, reading something from my TBR pile, playing Diablo III or World of Warcraft, or watching something off the DVR.

Sounds exciting, right?

Tell me a little about yourself.

I was born and raised in Sacramento, California. I played high school football. I’ve won several singing and writing competitions. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Counseling (Counseling Psychology), and an Associate’s Degree in Biblical Studies. My favorite color is purple. I named all of my children after men/women from the Bible. I’m a social/political conservative. My favorite TV show of all time is Avatar: The Last Airbender.

What are you currently working on (feel free to include a synopsis or excerpt, but please keep it PG)?

I am currently working the second book in my Three Goddesses Series, The Rancher and the Renegade. This book focuses on Haven’s (heroine in The Diva and the Duke) friend Rhiannon, who we discover is an undercover DEA agent investigating the club where Haven works. Here is the blurb:

When a heart breaking tragedy effectively ends undercover DEA agent Marisol Sanchez’s career, she has nothing and no one left. With the cold steel of a Glock 21 in her mouth, she’s resigned to taking her own life. Before she can pull the trigger, a golden pocket watch she bought at an adult’s only carnival a year before begins to glow. Compelled by a strange power, Mari winds the watch, and is propelled through time to 1850 Texas.

Harvard lawyer turned cattle rancher Tyrence Barrett is in a battle he can’t win as desperadoes raid the settlements along the creek, and burn and murder their way through the land. On a routine inspection of his property, Ty stumbles upon a beautiful migrant woman who seems out of place, completely irresistible, and strangely familiar…

He offers Mari a place to stay and a job, but he can’t possibly understand how important she is to him, or how important he will be to her.

When evil threatens to invade the ranch, Mari must use her considerable skills to help beat back the raiders who seek to clear the land and claim the silver in the creek for themselves. With Ty by her side, Mari must learn to forgive herself, rely on the strength of others, and to love despite the overwhelming fear of loss.

Can a displaced renegade really help a Lone Star rancher defend his home against an encroaching evil? Will the time lost Mari give in to the desperate sorrow devouring her heart? Or will Ty show her that a rancher and a renegade can find love and a happily ever after?

(Release set for Spring 2015)

What is your favorite guilty pleasure?

Hot tea, a good, sexy book, and a quiet house.

What is your favorite book you’ve written? Read?

Favorite book written would have to be The Diva and the Duke – it’s my first and will always be my greatest achievement. The best book I’ve ever read? Whoa, I’ve read so many! Can I just cheat and say, The Bible, which is by far the most beautiful book ever written.

Jackson can be found in the following places:

http://www.amazon.com/Diva-Duke-Three-Goddesses-Book-ebook/dp/B00LOQSI9Y/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_tnr_1

http://jacksondlynne.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/Jack_the_Reader

https://www.facebook.com/authorjacksondlynne

and on Twitter: @JacksonDLynne

Jackson D’Lynne is an avid reader, and a passionate writer. From love scenes in moon-swept forests, to edge-of-your-seat scenes in dark alleys, she loves to write scenes that pull in her readers, and leave them begging for more.
Her very first full-length novel is due for release July 8th 2014, and she couldn’t be more excited about it.
When she isn’t writing time-travel, paranormal romance, and
young adult thrillers, she is writing website content for her long and varying list of international clients. Also, she is a harried mother of four, wife of one very
patient husband, and White German Shepherd Wrangler. For more information about Jackson, visit her website at www.JacksonDLynne.com, and find her on Facebook and Twitter.

The Diva and the Duke – Book #1 of The Three Goddesses Series ~ July 8, 2014
Amazon Digital Publishing~ ISBN: 978-1499694338
Haven Edwards is a sensual, intelligent, 21st century diva with an “exotic” career. Wanting nothing more than to move past her ugly divorce, she attends an adults only Carnal-val where she’s compelled to steal a strangely glowing pocket watch. Overcome with its power, she winds it. A portal opens beneath her feet, hurtling her back through time to 1817 where she crashes into the life of the very proper, very sexy, Logan Dunham. A duke with a deep distrust of beautiful women, Logan can’t understand his staggering desire for

the woman with the quick wit, and jade green eyes—the woman who haunted his dreams long before they met.

Haven is determined to find a way home, but she can’t shake her hunger for the dark, brooding duke. He’s a duke, he’s out of her league, right? So why does her heart beat a little faster whenever he is near? Why does her mind conjure images of happily ever after?

One touch, and they are consumed by their desire. But before they can untangle their feelings for one another, a sociopath with a god complex and a knife fetish sets his evil intents on Haven. In order to save her life, Logan must destroy the demons of his past, and learn to trust a power he doesn’t understand. What happens when he arrives too late? Will the time-swept diva be lost forever, or will the diva get her duke?