by Bo'sun | June 15th, 2009
Jeanne Adams writes thrilling suspense for Kensington and has a number of magical romantic suspense novels waiting in the wings as well, hopefully to be published soon with another publisher. Her debut novel, DARK AND DANGEROUS, hit shelves one year ago to critical acclaim and much reader love. Now she’s celebrating the release of her sophomore effort, DARK AND DEADLY, and joining us here on The Revenge as my second interview vict….err….interviewee. So without further ado, it’s on with the show…
Bo’sun: First off, thank you so much for blogging with us here on the pirate ship.
Jeanne: I’m delighted to be here! Thanks for having me aboard.
Bo’sun: To start off, we need to make a quick trip back to the beginning. How long have you been writing and how many manuscripts did you write before you finally sold? And do please share your call story. Nothing like a great call story (and really, aren’t they all great?! I mean, it’s THE CALL!).
Jeanne: I’ve been writing seriously – as in with an eye toward publication – for about 10 years, and Dark and Dangerous was my 9th manuscript. Had to laugh, because yeah, any Call story is GOOD! Ha!
Mine began on a muggy summer morning about a week after the last Dallas conference. I was driving my son to camp. My cell phone rang, and since my sister usually calls during drive time, I didn’t even look at the number. I just picked it up and said, “Hey sis, hang on. BOYS! Keep it DOWN, I’m trying to talk to Aunt Sis.” Turned back to the phone to hear Kate Duffy laughing. She said, “Well, it’s not your sister, it’s Kate Duffy.”
I had an OS moment, and since it was morning and was as yet uncaffeinated, I had to think, oh, man, what did I just say? Did I curse? Crap! I put on my most professional voice and said, “Kate, how nice to hear from you. I’m driving my boys to camp, could I call you back in about thirty minutes?” All the while thinking, Holy CRAP!, It’s KATE DUFFY! Meanwhile, she’s still laughing. She said it would be fine for me to call her back, and by the way, she wanted to buy what became Dark and Dangerous. I thanked her, hung up and screamed, then started singing the alto part of the Hallelujah chorus.
Both the scream and the singing got my sons’ attention – the little one started to cry because he couldn’t understand why I had screamed. :> The older one wondered what the heck was wrong with Mom! I told him, in terms he could understand (i.e. a baseball analogy) that I’d just hit a homer. He grinned, got out of the car at camp and told his coaches, “Hey, my mom hit a homer in the car!” The youngest still doesn’t understand why I screamed. Ha!
I obviously called Kate back, and she was still laughing at me. I didn’t care because she kept saying things like, “buy” and “contract” and “paperwork will be mailed to you” and things like that so I didn’t care.
Bo’sun: Your debut novel, DARK AND DANGEROUS, hit the shelves a year ago. What was that like? Did you pinch yourself for months?
Jeanne: I really did. It was surreal. My second book was due to Kate the same day Dark and Dangerous came out, so in some ways I didn’t have the mental space to be too freaked out. Have to say though, the first time you walk into a bookstore and see a book with your name on it? Priceless.
Bo’sun: Now, to do some selling. Your new release, DARK AND DEADLY hit shelves June 1. What is this one about? And did you get to name your own books because these are some great titles?
Jeanne: I’ll answer the second question first…no. Kensington picked the titles, but I’ve liked them, and my cover art, so I’m happy!
In Dark and Deadly, Torie Hagen had terrible luck with men. First, she’s left at the altar, then when she recovers from that, she finds her luck goes from bad to worse. Or I should say the men have terrible luck! Several are injured, one dies, and all because they dated Torie. This string of tragedies culminates with Torie’s house being bombed and her ex-fiance being murdered five years to the day after what would have been their wedding day. Evidence at the scene implicates Torie. Now a murder suspect, Torie has to turn to the one man who she believes would as soon see her dead or in jail. Paul Jameson was her ex-fiance’s best man. He and Torie had one hot date, but Paul broke off any further contact, and tried to keep her from marrying his best friend. Now her lawyer, Paul also becomes a target. Together Paul and Torie have to figure out what the police are missing, who’s been stalking Torie and is now targeting them both for execution, before they either kill each other, or fall madly in love.
Bo’sun: I’m exhausted just reading all that. You do put your characters through the ringer. But you also have some really creepy characters do some really scary things. Do you ever creep yourself out?
Jeanne: Every now and again, I do. I come up with some pretty creepy villains. Most of the time, I try to think about what I would never do, then drop it down a level even creepier than that. It does sometimes creep my husband out too. Ha!
Bo’sun: I’m sure the man sleeps with one eye open. *g* You have such an interesting array of skills and experiences. How do you combine a degree in interior design and landscape design with more than a dozen years working in the funeral and cemetery business? (Yes ladies, she’s your go to girl on body disposal. LOL!)
Jeanne: I’m a glutton for punishment? Ha! Part of it is being a writer, I think. I’m interested in a lot of things. The funeral and cemetery biz knowledge is an offshoot of being married to a funeral director for a number of years. My first husband. I killed him off in my first manuscript. Very cathartic. Then again, that manuscript was a great catharsis and learning experience all the way around – which is probably why it’ll never see the light of day! I’ve been in real estate and design though since high school. My Mama was a Realtor and I just love gardening and landscaping and all that. Combine that with a degree in psychology, Library Science and a near-degree in English for an even wilder mix, you know?
Bo’sun: If I didn’t feel like a major under achiever before…. To wrap it up before I turn things over to the crew, you give back to the writing community with some great workshops. Can you tell us a bit about them and how they came about?
Jeanne: What a lovely compliment! I do love to give back. So many authors, especially Romance authors, are very generous with their time and knowledge. As a recipient of a lot of those hours of instruction, it’s a privilege to give back in any way I can. The classes I teach are a result of wanting to help writers write well, and/or provide information that might not be easily available otherwise. I’m teaching the body disposal class at National this year, and as another way to pay back some of that great karma I received, I’m also running for the RWA National Board! I know, glutton for punishment…but if you’re not casting a vote for your BFF in Region One, I’d love it if you’d consider voting for me! :>
What about you all? What’s your way of giving back? Or conversely, how do you overload yourself? I had to force myself to give up PTA, because I really wanted to make my writing deadlines, and then run for the board…but it was tough! How do you draw the line? (I’m always looking for new ways to UNtangle myself from commitments! Ha! I could use some pointers!)
Bo’sun: You all know I can’t help with this one so chime in and help Jeanne out! TWO lucky commenter will win a free copy of Jeanne’s latest release, DARK & DEADLY, so get to it.
That gives me an idea. We really need some Rum Punch on the menu.
Rum-Diddle Punch. Gots ta keep it dirty, mind ya.
I don’t know, I rather like the idea of Strumpet Crumpet – do you use crumpet as a synonym for nooky in the US? I’m never sure if the slang translates!
Jeanne and Terri, great interview!
Jeanne, I loved both your books, which have very dynamic beginnings and satisfying endings. You’re one of my role models for character torture, and I mean that in the nicest possible way.
I don’t think I’d ever heard your call story, but you’re right, it truly is GOOD!
Whoa, we officially broke the century mark and it ain’t even 5pm…well, it ain’t here on the Wild Coast…
The Strumpet’s Crumpet…I could serve it with a crumpet…soon as I look up what a crumpet is on Ye Olde Wikipedia!
(I, obviously, don’t write historicals!)
‘ave a bit a’ crumpet, gov’nor?
An English muffin!? That’s what a crumpet is? Well, then The Strumpet’s Crumpet joins Jane’s Common Sense on the bar’s breakfast menu! With jelly! Or honey…
Anna – We don’t refer to nooky as crumpet in these parts. LOL! Though we have lots of other references for it. I’m sure there’s a food reference but I’ll be damned if I can think of one right now.
Hey, Nancy! I almost missed you up there. Don’t leave before you have a drink.
*aside to Chance*
Do we have anything referring to outer space or Battlestar Gallactica or maybe Lord of the Rings?
Wow, now that is breaking some rules to have a RS without a cop or FBI agent in the show! (Those Bandits are RULEBREAKERS left and right. I bet she and Anna totally conspired.)
I could use the chocolate drink now. I tried to go furniture hunting and then I went to the gym. *makes halo gesture around her head* I am worn out–and I had half the day off. By the way, furniture people are complete pirates. What is that? A 400% markup and most of it is not even made of wood? Come on!
Of course, I skipped the “big workout” but considering I was tempted to skip the gym altogether, I think I should still get the drink.
Jeanne, we were totally seperated at birth. *LOL* Thanks for explaining how Miss Congeniality differed from the run-of-the-mill awkward characters. I’m reading Stephen King’s On Writing; and he is descibing how he came up with Carrie. And he described two girls from his high school–and it was just horrible to even read those little bits. I don’t know. I don’t know if I could ever find high school that funny. *LOL*
Crumpet is sex?
I need to get out more.
Oh, and yes, down under possums are cuter. I heard a comedian describe North American possums dead on. He called them rats with human faces–which yeah, they sorta look like that. *LOL* Then he said he suspected possums were lawyers reincarnated. *LOL*
We totally need a LOTR’s drink. Hobbit ale or something.
Actually an English muffin here is sort of like a flat bun. A crumpet has something in it so it has bubbled in the baking and is all crispy and full of holes. YUM!!! Hot with honey, nothing better. Hmm, perhaps that’s how it got to be a synonym for you know what.
And no way is my imagination as eeeeeeevol as Miss Jeanne’s, Hellion! I can only watch and admire!
And I’m with you on furniture pirates – last time I bought furniture, they even expected me to put it together. Come on, I do not hammer!!!! And with what they were charging, sticking in a few nails wouldn’t have hurt them one scrap. Flat packs are the invention of the devil.
How about Tolkien’s Treasure? I be a Middle Earth junkie…
Cap’n, have a Captain’s Cocoa Puff…and I’ll throw in two brownies fer bein’ bedeviled by the furniture pirates!
Oh, Nancy! What a lovely compliment, to be the role model for character torture. Grins. :> So glad you enjoyed both, even tho’ I put ‘em through the ringer.
Then again, you and I, my fellow Bandita, we go for BOOM!
I googled images for Australian crumpet and it came up with what we call an English muffin here. But I’m guessing what we call an English muffin is called something else in England. LOL!
“But I’m guessing what we call an English muffin is called something else in England. LOL!”–
Yeah, it’s called crap.
I find it amusing that college kids will rave about Foster’s beer–but I hear that to most Australians, it’s the equivalent of our PBR beer. *LOL*
Hellion, I’m always up for a good conspiracy too! Just so you know, I found virtually NOTHING about high school funny. That could have something to do with moving in my 9th grade year and having to read The Illiad three times. Urg. Once was a gracious plenty. Or maybe it was having to play the oboe in order to get my orchestra credit when my new school only had band. (I was a fiddle player – SO like the oboe, you know….)
Actually, I do find that funny…now! I remember reading that part in King’s book and shuddering.
Anna, you’re so right. Flat packs ARE the devil’s spawn. Hellion, it really is about a 400% markup too. Urg.
Now, now, Anna, I just torture my characters. Sort of. I wouldn’t do that in real…well, maybe I would. Better shut up now.
I tried to copy a picture but it wouldn’t. This is what I call a crumpet:
http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/1383338/2/istockphoto_1383338_toasted_english_crumpet_with_melting_butter_against_whiteon.jpg
I think the English call English muffins tea cakes although they usually have fruit in them.
http://utsu.org.uk/files/tb_menu_tea_cake.jpg
Whereas in Australia, we call butter cakes tea cakes (you know, high, light, often iced) and they’re yummy. My mum used to make a great one with apples and cinnamon the top.
This is what we call an English muffin – no bubbles. As I say, like a flat bun.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_D2vgLMP2ssY/SDtkxudcHnI/AAAAAAAABng/ULxAn2eJB9E/s320/English+Muffin+2.jpg
When I googled English muffin, however, I found a lot of US sites put in what I’d call a crumpet, crispy and holey.
Hmm, fascinating. Well, at least to me. The rest of you have probably subsided into rum-induced slumber.
Here endeth the first lesson…
Heehee. Crumpet, muffin, biscuit…I have one word for all of them. YUM!!! If its carb-y and bread-y, I’m alllllll for it. Grins.
English teatime just rules.
Food never bores me. *LOL*
The third picture is what I call an English Muffin.
Your crumpet does look tasty. (I might have to have some pancakes for supper. *LOL*) Should I find myself in Australia, we’ll have to have some crumpets (but I’ll have to find something besides tea to drink with them. Coffee, maybe.)
Chance, I’m all for Tolkein’s Treasure. Or Aragorn’s Alewife Ale, or Frodo’s Feelgood Ale. :>
Personally, I’d like Aragorn’s Eastern Promise. Grins. Anyone see the movie?
Food never bores me either, Hellion. Ha!
Ah! I likes it! Aragorn’s Eastern Promise… Nice…
The great crumpet debate! I likes the look a’ all the bubbles… Bet they take toastin’ real well…
See, what you have as a crumpet up there just looks like an English Muffin here cut in half.
And I’m with you, Jeanne, I’m a walking carb. If it’s bread, I’ll dive in.
Oh, how about Legolas (no idea how to spell that) Lemonade? Never watched Eastern Promise, though he played a real baddy in that one.
A Mounted Legolas… If’n ya seen the movie ya know the scene I’m picturin’… That liquid grace as he climbed aboard that horse…climbed? Flowed aboard that horse…
Aragorn’s Eastern Promise is gonna be a hot drink, all steamy…
Snicker. Yep. Terrio, he did play a real baddy in Eastern Promises, but given your BarKeep’s fondness for *ahem* naughty references, and my fondness for Aragorn, I thought the combo was good. Have you seen EP? There’s this full frontal shot of darling Viggo….uh-huh. Yeah. That qualifies as naughty, doesn’t it Chance?
Sis suggested Faramir… A Faramir Fever anyone!?
Personally I’d like a Legolas Legless Lust…
Do you guys use ‘legless’ for blind drunk? Yet again, the wonders of cross culturalism!
Hi, Jeanne!! I love to hear your Call story; it’s such a clever one! Dark and Deadly is right now winging its way to me from Amazon. Can’t wait to read it. Congratulations!
I be gettin’ a read education today! A crumpet be about the bumpin’ uglies… Legless fer blind drunk…
Did you say “full frontal”? *off to Netflix*
Ahoy, Jo!!
Anna – Another new one! We just say shit faced.
Terrio, we say that too
Snork. I love cross-culturalism. :>
Terrio, I did indeed say full frontal. Its a brutal movie – he’s a killer for the Russian mob – but a romance too. There is a lot of blood, so brace yourself on that score.
Hey, Bandita Jo! Thanks for the Amazon order! :> I think Kate Duffy’s still laughing at me. That’s okay, I got another contract, so she can laugh allllll she wants!
I’m braced.
Thanks so much for being with us today, Jeanne! I knew you were a perfect fit with this crew. LOL!
I’ll wait until tomorrow to see if anyone else chimes in then I’ll pick the two winners.
Sounds good, Terrio! It’s been a blast. Thanks Revengers for letting me come play! :> And 2nd Chance, thanks for the fabulous beverages…