I met Jaime Jo online through the American Christian Fiction Writers, but even though we both live in the land of Packers and Bratwurst, we haven’t yet met in person. I recently read one of her novellas, Gold Haven Heiress, in the California Gold Rush Romance Collection, and asked if I could interview her on my website. She graciously said yes and donated a paperback copy of the book for me to give away! Barbour makes beautiful paperback novella collections. This one has covers that open and fold out to reveal western landscapes, and the paper is beautiful soft and heavy with deckle edges. Beautiful. See the raffle form below for your chance to win it!
Welcome, Jaime! It’s fun to have you here. I know authors have the best book recommendations, so tell me… what are you reading now?
I am currently in between books, actually. But LOVED reading Kara Isaac’s “Close To You” and Joanne Bischof’s “Lady and the Lionheart”. They were both so well written and have stuck with me far longer than most books I’ve read this year!
Do you have a favorite contemporary author?
Well, it sounds redundant now, lol, but I LOVE Kara Isaac. She’s new to contemporary romance but has such wit and voice I can’t get enough of her.
What’s your favorite genre for your personal reading?
I waffle between mysteries and historical romance. It’s a bonus if they’re combined!
What one book – other than the Bible! – has most greatly influenced your life?
Ohhh, that’s a great question! I was greatly impacted by Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s “Cost of Discipleship”. It pretty much hits you between the eyes in how seriously you’re going to live your faith.
How about writing? What’s your favorite genre for writing?
I love historical romance with twists of mystery and suspense!
What is the hardest part of writing for you?
Time. It’s a challenge to write with a full time job and two kids under the age of 6. Balancing the home and church also makes it a tad sketchy to eek out hours of writing time.
That’s a full plate! What is your “day job”?
I’m the Director of Employee Sales, Development & Associate Relations for a medium-sized corporation. It keeps me hopping for sure!
What does your writing process look like?
Well, considering time is difficult to find, it’s more like I write scenes in my head during the day and then grab 15 minute snippets to dictate them down on my phone app or type them on my laptop. Ideally, I get an hour or two at night after the kids are in bed to really focus. Coffee is always, ALWAYS involved.
Do you ever experience writer’s block?
I don’t! I know that sounds weird, but if I’m not sure what to write I usually just plow ahead and write anyway. It often gets deleted, but if I just sit and stare at the laptop then I’m definitely not moving ahead.
Do you know the ending of a book when you start writing it?
Usually. I typically have the skeleton framework and then fill in the rest on the go.
Gold Haven Heiress
Gold Haven Heiress had some emotionally intense and some lighthearted scenes. Do you laugh and cry as you write your books? How emotionally attached do you get to your characters? If they were real, would they be your friends?
I’m not a crier, and I don’t usually get attached to my characters on an emotional level. I love creating them, molding them, and seeing them come to life, but they are fictional after all, and the fact that I have their conversations in my head is scary enough. Lol If they were real? Some of them might be my friends. Some of them would probably drive me nuts. LOL!
What are your current projects? Do you have any books coming out soon?
I’m currently working on my next novella, releasing in July 2017. It is part of Barbour’s “Of Rags and Riches Romance Collection – a Gilded Age Novella Collection”. My novella is titled: “The Flyfisherman’s Nymph”.
I understand that’s set in Wisconsin, and I am looking forward to it! In the meantime, where can we find you online?
Web site: www.jaimejowright.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jaimejowright
Twitter: www.twitter.com/jaimejowright
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/jaimejowright
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/jaimejowright
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/13916081.Jaime_Jo_Wright
Periscope: @jaimejowright
Thank you for the gorgeous book you sent me. I loved it, and I’m glad to have the opportunity to share it with one of my own readers. NOTE: You do not need to sign up for my newsletter to enter the contest unless you choose to do so. I will NOT be saving the emails you use to enter the contest. I will notify the winner by email and here on my website.
Enter to win a paperback copy of The California Gold Rush Romance Collection!
Professional coffee drinker Jaime Jo Wright resides in the hills of Wisconsin writing spirited turn-of-the-century romance stained with suspense. Coffee fuels her snarky personality. She lives in Neverland with her Cap’n Hook who stole her heart and will not give it back, their little fairy Tinkerbell, and a very mischievous Peter Pan. The foursome embark on scores of adventure that only make her fall more wildly in love with romance and intrigue.
Jaime lives in dreamland, exists in reality, and invites you to join her adventures at jaimejowright.com.