Hi Jonel! I’m so excited to stop by Pure Jonel. Thanks so much for having me. I write romantic comedy – sometimes with a touch of magic – always with a heart-warming ending.
Q ~ What is your favourite electronic gadget?
I love, love, love my Kindle! I take it everywhere I go.
Q ~ If you could have lunch with one person, dead, alive, or imaginary, who would it be and why?
I wouldn’t turn down a BBB Burger with my current hero Josh and ask him why he was such a jerk to my heroine Caitlin today! - I have hope that he’ll apologize :) - What’s in a BBB Burger? A fruit, a meat and a cheese and it’s amazing!
Q ~ What is your favorite quote, by whom, and why?
“The scariest moment is always just before you start” by Stephen King
It’s true for writing, but also for so many other things in life. The point, I believe , is to plow through that moment. You’ll be happy that you did!
Q - Do you have a favourite author? Do they influence your writing?
I have so many favorites. I’m reading Sarah Addison Allen and love her style. For those who love magical realism, her books are terrific.
Q ~ What is your favourite genre to read? To write?
I love to read contemporary romance and write it, too.
Q ~ How did you begin writing? Was there a single catalyst or a series of events?
Yes. This is going to sound a little weird. In 2009, my cat of seven years, Sydney, passed away. I was taking the train to work the next day and was so overcome with grief that I wrote a few paragraphs, outlining where I hoped she was, in some attempt to make me feel better. Those few sentences became the prologue to my first book, Christmas Dinner. Prior to that, I’d never thought about writing a book. In 2012, I received the news that Crimson Romance was interested in publishing that book. It was very special to me that I actually got that news while riding the train.
Q ~ Do you have any writing rituals that you follow? What is your go-to snack while writing?
I have three things that always make it into my books: 1.) Some sort of transportation scene to give a shout out to when I first learned I would become a published author; 2) either a cat or Sydney’s name, acknowledging my sweet kitty who launched a passion for writing that I didn’t even realize I had and 3) a mention to Nancy Drew – I loved those books growing up and read all of them multiple times.
My go to snack is definitely chips. Add in guacamole if I’m feeling I need a special treat.
Q ~ Do you prefer to write in a small town or big city setting? Why?
I’ve written both. I’m really enjoying the world building involved in creating a fictitious small town at the moment.
Q ~ Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I believe I’m a bit of a hybrid of the two. I wish I was a 100 percent plotter. I tend to take off writing a story from the seat of my pants. By the mid-point, though, I have to step back and plot. I often write the ending about half – way through.
Q ~ Can you tell us a little bit about your latest release Batter Up and what inspired you to write it?
When readers pick up one of my books they are in for fast and funny dialogue, a sweet story, and a heart-warming ending. Magical realism fits in nicely with my brand, and I was more than eager to give it a try with Batter Up, that includes one spell-binding approach to finding true love.
Faith, hope and destiny themes tend to influence my books so magical realism became a new tool for me to continue to explore these themes in an entertaining way. Also, the research on creating spells was a lot of fun. I now have a nice collection of spell books and am always tempted to try casting one!
Q ~ What is your favourite part or scene in the novel?
I love the scene just before all goes to hell for the hero and heroine. You just want to keep reading to see how they can possibly reach their happily ever after.
Q ~ What was the most difficult part of the process while writing Batter Up?
I had never written or read magical realism before. I wanted to strike a balance so that the book didn’t focus completely on the magic.
Q ~ Have you written an outline for the Bachelors of Buttermilk Falls series or do you make it up as you go?
I didn’t have an outline but early on in Batter Up I knew the couple I’d be writing about in Tangled Up. For Kiss and Make Up, I knew the heroine, which would be a challenge because she’s so evil in the first two books. The hero came later to me, but they are perfect for each other. The Holiday Hookup is on the horizon and two secondary characters have been battling it out to be elevated to hero status in that book. I think I know the fella I’ve chosen, and he’s ready to get his happily ever after!
Q ~ Do you have a favourite character (or two) in your latest series? What is it that draws you to them?
Oh, my gosh, I love them all. Abby and Brandon have probably been my favorite to write. Shhhh… don’t tell Emma and Jason. The batter predicts their match early on, but they both muck it all up. It was so much fun to decide on how they would ultimately get together (there’s a magical cupcake spell in this one), and I can’t wait until it comes out on September 1!
Q ~ You’ve written works outside of this series as well. For you, do they compare to one another? Do you have a favourite or do they all stand out in their own way?
For me, it’s all about the characters and the situations I put them in. I loved writing Destination Wedding and Holiday Wedding, simply because of all the characters. Some of my favorite scenes are with the hero or heroine interacting with the secondary characters. I have a fun character interview with Drew Cannon on his take on a kiss 30,000 feet up in the air between his twin brother and Drew’s wedding planner that led to a hilarious case of mistaken identity once they all landed.
Q ~ Do you have anything in the works at the moment? Care to give us a hint about it?
I just finished Kiss and Make Up – The third book in the Bachelors of Buttermilk Falls series, and there’s a an enchanted blue mixing spoon in this one! This one has a tiny paranormal element as I explain the origins of the Batter Up spell.
Q ~ If you could give aspiring authors one piece of advice, what would it be?
Write every day. Do what you can to get those words down. It’s standard advice because it’s true.
About the author:
Bakeshop owner Emma Stevens has a secret. A delicious premonition she shares every Monday evening with the bachelors of Buttermilk Falls as they gather at the Sugar Spoon bakery for Batter Up night.
Investigative reporter Jason Levine just found himself as the man candy for a bachelorette party in Las Vegas. Roped into attending the Vegas nuptials, was he hearing things when the groom shares that the only reason he’s getting married is because a small town baker conjured up the name of his soulmate in her cake batter?
Sparks fly when Jason tries to expose Emma as a fraud, but reality and logic go out the window as he begins to fall under her spell.
And now, enter to win in this fantastic giveaway with author Robyn Neeley!
1 winner will receive a $5 Amazon gift card.
1 winner will receive an ecopy of any novel from Robyn Neeley's Backlist (mobi or epub)
Contest is open internationally, where applicable by law.
Entries close at 11:59pm August 28/15.
Winners will be drawn August 29/15.
Winners will be notified via email to the email provided to the giveaway and will have 72h to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn.
I do like a good romantic comedy! I have been really into romance books lately because they are so sweet - and judging from this title, this one will be too.
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