Cate: Please welcome J.M. Powers. J.M, will you please share a short bio with us?
J.M.: I'm multi-published and write under the pen names of J.M. Powers and Summer Falls. Romance is my genre and humor is my life. Mixing the two, I never know what might combust—historical, fantasy, erotic or a mixture of them all.
J.M.: I'm multi-published and write under the pen names of J.M. Powers and Summer Falls. Romance is my genre and humor is my life. Mixing the two, I never know what might combust—historical, fantasy, erotic or a mixture of them all.
Without the ability to free characters from the nooks and crannies of my mind and onto the page, I'm more wacky than usual. I must write. I breathe because I must, but I write to take my reader's breath away. I created that quote, and it's one I hold to. I want my readers to bust out laughing, wipe a tear, fight, sigh, hate and love right along with my characters-- then wish the book didn't have to end.
As a military brat, I moved constantly. Exposed to different cultures, climates and new people, was a great experience. Adapting to new situations made me outgoing, and adventurous. It also made me a writer. I mean, not all that upheaval was easy, and writing stories is a great way to escape. These days, I write romance to create an escape for others. Who doesn’t love a happily-ever-after?
Cate: So true. :) Tell us about Basket of Hope and where it's available.
J.M.: Basket of Hope is a paranormal romance filled with magic, medieval masquerade, mayhem, Machias … Okay! Okay! I couldn’t resist the alliteration. Here’s a short blurb:
All Hallows Eve looms near, and encroaching evil shall have its way if a marriage filled with true love and pure magic does not take place. Machias must choose a witch, something Kara never hopes to be.
Machias’ father will do anything to ensure his son chooses wisely—lies, beatings, and even an attempt to soil Kara’s innocence is not past the man.
Machias’ marriage announcement promises to burn Kara’s hope to cinders…unless something truly magical happens at the All Hallows Eve ball.
Cate: Oo, that sounds very cool. Please tantalize us with a story blurb or excerpt.
J.M.: Glad to, Cate. Okay here’s an interesting part…
Machias slumped over her, his dimple releasing the blood and dripping into her screaming mouth.
Kara sensed Tanner nearby, shouting for her to stop her screaming, but she could not look away from Machias.
"Nay! Dare not die." Kara scooted from beneath him, all prior doubts about him fading. Trading places, she clutched him to her chest, rocking him. "Tell me what ta do!" She looked up to Tanner. "What have ye done?"
"Release him."
She shook her head, laid him back and pressed her head against his chest. The beat of his heart sounded weak. "Oh, God, oh God, Machias…tell me the words. Tell me how ta help ye."
"Machias?" Tanner's voice shook, and for a moment, Kara saw fear in his eyes.
"Get away from him! Ye are at fault for his injuries. Had he not been focused on thy weakness, he would have blocked my blows."
Kara knelt beside Machias. "I take the blame, Milord, just help thy son!"
Tanner slung Machias over his shoulder. Plopping him across Machias' stallion, he scowled at her. "Ye stupid wench." Kicking his foot in the stirrup, he mounted his own horse and snapped his fingers. "Hand me his reins."
She scurried to Machias' stallion, hesitating for a kiss upon Machias' bloodied brow.
"Pick up the reins!" Tanner shouted. He grabbed her by the hair as she neared with them. "Any lowly wench can satisfy his cravings, but only a witch can fulfill his name."
She pulled from his grasp and lowered her gaze, glimpsing Machias' tunic covering her body. The richness of the fabric seemed to mock her. She fingered her tangled hair with berry-stained fingers. "Ye speak the truth. I be unworthy." Due ta me mother's blood slugging through me veins.
Cate: Intriguing! Can you tell us why we're going to love your hero?
J.M.: Ahh, who can resist a blond, blue-eyed, hunk of a man? Sigh....
J.M.: Ahh, who can resist a blond, blue-eyed, hunk of a man? Sigh....
Machias is strong and powerful when it comes to his kingdom, yet tender when it comes to love. Oh, need I mention his hot, chiseled body?
Cate: Machias sounds delicious! Tease us with one little thing about your fictional world that makes it different from others.
J.M.: The mixture of paranormal characters in a medieval setting makes Basket of Hope a tad different. Though I didn’t intend to use this era at first… well, it just happened. Sometimes I wonder if I’m fooling myself by assuming I actually have control over what goes on the page. So many times, I’m surprised where the story takes me.
J.M.: The mixture of paranormal characters in a medieval setting makes Basket of Hope a tad different. Though I didn’t intend to use this era at first… well, it just happened. Sometimes I wonder if I’m fooling myself by assuming I actually have control over what goes on the page. So many times, I’m surprised where the story takes me.
Cate: What's next for you?
J.M.: Jewel of Ramstone, a historical romance, is currently with a publisher. It’s about a maiden without a past—and love which overcomes guilt, secrets and obstacles. It should be out by Fall 2011. Editing has unpredictable timing. There is a book trailer and blurb on my blog. Jewel of Ramstone is my “baby.” I rewrote and edited it so many times my sister wanted to rip the manuscript out of my hands and submit it for me. Even my husband, (who only read the battle scenes) saw my obsession for perfection. When he said I would always find something to polish, therefore never getting it published. Therefore, I submitted it—the rest is history.
J.M.: Jewel of Ramstone, a historical romance, is currently with a publisher. It’s about a maiden without a past—and love which overcomes guilt, secrets and obstacles. It should be out by Fall 2011. Editing has unpredictable timing. There is a book trailer and blurb on my blog. Jewel of Ramstone is my “baby.” I rewrote and edited it so many times my sister wanted to rip the manuscript out of my hands and submit it for me. Even my husband, (who only read the battle scenes) saw my obsession for perfection. When he said I would always find something to polish, therefore never getting it published. Therefore, I submitted it—the rest is history.
I felt adrift without Jewel of Ramstone to work on. It was kind of like a child growing up and leaving home. Yeah, that’s a bit melodramatic, but I never claimed to be logical.
I’m also working on two other books:
Fiction: (Steps and Stones) A contemporary romance, about a woman who must face tragedy, build a new life… and accept what love really is. (The first chapter is on my blog.)
Non-fiction: (Untitled) About the journey with my son into the world of Autism… and his steps into our world.
Cate: What inspired you to draft your first story?
J.M.: It was a writing assignment in third grade. I seemed to be the only one who didn’t groan when we were told to write a fairy tale. Mine was about a prince who had to find a key to release a princess from her prison before her captor returned from battle. The teacher gave me a zero because she didn’t believe I wrote it—until my father convinced her otherwise… but that’s another story.
Cate: Do you have a writing routine?
J.M.: I start each morning by grabbing a cup of coffee and a granola bar. I check email real quick, and then before I get too distracted with the draw of the internet, I open a word document and allow a few characters to escape from my crowded mind. They tend to tell me what to write as I go along. I am a true pantser, as I have never outlined a thing. I’m a bit oblivious when I write. Anything can go on about me, even a kid blaring music and dancing to the Wii. I’ve been known to look up with a glazed look at dinnertime and wonder where the day went.
Cate: Where can readers find you on the web?
J.M.: I start each morning by grabbing a cup of coffee and a granola bar. I check email real quick, and then before I get too distracted with the draw of the internet, I open a word document and allow a few characters to escape from my crowded mind. They tend to tell me what to write as I go along. I am a true pantser, as I have never outlined a thing. I’m a bit oblivious when I write. Anything can go on about me, even a kid blaring music and dancing to the Wii. I’ve been known to look up with a glazed look at dinnertime and wonder where the day went.
Cate: Where can readers find you on the web?
J.M.: Well, you can usually find me shopping for girly things or instant messaging with my sister. What? Why are you looking at me like that, Cate? Ohhh! *blushes and clears throat*
You can find me on Facebook
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJMPowers
My blog: http://jmpowersromance.blogspot.com/
I have something for everyone on my blog--experiences on my road to publication, things I learn, excerpts, works in progress, poetry, and even book trailers. I also have purchasing links and updates on my books. To sum it up—I share everything with fellow authors and readers. You can keep updated by clicking the FOLLOW button. (Is that too obvious? LOL)
Cate: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
J.M.: What makes you want to read a book? The cover? The blurb or excerpt? Maybe a book trailer?
Cate: Readers, J.M. is giving away one copy of Basket of Hope to one commenter who answers her question. She'll pick a winner on next Sunday and announce the winner here.
Thanks so much for being my guest, J.M.! Best of luck to you.
