Ah, romance. Fall is about to cool the air and I don’t know
about you, but I find it breath-taking to fall
in love in autumn. So, what better topic to kick off the month in which the
leaves will start blazing than with talk of romance novels and the infatuation
with writing? Jennifer Morey is an authority on both. An accomplished author
with Harlequin, she gets to do what she loves for a living and rightly so.
Her latest novel One
Secret Night releases this month. It just so happens that the main
character’s name is…wait for it… Autumn.
After stumbling into
the cross fire of a black ops mission, Autumn Ivy is saved by a dark sexy hero
and swept away for a night to remember. Weeks later, she discovers her secret
love is soon to be a secret daddy, but what’s more shocking is when Autumn
tracks her mystery man right into the path of a killer.
CIR: Thanks for joining us on the Rock, Jennifer. I have to
start with congratulations on your recent move to full-time author, a gig all
of us writers dream of. It came with a lot of hard work I’m sure. Did you have
a strategy/business plan starting out?
JM: Oh, heavens, no. The Universe had to give me a shove, as
in, out the door. It’s never an easy decision to quit a dependable income
source. And I’m a lousy decision maker if it isn’t fiction. I was a corporate
junky for the aerospace industry. My job dealt with fascinating and challenging
tasks, but never gave me chocolates and roses the way writing does. So when the
demand for my position waned, it was a natural transition.
I’ve gone from having to struggle to fit in writing to
having all day every day to write. There was really no strategy other than
making an impulsive decision to give it a shot. I was fortunate enough to have
enough saved to get me by until I can write a few stories and get them sold. So
the only plan that applies here is to jump off the ship and swim for land. I
don’t plan on drowning before I get there.
CIR: Were there any rejections that you felt were ‘crushing’
and how did you get over it? (I recently weathered one that still has me
sucking wind, LOL).
JM: I could wallpaper my office two or three times with all
of the rejection letters I’ve received. I learned early on not to let them
bother me. Sure, it’s disappointing when you get them, especially when you
think of all the time you spent on the proposal, but sometimes they come with
comments, and sometimes those comments are constructive. It’s best to find the
positive in them if you can. And always strive to write better. So, I guess the
way I get over them is I get right back to work and try to write better.
CIR: One of my favorite romance authors is Jennifer Crusie.
She started with the big H then moved on to epic yarns, some that I think could
be romantic comedies on the screen. Do you have aspirations to write longer
pieces?
JM: Yes. I have a single title that I have almost finished.
It is a paranormal murder mystery that I plan to sell in the near future. Want
to know what it’s about? A woman is murdered by a serial killer in the late
1800s and begins to haunt an agnostic when another serial killer surfaces in
current time. I’ve had such fun with this story. Now to find the right editor
who agrees!
CIR: You are clearly very thankful to be in your occupation.
What was your former career and was it all that bad?
JM: No, not bad at all. In fact, I liked my job. I was an
export control manager for a satellite imaging company. Spacecraft are
considered munitions by our government and listed on the United States
Munitions List just like armored combat ground vehicles or night vision
equipment. Anything listed on the USML is controlled by the International
Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). All exports relating to them, including any
technology, has to be licensed by the Department of State. Those licenses come
with a host of other compliance requirements that have to be managed. That was
my job. It was satisfying to me and quite challenging given the complicated
nature of the regulations, so most of the time I didn’t mind doing it. What I
did mind was the corporate politics. That, and the most important thing of all,
the time it took away from writing.
CIR: With Rock interviews, we pride ourselves in asking
bizarre questions. What actor/star never before published do you think would
write an interesting fiction manuscript?
JM: Hmmm...
Kathy Bates. She’s funny, serious, and has a respectable
reputation. She’s a class act.
CIR: Thanks, Jennifer. We wish you continued success with
your series.
Interview conducted by Gusto Dave
No comments:
Post a Comment