Find the original interview from 10/18/16 here: https://authorsinterviews.wordpress.com/2016/10/18/here-is-my-interview-with-jeanne-st-james/comment-page-1/#comment-12227

Name Jeanne St. James
Age 48
Where are you from I live in south central Pennsylvania

A little about your self (your education Family life etc)
I live with two farting French Bulldogs. I have my Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice and I have a background in law enforcement. My first book was published in 2009, but I’ve been writing since I was 13.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news?
After taking a six year hiatus from writing, I’m back out it and in 2016, I’ve had/am having four books published with Loose Id. And I have one more submission in my editor’s hands and another releasing 1/3/17.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?
I began writing when I was thirteen as an escape. I think I still write as an escape even 35 years later! I write characters I’d love to hang out with.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I think when I finished my first manuscript at fourteen. I probably have it hidden away somewhere.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?
I was a reading fiend and I wanted to write category romances. Well, that never happened I took a manuscript I wrote for Silhouette (way back in the day) and turned it hot and steamy and sold it as an ebook back in 2009.

Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style?
I’m a pantser (write by the seat of your pants). I figure out characters and a basic premise and the characters take me where to go.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?
My latest release is a m/m erotic romance trilogy entitled Rip Cord. There’s three novellas:
Rip Cord: The Reunion & The Weekend (released as one edition)
and Rip Cord: The Ever After
I just liked the name Rip Cord for the main character who is a pro NFL football player.

Fiona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Since it’s LGBTQ, I hope it carries the message that all people regardless of sexual preference should be accepted.

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic and are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
None. It’s all fiction, though I have a few LGBTQ friends. I’m all Allie.

Fiona: What books have most influenced your life most? a mentor? I think when I read Laura Kinsale and Katherine Sutcliffe back in the day, I was so enthralled by their books, their emotional characters, I was pulled in and wanted to write just like. (I don’t write like that, believe me. I wish I did!)

Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest and who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
I recently found J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series, which I’m really enjoying and I stumbled over Emma Chase’s Legal series and I LOVED it. I like her writing style and the humor

Fiona: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.
He’s not family, so I’d have to say my boyfriend. He was the one who kept encouraging me to get back to writing. I’m grateful for his encouragement.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?
It could be. I work full-time, but if I could swing it I’d write full-time. Though I’d probably end up a hermit and never leave the house.

Fiona: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
No. I can’t look behind. I have to keep moving forward and write the next book. I feel like every book I write, I become a better writer.

Fiona: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
Just from me being an avid reader when I was young and through my teenage years.

Fiona: Can you share a little of your current work with us?
I just submitted Brothers in Blue: Marc to my editor. This is the second book in my Brothers in Blue trilogy. The first book was recently released. Here is a one of my favorite passages. I laughed while writing it:

With the excuse that he was looking for Menace, Marc wandered casually into the living room to find—
His father sat at one end of the couch, while Leah reclined with her feet in his lap.
What the fuck!
His father was actually rubbing her feet. He was tempted to call his mother into the room to stop the shit he was seeing.
Leah’s eyes were closed as she laid her head back on the arm of the couch, a crocheted blanket tossed haphazardly over her, clearly not covering her breasts or her long legs.
Totally unacceptable.
His father was talking in a low voice, tell her about how he remembered doing those quick turnaround shifts and how they sucked. And when he got home, Mary Ann would always massage his feet and draw him a nice hot bath.
He was playing the sympathetic flirt.
Oh today was just full of fucking surprises.
His father looked up at him, a teasing smile on his face. “Did you just growl?”
Marc cleared his throat. “No, I had a tickle.”
Leah’s eyes popped open as his mother bustled into the room, shoving Marc out of her way. Now things were going to get ugly. No one messes with his mother’s man. She’d put an end to it. Any moment now. Just wait.
Mary Ann approached the couch, straightening out the blanket over Leah and tucking it around her. “Well, aren’t you sweet, Ron, rubbing her feet after an exhausting day. You should take some lessons, son. Your father knows how to take care of a woman.”
But Leah wasn’t his Pop’s woman, she was his… rookie.
Marc wanted to pull his hair and run out of the room. But instead, he stood there like a dumbass in stunned silence, watching the bizarre display before him. His parents must have been abducted by aliens. No other explanation for it.
“I crocheted that blanket for Ron twenty years ago. Didn’t I, hon?”
His father’s “yep” and nod of his head didn’t slow his fingers from pushing on the soles of Leah’s feet.
A long, loud fart filled the room and all eyes turned toward Marc. His eyebrows shot to his hairline and heat flooded his cheeks. “That wasn’t me! That was Menace!”
The half-grown puppy lifted his head for a second when he heard his name, then went back to licking his balls.
On her way back to the kitchen, his mother patted Marc on the cheek as she passed him. “Sure it was, honey, sure it was.”
He heard a noise from the direction of the couch and when he glanced over, Leah was almost purple as she smothered her laughter.

Fiona: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
I like very Alpha males (type A personalities), so I have to remember to dial my heroes down a little bit, because I don’t want them to come across as abusive.

Fiona: Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?
No, but that would be a great excuse. I love to travel, I just don’t do it for my books.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?
Depends on what book. Usually the publisher picks the artist. The artist who did the Rip Cord covers was Syneca Featherstone.

Fiona: What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Not getting distracted. Life is very busy and having the Internet is a bad, bad, bad distraction for me.

Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?
Keep writing, ignore bad reviews, value your readers, and their good reviews.

Fiona: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
I appreciate all of my readers. And I would love to hear from you, I’m very approachable. You can get hold of me through my website, blog, or FB page.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?
I am reading Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover.

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?
No. Probably Dr. Seuss!

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?
My dogs. I laugh when they are doing something goofy or I cry when I have to say goodbye.

Fiona: Other than writing do you have any hobbies ?
Baking, cooking, and growing an organic vegetable garden.

Fiona: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?
My favorites are reality shows on The Food Network, raunchy shows like Shameless, funny sitcoms like The Last Man on Earth.

Fiona: Favorite foods / Colors/ Music
I love ethnic food. I just love to eat! My favorite color is black. And when it comes to music, my taste is eclectic. I’ll listen to almost anything except country music.

Fiona: If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?
Been a baker. I love to cook and bake.

Fiona: Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?
My website is: http://www.jeannestjames.com
My blog is: http://jeannestjames.blogspot.com

Author Bio:
JEANNE ST. JAMES is an erotic romance author who loves an Alpha male (or two). She was only 13 started writing when she started writing since it gave her an escape from teenage angst! Her first paid published piece was an erotic story in Playgirl magazine. Her first erotic romance novel, Banged Up, was published in 2009. She is happily owned by farting French bulldogs. She writes M/F, M/M, and M/M/F ménages.

She has a few new releases coming up in 2016 and 2017. So keep an eye on her website at www.jeannestjames.com or sign up for her newsletter.

Author Links:

Website: http://www.jeannestjames.com
Blog: http://jeannestjames.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeannestjames
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeannestjames/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeanneStJames
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/jeannestjames
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/3082300.Jeanne_St_James
Newsletter: www.jeannestjames.com/newslettersignup