Q: When did you first begin writing stories?
A: I was always a good student, but writing wasn’t even on my radar until I was in my early thirties. I was an avid romance reader all through my twenties, thanks to my mom sharing all her books with me. I was always the person who went to bed and thought about how the story I didn’t finish reading was going to end. I’d make up several different endings sometimes because the author could go in different directions.
But when I was 32 and pregnant with baby #3, I had this really vivid story in my head that I just couldn’t stop thinking about. It started so casually with the thought that I’d just try to see if I could write it all down. It took a couple of months. I was so impressed with myself for being able to do it. I thought the book was good. I’d learn that it would take some work to make it great. But that one book showed me I could do it. It also sparked a passion I didn’t know I had for writing. Now, I can’t seem to stop. And I don’t want to.
Q: What was the name of your first book?
A: SAVED BY THE RANCHER. Originally I title it The Hunted. But since I also wrote 3 more books to go with it, my editor suggested we use The Hunted as the series name instead. It became the first New York Times bestseller for me!
Q: How did you get into the contemporary romance genre?
A: I started as a fan. I love contemporary, romantic suspense, paranormal, and historical romances. Before I became a full-time writer, I read 5-10 books a week. Writing takes up a lot of time, but I still find time to read in all those genres.
Writing contemporary seemed the most natural for me. Plus I like to add some suspense and drama to every novel. Okay, sometimes a lot of those things!
Q: Who was your favorite author when you were younger?
A: It’s so hard to pick one. Nora Roberts started me in romance, but I fell in love with Sandra Brown, Julie Garwood, Hannah Howell, Judith McNaught, Jill Shalvis, Helenkay Dimon, J. R Ward, and Jay Crownover.
I could go on. There are so many great writers out there.
Q: How would you describe your writing style in three words?
A: Fast-paced. Dramatic. Suspenseful.
Q: How many books have you published so far?
A: If I counted correctly, THE ONE YOU WANT is my 29th published novel, plus 3 more novellas.
Q: What inspired you to write your latest release, The One You Want?
A: It started with a question. If you slept with someone, who later started dating your best friend, would you tell the friend you’d slept with their boyfriend?
In THE ONE YOU WANT, Rose is faced with telling her best friend Maggie that Rose not only knows Maggie’s fiancé, but she slept with him long before Maggie ever met and fell in love with him. And the wedding is just a week away. What if the secret comes out before Rose says something? Will it ruin their friendship? Will Maggie cancel the wedding?
Q: What future projects are you currently working on that you can share with us, readers?
A: I have a brand new Wyoming Wilde, opposites attract romance book coming out August 23!
SURRENDERING TO HUNT
The last thing lawman Hunt Wilde ever dreamed he’d do was fall hard for a purple-haired troublemaker like Cyn Wilson. While Hunt believes in law and order, Cyn lives life fast and loose—with fast cars and wild nights. But when Cyn’s sister disappears, she surprisingly turns to him for help. Never let it be said that a Wilde man turned down a woman in distress—and on a mission.
It takes a lot for Cyn to swallow her pride and ask Hunt for anything. The man never gives her a break and is always staring at her with those perceptive eyes. But beneath Cyn’s tough exterior beats a heart as wide and beautiful as Wyoming itself—and soon she finds herself surrendering to the overpowering attraction simmering between them and partnering with him in the search for her missing sister.
She won’t rest until she learns the truth, even if that means putting herself in harm’s way. And when Hunt discovers how much danger Cyn is in because of him, he’s even more determined to take down the man who would take her out of Hunt’s life—forever.
Q: Do you outline your stories or do you just dive into writing them?
A: I usually start with a short synopsis that my editor has approved and the opening chapter really clear in my mind. From there, I let the story unfold. I know the big things that have to happen along the way, but it’s the getting there that comes as I write.
Q: What is your go to beverage when working on a new book?
Coffee and tea.
Q: What is the writing and publishing process like for you?
Because I write 3-4 books a year, it’s fast, but can also feel like it’s taking forever when things aren’t flowing the way I want them to.
I have overlapping deadlines for things like edits, copyedits, page proofs, and all the business side of things that take time away from writing a new story.
By the time one of my books is actually published, on shelves, and in readers hands, I’ve more than likely written 2-3 other books. And because I’ve continued to write, it can feel like it took that published book to finally come out.
Q: For aspiring writers in your genre, what advice would you give to them?
A: Write the book you’d want to read as a fan of the genre.
Q: Tell us about your main characters in The One You Want.
A: Rose and Maggie are best friends from childhood. Rose had an abusive, alcoholic father and spent as much time with Maggie as possible growing up. She’s estranged from her mother and sister, until she returns to her home town for Maggie’s wedding.
Maggie lost the love of her life, but has a second chance at the happy-ever-after she wants with Marc, only he’s been acting strange. She dismisses it as wedding jitters. But maybe it’s something more.
Businessman Gray is only in town to be his cousin’s best man, but the second he sees Rose, he’s all too happy to spend a week with her. But can he get over the fact that Rose and Marc had a one-night stand.
Q: Where can readers find you and your books online?
A: My books are sold in bookstores and all online retailers.
Please visit my website at www.jennifer-ryan.com for information about upcoming releases.
Follow me on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenniferryanauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenRyan_author
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