Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester is excited to shine our Friday Spotlight on romantic suspense author Jayne Ann Krentz. Under this name, she writes using contemporary settings. She also writes under the names Amanda Quick for historicals and Jayne Castle for futuristics. She lives in Seattle with her husband, Frank.
Thanks so much for joining us, Jayne! My first question is, Where can people find your work? (Besides Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester –though they should totally check here first!)
Absolutely people should check with Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester first for any of my titles! Beyond that, my books are usually available at all the usual suspects: the big retail chains and many independents.
How can we follow your work and share your awesomeness?
No awesomeness involved but I do enjoy meeting readers on my Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/JayneAnnKrentz/ And I invite people to check out my website where they can sign up for my monthly newsletter: https://jayneannkrentz.com/
For readers unfamiliar with your work, how would you describe what you write? What can readers expect from you?
My core story is romantic suspense. I love the genre. The element of suspense raises the stakes in the relationship and vice-versa. Within the context of a novel of romantic suspense I find myself compelled by the themes of trust, determination, courage and honor. My characters are always in the process of reinventing themselves when the story begins.
What kind of research went into writing your newest book, Untouchable?? What is your favorite research story? What cool facts and findings didn’t make it into the book, but you loved discovering?
The hero of Untouchable, Jack Lancaster, is a lucid dreamer. I found that subject fascinating. It is a very real thing. It means that the dreamer can take control of the dream. Most of us have done it from time to time but Jack is such a strong dreamer that he can use his ability to solve crimes.
What was the inspiration for Untouchable? What were the steps you took to bring it from initial inspiration to the finished book?
Untouchable is the conclusion to a loosely linked trilogy that includes When All The Girls Have Gone and Promise Not To Tell. To be honest, I had no idea at the start that I was beginning a trilogy. It wasn’t until the end of the first novel in the series that I knew I had to keep going. And it wasn’t until I was three quarters of the way through Untouchable that I finally got the vision of how it had to end. I wish I was better at plotting a book in advance. It would sure make my life easier. But the sad truth is I get my best ideas when I’m actually in the process of writing the book.
What is your favorite part of being a writer? Of the whole writing and publishing process? What do you think has been your greatest lesson in the journey thus far?
I love the rush I get when a scene finally comes together. That little burst of euphoria is what keeps me going on a day to day basis. But I must admit there is nothing more gratifying than having all those scenes meld into a completed story. I enjoy the sensation for a few days and then I get restless because the need to write is actually some kind of an addiction. If I’m away from it for too long I get twitchy.
What piece of advice would you want to share with other writers?
Discover your core story. Once you understand it you will realize that you are not bound by a particular fictional landscape. You don’t have to set that story in the 19th Century or in a paranormal world. You can take it anywhere because your core story is formed by the emotions, conflicts and themes that you are compelled to explore. It pays to take the time to figure out what you were born to write because, trust me, you will explore that story for the whole of your career.
What else can we expect from you in the near future?
As previously noted, I write historicals under the name Amanda Quick. I have moved that side of my career into the 1930s. The stories are set in the fictional town of Burning Cove, California. Think: Hollywood Glam meets murder and romance. The next title out in that series is Tightrope (May). I’m in love with the cover of that book, by the way. The heroine is a trapeze artist and the hero is named Matthias Jones. (For those readers who are fans of my Arcane Society novels I can tell you that that the name Jones is not a coincidence).
What is/are your passions when you’re not writing? How do you make time for your non-writing hobbies/things you love?
I enjoy cooking. My husband and I are primarily low-carb and mostly vegetarian, although we do eat fish. That makes for some interesting challenges when it comes to planning menus.
What does your writing space look like? What do you need to have around you while writing or editing?
All I need are a computer, some alone time and a cup of coffee.
What is the greatest lesson you’ve learned, thus far, in your writing career?
You had better take your joy in the writing because it is the only thing you can control.
Are there any groups, clubs, or organizations that you would recommend to other writers that have helped you in your career?
I highly recommend joining a writers organization to take advantage of what others have already learned the hard way. Romance Writers of America https://rwa.org/ is high on my list of suggested groups but there are several others. Ask a librarian for the organizations in your area.
Thank you for inviting me to do this chat. I wish you and your readers a joyous and healthy New Year!
Same to you, Jayne, and thank you again for taking the time out of your busy schedule to answer our questions.
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