We’re thrilled to be able to welcome a very special guest to e-Books India. Her name is Jamie Beck and she is a women’s fiction author. Continue reading to find out about Jamie, her background and of course her books, including her latest story entitled SECRETLY HERS.
Please tell us about you. Where are you from? What is your professional background and how did you become an author?
Before I launch into my answer, let me thank you for inviting me to discuss my writing with your readers.
As for my background, I worked as a real estate and lending lawyer for ten years prior to taking time off to raise my two children. Once they were in school full-time, I began looking into alternatives to going back to work in a law firm because I wanted more flexibility. I’d always had an interest in writing, and especially in writing love stories, so I decided to give it a try.
I wrote my first manuscript without knowing a thing about story structure or good writing, so it will never be published. But that experience made me certain that this was what I wanted to do. I joined a few writing groups and slowly learned the craft of storytelling, eventually winning over an agent and a publisher.
What types of books do you write?
There is not an easy answer because I feel that the majority of my books blur the line between romance and women’s fiction. They all have a happy ending for the couple, but many also address family and sibling issues, which are prevalent in most women’s fiction.
Could you please tell us about your most recent book, its overall plot, and the main characters in it?
I actually have a new release coming out on June 21st. SECRETLY HERS is an extremely fun and sexy romance set in a ski town in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. It is the second book in my Sterling Canyon series (book one is entitled Accidentally Hers).
A one-sentence tag line might read something like:
Local playboy and ski guide Trip Lexington’s sexy bargain to help hopeless romantic Kelsey Callahan find a husband backfires when he falls for her instead.
As the tag line suggests, the premise between this friends-to-lovers story is a bet wherein a confirmed bachelor, who’s interested in a friends-with-benefits relationship with a husband-hunting woman, promises to help her snag a man if she agrees to a secret fling with him.
The plot deepens with layers of family relationships and friendships, as well as a few twists and turns. Early reviewers have given it high marks, so I’m eager for more readers to find this summer beach book.
Are you working on any other books(s)? If so, can you please tell us what we can expect to see from you in the future?
In November, the third book in my St. James series comes out (Worth the Risk) which is the story of a recovering alcoholic who ultimately finds love even more addicting than alcohol. This book will be the last in the series and close all of the open story threads that began in the first book (Worth the Wait). I love its hero (Jackson) and the wrap up to that series.
In February of 2017, the third Sterling Canyon book will come out (Unexpectedly Hers). I don’t want to give anything away because I don’t want to ruin the surprise that series’ readers will enjoy when they start Emma’s story.
As of this moment, I’m currently writing the first book in a new series (The Cabot Novels), which is set in the Pacific Northwest (Portland, Oregon). This series will debut in summer 2017, and is an emotionally complex one that follows the loves and lives of three Cabot siblings. The first book (Before I Knew) deals with some weighty topics (mental illness, suicide, and sibling rivalry), which I hope I’m handling with respect and compassion without whitewashing the devastating affect these things can have on a person.
Can you please tell us about your approach to writing? For example, do you follow structures and writing rules? Or do you write in a free flow way? Do you have any particular time of the day you like to write? Or any specific environment you prefer to sit down and write in?
My approach varies a bit with each book (some have been more plot-driven while others more character-driven). The plot-driven books are better planned from the beginning, whereas the character-driven ones meander a bit during the first draft.
I work with a critique partner as I go, and then have several beta readers who read my early draft and let me know where I’ve gone wrong. Then I send it to my agent, who also adds her notes. By the time it reaches my publisher’s hands, I’m getting sick of it! Of course, then we go through three rounds of editing there, too (developmental, line, and copy).
I find I’m most productive at crafting new content in the afternoon. Therefore, I tend to wake up and use the morning to edit whatever I worked on the prior day. I also squeeze in a bit of time on social media in the morning, mid-day, and again in the evening. Writing is an all-consuming career. I’m still learning to strike a balance between it and my family’s needs.
In terms of the environment, I prefer it to be quiet. Sometimes I will play instrumental music, but no lyrics. That’s too distracting.
Do you have any favourite authors? If so, who are they and what do you like about their work?
Within the romance genre, my three favourite authors are Julie Anne Long, Sherry Thomas, and Lisa Kleypas. Each of these women write highly emotional, character-driven books that move me and make me sit back in awe of some of the prose.
What other things do you like to get up to when you’re not writing?
I love to cook (and eat!). I also enjoy hiking, skiing, and reading. I love to travel (in the past twelve months I’ve visited the Dominican Republic, Utah, Costa Rica, and England, and am gearing up for a research trip to Portland, Oregon at the end of the month). I also enjoy concerts (huge fan of music, especially acoustic stuff), and of course, spending time with my family.
How can people find out more about you?
Lots and lots of places!
Website/Blog/Newsletter (for inside scoops and giveaways): www.jamiebeck.com
Amazon author page (a one-click way to keep updated about new releases): https://www.amazon.com/Jamie-Beck/e/B00KYB8TDU
Goodreads (which is running a 20 book giveaway contest for Secretly Hers through June 21st): https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8020971.Jamie_Beck
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jamiebeckbooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/writerjamiebeck
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writerjamiebeck
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/writerjamiebeck
I’m most active on Facebook and love to engage with readers. It’s a fun community and I feel very blessed to be part of it.
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://writingtipsoasis.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/hv1.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Hiten Vyas is the Founder and Managing Editor of eBooks India. He is also a prolific eBook writer with over 25 titles to his name.[/author_info] [/author]