This week I’m hosting C.J. Darlington with Thicker Than Blood and Janice Thompson with Swinging on a Star. If you want to enter the drawing for the book, please leave a comment on one of the post during the week with your email address. I will not enter you without an email address (my way to contact you if you win). If you don’t want to leave an email address, another way you can enter is to email me at margaretdaley@gmail.com. The drawings end Sunday (Jan. 10th) evening.
Interview with Janice Thompson:
1. What made you start writing?
As a younger woman, I wrote out of necessity. If our church needed a newsletter, I wrote one. If our drama team needed a skit, I wrote one. If our school needed a musical comedy, I wrote one. I never set out to write books, ironically.
2. How long have you been writing? When did you sell your first book?
I started writing books in 1994 and sold my first on in 1999. “Duty to Die” (a thriller) was released in 2000. Since then, I have published over fifty books, most romance or romantic comedy.
3. How do you handle rejections?
Honestly, it gets easier with time. Those first few rejections stung. Really stung. Now I’ve reconciled myself to the fact that a rejection at one house often means a sale to a better/bigger house. You have to look at it that way. I once heard a pastor say, “There’s no safer place to be than at the very center of God’s will.” That’s where I want to be – at the center of His will. What would be the point of fretting over a rejection, then? He knows where my manuscript belongs!
4. Why do you write?
Pardon the double negative, but I write because I can’t “not” write. ☺ Writing is a part of who I am. It comes as naturally as eating, sleeping and breathing. That’s how I know it’s a God-breathed thing. I can’t shake it!
5. What would you be doing with your free time if you weren’t writing?
Probably spending more time with my grandbabies. I have the most adorable grandchildren in the world. I’d also travel more. I’m dying to go to Italy one day. And I love to take pictures, so I’m sure I’d have my camera in my hand, snapping right and left!
6. What are you working on right now?
I’m writing a book for the new Summerside “When We Fell in Love” line. The romances in that line are set between the 1940’s and the 1970’s and are all based on song titles. My books is set in Laguna Beach California in 1957 (in a soda shop) and is titled “Love Me Tender.” Talk about fun!
7. Do you put yourself into your books/characters?
Well, I have a quirky sense of humor, so I suppose that shows up in my stories. I try not to pattern my characters after myself, but it’s hard to avoid “showing up” anyway.
8. Tell us about the book you have out right now.
“Swinging on a Star” is the second book in the “Weddings by Bella” series. Here’s the synopsis: Bella Rossi’s life is nearing perfection. She’s got the perfect guy, she’s running a successful business, and she’s about to plan her most ambitious wedding yet; a Renaissance-themed fairy tale come true, complete with period costumes and foods, horse-drawn carriages, and even a castle. There’s just one hitch. The best man just happens to be Brock Benson, Hollywood’s hottest and most eligible bachelor. Oh, and did we mention he’s staying at the Rossi house to avoid the paparazzi? With all the pressure surrounding this wedding, Bella’s not sure she’s going to make it through. Add her starstruck sister, her feuding aunt and uncle, and a trio of large, sequined church ladies with even bigger personalities, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster–and a lot of laughs. This hilarious romantic comedy is sure to delight both fans and new readers alike.
9. Do you have any advice for other writers?
Yes, and I’m happy to give it! Learn the craft, but don’t allow what you’ve learned to rob you of your voice. I’ve known so many “young” writers who’ve given up their stories and even their voice because of something they’ve been taught at a conference. Don’t follow trends, either. Just because a certain type of book is “in” right now doesn’t mean it will be next year or the year after that. Pray about every story, then follow your heart, adding to it the wisdom you’ve gleaned from classes and conferences.
10. How important is faith in your books?
Faith is the key ingredient in my books, so I’d say it’s pretty important. I try to create characters who exude faith, but not in an “in your face” sort of way.
11. What themes do you like to write about?
Lately, most of my books have had wedding themes. I have four daughters in their twenties and all four got married within four and a half years of each other. Talk about being in wedding mode! I’d also coordinated several other weddings, so writing about weddings just comes naturally!
12. What is your favorite book you’ve written and why?
Wow, tough question. I love the book I just turned in to Revell. It’s tentatively titled “Stars Collide.” It’s about two people on a television sitcom who fall in love in real life. Funny stuff. I particularly love it because it deals with a tough subject (Alzheimer’s) in a light-hearted way. This book is the first in a new series for Revell. I’ll be able to share more about it later.
13. What is your writing schedule like?
I try to write about 3000 words/day. I usually write first thing in the morning, then again in the afternoon, then at night. Inbetween, I spend time with friends, mail books, stay involved at church, and correspond with readers and editors. I have a busy life, but I love every minute of it!
