Ask the Author: Jaci Burton
Answered Questions (19)
Jaci Burton
It's hard to choose a favorite. My favorite book is always the one I'm currently writing, because I'm deep in that place with those characters, falling in love as they're falling in love. :-)
Jaci Burton
Librarians are the gatekeepers to a world of reading. I've admired their work since I was a child. I used to hang out in the library all the time and check out book after book. The library is a magical place. :-)
The best way to persuade others to read is to talk about what you've read and entice others to do so. Inform them of getting lost in a book, of the many wonderful places they can visit without ever leaving home.
The best way to persuade others to read is to talk about what you've read and entice others to do so. Inform them of getting lost in a book, of the many wonderful places they can visit without ever leaving home.
Jaci Burton
Yes! I absolutely plan to write Nathan's story at some point in the series. I'm just waiting for him to mature a little more. :-)
Jaci Burton
I'm currently working on two different series--the Play by Play sports romance series, and the Hope small town contemporary romance series. These are both ongoing series, so the ideas for both are planned out in advance. Because characters weave in and out of each of these series, I'll often introduce characters before they ever appear in their own book.
When I'm working on one book, I already know who is going to be the hero and heroine of the next and what their story is going to be about. I might not have the entire plot line figured out since I don't plot a book in advance, but I know the basic premise of the story. So when it comes time to sit down and write the book, I know at least the starting point and typically have the first chapter written.
For example, right now I'm working on Make Me Stay, book 5 in the Hope series. I already know who the hero and heroine are for book 6, and the basics of that story. For the Play by Play series, the next book I'll write is book 11. I know the hero and heroine and what their story will be about. I have book 12's characters and storyline sketched out as well.
Long range planning is my best friend. ;-)
When I'm working on one book, I already know who is going to be the hero and heroine of the next and what their story is going to be about. I might not have the entire plot line figured out since I don't plot a book in advance, but I know the basic premise of the story. So when it comes time to sit down and write the book, I know at least the starting point and typically have the first chapter written.
For example, right now I'm working on Make Me Stay, book 5 in the Hope series. I already know who the hero and heroine are for book 6, and the basics of that story. For the Play by Play series, the next book I'll write is book 11. I know the hero and heroine and what their story will be about. I have book 12's characters and storyline sketched out as well.
Long range planning is my best friend. ;-)
Jaci Burton
Coffee helps. ;-)
In truth, I can't not write. The characters are constantly in my head, their stories clamoring to be told. I need to get their story onto the page, so inspiration is pretty easy. Typically I have more than one story in my head. If only I typed a lot faster...
In truth, I can't not write. The characters are constantly in my head, their stories clamoring to be told. I need to get their story onto the page, so inspiration is pretty easy. Typically I have more than one story in my head. If only I typed a lot faster...
Jaci Burton
If you check out my bookshelf here on Goodreads you can see what I'm reading right now. Lots of awesome books by several amazing authors! :-)
Jaci Burton
I try to give just enough details that you can use your imagination to create the perfect guy for yourself. And of course, the cover art doesn't hurt. ;-)
Jaci Burton
Thanks! First, I've never had any censure from people around me like friends or family. They've been incredibly supportive of my career. They're awesome like that. :-)
As far as my love scenes, they're entirely driven by the characters in that particular story. Some are hotter, some tamer, and the storyline and characters determine how they're going to express themselves.
As far as my love scenes, they're entirely driven by the characters in that particular story. Some are hotter, some tamer, and the storyline and characters determine how they're going to express themselves.
Jaci Burton
No makeup, hair in a ponytail, wearing yoga pants and hanging out with my dogs every single day. Absolutely the best job I've ever had. :-)
Jaci Burton
I actually try to limit the amount of travel I do every year. I envy those authors who are on the road all the time and still manage to hit all their deadlines. I'm not one of those authors. I can't write when I travel. It messes with my head. My brain thinks it can only write at home. I'm weirdly wired that way. Put me in a hotel and my mind thinks it's on vacation. How inconvenient!
Typically I attend the RT BookReviews convention and the Romance Writer's of America conference every year. I might squeeze in a couple of book signings in addition to that. Otherwise, I'm at home, writing. And that's how I manage to get my books written. :-)
Typically I attend the RT BookReviews convention and the Romance Writer's of America conference every year. I might squeeze in a couple of book signings in addition to that. Otherwise, I'm at home, writing. And that's how I manage to get my books written. :-)
Jaci Burton
Thanks so much! I love to hear from readers who've enjoyed the entire Play by Play series so far.
In answer to your question...I don't know. Right now I'm contracted through Book 12 in the series, and I already know what sports those are--and it's not soccer. Sorry! But I love soccer and I love basketball and I love a lot of other sports. Whether I love them enough to set a book within the parameters of those sports? Again...I don't know. How's that for a really vague answer? Hey, I hate dealing in absolutes. What can I say? ;-)
In answer to your question...I don't know. Right now I'm contracted through Book 12 in the series, and I already know what sports those are--and it's not soccer. Sorry! But I love soccer and I love basketball and I love a lot of other sports. Whether I love them enough to set a book within the parameters of those sports? Again...I don't know. How's that for a really vague answer? Hey, I hate dealing in absolutes. What can I say? ;-)
Jaci Burton
I've given some thought to this, even with the idea of having both the hero and heroine play professional sports. I actually had an entire plot line drawn out with this exact premise, until I figured out they'd never see each other. ;-) So I scrapped the idea.
But I love the idea, so who knows? Maybe someday. :-)
But I love the idea, so who knows? Maybe someday. :-)
Jaci Burton
Unfortunately, at this time Killer Decision will not be published. The publisher decided not to continue with the series, so the series is finished with Book 1. Maybe sometime in the future I'll give some thought to continuing it on my own, but right now I'm working under a very heavy schedule and I just don't have the time to take it on. I'm sorry!
Jaci Burton
Ediciones Paimes has published two of my novels in Spanish, with more on the way. You can find Wild Wicked and Wanton and The Perfect Play--Book 1 in the Play by Play series, translated in Spanish. Changing the Game--Book 2 in the Play by Play series, and Taking A Shot--Book 3 of the Play by Play series, will be translated into Spanish soon. You can find the links to my Spanish foreign editions here:
http://jaciburton.com/books/foreign.p...
http://jaciburton.com/books/foreign.p...
Jaci Burton
I wouldn't have become a published author without the influence of my husband. When he learned I used to dabble in writing, he encouraged me to start again. It was because of him that I wrote my first complete book.
I've had several friends and peers along the way who encouraged me when I was discouraged, when I thought I would never make it in this industry. A career as an author is not for sissies! It's not as easy as it might seem. It takes hard work and determination, and there are times when rejection after rejection pours in and you're certain you're never going to make it. It's then when you need those friends to hold you up and tell you to keep plugging along, to keep writing, and that someday it's going to happen for you. People like Shannon Stacey and Maya Banks and so many more pushed me and believed in me when I needed it and I'm forever grateful to them.
I've had several friends and peers along the way who encouraged me when I was discouraged, when I thought I would never make it in this industry. A career as an author is not for sissies! It's not as easy as it might seem. It takes hard work and determination, and there are times when rejection after rejection pours in and you're certain you're never going to make it. It's then when you need those friends to hold you up and tell you to keep plugging along, to keep writing, and that someday it's going to happen for you. People like Shannon Stacey and Maya Banks and so many more pushed me and believed in me when I needed it and I'm forever grateful to them.
Jaci Burton
Unfortunately, due to both contractual issues and my overwhelming schedule, I am unable to read anyone else's work.
When I was first starting out, I joined writer networks such as the Harlequin writer's board and Absolute Write. I found critique partners who were at the same place as I was in their writing journey and we bounced ideas off each other, read each other's work and acted as cheerleaders for each other as we wrote our first books. I joined Romance Writers of America and found other writers who were at the same points in our careers. There are countless places where someone can go to find people to assist them. :-)
When I was first starting out, I joined writer networks such as the Harlequin writer's board and Absolute Write. I found critique partners who were at the same place as I was in their writing journey and we bounced ideas off each other, read each other's work and acted as cheerleaders for each other as we wrote our first books. I joined Romance Writers of America and found other writers who were at the same points in our careers. There are countless places where someone can go to find people to assist them. :-)
Jaci Burton
I'm currently working on MAKE ME STAY, Book 5 in the Hope series(releasing in Dec 2015). It centers on Reid McCormack, the third McCormack brother (those sexy men!) and Samantha Reasor, owner of the flower shop in town. Reid has come back to Hope from Boston to renovate the historic mercantile, and Sam is convinced that Hope is where he belongs. I just started the book and I can't wait to dig in and see what happens with these two! This is going to be a fun book. :-)
Jaci Burton
Read--a lot. It's important to stay up to date with what's being published because this industry changes a lot. But honestly, the advice I give most often is to take your career seriously. I know a lot of writers put everything and everyone first over their writing, but you have to treat it as a career and not a hobby. If you don't take your writing career seriously, how will anyone else? Make time for the writing. Write every day. Even if you only have time to write a paragraph or a page a day, you're still getting words down, and that's important.
Jaci Burton
If I get writer's block, I typically step away from my laptop for a while and go do something else. I find that if I clear my head, it tends to help with whatever's blocking me. Sometimes just a ride in the car or a shower(believe it or not) gives me that quiet head space I need to figure out what's wrong with the scene I'm writing that isn't propelling the book forward. Oftentimes I'll find I'm either writing the wrong scene and it has to be deleted, or I'm in the wrong POV and that's why I'm stuck. Getting some distance from the story is always useful in helping to figure out the problem.
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