Guest Author Kelly Jamieson

I'm pleased to welcome author Kelly Jamieson today. Her newest release, Faceoff, is part of the Oh, Canada! series. Please tell us a little about your story.

Here’s the blurb for Faceoff, which is my latest release from Ellora’s Cave. It was written for their Oh, Canada! theme series, so it’s set in my home city (in Canada!) and features a hot hockey player hero (because what’s more Canadian than hockey, right?)

Kyla has tried so hard to be one of the boys. She was always like a little sister to Tag. One summer, things changed from sibling teasing to blazing sexual tension. When they're reunited for a two-family reunion, the desire and lust are still there, simmering below the surface.

Tag is a pro hockey player who is cynical about women. He knows they're only interested in him because of who he is. Kyla is an attorney who's still trying to be “one of the boys” at her law firm. They're both adults and neither of them is looking for a relationship. A hot summer week at the lake. Need. Attraction. There's no reason they shouldn't explore each other.

Tell us a little about what you are working on or have coming out?
I am *that* close to finishing an 80,000 word manuscript. This is an Important Accomplishment because I went through a rough time earlier this year where I was really blocked in my writing. I’m usually pretty prolific, but this is the first manuscript I’ve finished since the end of March. For me that’s pretty sad, LOL!  I’m so happy the words are flowing again. It’s an erotic romance, a M/M/F ménage story. Whether it’s any good I have no idea, but I’m just relieved that I’ve written it! I have two more erotic romances coming out in October and February, also M/M/F ménage stories, and a contemporary romance coming out in the spring.

What makes a book a keeper?

Well, this is just my opinion, but what makes a book a keeper for me is a really satisfying ending. We writers get all focused on the opening of a book, the “hook” that will interest readers (which means agents/editors, even before anyone else actually gets to read it). I myself have rewritten opening lines, opening paragraphs and first chapters countless times to get it just right. And sure, that’s important. If a reader isn’t interested enough to keep reading, they’ll never get to the ending. But when I finish reading a book, it isn’t the opening I remember—it’s the ending.

Now that’s not as simple as it sounds. Because the ending ties everything in the book together. A lot of it is about character—the character arc, how the characters grow and change. It’s about plot, and turning points and epiphanies. It has to make sense. In a romance, we all know the hero and heroine are going to end up together, but the obstacles they overcome during the story have to be real and substantial, and the struggle has to be hard, and the happily ever after (or “hopefully ever after”, as some of my books have!) has to feel well-earned and...satisfying.

Do you have any guilty pleasures?

Suntanning. I know it’s so bad for your skin, but it feels so good! I love the warmth seeping into my body, relaxing me. I love the smell of the sun. I look so much better with a little colour in my skin (I’m a fair-skinned, somewhat freckled redhead but I actually tan a little). I tell myself it helps your body produce Vitamin D. Summer is so short here, we need to enjoy it! Also when I’m lying in the sun I’m usually doing one of my other favourite things which is reading a book. Sometimes drinking wine. But it’s just the sun worship I feel guilty about.

Name one thing readers would be surprised to know about you.
Well I always wonder what readers think of erotic romance authors. I’m so ordinary—I have a responsible day job with staff who report to me, a husband, two kids, a dog, a house that is often messy and a car that’s often low on gas. I never set out to write the kind of things I do now, but find I’m actually pretty good at it— although sometimes I make myself blush, LOL. That might surprise readers.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I would love to live in Santa Barbara, California. I’ve spent a lot of time there, my husband went to school there and we love to go back and visit. I love the physical beauty of it, the way it sits right between mountains and ocean, the palm trees and flowers, the Spanish design of all the architecture that makes it seem so Mediterranean. It’s a big enough city that there’s shopping and restaurants (I am a city girl, LOL) but small enough to easily get around. I love the nearby wineries and ranches, the beaches, and most of all the sunshine. It’s also a very expensive place to live which is why it’s only just a dream.  To compensate for that, I set a lot of my books in California. 

Where you can find Kelly:

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

Kelly’s Yahoo Newsletter group

Nine Naughty Novelists

 

Leave a comment for a chance to win a download of Faceoff. One lucky commenter will be chosen at random to win. Check back on Monday for the winner.

Thanks so much for being my guest today, Kelly. Can't wait to get my hands on your book  :)