Author Interview: AUTUMN JORDON

This is it, booklovers. Our final day of blog party madness. Your last chance to enter the ereader contest... your last chance to snag one of our daily giveaways for your very own. And today, last but not least, we have contemporary romance & romantic suspense author Autumn Jordon joining us to talk about her upcoming release Evil's Witness (coming June 18 from the Wild Rose Press). Welcome, Autumn! (Applause!)


First, Vivi, I want to congratulate you on your new release and thank you for inviting me to be your guest. Second, could I mention Brenda Novak’s Diabetes Auction starts tomorrow. Please stop by and support this cause. It’s one close to my heart. Here’s a link to my contribution.

What inspired you to write Evil’s Witness?

Oh, this story is true—an actual incident at our family-owned trucking company. I can’t go into details but I can share that everything imaginable is hauled across our nation’s highways. The general public doesn’t know that. While hauling currency for the Federal Reserve, we had a slight miss-communication which led to a delay in delivery. I wondered what would happen if the trailers were targeted. How could the money disappear? Who would have the capability to organize the crime and who would stop them? The idea for Evil’s Witness sent me to the FBI where I started my research.

What do you look for in a heroine?

My stories are set in small towns and while the people who live in these communities are not faced with the criminal elements that say someone who lives in a city is, they are aware of them. They are more trusting and open. Not naïve. They might get slapped in the face once because it was unexpected, but they certainly would react immediately and with strength against evil. So my heroines, once they realize the situation they’re up against they become a strong partner for the hero and a fierce foe for my villain.

What drives your books? Is it the hero, the heroine, the conflict?

All three. There has to be external and internal conflicts to make the book complex. I like complex. And, there is no better feeling than falling in love with your characters.

If you could pick the actors to play the hero & heroine in the movie of your current release, who could you cast?

Keifer Sutherland as my hero, John Dolton. I’m a huge 24 fan. Keifer plays the loner so well. And Jodie Foster as my heroine, Stephanie. Jodie could handle Keifer and my delicious villain, Victor, without breaking a sweat.

If one of your characters came knocking on your door, how would you react?

What do you mean if? LOL. Victor, my villain did. We had coffee and a long conversation. Afterwards, I wrote a scene that showed Victor’s heart.

What was your path to publication?

A long one that started with doing fairly well in contests with four prior works. I never for once thought of giving up, for more than twelve hours—Enough time to brood, eat chocolate, watch a movie or read a book I knew I could write.

What is the best advice you ever got as a writer?

After I received a rejection, NY Bestselling author, Kasey Michaels said, “Suck it up and get back to Work. You know you can write.”

The worst?

“That story is great, keep working at it.” My mother. I love my mom and her support but she knows nothing about writing a book and what will sell. Friends and family will always tell you the story is great. If other writers to tell you it’s great, you’ve done your job.

In ten years, where do you want to be as a writer?

Still writing, with a good-size backlist, and continuing to learn new methods to make my books memorable.

What book is your comfort read?

Sandra Brown’s Bed and Breakfast. I need a new copy. I’ve read the story so about a hundred times.

What do you think is the most romantic book or movie?

‘Somewhere In Time’. Love it! And , ‘You’ve Got Mail.’

Thank you, Autumn! Today's winner will receive a download of Autumn's contemporary romance Obsessed by Wildfire. Good luck, everyone!

And one HUGE thank you to everyone who made this blog party possible - the wonderful guest authors, our commenters, our lovely lurkers - THANK YOU. You've all been amazing.