Friday, April 30, 2010

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.

26 comments:

booklover0226 said...

I enjoyed reading the interview and learning more about Autumn. She's a new author for me and I look forward in reading her works.

Thanks,
Tracey D

Sherry said...

Great interview this book sounds like one I would love to read. Romance and suspense how could you miss.

sstrode@scrtc.com

Autumn Jordon said...

Wow! Tracey and Sherry, you both made it here early. Thanks for stopping by and reading the interview. I love reading author interviews and learning more about them.

I'm so excited about EVIL'S WITNESS realeasing in six weeks. I love my hero, John. He's a loner who carries baggage but my heroine, Stephanie, helps him move on. I will warn you, some scenes are HOT!

I love suspense. If a comedy has suspense in it, I'm there. There is something about sitting on the edge of my seat that I absolutely love.

The book I have out now, OBSESSED BY WILDFIRE from the Wild Rose Press, is a light western with a bit of suspense.

I'll be posting free reads on my blog June 9 and 16. Stop by.

www.autumnjordon.com will get you there. WINK.

Vanessa Barneveld said...

Hey, great party, Vivi! Congrats on your debut book's release.

Autumn, I loved reading about your process. I'm intrigued about the inspiration for Evil Witness. Can't wait to read the book for myself!

Drea Becraft said...

that looks like a great book!

Anonymous said...

I love your inspiration for the book, Autumn. Sounds like a great read and can't wait to see it. -- Shea Berkley

elaing8 said...

Great interview,another new author for me.

Cecile Smutty Hussy said...

Thank you for the party!! It has been awesome!!!!
Thanks for including us in it!!!!!

Great interview by the way!!! Thanks for the new authors you have brought our way!!!

Gwynlyn said...

Great blog, Sisters!

So your villain actually came to visit, AJ? Way cool!

Is your first book now available in paperback? Or is that still up the road?

Best of luck with Evil's Witness. Love the premise. Looking forward to the read.

KELLY FITZPATRICK said...

Hi Autumn! Great interview, ladies!

Fedora said...

Ooh, thanks for the interview, Autumn--you're a new author for me, but I'll be adding to my TBB!

Autumn Jordon said...

Hey back at ya, Vanassea. ((HUGS))
I hope you enjoy Evil's Witness. The idea for it mixed around in my mind for over a year. I'd really like to hear your thoughts when you do read it.

Autumn Jordon said...

Thanks, Andrea. Again, please email me and let know your thoughts. Or if you love it, please post a review on amazon. GRIN!

Autumn Jordon said...

I know, Shea. There is nothing stranger than life. Really. You can't make this stuff up.

Autumn Jordon said...

Thanks for stopping by today, elaing8 and Cecile. I enjoyed visiting Vivi's blog throughout the month and reading so many great interviews.

Autumn Jordon said...

Hi, Gwyn. Yes, Victor did. I'll be blogging more about him this coming Tuesday, May 4 at the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood. WINK

Obsessed By Wildfire was only released in e-format. Sorry. I know I was dying to hold it in my hands and smell it. But you know the story, Evil's Witness was actually my first sale. OBW got moved up to grab the honor of first release.

Autumn Jordon said...

Thanks, Kelly and flchen. I had a great time.

I smell like pies because I doubled booked myself. I promise to help at church and bake. A couple dozen and I'm back herer and hungry for ..
you got it-- a piece of pie. I'll have to buy one tomorrow. YUM

Nancy G said...

Another great interview, giving me another new to me author. This has been great fun, a lot of new experiences and lots of fun interviews and prizes.

Darynda said...

Great interview Vivi and Autumn!!! Can't wait for this one and I love the cover!

Anonymous said...

Normally I'm not huge on watching movies that are based on books, but seeing Keifer and Jody together would be great casting for your story. I'd check that out.

Autumn Jordon said...

Hi, Nancy. Wasn't it a great month. Vivi sure put a lot of work into it and I for one appreicate her. I know she is having a great time at RT. Good for her.

Thanks for stopping by and making my visit great.

Autumn Jordon said...

Hi, sweetie. I cried when I saw my cover. Loved It!! I think every author fears what their cover will look like.

Rae Monet was the designer. She also designed my website. Love RAE!!

Autumn Jordon said...

Hi, Leni. If EVIL'S WItness ever comes to screen and Keifer and Jody are casted, I'll buy the tickets and popcorn for us.

That would be heaven, for me. I'm gonna dream about it tonight.
Thanks for the sweet dreams. WINK

Autumn Jordon said...

I should have mentioned, I do have a trailer for Evil's Witness up on my website. It's not Keifer and Jodi, but I think it's pretty darn great.

www.autumnjordon.com

Karin said...

This has been a great party! I have definitely added a few titles to my list. This just happens to be one of them. lol

Autumn Jordon said...

Thanks, Karin. I hope you enjoy.

Please stop by my website and sign for my newletter. It's short and it's sweet.