Author Interview: JESS GRANGER

Happy Monday, booklovers! Today we welcome to the blog acclaimed science-fiction romance author Jess Granger! Jess's newest foray into the wild and wonderful worlds she has created, Beyond the Shadows, releases next Tuesday (May 4th!). Welcome, Jess! (Applause!)

What do you find attractive in a hero?

I find many different qualities attractive in heroes, but my absolute number one most attractive quality in a hero is intelligence. Cyn, the hero of Beyond the Shadows is an extremely gifted genius. Now, if only he’d use his powers for good. He’s a bad boy, a little Han Solo, a little Lex Luthor. But the combination of a very sharp intellect with a pirate’s sensibilities was so unbelievably sexy.

What do you look for in a heroine?

I’m always looking for inner strength in my heroines. They don’t all have to be tough as nails, or so dark and jaded they can melt faces with a sneer. I seek something more subtle than that. I want to write heroines who face danger with guts and determination in spite of their fear, in spite of their pain. They don’t ever let anything break them, and so they are a fitting match to my men. They can stand on their own two feet and go toe to toe with my boys with their intellect, skill, and wit.

How important is the setting/world in your books?

Since I write Science-Fiction Romance, the otherworldly settings are crucial to the plot. I enjoy world building, and creating new fantastic, yet accessible and familiar worlds for my new cultures inhabit is like playing in a giant sandbox. Anything is possible, so long as it is plausible.

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

Conflict always drives my stories. In the case of Cyn and Yara the conflict was so terrible, it made for some very entertaining writing. She’s the heir to the throne of their home world, he’s the leader of a group of rebels determined to topple the controlling Elite. Lies bring them together. The truth could tear them apart. It’s intense, but such a fun story.

If you weren’t a writer, what would you be? (Note: this does not have to be your day job if you have one; it can be anything from flapper to astronaut to crime-solving paleontologist.)

Ah, man, you got me. I love this question and I think about it quite a bit. I think the one occupation that floats to the top more often than any of the others is a costume designer for big budget films. That would be awesome! I actually pay attention to who wins the Oscar in costume design every year. In a way, I get to scratch that itch by doing costume designs for my novels.

What do you think is the most romantic moment ever from a book or movie?

I love the movie, Stranger than Fiction. I think that movie has two of the most romantic moments I’ve seen in any movie, ever. The first moment is when the protagonist of the story, a very uptight IRS auditor brings the bakery owner he’s auditing a box with a bunch of little white sacks. She looks at him and says, “What are those?” He responds with “I brought you flours.” It was so clever and sweet. Then when he’s at her house, she asks him to play a song for her when he admits he is learning to play the guitar. At first he refuses, and you can see her close down to him a little and retreat back into the kitchen. As things get quiet, he plays. He’s so shy, he’s barely speaking, but he plays his music for her. It is so tender and romantic, I think I cried.

What’s next for you/what are you working on now?

Well, I’m staying busy. It looks like my next project may return to my paranormal writing roots. We’ll see where it takes me, but it should be dark, intense, and sexy. It’ll be a lot of fun.

Thanks for having me on the blog, Vivi! For more information on Beyond the Shadows visit my website at http://www.jessgranger.com/.

Thank you so much for joining us today, Jess! Today one lucky commenter will win a copy of Jess's new sci-fi romance, Beyond the Shadows!