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September 5, 2013

#PlottingPrincesses welcome author Jaye Garland who takes us to THE 25TH HOUR

The Plotting Princesses welcome special guest,
Jaye Garland, for an author interview today.
Take it away, Jaye!

How did you get from your day job to writing romance?   The writing bug hit me when I was a young, stay-at-home-mom, but it didn’t take long to realize I had a lot to learn about getting the story that was in my head down on paper in such a manner that it made sense to the reader. Time passed. The kiddos grew up and one day the Hubster and I found ourselves living in Saudi Arabia. (Houston area is home, and he’s in the oil business.) I turned my time overseas into my very own graduate program on writing. We didn’t have Internet access the first four years, so those How-To books were my lifeline. When we repatriated, I came home with about 12 manuscripts in various stages of completion—and one full manuscript. Then, it was back to the day job. So, I kind of did things in reverse.  



What are your three favorite books of all time? Without getting preachy, The Bible is a solid foundation for a good lifestyle. And, the stories are phenomenal.  The novel that got me hooked on Romance is The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. You know it’s a good book if you get to read it free, and then go out to buy your own copy. I just finished the ARC for Susan C. Muller’s The Witch on Twisted Oak-- “Could-Not-Put-It-Down.”

Morning, afternoon, or evening person? When left to function on my own schedule [no day job, kids, etc.], I tend to get seriously involved in my personal projects [writing and all that’s related to it] mid-afternoon, and have been known to stay up till 3-4 AM.

Music--with or without? What kind? When I’m cleaning house, I want music--the sound tracks of Quigley Down Under, Medicine Man, and The Last of the Mohicans. When I’m writing, I need vast quantities of solitude.

First or third POV? Third, for both reading and writing. I like the full range of perspective from both the hero and heroine. 


How's tricks? Do you juggle multiple projects? Multiple projects, or I’d never get anything done. Something is always in the hopper!

What's harder: beginning, middle, or the end? Each has its pros and cons, but I’d have to go with the beginnings.

How did you come up with that title?  Best advice anybody ever gave you? The best advice I ever received was “Never quit.” Over the years, I’ve heard those words many times in this industry and the years of hard work have paid off. 

In THE 25th HOUR, which is a time travel romance, I was free-writing a scene where the heroine and the hero’s neighbor, Sarah, were confiding in each other.

“Alexander is just ensuring his daughter’s future by doing his best by her now. He’s learned there are no tomorrows.”
Sheridan had to agree, but wanted to add another truth to what Sarah had said. In her case, there just might be a place for second chances. 
Sheridan’s tomorrow might be right here in the past—right now. Here, in that extra hour of twilight wedged between her current day and his long-ago era. Here, in the twenty-fifth hour of infinity. Here, with Alexander and Angel Rose. 


Fill in this blank: My ideal fictional hero would think me gorgeous no matter…

…what happens, on any occasion, and when I’m at my absolute worst. That includes when I’m snoring. Ha!

What's your favorite dessert?  Just had the most incredible Flan at Lupe Tortilla’s.

Do you write at home or someplace else? At home, but two or three times a year, my critique partners and I head out to some out-of-the-way writing retreat. We have a boat load of fun, but we get serious writing done then, too.

What's your favorite type of hero/heroine and why? I’ll be honest. I’ve had occasional flings with Medieval heroes, enjoyed a romp or two with the Georgian hunks, and flirted with some Regency hotties. But, I keep coming back to my warm-hearted American Western cowboys. It’s true. You can take the girl off the ranch, but you can’t take the ranch out of the girl. Besides, you can’t beat the scenery out west. Especially when there’s a man on a horse galloping between you and the horizon.

Here's an excerpt for The 25th Hour:

Her mind fought for control. He called her name but his voice echoed like jungle drums against the ever darkening, spinning tunnel. In a desperate lunge for sanctuary, she reached for his outstretched hand. Gibbs Wannabe grabbed her wrist, but his touch felt hot, like flames licking her skin, and he fell along with her into the abyss. 

Clawing against the fiery rip current, she willed air into her lungs just as an electric flash blinded her. Petrified he’d push her farther into the darkening whirlpool, she wrenched free of his grasp, and a dark cloud of eraser leavings swirled between them. 

Together, she and the salt-and-pepper Gibbs Wannabe tumbled through the blueprints, down through her portable workstation, and on through all things material—passing one another, yet never again connecting—through a vortex void of light, texture, and sound. 
Silence roared in her ears as she collapsed into utter darkness, and her world fell away.

Find Jaye at: www.jayegarland.wordpress.com
Find The 25th Hour at: http://tinyurl.com/oxjfa7t

Thanks, Jaye, for being with the PP today!

30 comments:

Sylvia said...

Hi Jay,
Welcome to the PP and so glad you were here today. You came home to the US with 12 completed manuscripts? Wow! Very impressed. Good luck with your book. I also love western heros

Jaye Garland said...

Good morning everyone! I'm already a fan of Plotting Princesses so being the guest today is a bit thrill. I'm looking forward to a fun day. So, are we all wearing tiaras? I feel like royalty. :)

Jaye Garland said...

Hi Sylvia,
Yes, that self-taught writing program was the best thing I ever did. But, those 12 manuscripts are not all completed. My favorites will only need a spit-shine to be ready to go. Others are more like detailed outlines with some rough-draft pages. As I learned, my author's voice changed and those older attempts may remain 'under the bed'. LOL!

Barb Han said...

Welcome, Jaye! Love your determination to put yourself through your own writing program. Best of luck!!

Jaye Garland said...

Hi Barb! Your good wishes are very much appreciated. Thanks for stopping by!

Kathy Ivan said...

Good morning, Jaye, and welcome to the Plotting Princesses. Of course, today is the day to don that tiara. Wear those sparkles proudly.

Loved your excerpt and getting to know a bit about you. Twelve manuscripts, even in various stages of completion, is a monumental achievement.

Congratulations on the release and wishing you many sales!

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Jaye! You know how much I love you. How we met will always be with me. Congratulations on The 25th Hour. You rock, my friend.

Phyllis said...

Welcome Jay!

I really like your excerpt,,,makes me want to read more!

Wishing many sales to you.

Jaye Garland said...

Hi Kathy, thanks for the warm welcome. I've got my tiara dusted off and ready to strut the 'Sold Walk of Honor". It's been a fabulous ride so far!

Jaye Garland said...

Hi Vicki, I knew you'd be tossing confetti for me. Say hi to Handsome for me. One day, I'll meet the voice on the other end of the phone...best congratulatory call I ever made. Love you, too!

Jaye Garland said...

Hi Phyllis, thanks so much for the good wishes. Plotting Princessess ROCKS!

Jeanine said...

I like third person too. Sounds like a great story.

Joanne Guidoccio said...

Hi Jaye, I am impressed by your writing journey, especially the self-designed graduate program. Inspiring story for all of us.

Best of luck with The 25th Hour.

Jaye Garland said...

Hi Jeannie and Joanne,
I appreciate your good wishes, and yes, the self-induced "Masters in Writing" wasn't planned, but it sure worked for me. Funny how being stranded away from all you know makes you dig deep and work for the good stuff. Thanks for stopping by!

C.D.Hersh said...

Jaye, don't you just love it when the story is flowing out of the fingers? That's when you lose track of time and tomorrow arrives when you notice the sun coming up.LOL

Melissa Keir said...

Sounds like an exciting story. I loved your interview Jaye and what a fascinating life. I'm sure you saw a lot living overseas.

All the best,
Melissa

Jan Nash said...

Wonderful blog! My two takeaways: "something is always in the hopper - never quit." Great advice! Good luck with your book!

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi Jaye,
Welcome to the PP blog! I'm a little late to the party. :) Your book sounds really good. I hope you have many sales!!

Jaye Garland said...

Hi C.D., love that you stopped by! I like how you think, but I haven't watched nearly enough sunrises due to getting a story onto the page. I think I need to release the flying monkeys and let them handle life's little disturbances so I can dig in and let the ink flow onto the page.

Jaye Garland said...

Hi Melissa, it's so great to meet you. For a little girl who grew up on a small ranch in South Dakota, I have traveled far, and often. Who knew things would turn out like that? Ha! You're right, though. I have been quite fortunate and was in the right place at the right time for so many world events. I'll blog about those things one day, but I'm very glad to be back home. Thanks for the good wishes on my book!

Jaye Garland said...

Hi Jan! Thanks for the good wishes on my book, but you're part of my success. Mega hugs on that!

For those who don't know Jan Nash, she's been my critique partner for quite a few years now...and is a 2012 Golden Heart finalist. I'm so proud of her, and it was such a thrill to share that with her. Yea!

Jaye Garland said...

Hi Karilyn! I'm late coming back to the party, too. After the day job, I ran a few errands and did the crash and burn thing when I got home. So glad you stopped by to say hi. I've loved the Plotting Princesses for a while now and can hardly believe I'm hanging with so many awesome ladies. Thanks for the good wishes!

Barbara Bettis said...


What an interesting time you must have had, living abroad. And congratulations on your book. It sounds fabulous. I can't wait to read it. B Bettis

Jaye Garland said...

Hi Barbara,
Yes, I've been quite fortunate in many areas of my life. Finding my true hero-hubby had a lot to do with that. :) Thanks for the good wishes on my debut novel. Yea!

Anonymous said...

The Flame and the Flower was the one that got me hooked on romance, too! Once I finished that one, I ran out and bought three more of KEW's books (all that was available at the time)and then eagerly awaited each new one. As far as I was concerned, she could not write them fast enough!

I love the idea of going away for writer retreats. I've been to one, and would love to do it again. Gotta work on that. :)

Jaye Garland said...

Hi Maura! Sorry it's taken so long to catch up, but so glad you stopped by. I have three copies of TF&TF, and marked up one till it's falling apart. You and I are both thinking writers retreat, and I'm so ready! You coming down this way or am I heading up that way? I think we could get some SERIOUS writing done. Or, belly laughs. Either works. :)

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