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January 24, 2012

Get to Know: Joya Fields: Beneath The Surface

Hi, Joya. So glad you could visit the PP today and share insider bits about yourself and Beneath the Surface. Here we go:

How did you get from your day job to writing romance? Great question. I eased into romance novels. I started by writing non-fiction parenting articles. I learned a lot about editors, deadlines, and treating writing as a profession. Soon, I wrote short fiction stories for the confession magazines. All the while, I wrote romance, learning more with each novel
What's your three favorite books of all time? Ahh, so hard to choose. I hope I’m not cheating by answering with series instead of books. As a kid, I loved the Little House on the Prairie series. I pictured myself as Laura Ingalls, thriving in spite of the harsh conditions. As an adult, Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series keeps me turning pages. And lately, I’ve been tearing through The Hunger Games series.
Joya Fields
Morning, afternoon, or evening person?   No hesitation here! I need two cups of coffee to wake up in the morning. I’m a night person big time. Often, when I get caught up in a story, I’ll write until 3 or 4 in the morning. Of course, I regret that when I have to get up the next morning, but that’s when the creative juices flow the best.
Music--with or without? What kind? I just started using a soundtrack for my books. I don’t listen to it when I’m writing, though, I need complete silence. So I listen to music before I write, to get me in the mood, and then I write.
First or third pov?  I’m lucky because I’m comfortable in either first or third person. Sometimes, I start out in first person, but then, once I know the character better, I switch to third. I think first person can sometimes help a writer connect with a character quicker.
How's tricks? Do you juggle multiple projects? Oh yes! I love working on multiple projects. At least three projects at a time. Lucky for me, I write short stories and novels. So when I get stuck on one, I switch to the other. But I can only work on one novel at a time. Otherwise, I might confuse the characters.
What's harder: beginning, middle, or the end? Beginnings are hardest, for sure. In fact, I usually go back and rewrite the entire beginning once I get to the end. I don’t really know the characters that well when I start the story, and I know them a lot better by the end.
Revisions: Love 'em or hate 'em? Is this really a question? LOL. Hate ‘em! I love writing the first draft, and do it fast. Usually in a month or less. But revisions. Ugggggg! They take so much time.
How did you come up with that title? I love titles with double entendres, so Beneath the Surface fit with underwater archaeology and with the issues Brooke and Garrett are dealing with (like all of us do) that are underneath the surface of who they show the world.
Best advice anybody ever gave you? I think the best advice anyone gave me was when my sister helped me train for a marathon. She told me, “When you think you don’t have anything left, put one foot in front of the other and keep going. Before long, you’ll be at the finish line.” It was good advice for running, and it’s great advice for life.
Fill in this blank: My ideal fictional hero would think me gorgeous no matter if I fell in the mud inside the pig pen while wearing an old t-shirt and shorts. (Uh yeah…been there, done that.)
What's your favorite dessert?  My favorite dessert is homemade chocolate cake with homemade fudge icing and homemade vanilla ice cream.
Here's the blurb and excerpt from Beneath the Surface:

She’s fighting to stay independent—he’s determined to protect her no matter what…

Brooke Richards survived the earthquake that took her parents and most of her leg, but she needs time to regroup. A trip to Florida for a state-of-the-art prosthesis and to visit her best friend Linda seems ideal. But the trip turns traumatic when Brooke witnesses Linda’s boat disintegrating in a fiery explosion.

Police officer Garrett Ciavello believes the blast was intentionally set to hide something Linda found on a dive. When Brooke offers her expertise in underwater archeology, Garrett accepts her help with the investigation. But since his fiancĂ©e’s death years ago, Garrett has become overprotective, and as they are drawn to each other, Garrett realizes he will risk anything to keep Brooke safe.

Brooke is fiercely independent. Garrett is fiercely protective. Will they heal each other’s wound and find a killer…before it’s too late?

            For the first time since the accident, Brooke forgot about her leg. Forgot about all she’d lost and focused on the way Logan made her feel.
            She knew she needed to stop him. She should find a way to resist the temptation to be with him. But for a few minutes, she could enjoy the taste of him, the feel of him, couldn’t she?
            He dropped his hands to her waist and softened the kiss before trailing a line of kisses down her neck. A weak cry slipped from her mouth. “Garrett,” she whispered.
            She should stop this now before it got any more intense.
            He cupped her chin and forced her to meet his brown eyes, smoky with desire. Heat spiraled to her middle and she caught a whiff of his sawdust scent.
            “I…I can walk you back to your own room before I head to mine.” His voice broke as he whispered.
            She swallowed hard. She couldn’t do this right now with him. Too many obstacles stood in their way. But as she looked in his somber eyes, she realized none of those complications were bigger than her need for Garrett.
            “Let’s go to your room,” she said, her voice shaking. She moved her hands inside his shirt and ran them over his tight abs and chest. Heat soared through her body at the feel of him. “Together…”

20 comments:

Sylvia said...

Good morning, Joya. So glad that you joined us today. I love Little House on the Prairie books, when I was a child. Loved the TV show too.

Your story sounds so intriquing and I love your character already. Thanks for being here today.

Joya said...

Hi Sylivia. Thanks very much for having me on this wonderful blog. I agree--the Little House TV show was awesome, too. I think they did a great job bringing the books to life.
Thanks for your comment and for loving Brooke. :)

Christi Barth said...

We just got an ice cream maker for xmas - I'll see what I can do to get you that ice cream!

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Joya: I loved those books too!!! And the series always made me cry.

I'm with Sylvia on the intriguing story and characters.

Congratulations, my friend.

Joya said...

Mmmm, Christi, homemade ice cream! If you hear your doorbell ring, and see a person standing on your front stoop with a spoon and a bowl, no worries. It's just me. LOL. Thanks so much for stopping by today, it's always great to chat with you. :)

Joya said...

Hi Vicki,
Thanks so much for all of your support through this debut novel process, and for inviting me here today. Such a great group!
Thanks, also, for your compliment about Beneath the Surface story and characters. :)

Sasha Summers said...

Nice to 'meet' you Joya! Your book sounds titilating :)
Loved the Little House books too, such vivid details - you were there!
Congrats on the novel and to many many successful projects in your future!

Unknown said...

Hi Joya. I sooo miss homemade ice cream. My parents would make it every summer. Of course growing up on a farm in Missouri, we made almost everything including whipped cream and butter. Love Little House on the Prairie and it didn't take me long to fall in love with Manly either once he appeared on the scene.

Fascinating storyline on your book and I admire you taking on the complication of the heroine losing part of her leg. Is there a story behind that?

Great interview and thank you for sharing.

Joya said...

Hi Sasha,
I agree! The Little House books definitely made you feel like you were right there experiencing everything with Laura Ingalls.
Thanks so much for your congrats and the best wishes. :)

Joya said...

Hi Karen,
Wow, homemade everything in Missouri? Lucky you. That's the best.
I'm glad you like the fact that the heroine has an added challenge in life because of losing her leg. I used to work at Easter Seals, and when it came time to write a story, it just fit that the heroine would have a disability because I'd met so many people who impressed me with their positive attitude.
I'm always amazed when someone draws bad luck in his/her life, and continues on with a better attitude than many of us who have had it "easy" do.
Thanks for asking and thanks for stopping by to comment today. :)

Kathy Ivan said...

Hi Joya and welcome to the Plotting Princesss!

I love the excerpt, so vivid. The story sounds great and I love the fact that you're heroine isn't physically "perfect". We all place flaws in our characters, but rarely do we see a physical imperfection in the heroine and I find that fascinating, since none of use are physically perfect, either.

Congratulations on your release.

Joya said...

Hi Kathy,
You're so right about that! None of us are physically perfect, yet we learn to accept ourselves (hopefully) for who we are.
Thanks so much for your comment. :)

Jerrie Alexander said...

Joya, The Janet Evanovich books are some of my keepers. I have the entire series! I hope they've done her work justice. This Friday, I plan on seeing One For The Money.

I love the blurb and excerpt for Beneath The Surface! This is a must read!

Joya said...

Hi Jerrie,
I know!!! I am going to camp out over night to be first in line to see "One for the Money." LOL, not really, but definitely going on Friday. Can't wait!
Thanks so much for stopping by to comment. As always, I appreciate your support. :)

Tina-Sue said...

Great post, Joya! :o)
Loved your reply to "My ideal fictional hero would think me gorgeous no matter...?"

Joya said...

Hi Tina-Sue/Authors Promoting Authors,
LOL about the pig pen mud. Like I said...been there done that. I have a very tolerant hubby.
On the bright side, pig pen mud makes a great skin softener.
Thanks so much for

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi Joya,
Welcome to the blog! I'm glad you stopped by. I too loved Little House on the Prairie books and Stephanie Plum is hilarious!

I liked your blurb and the characters sound really interesting. Did you really fall into a pig sty? Yuck! :)
Good luck with your novel!

Joya said...

Hi Karilyn,
LOL. Yes, I really fell into the pig sty. That mud is hard to walk in! My boot stuck when I lifted my foot and I fell over and into the *sludge.*
So glad all of us Stephanie Plum fans will get to see her come to life on the big screen this weekend!
Thanks so much for your comment. :)

Phyllis said...

Hi Joya - chiming in here very late.

I love the Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum series, too!

So glad you could come visit us.

Phyllis

Joya said...

Hi Phyllis,
So great to hear from you! You and I met at Nationals during the PRO conference 2 years ago, and you also helped me w/ a law enforcement scene in one of my books via email. Thanks again for your help!
Gotta love those Stephanie Plum novels. Can't wait for the movie.
Thanks so much for your comment. :)