#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!