Interview–Jennifer Shirk

(See Jennifer’s excerpt post earlier today!)

CTR: Today we are pleased to have Jennifer Shirk with us as we talk about all things romantic! We’re featuring the most romantic novels we can find and talking about romance in general, not just the kind on pages! After all, Valentine’s Day is almost here and it is “the day” for love and romance!

First, please tell us a bit about your book. A blurb, buy link, ISBN, and heat level are especially good to know!

JS: Thanks so much! My recent book Georgie on His Mind is definitely perfect for sweet romance lovers. Here’s a little bit about it:

Georgie on His Mind
By Jennifer Shirk
ISBN: 978-0803477827
Publisher: Avalon Books

Georgie Mayer has no boyfriend and rarely goes out. In short, she needs a life. Since she’s graduated college and returned back home, her brother’s protectiveness has been in overdrive, and she hasn’t been able to have any fun, never mind get a date.
So what’s a poor particularly attractive girl to do in a situation like this? The only thing she can do: find him a woman!
He’ll thank her for it in the end. That is, if his best friend Walt Somers would stop interfering with her plans. The handsome pharmacist has made no secret that he doesn’t approve of what she’s up to. Unfortunately, having Walt hanging around does strange things to her mind, and suddenly she can’t help but take a healthy interest in him. But how can Georgie entertain thoughts of the two of them together when Walt still treats her like his best friend’s little sister?

CTR: How do you define romance and romantic? Do you think these concepts are different today than they were say 25 or 50 or even more years ago? Is our parents’ or grandparents’ version of romance now passé?

JS: Romance for me is all about those initial tingles you get when that attraction first sparks or when you get that first sense of love, which is why my books center more on that sexual tension and awareness than the actual sex part. For me, something “romantic” is anything dealing with the expression or feelings of love.
Do I think concepts have changed? Well, if you ask my mom, she’d say YES romantic concepts are different. But personally, I think although there have been changes in our culture as far as sexual roles and expression, the general concept of romance and what is romantic is the same.

CTR: What is the most romantic gesture or moment you ever witnessed or were involved in? Please share as much as you feel you can””no private secrets required if it is embarrassing but you are welcome to dish at least to the PG-13 level !

JS: Well, I always thought it was very romantic of my hubby to save our first date dinner receipt. After he signed the check, he made a joke and asked me if I wanted to keep the receipt for our scrapbook. I laughed considering it was our first date, but apparently he had a feeling about me and kept it””along with other little mementos from our early dating. (So sweet!)

CTR: Do you think “romance” is dying out, and by this I mean the traditional “hearts and flowers” kind of romance? Even the chivalric sorts of romantic connections featured in some ““particularly older””novels? It sometimes seems like young people now are more interested in “hooking up’ fast and easy via the social networks and high tech devices and that “romance” does not play a big role in the changing pattern of today’s relationships. Do you agree or not? If so, is this a good thing or maybe not so good?

JS: Well, I think it might seem this way with the way social networking and maybe with what some movies portray what’s going on. But I think when people find that certain special someone, they do fall back on more traditional forms of romance.

CTR: What is your favorite romantic book, movie and/or song and why?

JS: Oh, my romantic book”¦I’m going to have to fall back on an oldie but a goodie: Jane Eyre. The feelings that they had for one another where off the chart. Plus Jane wasn’t your traditional beautiful woman. But she was beautiful to him. *sigh*
For most romantic song, I would have to say, “Our Love is Here to Stay”. (It was our wedding song)

CTR: Is Valentine’s Day one of your fave holidays? Do you have a happy memory to share or a funny story? Some of us have one about our school days, a gesture by a special someone we once dated, etc. How do you plan to celebrate this year with your SO, spouse or partner or are you on your own?

JS: I LOVE””no pun intended””Valentine’s Day! But I think it should be more than once a year. You know it’s funny, when I was in dating, the whole concept of gifts and candy and flowers were very important to me. But now that I’ve found my true love, I don’t care about that stuff. I just want to be with him. (and go out to a nice dinner) LOL

CTR: Do you consider yourself a sentimental (romantic) person? (i.e.) Do you save all sorts of little souvenirs and use them to bring happy times to mind? Do you have the corsage from you big prom pressed in an old book? Still remember “your song’ with your first serious love? Do you moon over chick flicks with sweet and happy endings? Do you think happily ever after is really possible? Or is it maybe better to be more cool-headed and practical instead? Does the kind of Victorian ruffle and flourishes attitude really fit in our modern world?

JS: I totally moon over chick flicks!! Happily-ever-afters are definitely possible and I love any sort of media that represents that. And I do have a scrapbook with all kinds of souvenirs and keepsakes (movie stubs, pictures, notes, tickets, our wedding invitation, etc..). I don’t look at it often, but when I do I marvel at some of the sweet and wonderful things my hubby wrote to me when we were first dating. All those special tingles come back.

CTR: Thanks so much for sharing with us today and I hope our reader visitors will be inspired to visit your blog, web site, social networks and other connections to learn more about your and your books. Please give us some ways to contact you!

JS: Sure! And thank YOU for having me!
Feel free to check out my blog: http://www.jennifershirk.blogspot.com/
And my web site: http://www.jennifershirk.com/

Or I love to be social on the following networks:
Twitter: http://www.jennifershirk.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Jennifer-Shirk/100000745044647
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/jennyshirk