Welcome Everyone, you are so happy to have Isabella Jordan with us today. Ms. Jordan on behalf of Coffee Time Romance, we want to extend a warm welcome. Ms. Jordan will be talking about her book Werewolves in London, as well as some of her other works. Please tell us about yourself? How did you get started writing?
Well, I’m pretty average personally. I work from home, have a wonderful hubby and two little ones. Lots of pets. I’ve been writing on and off for about 10 years but I didn’t really
become serious in writing and submitting my work until 2002. That year I saw the publication of a book I wrote under another name. In 2004, I was a winner in the Amber Heat Wave Contest at Amber Quill Press and that is when I started writing erotic romance. I’ve loved every moment of it.
How did you first become published?
Well, I submitted a book to a very popular ebook publisher under my other pen name back in 1999 and they requested a full manuscript right before I went to RWA in Chicago in 1999. Then I didn’t hear anything and I’d learned I was expecting my first child, so my
life went in a different direction for a while and the book was misplaced. In 2001, another
author at that house and a good friend of mine, asked her editor what happened to my book and I was invited to send it again. It was published the following spring. It gave me the courage to enter the contest at AQP. =)
What do you like most about being a writer? What do you like the least?
I love crafting stories and I love to watch the romance develop between my characters. I
don’t think I could ever get tired of that. =)
What do I like least about writing?
Not having more time to do it. LOL
Do you use an outline or just write off the top of your head?
Over the last couple of years, I’ve become quite a plotter. It really helps me to make better use of my time. The story for Werewolves of London had been all thought out in my head for weeks at the time I wrote it. It took only 4 days to write. That’s a miracle for me because customarily, I’m not a fast writer. LOL
What do you consider to be the key elements to a good story?
Strong characterization is key for me. If you don’t make me care about your characters and what is happening to them, you’ve lost me as a reader. The story has to come from the characters and their efforts to meet their goals. Otherwise it seems forced.
What is your favorite genre to write? Is there any genre you would rather not write about?
Hmmm, I love paranormal best, particularly if it is contemporary in setting. I love the possibility of extraordinary creatures around us in our everyday lives. The possibility of the impossible happening. LOL I like to write horror too here and there. I guess there isn’t anything I’d rather not write about. I really shouldn’t write comedy. LOL That’s something one can’t just come up with.
What is your favorite book that you have written so far?
It probably sounds corny to say my latest book is my favorite, but darn it, it is. LOL Werewolves of London, to me, is my best work on characterization to date. It’s a fun, sexy story about a little old lady who got mutilated late last night, the sexy feline shifter heroine sent to find her murderer and the alpha werewolf determined to claim her as his mate.
Most Romance Authors are also avid readers. What is your favorite reading material?
Hooboy. I read everything. LOL I love paranormals but I also like a good sexy contemporary romance. Yeah, I’m a sucker for historicals too and always will be. =) I know that romantic suspense is supposed to be all the rage now but I don’t get into those as much.
I have just read Werewolves of London. What led you to come to be involved with the Paranormal Mates Society series?
Well, I feel very lucky to be involved. A good friend, Dakota Cassidy, pitched the idea of a
series centered around a dating site for paranormals to the administration of Changeling and I immediately signed up. I think all 12 of us were in place the first day actually and we have some really great stories. There are werewolves, vampires, merfolk, a Yeti, gods, satyrs – you name it. LOL I’m anxious to read some of the other stories. I’ve only gotten my hands on a couple so far. =)
Grace and Carter are terrific characters, were they easy or hard to write about?
Thank you. =) They were both pretty easy to write about. Particularly Carter – he was a lot of fun and probably my favorite hero to date. I wanted Grace to be strong and sexy and I hope I accomplished that.
Are there any more books planned to follow this one?
Actually though the main series takes place in February, I do have a sequel planned for my story – it’s called The Midnight Hour. What’s sad is I decided on that title the day before Wilson Pickett died. He was a wonderfully talented singer. The Midnight Hour will be Spencer’s story and I have something fun planned for him. The Thoth Agency will be featured in this story also because I want to tell a little bit more about them. I’m hoping this will be out later in the year. I’m hoping for August. =)
What would you like to tell us about any upcoming projects that you are working on?
Oh, wow, I would. LOL At the moment I am finishing the second story in my Egyptian Lover series at Changeling Press – Sopdet. This story brings us to modern times and a distant relative of Emma Bonham who disappeared in the 1920’s. She’s the daughter of a famous martial arts expert and she’s caught the eye of a sexy creature who is thousands of years old. Lots of action, very steamy. I’m also working on sequels to my two other series at Changeling Press. Legion 2: Adult Education will be out in May and Eyes of the Leopard 5: Captive (the last in that series) will be out in June. I’ve got three other books in the works for the year. Looks like I’m going to be busy. LOL
What advice do you have for aspiring authors?
Write the story of your heart. After all, you might be the next J.K. Rowling or Angela Knight. Stick to your vision. You can’t go wrong. =)
Where can readers purchase your books? How can they contact you?
My books are all available from Amber Quill Press http://www.amberquill.com and Changeling Press http://www.changelingpress.com. I LOVE to hear from readers. I really do and I answer all email. Myweb site is at http://isabellajordan.com. I do giveaways every month and I’m pretty good at keeping the site up to date.Also, I’d invite anyone to join the loop I have with Dakota Cassidy and Michelle Hoppe – two wonderfully talented ladies and very good friends. It’s called The Truth About Books, Babes and Big Hair. It’s really just a place to come play and we’d love to have you.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ttabbb.
Thank you so much, Susan, for the lovely interview.
Any last thoughts that you would like to leave our readers with?
Yes, I’d like to wish them a happy and wonderful 2006. I also want to let them know I’ll be at RT this year in Daytona. Come by and say hi!
Thank you again Ms. Jordan for allowing Coffee Time Romance and your readers to get to know you and your work a little better.
Susan
Interviewer
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