Janna Lee Hayes has gifted us with her time this month so that we might get to know this sassy Southern author just a little bit better. She introduces us to herself and talks a bit about what inspires her special brand of sassy fiction.
Hi Janna Lee! Welcome to Coffee Time Romance. How do you take your coffee?
I’m actually a sweet tea drinker. Love the smell of coffee, however.
Sweet tea drinkers are more than welcome amidst us caffeine-crazed masses! Please tell our readers about your writing style.
I write Fiery Southern Romance: hot stories about people in the South. I like to think of my characters are average, next-door neighbor types. It makes them more human for me as a reader, and I LOVE it when I can really connect with a character. I typically write short stories or novellas, but I hope to one day expand to novel-length.
Who do you look to when developing a character? Is it family and friends, TV/movies? Historical figures?
I start with a character’s name and go from there. Sometimes I can get an entire personality from a name, sometimes it’s like pulling teeth!
Where is the coolest/craziest place you have gotten inspiration for a story?
I’m lucky to say story inspirations hit me quite often. The most unusual place I’ve ever had a writer-ly moment, however, was in the McDonald’s drive-thru. The premise had nothing to do with McDonald’s, by the way, which is why I consider it so very random!
If your book had a soundtrack, who would you like to sing on it?
Classic Southern Rock, obviously, like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Creedence, Elvis Presley, classic and some modern country music.
Oh, yeah, I’m feeling that vibe, great music! If you could take a summer off and go anywhere and do anything you want, what would it be?
Oh, gosh, that’s a tough one. There are so many places I’d love to travel! I think I’d have to say the Outer Banks. The beach, great seafood, amazing history.
I’ve always wanted to visit the Outer Banks, it sounds delightful. Do you blog and/or what are your favorite sites on the www?
I like to read DearAuthor.com daily, as well as my favorite author blogs (Lauren Dane, Jaci Burton, the girls at Naughty and Spice, Wilder Roses authors) and gossip blogs. I try to give myself about 30 minutes to “catch up” on what’s happening, then it’s down to business.
Only 30 minutes? WOW, that’s incredible restraint! When you get sick of writing and want to escape, what makes you relax, makes you happy?
Reading and watching reality tv (unfortunately). It’s a mindless addiction! I also surf the gossip blogs.
My favorite shot/drink is….
Like a good Southern girl, I love sweet tea! The sweeter, the better.
A good Southern girl who writes hot romances! What story/project is coming next from you?
I’m currently working on another short story set in the world of Drive Me Crazy, a contemporary western, and an historical western.
Thanks, Janna Lee, and stop by anytime to chat.
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