Jayne Ann: Sure, Jen. I write romantic-suspense with a psychic vibe and I do it under three names in three fictional landscapes: Historicals under my Amanda Quick pen name, contemporaries under my Jayne Ann Krentz name and futuristics as Jayne Castle (which happens to be my birth name, by the way). And, no, I never set out to build three different writing careers but that seems to be what happened. Always figured I’d ditch the names that weren’t working. Who knew all three would find an audience?
Jen: Tell us about CANYONS OF NIGHT and where it can be purchased.
Jayne Ann: CANYONS OF NIGHT is the newest of my Jayne Castle titles, a part of the Harmony series. But it gets a little more complicated because it is also the third book and the conclusion of The Looking Glass Trilogy which includes IN TOO DEEP (JAK) and QUICKSILVER (AQ). And then, just to make things even more twisty, CANYONS OF NIGHT is the first book in a new series set on Harmony, the Rainshadow Island Novels. There, is that screwy enough for you? I never seem to do things in a simple, straightforward manner.
Jayne Ann: I didn’t start writing seriously until I was out of college and working as a librarian. That’s when I discovered romance and the romance genre. But I grew up on Nancy Drew, Andre Norton and Anne McCaffrey so I think it was a natural leap.
At first I was content to read voraciously in the genre. But eventually there came a time when I wanted to tell the story my way. I didn’t think I could write better than other authors, I just wanted to do it my way. For one thing, I wanted an element of suspense in the books and maybe a psychic vibe. Took me six years to get my first book published, though. Guess you could say I had a long learning curve.
Jayne Ann: Psychic romantic-suspense.
Jayne Ann: I’m a disciplined writer. Most successful authors I know are disciplined. In my case that means that I’m at the computer from about 7am until noon every day when I’m on a book. I’m a morning person so by the afternoon whatever creativity I’ve got to work with that day is pretty much shot. I spend the afternoons doing research, plotting or – my favorite therapy – shopping.
Jayne Ann: Deadlines have never been a problem. The urge to get the book done comes from inside, not some contract deadline. Once I start a story I don’t sleep well until it’s finished. The writing pretty much consumes me. That’s the real motivating force.
Jen: What is it about the romance genre that appeals to you?
Jayne Ann: I write in the sub-genre of psychic romantic-suspense and I love the way the danger and the psychic vibe enhance the growing bond between the hero and heroine. The elements work together to raise the stakes both in the relationship and in the suspense.
Jayne Ann: My favorite characters are always the ones I’m working on at any given time. I identify with all my heroes and heroines because they share my worldviews, my core values and my sense of humor – for better or worse. I’m betting that readers who like my books share similar values and sense of humor. That’s pretty much how it works in fiction. If you go back to a writer’s books again and again it’s probably because that writer’s core values mesh well with your own.
Jayne Ann: Nancy Drew.
Jayne Ann: Each new book contract is a highlight, trust me.
Jayne Ann: After doing two cross-name, cross-time trilogies (the Dreamlight Trilogy and the Looking Glass Trilogy) I’ve decided to once again unlink and untangle my three names. As I said, CANYONS OF NIGHT is the beginning of a new adventure on Harmony. Think: small town paranormal romance with dust bunnies. (The one in CANYONS, by the way, is named Rex. He carries a really nice clutch purse). I’ll also be firing up a new series under my JAK name with COPPER BEACH in January. It’s the start of the Dark Legacy novels. And last, but never least, I’m launching a new Amanda Quick series with CRYSTAL GARDENS next April. These three series will track independently under each name so if you read me under one of my names you will no longer have to read me under the other two names to find out what happens in a trilogy. Does that make sense? I’m doing my best to uncomplicate my career!
Jayne Ann: Please visit me at my website http://www.jayneannkrentz.com/ or my Facebook page www.Facebook.com/JayneAnnKrentz
Jayne Ann: If you read paranormal, I’d love to know what it is about the sub-genre that you think explains its enormous success with romance readers.
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