1--What is the title of your latest release?
FOREVER BOUND
2--What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
Outlander meets Miss Marple - part paranormal romance, part mystery, all fun
3--How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
I was lucky enough to have the chance to take a trip to Ireland in 2018, and I absolutely loved the experience. From there, the creative wheels just kept turning.
4--Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?
Definitely. She's a big personality, and I think would be a ton of fun to go out on the town with.
5--What are three words that describe your hero?
Secret softy, brooding
6--What’s something you learned while writing this book?
I learned a ton about Irish culture (since, amazingly, nine days in the country for vacation wasn't enough to let me realistically portray Irish characters!) I also spent a good deal of time trying to work out what would be the correct slang for someone who lives in the north versus someone who's spent time in Dublin versus... At least all the research made it really easy to follow "Derry Girls" when I started watching that a while into the project!
7--Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I tend to wait until I'm totally done before I go back in to edit. Unless I get entirely stuck wherever I am. Then I'll go back through parts of what I have to try to work out where I'm going again. That's part of the danger of being a "gardener" as George R. R. Martin puts it. Since you tend to let the characters/story lead rather than specifically following point A leads to B leads to C, you can sometimes end down paths that just... don't work.
8--What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
I love, love, love sushi. I eat it more than is likely healthy for either me or my wallet, but it's just so good!
9--Describe your writing space/office!
I do have a home office with a beautiful little desk we picked up from an estate sale and a few book-themed posters my husband got me to celebrate some book releases. Ninety-nine percent of the time, I ended up writing on our living room couch, though--or even on my phone while chasing the toddler around!
10--Who is an author you admire?
I grew up reading Philippa Gregory books, and I still admire her as a historical fiction author. I'd love the chance to meet and pick her brain some day!
11--Is there a book that changed your life?
I'd have to say "Little Women." It's the first book I remember being obsessed with as a child. It's actually what taught me what the word "abridged" meant (and I was completely outraged that there was part of the book that had been kept from me, as a third grader!) In one of my works in progress, there are four sisters I named Amelia, Libby, Josie, and Margaret just so they would sneakily be Amy, (Eliza)Beth, Jo, and Meg. That still amuses me a little more than it likely should.
12--Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)
I was driving home from dropping my daughter off at daycare. Luckily I was only a few blocks from getting there or I might have gotten into an accident!
13--What’s your favorite genre to read?
Perhaps unsurprisingly, I mostly read historical fiction and romance. A piece of writing advice I got years ago was "write the story you'd want to read." I also, apparently, read the stories I like to write!
14--What’s your favorite movie?
I don't know that I really have a favorite movie. There are a ton of movies out there that I really enjoy, but there isn't really one that I keep going back to to watch over and over. I do have some TV series like that, though. My absolute favorite there is "The Good Place." It's such an amazing mix of comedy and philosophy and brilliant acting that it feels like I learn something new every time I watch it.
15--What is your favorite season?
They all have their charms, but I'm definitely a spring person.
16--How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
These days, I'm a "nice dinner with friends" person--though I'm also not against going out to try new experiences like a pottery painting night or trampoline park!
17--What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
My "in the car" podcast I've been listening to lately is "Stuff You Missed in History Class." They're great little bite-sized episodes about lesser-known times in history, which I've always found fascinating. I'd absolutely love to be on an episode if they'd ever have me!
18--What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
With my love of sushi, I'd probably have to say Japanese... though Italian ranks up there as well.
19--What do you do when you have free time?
People have free time? Seriously, though, I'm very into crafting. Knitting has been the big one lately. I find it very meditative.
20--What can readers expect from you next?
I have a number of different works in various stages of progress. A few are set in Ireland again--one a straight historical romance, another a bit closer to "Forever Bound"--but I'm picking my way through edits on a good few. The next book that will be coming out, though, is historical fiction set in colonial Maryland titled "A Dangerous Beauty." It's actually a serial that I originally released on Kindle Vella, but we're releasing it in print this Valentine's Day, so that will be the next thing out soon!
Set among the rolling green Irish hills, Kelkerry Castle is something out of a dreamy fairy tale. For hotelier Bridget Marshall, however, it's a dream come true...once she’s sorted out the mold, lead paint, and ancient plumbing. And she’ll prove to everyone in the nearby village of Shansally (pop. 119) that she’s not just another silly, dreamy-eyed American—including her curt (if utterly gorgeous) new neighbor, Liam O'Flannagain.
Only, this breathtaking castle has far more secrets than expensive repairs. While someone—or something—here desperately wants Bridget to give up and walk away, there’s another force tugging Bridget to stay. Because whenever she’s with Liam, the ancient past seems to come to life again, sweeping them along in a story they’re apparently destined to relive.
Now, Liam and Bridget are caught up in a long-ago tale filled with love, danger, and betrayal. The past seems to be working its magic on both of them, pulling them into a love story they’re helpless to resist. And they’ll have to uncover the truth of what happened all those centuries ago before history—and tragedy—repeats itself.
Fantasy [Entangled Amara, On Sale: January 16, 2023, e-Book, ISBN: 9798372726604 / ]
While in college, Jessica worked as an intern at a small press, quickly rising through the ranks to Acquisitions Editor, where she remained until they unfortunately shut their doors in 2011. Since that time, she has kept her editing skills sharp, spending three years as a freelance editor before joining the team at Red Adept Editing in 2014, helping authors make their manuscripts the best that they can be.
In 2012, Jessica also added Creative Writing Teacher to her list of literary careers, joining the teaching staff of Writopia Lab in Washington, DC, helping children and teens better their writing and start literary careers of their own.
Jessica is always happy to hear from authors, readers, or anyone else with something interesting (or uninteresting) to say.
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