Interview with Rachel Gibson

It’s amazing how one split-second decision can affect the rest of our loves. For instance, a business woman who decides to take a later flight misses a fatal crash by an hour. Or on a lighter note, an innocent hook-up at a bar winds up turning into a life commitment. Good or bad, the decisions we make at the most unsuspecting times can be monumental. That’s just how life is.

This month’s Jen’s Jewels Rachel Gibson addresses this very topic in her latest release ANY MAN OF MINE. It’s the story of a single mom named Autumn Haven who finds herself in over her head trying to raise the son of a notorious professional hockey player Sam LeClaire. With Gibson’s usual romantic flair, she delivers yet again a steamy love affair sure to please her devoted fans.

As a part of this interview, Avon Books has generously donated five copies for you, my favorite readers, to try to win. So, don’t forget to look for the trivia question at the end of the column. And as always, thanks for making Jen’s Jewels a part of your reading adventure.

Jen: A New York Times bestselling romance writer, your stellar achievements recognized by Romance Writers of America as well as many others best exemplify the exceptional talent you possess as a writer. So that my readers may have a glimpse into the life of the woman behind the words, please share with us a brief overview of your educational and professional background.

Rachel: I got married soon after graduating from high school and had three children within seven years. When I say that, most people gasp. I certainly understand. Looking back on it, I gasp at how young I was, but I always thought I’d go back to school once my youngest child entered first grade. I had dreams of being a forensic scientist. Instead, I sat down with an old typewriter one night and started writing.

Jen: Please describe for us your "Ah! Ha!" moment when you made the decision to pursue a career as an author.

Rachel: It was the night I finished reading GONE WITH THE WIND and was so unsatisfied with the ending that I dragged out that old typewriter and rewrote GONE WITH THE WIND. After that, I wrote a contemporary novel that ended up being about eight hundred pages long. The book was really horrible and has never seen the light of day, but during the process of writing it, I became a writer.

Jen: In terms of nuts and bolts, please share with us your writing approach. Do you plot first and then outline? Or, do you fly by the seat of your pants allowing the story to take on a life of its own?

Rachel: Total pantser. I’ve tried outlining a book first because it just seem like it might be an easier way of going about writing. But I’ve leaned that I don’t stick to outlines and it’s a waste of time.

Jen: Your latest release ANY MAN OF MINE is a delightful story of Autumn Haven (love the name!) who is trying desperately to move on from a heart-wrenching past relationship. The novel involves the career of a fictional hockey player Sam LeClaire. Why did you choose to incorporate professional hockey into the storyline?

Rachel: I’d like to give you some allegorical reason that compares the game of hockey to the hard knocks of life and love. Some reason that would make me sound brilliant, but the truth is that hockey players are hot. That’s it. That’s the only reason.

Jen: Autumn’s sheer determination to succeed has enabled her to become a self-sufficient, single mom with an emotionally healthy son Conner. From where does she get this strength?

Rachel: I think perhaps watching her mother flounder gave her the determination to be self-sufficient. When people are handed difficulties, they can either fail or succeed and that has to come from somewhere deep within each individual.

Jen: How does her decision to become an event planner directly correlate to the unrest that is going on in her personal life?

Rachel: I was interested in the contrasting juxtaposition of a woman who plans beautiful wedding for a living but who was wed in Vegas by an Elvis impersonator in her own life.

Jen: Her ex-husband Sam is a rough and tough hockey player who makes women swoon. An absentee yet financially supportive father to date, his sudden interest in Conner sends Autumn into a tailspin. What is going through her mind as he tries to reinsert himself into their lives? And, why does she allow him to teeter so close to her emotional ledge?

Rachel: For a lot of valid reasons, Autumn doesn’t trust Sam. When it comes to Conner, she doesn’t trust that he won’t revert to his old ways and break his son’s heart.

Jen: Autumn’s brother Vince has been her entire support system during the rocky times. Despite the obvious, why does she not confide in him concerning her newfound feelings towards Sam?

Rachel: Vince hates Sam and wouldn’t understand. Also, Autumn is real confused about her feeling about Sam, and her brother isn’t exactly unbiased.

Jen: Conner’s immediate acceptance of Sam’s presence into their lives causes some unexpected as well as uneasy feelings for Sam himself. Why such fear and reluctance to give it his all?

Rachel: Being a good father is a lot of responsibility, and Sam is often purposely irresponsible.

Jen: Who is more of a hopeless romantic…Autumn or Sam? And, why so?

Rachel: Autumn. Although she fights it, she can’t help but be a hopeless, optimistic romantic. She plans fairytale weddings for other people instead of herself.

Jen: Let’s switch gears now and talk about your promotional plans. First, please take us on a tour of your website highlighting points of interest. (I love the graphics, especially the photo with you wearing the leopard heels! I want those shoes!)

Rachel: Actually, if you want up to date Rachel Gibson info, the best place to find it is on my Facebook page. It’s just a lot more immediate. If you want to read excerpts of all my books, they can be found on my website. For promotion, I am giving away copies of True Love And Other Disasters and Nothing But Trouble on my face book page through the end of the month. Avon is having a contest to give away a wild weekend in Vegas. Go to my website or Facebook page and follow the links for your chance to win.

Jen: Are you currently at work on your next project? If so, what may you share with us?

Rachel: I am. The next book features Autumn’s brother Vince as the hero. I hadn’t planned on writing about him, but he is such a big personality, I just felt compelled to write about him and tell his story.

Jen: Thank you so much for stopping by and chatting with my readers. I look forward to catching up with you again real soon. Best of luck with ANY MAN OF MINE! It’s the perfect summer read!

Rachel: Thanks Jen. If readers are interested in finding out more about ANY MAN OF MINE, they can read an excerpt at her website.

I hope you have enjoyed my interview with Rachel. Please stop by your favorite bookseller or local library branch and pick up a copy today. Better yet, how would you like to win one instead?

Be one of five readers to correctly answer the following trivia question and you’ll could win.

What is the name of Autumn’s brother?

In June, I will be bringing to you my interviews with Nancy Thayer and Melissa de la Cruz. You won’t want to miss them.

Until next time...

Jen