VBT Stop with Jennifer Eton and a Contest

Welcome to my Reading Nook, Jennifer. Please make yourself at home and let my cabana boys/girls get you a drink.

Jennifer: Wow!  What hospitality.  I love the cabana boys.  Can I take that cute brunette home with me?

Suggest "No, I need them."

Jennifer:  "Okay, I'll just take a mango smoothie then.  Thanks so much Dawn and Mr. cute cabana boy!"

Comfortable? Wonderful. Now let’s get started.

Jennifer: Awesomeness

What’s the first thing you did when you received word you’d sold a book?

I screamed "YES!" in my head, because I checked my email on the phone and I couldn't do the standard "happy dance" without people staring.  Then I went hope and read the email and my family and we did the happy dance together.

Tell us about your latest/upcoming release. What inspired it?

I wrote Connect the Dots specifically for the anthology.  I tried to come up with something Christmassy.  I really didn't know where to start, so I created a scene with a mother and daughter writing up Christmas wishes, and the story simply snowballed from there. (Tee hee, unintentional winter pun with the snowball comment.)

If one of your books became a movie, which celebrity would you like to star as your characters?

Geeze, that totally depends on the story chosen.  I think the one story with the most movie potential is Fire in the Woods, which I am finishing up now.  The main character, David, is a doppelganger for Tyler Lautner, so he would be an obvious choice.

What genres would you like to try writing in but haven’t yet done so? Why?

I'd love to try a sexy/sensual romance. So many friends of mine write in this genre and are having great success with it.  The reason I haven't "gone there" is I'm not comfortable with writing anything that goes against my moral principles.  I have an idea floating around in my head though that could definitely go in a sensual direction, but still be inside my moral parameters.  Geeze, that makes me sound so conservative [smacks herself in the head]

What is your normal writing day like? 

I do most of my conceptualizing in the car.  I have an hour commute both ways, and while driving I prepare scenes in my head.  I write on my lunch hour, or in the wee hours of the night after the kiddies are in bed.

Where do you get most of the ideas for your stories? 

Stuff just comes to me.  I swear... there are all these crazy ideas running around in my head screaming "write me!"  If I have a prompt, I usually start a story by just describing a scene, and then the creative side of my brain just goes insane and a story appears.  Yeah, I think it's freaky too, but it's fun, so I go with it.

What are some of your hobbies/favorite past times to indulge in? 

I enjoy a movie at home with my husband, or a quiet dinner when we get a chance.  I really enjoy interacting with people on my blog, and beta reading / helping people edit their works in progress.  It's always fun to see what others are doing.

Who are some of your favorite authors, and if we were to visit your home, what books would we find on your bookshelf, end table, floor or e-reader? 

Hmmm.  I think all my books are packed in storage with the exception of all of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time books.  Those I display proudly.  Such and incredible world, you know?  On my e-reader, you'd find a lot of fresh talent.  I try to support everyone who supports me, and that means a lot of fuel for my Kindle.  My favorite new authors this year are Claire Gillian (The P.U.R.E.) and Julie Reece (Crux)  Both those novels are kick butt awesome.

If you could be any character of any book or movie, who would you be?

I had to think of this one for a while.  I think I'd be Malifiscent from Sleeping Beauty.  It'd be fun to be so incredibly bad and still look phenomenally classy.

Do you have a favorite TV show you can't miss?

The only thing I've watched in the past few years is American Idol.  I love watching people sing.  I must admit that I didn't watch at all last year.  Writing doesn't leave too much time for that kind of diversion. 

What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a combination of both?

I used to be a pantser, but my stories would go way off on tangents and I'd have an unbelievable amount of editing to do. Last Winter Red was the first story I ever outlined, and it was published.  Ever since I have sworn by the outline.  Now, admittedly I sometimes just sit down and start to write... but once the characters become solid, and I know what I want to happen, it's time to outline.

Could you tell us about any work-in-progress, current projects, what we can expect from you in the future?

Last Winter Red is a Dystopian with a slightly romantic tilt.  This story released earlier this month as part of the Make Believe Anthology from J.Taylor Publishing. Connect the Dots, a Christmas Romance about making wishes and not knowing what you want, was also released early this month as part of Still Moments's "For the Love of Christmas" anthology. And... I'm really excited that the sequel to Connect the Dots which is called "A Test of Faith" will be available as a single short in January of 2013. 

As far as stuff in progress, I am finishing up a young adult novel called Fire in the Woods, which features an explosive race across New Jersey.  I'm also considering giving that Sensual Romance a try.  The tentative title for that one is Une Variante.

Who has been the most delightful character to write about? The most challenging to write about?

I really enjoy the character of Nicole in  "Connect the Dots" and "A Test of Faith".  She is twelve years old and a really smart cookie.  She's fun because of the innocence of a child... just so much material to work with.

The most challenging character to write was Paul in "Last Winter Red".  He is a man in a great deal of pain over losing his wife.  I had some trouble relating, but after some time and soul searching, I think I did him justice.

What do you do to unwind and relax?  

I write, and then I write some more.  I love creating new worlds.  I also love hiking and snorkeling when I get a chance.

What is the last line of your last WIP you worked on that you wrote?

She unlatched the front door, and ran. 

Anything you would like to add?  

Jennifer Eaton lives on the East Coast USA with her husband, three boys, and a pepped up poodle.  She hosts an interactive website www.jennifermeaton.com aimed at making all writers the best they can be. 

Her Dystopian novelette “Last Winter Red” is available as part of the “Make Believe” Anthology from J.Taylor Publishing.  Her Christmas Romance “Connect the Dots” is available as part of Still Moments publishing’s “For the Love of Christmas” Anthology.  Both are available in ebook format from Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com and Smashwords

Last Winter Red:  In search of a husband, Emily leaves the safety of the city and risks her life stepping into the outside world.  What she finds there will question the foundations of everything she believes in.

Connect the Dots:   Jill has no idea what she wants for Christmas, but when it looks like her best friend Jack is going to get exactly what he asks for, Jill makes a Christmas wish that will change both of their lives forever. 

Enclosure links (3): 

Jennifer Eaton Photograph, http://jennifermeaton.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/j-taylor-fix-crop-white.jpg

Make Believe cover, http://jennifermeaton.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/final-cid_95de69bb-87a0-4886-9a55-118362cbdbbd.jpg

Christmas Anthology cover, http://jennifermeaton.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/for-the-love-of-christmas-cover.jpg

Twitter:  @jennifermeaton

Web:  www.jennifereaton.com

Blog: http://www.jennifermeaton.com/

J.Taylor Publishing Author Link: http://www.jtaylorpublishing.com/authors/13 

Thanks for taking the time to be here today. I wish you many sales and wonderful reviews.

Thanks so much.  It was great being here.  Can I get another Mango smoothie for the road?  This one was totally yummy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Contest Information:

Random commenters during the tour will receive e-book copies of Either "For the Love of Christmas" or "Make Believe" so make sure you follow the tour and leave a comment at her stops.

Also check out the Rafflecoptor giveaway below for a chance to win the goodies.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser Excerpt from For the Love of Christmas Anthology

Still Moments Publishing

Connect The Dots by Jennifer M. Eaton

Sad and alone, Jill cries herself to sleep on Christmas Eve, unaware of the true magic Christmas day can bring…and how discarded wishes have a way of coming true, no matter how ridiculous they may seem.

Excerpt:

I scrolled the words Dear Santa across the page. Omigosh, how stupid is this?

“Come on, Mom,” Nicole said, placing a long fold in her letter. “It’s not that hard.”

I dropped my pen on the table. “It’s hard if you’re a grown-up.”

“Just write down what you want.” She bent and tucked the folds together, molding her letter into a perfect origami star.

“But I don’t want anything.”

She held up her creation, scratching a freckled cheek. “Everyone wants something.” She fastened a paperclip to her star and hung it on the Christmas tree. The matte paper stood out from the bright glass ornaments.

I ran my fingers across my bare neckline. I’d love to have back the ornate silver and gold necklace that Nicole broke a few months ago, but I couldn’t write that. It would hurt her feelings.

“I’m too old to be writing to Santa,” I announced.

“Then write to God. He listens too.”

I narrowed my eyes. Stinker. “Okay…” I placed my pen on the sheet, and crossed out Dear Santa. “Okay. Dear God.” I sighed. “It’s not helping. I still don’t know what to ask for.”

I threw my long, dark ponytail over my shoulder and tapped my pen across the sheet, leaving a wavy line of dots marring the clean white-lined paper.

Nicole shook her head, jostling her chestnut curls. “Come on, Mom. Just write something. It’s God. He already knows what you want.”

“Then can he tell me?” The rumble of the school bus granted me a temporary respite. “Grab your lunch.”

“Got it.” She tossed the brown bag into her backpack and grabbed her jacket off the back of the chair. “See you later, Mom.” The screen door slammed behind her, rattling the nick knacks on the shelf beside the door. The frigid December air swirled through the kitchen, pushing the paper across the table.

I tossed my pen to the side and poured myself another cup of coffee. Liquid heaven rolled down my throat. Well, day-old reheated liquid heaven. I tossed the rest down the sink. Starbuck’s drive-through here I come. I popped the last bit of toast into my mouth and grabbed my car keys.

The nearly empty sheet of paper shifted across the tabletop as I passed by. The words Dear God taunted me.

Writing the letter didn’t seem like a game anymore.

Dear God…it doesn’t get more serious than that.

What do I really want? I hadn’t thought of it much since Bill took off on us. The pressure of being both Mommy and Daddy left little time for thinking about me. What I wanted was for Nicky to be happy. Nothing else really seemed to matter.

I eased back down into my chair, picked up the pen, and began tapping it on the paper again. Another line of scrolling black dots appeared across the sheet. What do I want…really? My wrist flicked, and I wrote the word please.

Link to Still Moments Publishing Anthologies:

http://www.stillmomentspublishing.com/search/label/Anthologies