Facebook Website
Interview
Please welcome Jude’s Sweet Fire author Jessica McBrayer to Diane’s Book Blog.
How long did it take to write Jude’s Sweet Fire?
This book flew out of me. I wrote in less than a month
which is not my usual. I was averaging 7,000 words a day.
If you could be best friends with one of your
characters, who would it be?
Rachel. I know she’s not a main character but
something about her really resonates with me. She’s just the right amount of
damaged but fiercely independent and loyal at the same time. Rachel shows her
fighting spirit every time she touches one of the animals at the clinic. She uses
tenderness and care but is not afraid to do what’s best for them to get them
healed, even if it may cause them a little pain. She’s the same way with her
friends. She tells it like it is instead of tip-toeing around their feelings,
knowing that they need to know the truth if they’re going to grow. Rachel is funny,
beautiful, and smart.
What inspired you to write the first book?
My husband has always been a Chicago Blackhawks hockey
fan and has tried to get me interested since we were dating. It took reading my
first hockey romance to get me instantly hooked. I soaked up everything I could
from him and became a huge addict right after that. Now I never miss a game of
my favorite team, which is not the Blackhawks.
Who or what inspired you to be a writer?
I know this is a cliché, but it was a teacher. She
started me on poetry, and I won some awards which built my self-esteem. Eventually,
I went on to short stories. My daughter passed away eight years ago, and it was
very traumatic. But I took away something from the experience: Life is short. Follow
your dreams. Bills will still be there, the hum-drum of work will still be
there, but our dreams are fleeting. Her illness helped me to realize I wanted
to write my first book and I dove into it. I published my first novel just days
before she passed. In a way, writing has been really good therapy for me. I
based one of my characters off of my daughter and each time I wrote about her
it made me feel like she was getting her opportunity to live again and fulfill
some of her dreams.
What’s your favorite book-turned movie?
Hands down, Stephen King’s the Stand. The adaptation was so close to the book, it was refreshing.
So many times, the movie is so far removed from what the author wrote it’s a
huge disappointment. Stephen King is known for being heavily involved in his
film and mini-series adaptations and it shows. I’m looking forward to seeing
some new projects of Neil Gaiman’s for the same reason. I’m a huge King fan. I think I read my first
King book in fourth grade and it’s been a love affair ever since.
What is your typical day like?
I work from home now, so it’s pretty laid back. I get
up around five-thirty and have a cup of coffee with my husband with some
breakfast. We go over what we want to do for the day and then I send him and my
son off for the long commute to school. I eventually wander into my office and
work on my latest manuscript for a few hours, writing or editing. Take a break
and then work with my mom and business/writing partner on our publishing
company before heading back to my manuscript. I go to bed fairly early unless
there is a hockey game on, then all bets are off.
Can you share a little of your current work with us?
I would love to! I’m working on writing the fifth book
in my hockey series which has yet to be named. That book will tell the story of
Marcel “Frenchie” Hugo, who is basically a disgraced and troubled teammate
paying his dues for his bad recent bad boy behavior. It will be a bit different
from the other stories in this series. My characters will be doing a lot of
soul searching and healing. I feel compelled to write this story because Marcel
needs a chance to explain a lot of the mistakes we see him make throughout the
series and to fix things in his life.
What book are you reading now?
I’m reading The Mister by E. L. James and two other
lighter shifter romance books. I just got done with the Alpha Vampire. I tend
to gravitate towards lighter books if I’m reading something heavy so I can take
a break if I want, although the Alpha Vampire was dealing with some pretty hardcore
stuff. Not my regular fare but it’s always nice to mix things up. I read exclusively
fiction and not literary fiction. I want something light that I can escape into
when I read. I used to read a lot of mysteries but have moved away from that
too.
What do you prefer, paperback, hardcover, or ebooks?
Ebooks without a doubt. I have almost 4,000 books on
my Kindle. Before ebooks it was hardcovers.
What is your favorite thing about sports romances?
I love that the heroes or heroines have this demanding
physical aspect to their lives. After a while the billionaire, assistant fake
marriage, secret baby romances get repetitive. (this doesn’t mean I’m not still
a sucker for them) I definitely love the more physical, have to have your head
in the game and make instant, independent decisions kind of sports. So, when it
comes to sports romances I tend to read only MMA fighting books and Hockey.
Who is your favorite real life hockey team?
I am an absolutely huge, diehard fan of the San Jose
Sharks. Particularly, Timo Meier, Joe Pavelski, Logan Couture and of course Jumbo
Joe. Kevin Labanc has been sneaking up on my radar too, lately and who could
pass up the smiling Tomas Hertl or the bearded Brent Burns? Martin Jones is
just the sweetest goalie. I guess there isn’t a player on that team I don’t
like 😊.
Character Interview
Please welcome Dr. Megan James from Jessica McBrayer’s Jude’s Sweet Fire to Diane’s Book Blog.
(Pre-meeting the hero)
Profile:
What is your full name? Do you have a nickname?
My full name is Megan Elizabeth James and unfortunately, my dad calls me Sweet Fire.
What is your hair color? Eye color?
I have vanilla blonde hair and hazel eyes.
How old are you?
I’m twenty-seven.
Interview:
Where were you born? Where have you lived since then? Where do you currently call home?
I was born in Atlanta, Georgia. I lived in Athens, Georgia during college. My home and veterinary practice are in Savannah, Georgia now and I love it here.
What is in your refrigerator right now? On your bedroom floor? On your nightstand? In your garbage can?
My refrigerator has takeout containers and wine bottles in it right now. Lately, I’ve been too busy to cook although I love doing it. My scrubs are currently on my bedroom floor. I wouldn’t call myself a slob, but I’m edging towards that. My nightstand has a picture of me, my dad and my mom when I was a little girl. There’s also a charging station for my phone and a lamp. I mostly have my recycling can full at the moment. It’s filled with wine bottles, chocolate wrappers and takeout containers. I need to clean out my fridge.
Who are the people you are closest to?
Easily my dad, who is the kindest, most caring father a girl could ask for. He always drops everything if I need him and is very protective without being smothering. He’s always supported me and helped me become an independent woman. My two besties, Rachel and Julie, are so much fun. They are smart, beautiful, funny women who religiously get together with me on Friday nights for wine, chocolate, good food and gossip. Who could ask for more?
Which living person do you most despise?
My ex-boyfriend, Charles.
What is your greatest regret?
I should have left my ex when he started being physically and verbally abusive. I wish I’d seen what was happening sooner. It started with little incidents followed by gifts and attention. I realize now that this can happen to any woman and that I did not have the experience of a serious relationship or the self-esteem to get out sooner.
What is the quality you most like in a man/woman?
In a man, I would have to say honesty. I value that in women, but I also love loyalty and trustworthiness. I guess that goes for both sexes. And humor. You have to laugh on a regular basis. Life is too short.
What do you most love about hockey?
I’ve never seen a hockey game and I know nothing about it. I think Savannah has a team now but I’m not sure.
Sharpest Sting (Elemental Assassin #18) by Jennifer Estep
Fire Cursed (Fire Cursed Trilogy #1) by J.E. Taylor
Blood King (Spirit Seeker, #1) by Amber K. Bryant 
