Q&A With Debut Author Jennifer Faye

I am so thrilled and honoured to welcome our fellow Hot Pink Typewriter sister, Jennifer Faye, to the Hot Seat today. Join me in congratulating her on the debut of her first book, Rancher to the Rescue, which releases this month from Harlequin Romance.

  Damsel in a wedding dress!

 

Jilted at the altar, celebrity chef Meghan Finnegan flees the scene--and the baying press--only to run straight into the muscled torso of Cash Sullivan.


The former rodeo champion knows what it’s like to have your life crumble in the spotlight, so he offers Meghan a place to lie low at his ranch.


Fresh air, no paparazzi and the brooding rancher's lazy smile are making Meghan not want to leave her sanctuary. But she and her unborn baby can't stay here forever...can they?

RANCHER TO THE RESCUE- AVAILABLE NOW in stores

And online at Amazon, Amazon-UK, Barnes& Noble, Harlequin and other online outlets.

 

Rancher to the Rescue also received the honour of being a RT Book Reviews Top Pick for the month of July-way to go, Jennifer!

 I’ve had the privilege of reading, Rancher to the Rescue and absolutely loved it! Trust me, you will too!

*blushing* Thanks so much, Victoria! I’m thrilled to be here in the hot seat for my very first book. I know people talk about dreams coming true, but for me this really has been my dream for many, many moons. And I am tickled pink to finally be able to share my fictional characters with everyone.



Jennifer, can you tell us a little bit about your path to publication?

I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was kid. I must say that I lost focus during those teen years. ;-) But as I got a bit older, I was back crafting stories. Fast-forward a number of years and I finally took my first step to getting published, joined RWA and FTHRW – online chapter and started entering contests. That really opened my eyes to what I needed to learn, as did joining the group’s critique loop. Eventually I started finalling and winning contests and garnering editor requests. It was a matter of writing, writing, writing. And when I wasn’t writing I was reading.



What can readers expect of Rancher to the Rescue?

I hope they’ll find it to be a fun but emotional read. I really enjoyed getting to know Cash and Meghan. And the grandma, she was a hoot. I had to work hard to keep her from taking over the show. ;-) But along the way Cash and Meghan have a lot of learning to do. It’s definitely an emotional journey for them. And one that I hope will bring a smile to the reader’s heart.



Do you still remember what inspired it? Or how the idea for the story took spark?

I loved the movie RUNAWAY BRIDE with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. But I kept wondering why a bride would dash out of the church on her wedding day besides a case of cold feet. I’d think it’d have to be something pretty traumatic. And so I played around with this idea and got to know my heroine a bit. In fact, I wrote out the entire scene inside the church, but then cut it. It was one those scenes that the writer needs to know but the reader doesn’t. ;-) Anyway she had my sympathies and I would have hiked up my skirt and run too.



Could you introduce to us Meghan and Cash, the heroine and hero of Rancher to the Rescue?

I think I’ll let Cash and Meg introduce themselves. ;-) Cash how about you go first?

I'm just a normal, average cowboy. End of story. I’d just as soon be mucking out stalls than standing around talking about myself. Long story short, I was born in the back of a horse trailer at a rodeo stop in Wyoming. I grew up on the rodeo circuit, going from town to town. I could ride a horse before I could walk. My day is spent working the ranch. Once the livestock is tended to, I break in horses for cowboys. I'm hoping that the Tumbling Weed will soon be one of the largest horse ranches in the Southwest.

Meg, how about you? Would you mind introducing yourself?

Sure. I’m twenty-eight. I’ve been working in the food industry since I was in high school. Becoming the Jiffy Cook wasn’t something I’d planned. It just sort of happened. The best part of the job is all of the wonderful viewers I get to meet. On television, I cook a wide variety of ethnic foods. If I had to choose my absolute favourite, it would be Mexican cuisine. After all, I was born and bred in New Mexico.



Which of your characters would you most & least like to invite to dinner, from which book and why?

I’m going with the easy one first and that would be the character I’d be least likely to invite, the groom. He’s a jerk. He’s all smiles for the cameras and he’s good at getting people to do what he wants, but if you go against his wishes look out.

And the character I’d most likely invite, Cash, of course. Who wouldn’t want a brawny cowboy with a lazy smile and mesmerizing eyes sitting across the table from them? ;-)
 

Which usually comes first for you, the character(s) story or the idea for the novel?

The characters. I have to know them and their backstory before they are ready to move forward. Their backgrounds sets up everything for the story including their motivations which are the driving force for my stories.



What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

This is going to sound strange to many writers but I really enjoy writing the middle chapters. The opening chapter of a book is hands down my hardest to write. There’s just so much ground work to lay out for the reader while making sure to keep the pace humming along. I really struggle to get those beginning pages the way they need to be. But by the time I hit the middle, I’m in my stride. The conflicts have been laid out and now it’s time to see how it all plays out. ;-)



Can you tell us what we should be on the lookout from you, what is next on your schedule?

Next up is SNOWBOUND WITH THE SOLDIER. It will be released October 1st. This is a holiday romance filled with forgiveness and love. This story has a special place in my heart as these characters so desperately deserved their HEA, but there’s a lot standing between them. For much of the book, I worried if they’d get to a point where they could start to build a future. As you’ll find out on page one, it isn’t going to be easy for them.



Jennifer, again, congratulations!


Thank you so much!!!

 

Author Bio:

Jennifer Faye has spent most of her life with her nose in one book or another. It was only natural that she dreamed of becoming a romance writer and spinning the tales of the imaginary people running around in her mind. But first life took her on a couple of detours. Refusing to give up on her dreams, she finally succeeded in getting her name on a book cover. She currently resides in Pennsylvania with her very, very patient husband, one amazing daughter (the other remarkable daughter has flown the coop to chase her own dreams) and two spoiled rotten cats. When she’s not glued to her laptop writing another contemporary romance (which isn’t often) or enjoying some family time, she loves to get lost in a good book, cross-stitch, embroider, quilt, knit, watch hockey (go Pittsburgh Penguins!), and garden. Jennifer loves to hear from readers--you can contact her via her website.

You can also find her at these other locations:

Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Google+ / Tumblr