J.A. Saare's Interview!

I have the pleasure today to have J.A. Saare as a guest on my blog.

Having read her work, I thought I’d post my thoughts on three of her available works to start.

A Kiss Before Dying...

I held my breath while reading this, so it’s a good thing it was a tasty snippet and not a full length novel! A Kiss Before Dying will grab a hold of your heart, heat up your blood and leave you smiling all at the same time.

Moon Kissed...

Moon Kissed was rated as ‘hot’ which is an understatement, it should be scorching or searing at the very least! J.A. SAARE has done it again with another attention grabbing short and has been moved to the top of my list to watch for new releases by her.

Soft As Moonlight...

This is the first longer piece I’ve read by J.A. Saare and I have to say I can’t wait to read more. I was hooked on the first page! The characters in Soft As Moonlight drew me in and took me along with them in this enthralling journey. I was left with this thought; “Where do I find my very own Wolfe?”

1. Who is J.A. Saare?

First and foremost, a wife and Mom. I have a wonderful husband and four kiddos that keep me on my toes, and life is never boring. When I have free time, I write. It’s not always easy. I lovingly refer to our home as the “House of Insanity”, but I wouldn’t want it to be any other way.

As for the person? I’m a people enthusiast. It doesn’t matter who they are (though those with a taste for hard rock, Bruce Campbell, and horror usually lure me out of my shell faster than most). If I can get a conversation going, I will. I love learning about others or sharing common experiences. We all exist together. It’s easy to forget that sometimes.

2. Why the paranormal genre? Do you write in other genres?

I remember watching a Nightmare on Elm Street when I was a girl and something deep inside clicked. The idea of a man in your dreams that could harm you unless you woke…creepy! An introduction to Stephen King set me well on my way into the paranormal side of things (Cycle of the Werewolf and Salem’s Lot, anyone?). Then I started reading romance and urban fantasy. Other authors got hip to how captivating the paranormal can be, and I followed them as well. That’s when the interest developed.

I do write other genres. *smile* I have a short horror story, Penance, that is featured in the current issue of Niteblade Horror and Fantasy magazine, as well as a urban fantasy flash fiction story, Redemption, that will be released in The Creatures of the Night anthology from Absolute Xpress on October 31^st.

Tell you a secret…I have a western in the brain that is roughly plotted out (I’m a pantser but write my ideas down when they come). I was researching the Civil War for Dead, Undead, and inspiration stuck. There are too many projects right now to get to it, but I fully intend to.

3. What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Time. There just isn’t enough of it. When I started, writing was a hobby. I would sit down at the PC and let go. Now, it’s all about the networking, promotion, blogs, loops, and chats. What’s worse is that the longer it takes to get a story done, the more of them that accumulate in my head.

4. Do you ever have problems with writers block? If so how do you get through it?

*knock on wood* Fortunately, I don’t get writers block. There are times when I’ll need a catalyst of some kind and I can’t quite see it. When that happens I’ll pull out the ipod, plug in the ear buds, and start doing random chores. My brain will automatically start shifting through scenes (like mini-movies). Sometimes they relate to my stories, other times they don’t, and usually, I’ll think of something else all together. But the reprieve resets the clock, and if I don’t have an idea by the time I return to the PC, I’ll be relaxed enough to go with the flow.

5. What do you do when you’re not writing/editing or thinking about writing/editing?

Living the glamorous life…folding clothes, changing linens, vacuuming, mopping. You name it, I do it. There no maids in this casa. *smile*

For fun, I read, do fun things with the family, or watch old horror movies with my husband. On the rare occasion when I can get away, I’ll usually visit the book store, get a strong cup of coffee, and read in the corner.

6. When did you realize you wanted to write?

If I had to guess I’d say the inclination surfaced when I was in college. One day a story came to mind, and I started writing it, without a care for character development or plot, and stopped probably fifteen-thousand words in. It was incredibly rough (I still have the printed pages) and was in no way suitable to share. I saved it, put it away, and fiddled around with other stories. After more of the same, I figured writing just wasn’t in my future, and settled for reading.

Then a little over a year ago, I decided to write a story for fun. There were no restrictions because it was being done entirely for me. I had no intention to share it, or to allow anyone to see it. Eight-weeks later, Crimson Moon was finished. Instead of relief, I was uptight when it was all said and done. It hit me a few weeks later that the anxiety I was experiencing came from the need to write. So I started working on my second book, Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between.

I haven’t stopped since.

7. While working on a story, do you directly onto the computer or are there notebooks and plot ideas jotted down in various places?

I love my composition pads. I have one for each story I work on. They are great for jotting long ideas or plot possibilities down, or if you need to remember something that just won’t fit on a sticky pad or note. But when I do my writing, it’s either on the PC (preferred) or the laptop. I have everything situated on my desk so I can find it. There is nothing worse than messiness when you need to find what you’re looking for.

8. From your own writing, do you have a favourite story or character? Why?

If I had to pick a character, it would be Rhiannon Murphy, the heroine in Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between. She’s a woman that knows she’s flawed, but makes no apologies for it. What you see is what you get. She’s dark, she honest (brutally so), and she’s someone I would love to meet.

A small confession–whenever Rhiannon takes the reins, you’ll know. How? You’ll hear me laughing. Some of the things that come out her mouth (or resound in her mind) shock me, and most of the time, I’m stifling giggles. Things like (edited for those PG eyes):

“Listen.” I sighed and reached for my plastic bottle. “I want to get this sh*t over and done. Can we strive to obtain that goal? I have a meaningless existence, and I can’t put that kind of action on hold indefinitely.”

Or

Some girls get to be prom queen. Others get a perfect SAT score. But not me. I was the biggest winner on the Price is Right, and Johnny just told me to come on down.

9. With four published works coming out so close together this year, how are you dealing with all of it?

I’m faking it… Just kidding. I’d be lying if I said it was easy, because it isn’t. Aside from being a Mom, I’m also a reviewer, so that takes up a large portion of my time as well. I’ve found that using a calendar and remembering that I’m only human and am allowed to make mistakes helps. I’m my own worst critic, and it’s difficult to keep that in mind sometimes.

With that said, I’ve met some amazing writers/editors and friends on the journey. They all make it so much easier. Words of support are like a balm for the soul. I don’t know what I’d do without them.

10. Can we expect more releases from you in the near future?

I hope so. *smile* Two of my full-length stories are currently being polished for publication. Crimson Moon (paranormal romance contracted with The Wild Rose Press) went through the final galley stage, so I should have a release date soon. And Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between (urban fantasy contracted with Eternal press), is waiting for edits. I’ve also have a few other projects under the submission process.

As long as the submission reception is good, and I’m able, I’d love nothing more than continuing on this journey.

Thanks for having me today!

Jaime

Thanks for taking the time, Jaime!

Of course I’ve marked October 30^th on my calendar and will be the first in line to read “Lick of Frost” when it’s released – I can’t wait to see where J.A. takes me this time!

Here's a peek :

Lick of Frost

Onyx “The Ice Princess” Blackthorn has yearned for the nearness of another for two centuries. Cursed after she shunned the advances of a lovelorn wizard and felled him with a cursed blade, she ventures to New Orleans with his coven, desperate to put an end to the isolation that is slowly killing her.

One searing touch informs Lycae Luke Trevlian he has found his mate, a breathtaking creature that can only be adored from afar. For to touch Onyx’s skin is to touch the ice trapped within, ensuring she remains pure for the one that hexed her.

Halloween is a time of magic, and with the new moon, a time of new beginnings. When the wizard that cursed Onyx returns to flesh and blood, eager to claim her for his own, Luke will challenge him for the one woman he cannot live without.

Excerpt:

As always in her dreams, Onyx yearned for touch. Be it from a billowy soft kitten her mind conjured, a wiry-coated hound from days long past, or the light tingles of the legs of a butterfly perched on the end of her finger. Her limited nineteen-year knowledge was distant and impossible to grasp while awake, but in sleep, she remembered every tiny detail.

But more often than not, a person invaded the sanctuary of her dreams. It was a part of her punishment. A way for her to remember what she so heedlessly cast away.

When the first brush of heat against her forehead came, she turned to it, desperate for more. She kept her eyes firmly closed, unwilling to mar the sensation by opening them and facing Alexander’s exuberant face. Instead, she allowed the contact but detached herself emotionally from the implications of it.

He was not meant for her, and never would be. No matter how much he wished it or tried to influence fate. But in dreams he was always happy to remind her that she would never know the comfort of another, teasing and tormenting her with the only touch she might ever experience.

His.

And even as she tried to convince herself that anything was better than the shadow of isolation she always wore, she inwardly hated and detested herself for the weakness that drew her to him.

Just as he knew it would.

Damn him.

The fingers traveled from her face to her hair, burying inside the strands and massaging her scalp. Her hair separated and parted, and her entire body shivered in bliss. She groaned at the unbelievable pleasure, shocked as Alexander only chose to touch and caress her in sexual ways. The erogenous zones were his favorite places to torment. He constantly caressed her breasts, pinched her nipples, or cupped her bottom. Though she detested and despised him, she allowed it.

Any kind of touch—painful or pleasurable—was preferable to none.

A throaty growl of fury nearly disrupted the dream, but it quickly faded as a warm body pressed against her, another hand coming up her spine to cradle and palm her head. Her face met the smoothness of hard flesh, the muscles pronounced against her cheek.

She pressed against the skin, turning her nose from side to side and brushing the tip against the flesh, breathing in the distinct smells of woods, earth, and fresh rain.

She frowned.

Something’s not right.

Alexander stank of sulfur and amber from demon conjuring. Not the arms of the earth.

The hands in her hair continued to massage and scrape gently, the soothing pads of confident fingers causing her to tremble. Plush lips came down, hovering just over her mouth, and when warm breath caressed her lips, her eyes flew open.

Hunter green stared back at her, trapped inside the face of the captivating man at the bar. The events outside of the cemetery returned, as did the image of his concerned face as he peered down at her, his husky voice deep and calming.

The shock of seeing him was nullified by the fact he was not only holding her, but he was touching her.

She tried to scramble away, to keep from harming him with the deadly taint of her skin. She arched her back to sever his hold, using gloved hands to force him away.

“Shh,” he said in a soothing timbre. “It’s all right.”

“Let me go,” she gasped, struggling to get free. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t,” he murmured, holding her closer. He gently probed the skin at the back of her head, searching for and finding what was obviously a healing wound. “How do you feel?”

Disbelief kept her silent while arousal stilled her frantic thrashing. He was even better up close, even more breathtakingly male. The elder warriors she trained with as a girl looked like him, with broad shoulders, taut muscles, and an impressive build. There were none of the mages’ gangly limbs and thinned torsos she had grown accustomed to. The tanned skin of his chest was smooth, with a thin speckling of hair that spread across the center. She wondered what he would taste like, if he would be salty or sweet.

“Keep thinking like that and I won’t be able to control myself, darlin’,” he murmured, lowering his eyes and staring at her lips.

Puzzled, she questioned, “Thinking like what?”

“About how good I taste.”

Here’s where you can find J.A.Saare:

http://www.jasaare.com/

http://jasaare.blogspot.com/

You can find her books at

Amira Press