FREE Book Giveaway-Interview With Author AJ Nuest

Welcome! I had the pleasure in interviewing author AJ Nuest.

After reading the below interview with AJ, don't forget to leave a comment because one lucky person will win a FREE copy of her book, JEZEBEL'S WISH. This event runs Thursday through Saturday morning, and winners are restricted to the U.S. or CAN.

BIO: Author AJ Nuest lives in a small farming community in Northwest Indiana with her loving husband and two beautiful children. She is the author of two contemporary romance novels.

Thanks for being here, AJ. It’s a pleasure.

Thank you so much for having me, Kelly. The honor is truly mine.

#1- Tell us a little about yourself outside of your writing career…

As the Mom of two young kids, as well as assisting my husband with our work-from-home business, my time is pretty limited. We own about three acres of land, so during the summer gardening and landscaping is a high priority. Other than that, I’m cook, seamstress, laundress, school volunteer, chauffeur, tutor, cheerleader, nurse, fix-it man, and professional cuddler.

#2- Can you tell us about the book in this giveaway and where the inspiration came from?

Jezebel’s Wish originally stemmed from an idea to base a story at my Mom and Dad’s 40acre horse ranch in Northern Wisconsin. That part of the country is so beautiful, filled with unspoiled wilderness, and I knew it would provide an amazing canvas for my story. Jezzy is in the midst of a horrible tragedy, and returns home seeking an escape. What she finds there is help and healing, despite her efforts to keep everyone at a distance. She’s holding onto a dark secret, and this causes a lot of tension throughout the story. When her past is finally revealed, the emotional impact is really nice. I recommend reading the story within arm’s reach of the tissues.

#3- How do you handle the negative reviews and critiques you receive?

I could say I handle them like a mature adult. That negative feedback doesn’t bother me and everyone has their own opinion. But that would be a big, fat lie. I usually stomp around for a few hours, cry, call my Mom -- who listens with the patience of a saint -- and tell her all about what so-and-so said about my writing. Then, I clean. This purging generally takes about four hours, but afterward I’m calm enough to return to the computer, re-read whatever criticism I’ve received, and digest the information. If a review is bad, I try to glean some pertinent tips for my next WIP. If the criticism comes from a critique partner, I weight my options, consider character development, and then generally make changes accordingly.

#4- Any plans to write in a different subgenre of romance?

I’ve got one manuscript under consideration at The Wild Rose Press in the Champagne line, and another WIP at an inspirational house in Minneapolis, so yes, I write all subgenres. Actually, my next three planned novels are a fantasy, a romantic suspense, and then a bit of a period piece. I bore easily, so each time I craft a story I need to “up the ante”. My first two novels were written in third person, but my current WIP, Flicker, is written from first person POV, and the chapters flip through time. My next challenge will writing from two perspectives, and then several, and then maybe I’ll go back to third person again, just to mix things up a bit.

#5- Assuming you get any time to read, what authors do you like to read, and were there any books that stand out from your childhood as favorites?

I MAKE time to read. There’s no GETTING about it. If I don’t read, I won’t grow as a writer, so it’s a priority for me. As a kid, I read whatever I could get my hands on. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Nancy Drew Mysteries, Laura Ingalls Wilder are the ones that stand out, but I wasn’t fussy. Anything worked really. I would go to the library and pick out whatever book struck my fancy. My tastes now generally lean toward fantasy - Tolkien, King, Asimov, Goodkind. I adore Jacqueline Carey and Lois McMaster Bujold. Last summer I read The Left Hand of God by Paul Hoffman, which I loved, and right now I’m reading The Name of The Wind by Patrick Ruthfoss, which is outstanding. Seriously, I have to pace myself because I can’t put the book down. I’m still that kid that goes to the library and picks out whatever book strikes my fancy. However, since becoming an author, I find I’m a little pickier. If the story doesn’t grab me within the first few pages, I don’t continue.

#6- Are there any upcoming releases we would like to know about, and could you give us your web site so readers can check it out?

I’m so, so, SO excited that Jezebel’s Wish is releasing this month from The Wild Rose Press. I love to hear from readers. Please contact me anytime at:
www.ajbooks.blogspot.com
ajnuest@yahoo.com
www.twitter.com/ajnuest
Facebook Page: Tattered Pages

#7- This about concludes it. Thank you again for joining us. Is there anything else you would like to share?

Just a big thanks to Kelly! It’s been a pleasure being here!