Indie Author Interview with Jourdyn Kelly - Author of the Contemporary Romance Novel Coming Home: An LA Lovers Book.
Jourdyn Kelly has always enjoyed the arts in one form or another. Music sets the mood, reading stimulates her brain, and writing allows her to utilize her imagination in any way she wants. Jourdyn has been writing stories since she was a teen, and figured out writing was her passion when she finished her first novel, Something About Eve.
Interview with Jourdyn Kelly
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| Author Jourdyn Kelly |
Jourdyn Kelly: Coming Home is my sixth novel. I also write short stories and fan-fiction that I post on my website.
Who are your favorite writers, your favorite books, and who or what are your writing influences?
Nora Roberts is my favorite writer. She's the one I read the most, and probably my biggest influence. My favorite books are Nora's (JD Robb) In Death series. I read a lot of different authors, and different genres. I'm most interested in books that have a strong female lead.
When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?
I think I started really looking at myself as a writer when I finished my first novel, Something About Eve. Before that, I wasn't sure I had the patience to finish a full length novel. Or if I had enough of an imagination. I happy to say, my imagination is big enough for more books.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
I wrote song lyrics before I wrote stories. I still have those in a notebook. I don't remember the first short story I ever wrote, but I do remember the first book I started. It's not finished...yet. I recently found it in one of my many notebooks, and have decided to one day finish it. My writing has improved (I hope) since then, so I'm actually excited to see how it will evolve once I get back to it.
" I will sit in a dark room [...]"
Tell us about your writing process. Do you have a writing routine?
My process is really simple. I sit in front of the computer and write. I don't have enough patience to do an outline. If I do have ideas when I'm not at the computer, I'll write notes on my iPhone. If I'm having writer's block, or problems with a scene, I will sit in a dark room and think of different scenarios. I'm not opposed to actually speaking out loud in that dark room, to make sure a conversation flows. It's a little weird, but it works for me. :)
Please, describe your desk/workplace.
The couch or my bed. That's my main workplace. I do have an office with a desk, but I like to be comfortable. And my ideas usually come to me at night. I'm a night owl, so my brain is more awake at midnight than it is at noon.
"[...] hardest parts of writing is believing you can please everyone"
What do you find easiest about writing? What the hardest?
The easiest thing about writing? That's a difficult question. Plots are easy to think of. Writing them down exactly how you think of it is hard. I wouldn't say writing is easy at all. Even names are hard to come up with (at least for me). I think people who write find it easier than most to paint a picture with their words, but easy isn't something I would say. One of the hardest parts of writing is believing you can please everyone, and finding out that's not true. No matter how much of your heart you put into your novel, someone's not going to like it. You have to be prepared for that.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
When readers write me and say they love a character I wrote, or can relate to a story I've written, that's my greatest joy. I want people to feel a connection to my writing. I hope that my writing makes my readers go through a myriad of emotions, but always coming out as happy in the end.
Jourdyn, please tell us a little about your Romance Novel Coming Home: An LA Lovers Book.
Coming Home is a contemporary romance about a woman named Blaise Knight, who has a love for flowers, and an obsession with red velvet cake. She has also - being averse to relationships - decided to stop dating for a while. Then Greyson Steele comes along. The slightly arrogant Delta Force lieutenant colonel is tired of his meddling family, and is ready to settle down and do what he wants for a change. Blaise is now on his radar. But there are things in Blaise's past that have Greyson wondering if Blaise is really the one for him. This 'sweet' story will follow Greyson halfway around the world to solve a mystery, and find his love.
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| Click to Read an Excerpt |
What inspired you to write the book?
Blaise was originally a small bit character in my book Flawed Perfection. But the more I thought of her, the more I wanted to write a story for her. My imagination started running wild with Blaise, and Greyson, beginning with the obsession for red velvet cake. I may or may not have been craving red velvet at the time (there's a pretty good chance I was).
Who do you see as your target audience?
I would say my target audience is women 18 and older. Of course, I would love for anyone, who is age appropriate of course, to enjoy my books, so I try to write in a way that would cater to anyone. I do have a young adult series that is targeted for a younger audience, but I think it's strong enough for an adult audience as well.
"It's uniquely mine."
What makes your novel special?
It's uniquely mine. I do my best to not be so formulaic that you feel "I've read this story before". I want my stories to be a fresh look at what is an age old concept. Love. I don't have much angst at this point in my life, so my stories won't be full of major angst. But I want them to feel real enough for readers to be able to say, "I love Blaise AND Greyson!" I want readers to be able to walk away from my story feeling as though they just made new friends. I think I accomplished that.
How would you describe the success of your self-published books so far?
I'd say I'm doing pretty well. It takes a lot of patience, a lot of work, and a lot of money to get yourself out there, but I'm getting there.
"Make your story mean something."
Can you give some advice for other Authors regarding the writing process?
Do what feels right for you. If sitting down and writing from your soul is your way, do it. If creating a storyboard works for you, do it. There's no one way to write. But the thing every writer must do is write from the heart. Don't write just to make money. Make your story mean something. If it means something to you, it's bound to mean something to others. Make it uniquely yours.
Are you working on another book project? Can you tell us a little about it?
I usually take a little time off in between books, but I am doing a lot of thinking on the next book in the LA Lovers series. I'm in the "plotting it out in my mind" stage. This one will be Ellie's story. Ellie is Blaise's best friend in Coming Home. The next book will be something a little different for me, but I'm hoping people will embrace it for what it will be. I can't say too much about it, because I don't want to give away anything right now. However, it'll be a special book for me to write.
"Holding a physical book is so much more satisfying."
Where do you see the book market in 5 or 10 years? Will there be only eBooks and will book stores disappear like record stores disappeared?
I HOPE that bookstores will still be here. Holding a physical book is so much more satisfying. Flipping the pages, smelling the paper, placing your bookmark. But we're so focused on technology these days, that I'm sad to say bookstores may be going the way of record stores. As long as there are still books out there for me to read, I'll be okay.
What is your e-reading device of choice?
I read on my iPad. I have iBooks and the Kindle app, so I'm all set! :)
Do you write full-time or do you have a day job? When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
I do write full time, but I also do some web work for singer/songwriter Debbie Gibson. And, occasionally I will design websites. When I'm not writing, I'm either reading or I'm training for triathlons or bike rides. I also take care of a lot of animals. I'm an animal lover, and with 4 dogs, 3 cats, and other various animals, I keep pretty busy.
How can readers connect with you?
I have a website (www.jourdynkelly.com). You can also find me on Facebook (AuthorJourdynKelly), Twitter (JourdynK), Instagram (JourdynK), Goodreads, and my Amazon author page. I love hearing from my readers, so I do my best to respond to everyone who writes to me.
Thank you very much for the Interview, Jourdyn.
About the Book Coming Home
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| Click to Read an Excerpt |
Greyson Steele is the “family stud”. After his stint in the Delta Force, he is coerced into the family business. And, his manipulative mother is planning a wedding for him to a woman he can’t stand. But Greyson has other plans. At thirty-nine, Greyson is ready to settle down, but only with a woman he chooses. After meeting the fiery owner of Knight in Bloom, Greyson finds his match.
Sparks fly when Blaise and Greyson meet. Can he convince her to take a chance on him? Or will Blaise’s past ruin their chances for a future? Their romance forces Greyson on a chase halfway around the world to solve a mystery, and find his love.
- "I couldn't put this one down! The characters were so real, I couldn't help but that they were my friends and I found myself emotionally invested from the first line. Jourdyn Kelly's other books are fantastic, too." - Reader Review
Link to the Book
Link to the Paperback Coming Home: An LA Lovers Book on Amazon
Link to the eBook Coming Home: An LA Lovers Book on Amazon
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