Interview with Author Jean Hart Stewart and Giveaway

Today I would like to welcome to the blog author Jean Hart Stewart. Jean is currently on tour for her book Fiery Pursuit and has stopped by today for a chat. Before I give the floor over to Jean, lets get to know her a bit.

Love living in California, even though I’m a transplant. Love writing and all it entails, crazy characters demanding to be let loose on the page, long hours of research, every bit of it. I raised two children and spent about twenty years in real estate before I summoned the courage to quit and do what I always wanted to do, WRITE! While he was alive my husband was my first-stop editor and biggest fan. Now that my children are accustomed to my writing sexy novels they’re equally supportive.

I’m currently finishing my 24th book, tentatively named Double Pursuit and I have four books coming out this year. My Mage series is finished and I’ve started a new series where the new hero has Elfin blood. He’s fun, as well as tall, lithe and gifted. I think I’m blessed as well as lucky. Do write me with any questions. I love to hear from readers!

Places to find Jean:

| Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter |

First off, can you tell us a bit about you?
UGH! Basically I don’t enjoy talking about myself, but I’ll give it a go. I’m a fairly new widow, and my writing means more to me now than ever. Have two children and two grandkids. I usually can stop the conversation cold by saying my father was killed by a golf ball when I was six. It’s true, and after that we had little money, and I, more than most, appreciate the privileged life I now lead. Fell in love at first sight and could hardly wait to marry the guy. Had a wonderful marriage. I believe completely that love is the greatest and most important force on earth. I hope I get that message across in all my books. I’m just finishing my 28th book.

Did you always want to be a writer?
A resounding yes to this question. Wrote my first romance novel when I was 13, and walked around for days thinking I’d just written a masterpiece. The heroine was named Aurora and that’s all I remember. I’m thankful it’s lost. It was doubtless dreadful.

What kind of writer are you? Pantser or Plotter?
I’m definitely both. When a new idea hits me it generally comes into my mind complete with the beginning action of the book. So I get started with a rush of words that come so fast I can hardly get them down. Somewhere around chapter five I start realize I don’t know where I’m going and I’d better stop and actually plot. Then I fill out a 20 chapter outline, sketchily, but enough so I know the dark moment and how to rescue my characters from the villain. I do light character sketches. Then I research the time period. My books about druids, mages, and now elves are eight book series, so in following the family members I get into different years.

Where do your ideas come from?
Don’t know the answer to this one. They’re just there. If I’m stuck in a plot I put the problem in my head before I fall asleep. I generally wake up around two with an idea of where I’m going.

A la Twitter style, can you describe your book (or series) in 140 characters or less.
A toughie! Here goes: This is for Fiery PURSUIT, which leads to the series.
“Lars is handsome, glamorous and an Elf. Will Sophie’s desire for revenge ruin their erotic romance? Can Lars convince her she’s worthy of an Elf’s everlasting love? “

What are some of your favorite kinds of stories to read?
Romance, erotic and non-erotic. Historical romance. I dip into others but these are my favorites.

What are the scenes that are the hardest for you to write?
The ending is often hard for me. I know what it is, and it’s always happy, but I don’t want it to be goopy. Sometimes hard to hit the right tone.

If you could have dinner with any three authors, who would you choose and why?

• Mary Balogh, whose work I devour. I heard her speak once and asked what she did when she hit a spot in a book and didn’t know where she was going. Her answer, ‘make it worse’. Best advice I ever had.
• Jane Austen, for her sly wit and spot-on characterizations.
• Too many good ones out there to pick. Stephanie Laurens. Julia Quinn, Linda Needham, Liz Carlyle, Susan Johnson for erotica, and so many more.

Last question, are you working on anything right now?
Of course! I have three books out this year so far and hope for three more. I’m currently in edits for STORMY PURSUIT, the second in my new series about passionate elves. Book three, DARK PURSUIT is being polished, and book four, RELUCTANT PURSUIT, is in the works. Love those elves and their peaked ears!


When Lars uses his Elfin power to rescue Sophie from a slave market in Constantinople he knows instantly she is meant to be his mate. But the murderer of Sophie’s father still pursues her, and Lars must all his strength to try to save her. And convince Sophie he is what she wants.

The villain who sold her into slavery reappears and Lars needs all his Elfin strength. When his power mysteriously weakens, can Lars get it back? And will it be enough to save them both?

Places to Purchase:

| Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Ellora's Cave |

Lars had seldom felt so wordless. He’d lived his years in pleasure and with pain. More pleasure than pain certainly, as his elfin abilities gave him immeasurable advantage in most situations. But always with honor. And now, to be offered the one thing he wanted the most, masked in a reasoning he could not quite dismiss.

As he hesitated he looked at her. He noticed the distress in Sophie’s eyes as tears filled them, but she didn’t waver. She looked lost as a child in a dark forest, and well she might. Her life as she knew it had been ripped away. She’d suffered for weeks at the hands of uncaring brutes.

She needed the cherishing he’d longed to give her. And the life-long protection he’d commit to at the same time. He’d not tell her yet of his sudden and complete certainty they were each other’s destiny. But he realized it to the depths of his soul, and he’d go to her with that conviction.

He moved quickly, wrapping her in his arms. He’d give her what she wanted, and gladly, and he’d not tell her yet that in doing so he was committing himself for whatever length of life remained to him. He’d pleasure her—oh, how he’d pleasure her–even though she wouldn’t know he was giving her his total love and his soul.

Elves loved only once, and deeply. He’d almost decided he’d never find the one girl for him.

Want to win some goodies from Jean? Check out what's up for grabs.

Up for grabs:

• 1 lucky commenter will win their choice of a book from Jean's backlist
• 1 lucky commenter from the ENTIRE tour will win a print copy of their choice from Jean's books along with a Fiery Pursuits T-Shirt.

To Enter:

• Please leave a meaningful comment for Jean 
• Please leave your email address along with your comment to be entered. 
• Giveaway ends July 6th

Good Luck =)