Interview with Author J.H. Cardwell and Giveaway

Meet author J.H. Cardwell.

Julie has spent years in the medical field. The first few as a Cardiac Specialty Nurse, and over the last decade as a Pharmaceutical and Medical Sales Representative. She has gathered mounds of experience both personally and professionally to pour into her new passion…writing. After years of power points in the corporate world, she is trying her hand at romance fiction with her first novel, Attainment, and the soon to be released sequel Atonement. Julie resides in a small town in NC with her husband and four children. She continues working full time in sales, exploring her writing late at night and in the wee hours of the morning when her children are tucked safely in bed.

Places to find J.H. Cardwell:

| Site | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads |

First off, can you tell us a bit about you?
Sure...how much time do you have? lol! I’m a new author for contemporary romance fiction and new adult novels. My daytime revolves around my job in medical sales, carpooling children to school, multiple texts to husband, lunch with friends if I don’t have a work lunch, deadlines, meetings, etc… My evenings fall to traveling to activities (volleyball, basketball, softball, cheer, dance, church, etc…), occasional dinner programs for work, dinner with family (at least two sit down meals around the table a week), conversations and ‘what not’ with hubby, and my ultimate passion READING and WRITING! I have four children, so I am geared to be active!!

Did you always want to be a writer?
Well, I’ve always wanted to create stories, whether in TV or books. I love to bring images to life through words and plots. I am a big pretender! So, I guess you could say, yes, I have always wanted to.

What kind of writer are you? Panster or Plotter?
Ooh, I’m a little of both! I would have to say you need a bit of planning to have some structure to the story, although not everyone needs this. I, however, need a basic outline of time-tables and characters (i.e. family trees, dates etc…) so I don’t spend my time going back ten chapters to remember I named my cousin’s stepmother Lauren when it was really Tonya. Otherwise, I let my creativity take over the actual moment by moment plays. Sometimes it’s amazing to just write and then look back during editing and say ‘man…where did that come from, I don’t remember even thinking that?’

Where do your ideas come from?
As I mentioned in the earlier question, ideas flow (definitely some days more than others), but my main story ideas or plots come from real life scenarios. Attainment for instance starts off (the prologue) with a real-life date rape case scenario. So beware, It may come off somewhat shocking. The rest of the story is just absolute fiction of how I imagined the characters would have evolved through love, pain, friendships, college-life, etc… Some true-life examples are interwoven throughout as well. Many of the humorous stories are real-life personal experiences. Lol! I’ll let you figure out which is which.

A la Twitter style, can you describe your book (or series) in 140 characters or less?
I’ll try, here goes: Love, lust, betrayal, friendships, suspense…this book series has it all, even a murder…Tate/Reese/John…enough said!

What are some of your favorite kinds of stories to read?
Well, definitely Romance. Contemporary/New Adult/Chic Lit. I love a good love triangle! I like a series as long as it’s not too much of a cliffhanger. I really like for the characters to develop and learn/change from their life circumstances.

Do you have a favorite book and if so what is it?
Oh my! I have many and many in different genres!! I love Beautiful Disaster by Jamie Mcguire. It’s very modern and real-life. I also love Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers (see what I mean by different genres). I love the Twilight Series, and Hunger Games as well. Those are just a few. If you saw my bookshelf or my Kindle list, you might think I have a bit of a problem!!!

What are the scenes that are the hardest for you to write?
Hmmm, emotional scenes, especially dealing with death or the loss of a child. I live these for days, sometimes dreaming about them. It is so permanent (no longer a life in the story), and when characters are written out and the remaining characters have to deal with the consequences, it’s hard to imagine. I always try to write like it happened to me…hence the emotions I absorb.

If you could have dinner with any three authors, who would you choose and why?
Another mind bender. I would have to say…E L James. I would love to know how she is feeling, personally after her story being read and reviewed time and again by so many people (not just readers). I can only imagine. Secondly, I would say Karen Kingsbury. She is a creative mind and a kindred spirit. I have read nearly every one of her books over the years. I think she is blessed with her stories, that she is able to whip out in a matter of days. And thirdly, I would say J. K Rowling. She is another incredibly creative mind that I would love to dig deeper into. Of course there are many others and also others that are no longer with us I could name for their poetic and prophetic substance. Check out my website for a tab on my favorite books and also see a few on my GoodReads lists.

Last question, are you working on anything right now?
I’m finishing up Chloe, the third book in the Attainment Series. I think you’re going to be REALLY surprised by it!! I took a somewhat different direction, and I’m anxious to get your thoughts. Also, I’m working on a stand-alone book that is a romance, but with a lot of suspense…I would say it may be more on the lines of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.


My first book was around 240 pages, and my second is around 400 pages. How important is a book’s length to you? Or are you just looking for a great story to keep your attention throughout?

There are many ways to capture a person’s love, but unwilling, full attainment is never the best option.

Life hasn’t been easy for 18 year old Reese Stanford. After a traumatic incident a year ago, she has a hard time trusting any guy. She finally allows herself to fall for the heart throb, Tate Justice, only to realize he too comes with his own set of issues.

Swearing off men, she meets a beach ‘god’ who will settle for no less than all of Reese. That is at least, until she learns a truth about Tate that changes the game entirely.

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He reached over and pulled me in front of him, his arms low around my waist. “Is this okay Reese? I want to hold you and look at you while we talk.”

Was it okay? Of course it was okay. My God how I loved the feel of his biceps rubbing up against my arms...Wait, did I really just think that? I have to admit I felt unusually safe in his arms.

“Of course Tate…” I instinctively batted my eyelashes.” I like this,” I said as I lowered my head to his firm chest. We swayed to the music.

“Well, I hope I don’t regret asking about this, but what are your feelings toward Carter?"

"Wait, before you speak,” Tate’s words were slow and measured. He reached for my chin and held it softly between his fingers. “I have to tell you I don’t know if my heart could stand for you to still be emotionally involved with him Reese. I don’t think I have to tell you that I’m falling hard for you. You are everything I ever wanted. You are sweet, loving, beautiful, kind and I know you have big goals to achieve,” he swung his arm slowly in the air to insinuate endless possibilities. I tried to speak but he put his finger to my lips “Reese you are all I need. Please think about what he did when he just left you hanging. He broke your heart. And I would kill him if he did it again…hell, I should kill him for doing it the first time. I have had this sort of bad boy meets good girl image since we met, but seriously…I can’t think about you hurting."

Oh Tate, if you only knew, I thought. There was a long silence.

“Now can I talk?” I lightly chuckled as he took down his finger. “I thank you for saying all of that about me. I think that you are amazing. How did I get so lucky to have you want to protect me? I…” I reached up and put my hands on his chest again. "I really do think you are pretty awesome.” I couldn’t stand it anymore…his words…his actions...I reached up and kissed him. I left my lips slightly parted and then the kiss grew firmer, more intense. He lightly caressed my tongue with his tongue and put his strong hands on both sides of my neck drawing me nearer.

Our bodies seemed to melt to one. No one else seemed to matter. It was like I couldn't get enough of him. I felt his breath catch, and his hands seemed to tremble on my face. Oh Tate, do I really do this to you? You could have anyone else you want. We continued for what felt like minutes, until he inched his body against mine, and I felt like I couldn't take it...I forcefully drew back, my eyes wildly searching his.

Check out the Attainment series:

Click for info.

Check out what's up for grabs.

Up For Grabs:

• 1 $15 Amazon Gift Card
• 1 $10 Starbucks Gift Card
• 2 signed copies of Attainment
• 2 signed copies of Atonement
• 2 Attainment T-Shirts

To Enter: 

• Please answer JH Cardwell's question: My first book was around 240 pages, and my second is around 400 pages. How important is a book’s length to you? Or are you just looking for a great story to keep your attention throughout?
• US Shipping ONLY for books and shirts. If non US winner is chosen, will receive a $10 gift card instead.
• Please fill out the Rafflecopter form.

Good Luck! 

Special thanks to JH Cardwell for sponsoring this tour-wide giveaway.

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