in

Monday, June 25, 2012

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:

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?
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:

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 =)

25 comments :

  1. Reading through the post I asked myself why I have not yet read anything by Jean Hart Stewart? Now on my author's list. No one wants endings to be 'goopy', believe me. My new favorite word.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. You've written a lot of books but you're a "new-to-me" author. How did your kids react the first time you asked them to read one of your works-in-progress?
    catherinelee100 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Not too well, Catherine , my daughter in particular didn't want her mother writing sexy stuff. Now she's completely converted and and in fact helps me a lot with publicity...Thanks for commenting...Jean

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for the excerpt and the chance to win!
    natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  5. How did you react when your first book sold i see you have written alot and i love discovering new authors even before i see any of their books signed micheleann oboyle
    angelwolfmystic@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My reaction was sheer disbelief! Finally I very calmly told my husband, then it sunk it and I started my victory dance....Thanks for commenting, Jean

      Delete
  6. I like the cover of your book. did you have ant say in whar it looked like?
    JWisley@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I always have a chance to comment or change my covers. Fiery is the first one I loved on sight and just said thank you to Will and his staff at EC. Story Pursuit will be out soon and I did change it a little...

      Delete
  7. Fiery Pursuit sounds like an amazing book!
    Nice blog and great interview. :)

    Elves are always fun to read about.
    bidelia78@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hello Jean,

    Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to spend with Us, sharing about yourself & your writing in a Wonderful Interview.
    Your new release, "Fiery Pursuit" sounds like a Fantastic Book, I really enjoyed the Excerpt & I'm LQQking forward to reading it.

    Take Care & Have a Great Week,
    PaParanormalFan Renee’ S.
    paranormalromancefan at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hello Jean,

    Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to spend with Us, sharing about yourself & your writing in a Wonderful Interview.
    You are a New Author to me, but not for long because "Fiery Pursuit" sounds like a Fantastic Book & I'm LQQking foward to reading it.

    Take care & Have a Great Week,
    PaParanormalFan Renee’ S.
    paranormalromancefan at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm so sorry to hear that you lost the love of your life, but you have two lovely children and grandchildren to cherish.

    I love stories about elves and yours sounds good. Congratulations on the release.

    janbrowser(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Janice~

    ReplyDelete
  11. Very nice interview and excerpt.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  12. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow, such great comments. I loved hearing from all of you...My daughter will pick a winner and I'll write to the winner after I hear her choice.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Jean, I am so thrilled to be able to tell you what an inspiration you are. Your work is great and as a "mature" woman I am thrilled to know there are a lot of us out there who enjoy the erotic romances. I hope to read so much more of your work.

    kerryjcj@verizon.net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Kerry. This blog has been a lot of fun for me. So many nice comments!!!

      Delete
  15. No need to enter me in the contest...I bought it. Just dropping by to tell you I love your work, girl.

    ReplyDelete
  16. No need to enter me in the contest...I bought it. Just dropping by to tell you I love your work, girl.

    ReplyDelete
  17. i want to enter ur giveaway,....luv the cover and i'm dying to read ur book...
    hope i win this contest..thx u so much ^^

    love, nurma

    chikojubilee at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Love the story how a man is willing to do anything for the loved one. It always touches my heart.
    It's very rare to have a story with elf as a main character. The story is usually dominated by either vampire or werewolf.
    It's kind a refresh to have a different setting and character. Sucess for the book!

    Julianaekin@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Jean, great to meet a new Author. For me. I love your excerpt from Fiery Pursuit. It's on my TRL. I'm off to check out all your other books. Thanks for your interview. If it's not too late I'd love to be entered if it's a print because I don't have an e-reader yet. Thanks again.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi Jean, you are a new author to me and I plan to chance that very soon. I can't wait to read your books. This is one of the reasons I love author blog tours, I meet all kinds of authors.
    Lori M
    lorimeehan1@aol.com

    ReplyDelete