3/09/2011

JS Nichols

You'll have to wait just a while to Get Lost in

COME BACK TO ME
Sapphire Blue Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-934657-65-2

Sailing around the Caribbean to the picturesque island of Ballena Azul sounded like the perfect vacation to Erin Brady. Until her ex showed up.

Ryan McKinnon boarded the cruise with one thought in mind, win back his former fiancée. Then news of a missing woman put them both in the middle of a mystery of disappearances.

Can they overcome their past mistakes and work together to unmask the kidnapper? Or will Erin become the next victim of a human trafficker?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
J.S. Nichols lives in a small town in Virginia with her husband, two children and two dogs. She’s been writing stories since high school but didn’t start to pursue her dream of publication until two years ago. A sweet-tea addict, she’s in a never-ending search for the perfect piece of chocolate.
Why do you have to wait? The publisher hasn't released Come Back To Me ... yet.

THE Q&A GRILLING
ANGI: How often to you get lost in a story?
JESS: Every chance I get. If I’m not writing or plotting, I’m reading.

ANGI: What’s the first book you remember reading?
JESS: Horton Hears Hatches the Egg. I think I was three. I loved it so much, I had it memorized. It was also the first book I read to my children.

ANGI: What’s your favorite fairy tale?
JESS: Beauty & the Beast. I love that beauty comes from within. When love is there, everyone is beautiful.

ANGI: What’s your favorite cartoon character?
JESS: Fiona from Shrek. She tries to be a damsel in distress because that’s what’s expected of her, but her true nature shines through when Robin’s gang shows up in the first movie. She’s tough and capable but still is dreamer. I love that about her.

ANGI: What turns you off like nothing else?
JESS: Injustice. I believe in Karma, so I find it frustrating when justice isn’t served in life and especially in a story.

ANGI: Where do you read and how often?
JESS: Every week and pretty much everywhere. I have a Kindle so I turn on the read-to-me feature and listen to books in the car.

ANGI: What sound or noise do you love?
JESS: Laughter. I love to hear people laughing, especially my children.

ANGI: Fairy Tale or Action Adventure?
JESS: A mix of the two. Fairy tales have lessons to teach but nothing is quite as exciting as some high stakes action. Hmmm…probably why Fiona is so appealing to me.

ANGI: What was the first story you remember writing?
JESS: The first story was a futuristic, post-apocalyptic story about a teenager who is injured when a bomb explodes and awakens six hundred years in the future. I spent lunch hours during my junior year of high school reading scenes from my story to my classmates. That’s when I knew I wanted to be a published writer. Today, I write suspense and paranormal—I haven’t written anything post apocalyptic since. *grin*

ANGI: What’s your favorite movie of all time?
JESS: Pride and Prejudice (The Colin Firth version)—Darcy is just too sexy. Tall, dark, quiet, honorable and so completely flawed that he’s lovable.

ANGI: Who’s your favorite villain?
JESS: Stryker by Sherrilyn Kenyon. He’s a villain you love to hate and yet, he’s so relatable. He wasn’t always evil and he has his own code of ethics. So there are moments when you feel sorry for him. He’s a character so beautifully drawn, so completely evil, but when the author wrote his story, I cheered when he finally found love.

ANGI’S GOTTA ASK: So, Jess unfortunately the release of your debut book has been delayed and you must be terribly disappointed... But the excitement must be keeping you awake at night. What’s the first thing you’re going to do on release day?
JESS’s GOTTA ANSWER: My boys have a bottle of Sparkling Cider chilling in the refrigerator for the occasion. As soon as I hear Come Back To Me has been released, we’re popping the top and celebrating!

GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?
Do you prefer your heroine to be beautiful or for the hero to see her as beautiful?

JESS
is offering one commenter a PDF copy of her book.
Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America addresses only. If an electronic Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, the author may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.

YOU CAN FIND JESS AT:
on the web
on Facebook
on Twitter

DON’T FORGET to “friend” us on Facebook and “Follow” us on Twitter. Come back tomorrow when Heather hosts Jade Lee and on Friday when Donnell hosts Lorraine Barrett. See you next week when debut author Jennifer Jakes “Gets Lost.” ~~Angi

21 comments:

  1. Great interview, Jess! I'm right with you in everything - Fiona, Colin Firth, Beauty and the Beast.

    I'm okay if my heroine isn't beautiful. I'm also okay if the hero doesn't see her as beautiful - until he sees her beauty from within. And that makes all the difference.

    -Abigail

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  2. Jess, So cute about the sparkling cider! And I love justice/Karma too! Cannot wait to get my copy of Come Back to Me!
    Valerie Bowman

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  3. I liked your take on action hero + fairy tale heroine. I've always felt that action heroes were the heirs of epic, folk tales, and fairy tales. They've changed in appearance, but think about it. Harry Potter battles evil just as King Arthur did and as Beowulf. He's Everyman fighting his own dragon.

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  4. Hi Jess,

    Great interview. I think most heroines come across to the reader as beautiful because we see them from the hero's POV. And, really, that's all that matters. I have to say I'm a little partial to the books where, on first glance, either the hero or the heroine says, "Meh, not my type" and then changes their mind in the course of the story.

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  5. Hi Jess! I can't wait for the official release of "Come Back to Me". I loved your interview answers and find myself answering the same way. I'm a sucker for Beauty and the Beast. Love Horton Hears a Who. We could be cosmic twins. Too bad I'm older and your're cuter. lol. And I miss seeing you at the FCRW Conference. Dang. It's just messed up all the way around. Well, next time I see you I'll want your autograph!!!!

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  6. Jess - I want a heroine to be smart, funny, and deeply in love by the end. I don't care if they are beautiful. Especially if they can pull off the Don't hate me because I'm beautiful line.

    Fingers cross you'll get to pop open that bottle SOON.

    Lynn

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  7. I'm with you all the way about Darcy!

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  8. Hi Jess! Welcome to GLIAS. I love that your family has sparkling wine on standby. :)

    I'm all about the hero finding the heroine's inner beauty...even if she is outwardly beautiful. I much prefer the hero who may even be confused why he's so attracted because she's not his usual "type", and he has to learn it's because her essence is calling to him, not her shell.

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  9. I definately like a Hero to find the heroine beautiful the most, especially if she does not fit into what society labels as beautiful. One of my favorite historicals that fit into this category would be Lynsay Sands book THE HELLION AND THE HIGHLANDER. The hero saw her beauty long before anyone else, especially before she did!

    Your books sound great. Love a little mystery added to the romance!

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  10. I'm tired of the "traditional" heroines and the narrow concept of beauty they represent. White. Blonde. Super Thin. And helplessly waiting for the male "hero" to save her.

    Um...no thanks!

    I'm not attracted to these women in real life so why would I want to read about them in a story? I don't write "traditional" heroines. I can't stand the "damsel in distress" cliche. I prefer women to look like WOMEN. Not the idealized version MEN have fabricated for us to idolize. Gimme a heroine who is plus-sized. Or gay! Or heaven forbid NOT white! Now we're talking.

    As for heroes? I've never written a story where the male main character doesn't die or have something horrible happen to him! LOL! However, I want my hero to look normal. He doesn't need a perfect 6-pack to impress me. So long as he's nice, treats the other characters well, and is smart, I'm good!

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  11. Jess, My first book was Green Eggs and Ham, go Dr. Seuss! I'm like you, my favorite sound is the sound of children's laughter. Your book sounds interesting!

    Beth

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  12. Jess, I can't wait to read "Come Back to Me"! We sound so alike, except my favorite first book was Clifford. :-) Best wishes on your first release! Hope it's soon!!

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  13. Jess: welcome, and I believe in Karma too. I'm so sorry your book is delayed. What's that old saying about good things come to those who wait... and wait.

    Gosh, your question is a good one. I prefer my heroines to be someone I can root for, someone more disciplined and outgoing than me -- I mean how many heroes are trying to oust me from my computer.

    However, I don't want them to be full of themselves, does that make sense? I want them to have insecurities like normal people but of course in the hero's eyes be amazing -- after they settle their conflict of course.

    Thanks for being with us at GLIAS! Best wishes on your release.

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  14. Wow! I get called in to teach preschool (yep--that's my day job) and everyone comes to visit!

    Thank you all for commenting.

    Abigail--I love what you said about the hero seeing the heroine as beautiful from within. Isn't that so true about people? The more beautiful they are inside, the more beautiful they appear on the outside...and vice versa!

    Valerie--Thanks for stopping by. You're copy is coming as soon as the book is released.

    Viola--You're absolutely right about Harry Potter. I took a myth class in college and we dissected Star Wars. My professor wanted to show it us it was basically King Arthur set in space!

    Aislinn--I love books where the hero and heroine don't take to each other right away.

    Eden--Thanks for stopping by. Sorry I won't see you at the conference this weekend.

    Lynn--I love heroines who are beautiful and often misunderstood because of it. Suzanne Brockmann did a great job with this in the book Dark of Night.

    Jen--Thanks for stopping by! :)

    Heather--I loved your description about her essence calling to the hero.

    June--I loved the Hellion and the Highlander! Lynsay Sands rocks!

    Vegetarian Cannibal--Thanks for commenting. You've got a good point about non-traditional heroines. I like heroines who aren't going to wait for the hero to save them.

    Beth--Dr. Seuss is still awesome. I love that we can share his wonderful books with our children.

    Carla--Clifford is a great series too. Thanks for stopping by!

    Donnell-- I love heroines to be strong and outgoing but still flawed. It gives me something to cheer for when she finally gets it right in the end.

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  15. Welcome again, Jess. Glad to see you've had a great day on GLIAS. Be sure to stop by our Facwbook page and let everyone know when your book is available.

    Here's to many, many HAPPY SALES.
    ~~Angi

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  16. Save some of the cider for me- can't wait for the release.

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  17. Hi Kimmer, I'll definitely save some cider for you.

    Angi, Thank you again for having me guest here on GLIAS. It's been wonderful.

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  18. Jess.
    "Sighed Mazie the Lazy Bird hatching an egg,
    I'm tired and I'm bored and I've kinks in my leg,
    From sitting just sitting here day after day,
    It's work. How I hate it. I'd much rather play."
    That's about all I remember after memorizing this about sixty-five years ago (but for about fifty years I remembered the whole thing).
    Great interview. Bummer about the delay, but it happens. My most recent one came out nearly two months late. Can't wait to read your book.
    Ann

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  19. Hi Jess,

    I love heroes and heroines who are quirky, eccentric, way off the norm in terms of contemporary standards of physical beauty, but interesting looking. And if they are handsome or beautiful they must be flawed in other ways!

    And I completely agree with your comments about Stryker. I love a flesh and blood, tortured villain. Sexy too, the way Linda Howard can write them!

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  20. Ann--my favorite line was near the end. "And it should be, it should be, it SHOULD be like that! Because Horton was faithful. He sat and he sat." I figure if Horton can wait for his baby to come into the world, so can I! :) Thanks for stopping by.

    Gjillian--I loved Stryker. So evil but dang still so relate-able. I'd say human, but Stryker would only be insulted by such a comparison! :)

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  21. Jess...I know you and several others are big Beauty & the Beast fans. Well, get thyselves to the movie theater and see BEASTLY. Written well, acted well...you'll love this modern-day fairy tale. Very well done.

    ~~Angi

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