Get Lost with Joan Swan and FEVER!!!

Get Lost in This Story…

When Dr. Alyssa Foster is taken hostage by a prison inmate, she knows she's in deep trouble. Not just because Teague Creek is desperate for freedom, but because the moment his fingers brush against her skin, Alyssa feels a razor-sharp pang of need...

A man with a life sentence has nothing to lose. At least Teague doesn't, until his escape plan develops a fatal flaw: Alyssa. On the run from both the law and deadly undercover operatives, he can only give her lies, but every heated kiss tells him the fire between them could be just as devastating as the flames that changed him forever...

I’m thrilled to host Kensington Brava author, Joan Swan, to the blog today!  Her much anticipated debut, FEVER, (what a cover!) is getting rave reviews all over the blogosphere, and I, for one, have been dying to read it!  It just came out yesterday, and Joan is here to tell us not only about it, but more about her!

Here’s a bit about Joan:

Joan Swan is a triple RWA® Golden Heart finalist and writes sexy romantic suspense with a paranormal twist.  Her debut novel with Kensington Brava, FEVER, releases February 28, 2012.  Her second novel, BLAZE, follows in October, 2012.

In her day job, she works as a sonographer for one of the top ten medical facilities in the nation and lives on the California central coast in beautiful wine country with her husband and two daughters.

Joan: Hi Heather!!  First I want to say congratulations on YOUR release this month – SWEET ENEMY!  Your cover is gorgeous and you’ve gotten awesome reviews!  As soon as I have time to breathe, I’m going to pick it up!  Can wait to sink into a good historical!

And second, thanks so much to everyone at Get Lost In A Story for having me today!

Heather:  Thanks so much, Joan!  We are thrilled to be able to celebrate the release of FEVER with you!  It seems like you and I have been waiting forever to get a hold of each other’s books.  I’m honored to share a release month with you!  Now…let’s get to the Get Lost Interview!

Heather: How often to you get lost in a story?
Joan: Not as often as I’d like.  Since I’ve started writing, my ability to lose myself in a story has been forever altered.  Even though I read often, I’m constantly searching for craft and voice and that intangible element that makes every book special.  Occasionally, something—either an author’s storytelling ability or a character or the story itself—will suck me in and I’ll get lost and forget all about searching for craft.  But not nearly as often as I wish it would.

Heather: What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in?
Joan: I read thrillers, mainstream suspense and many subgenres of romance—contemporary, suspense, thriller, paranormal, historical and of course mixtures.  I think my favorite is either a romantic suspense or a romantic thriller.

Heather: What’s the first book you remember reading?
Joan: Actually, I remember the first book that was read to me.  Where the Red Fern Grows.  My sixth grade teacher used to read to us everyday after lunch.  She’d have us come in, put our heads down on our desks and read a scene or a chapter.  It remains the most vivid story in my mind today.

Heather: Where do you read and how often?

Joan: I read in the car, while I’m driving. J  Yes, I wrote that correctly.

I work out of town, so during my one-way 4 hour drive, I listen to audiobooks.  It has become time I look forward to, time I nearly covet.  I have two subscriptions to audiobook services – Audible and another which works much like Netflix where I rent the CD’s.  So, in my 8 hour drive, I can get through between ½ or 1 ½ books – depends on their length.

Heather: Do you write while listening to music? If so what kind?

Joan: I didn’t used to, but more recently, I subscribed to Pandora’s upgraded service where there are no commercials.  They also have preset channels with themes or you can set up your very own channel with only your favorite artists.  Right now I listen to either Movie Tracks, Classics or Country.  When I get more time, I want to set up channels that suit particular scenes – like love scenes or action scenes.

Heather: Is writing or story-telling easier for you?

Joan: Writing.  Please don’t make me tell you about the story.  I’ll do anything if you don’t make me tell you the story.  I have really been pushing myself over the last year to step up to the plate when it comes to public speaking.  I know it’s important to my career as an author.  Even more, I want to be able to share my knowledge of craft with other writers, my enthusiasm for my work and the works of others.  But the more I practice and the harder I try, the worse it gets.  I’m not sure public speaking is for me.  I think I’ll leave it to the teachers out there – they rock at public speaking!!

Heather: If you couldn’t be a writer anymore, what profession would you take up?

Joan: I’d be an independent publicist—someone who helps authors get the word out about their books.  Set up blog tours, speaking engagements, ads, websites, social media…etc.  I have to admit, I have really enjoyed the process…I just wish it didn’t compete for my writing time.  Doing it for other writers would be a great alternative … but only if I couldn’t be a writer anymore.

Heather’s GOTTA  ASK – Joan’s GOTTA  ANSWER  J.

Heather: So, congratulations on your debut that came out yesterday!  Such an exciting time.  Can you tell us what you did to celebrate? 

Joan: Thank you!!  I had a live interview with blog talk radio very early in the morning, which was really fun.  Then my husband took me to breakfast at the place that has my favorite French toast and I hit a movie in the afternoon!  Then I got back to revising the book coming out in April.  It was a great day.

Now, Joan asks YOU:

Joan: If you couldn’t read romance (any subgenre) what would you read and why?

Comment below for chances at these great GIVEAWAYS!

·         A print copy of FEVER, US/Canada shipping.

·         All comments are eligible for tour grand prize of either a COLOR NOOK or KINDLE FIRE. Enter: http://joanswan.com/giveaways/blog-tour-ereader/

Can’t wait to get your hands on FEVER?  You can buy now:  Amazon| Barnes & Noble | Booksamillion

Want to learn more about Joan?  You can find here HERE:  Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads