I met Jacqui eight years ago when both of us were finalists in the RWA's Golden Heart contest. Jacqui won that year for her debut novel, Between Heaven and Hell. After reading that book, she became one of my favorite authors. Her gift for creating exciting stories in richly historical settings with unforgettable characters will transport you to the Old West in a new way. Welcome to our crew, Jacqui!~ E.E. Burke
Hello GLIAS readers! It’s been my great pleasure to know Elisabeth
and several other GLIAS authors over the years. I’ve been a fan of the GLIAS blog since
its beginning, loved reading the posts, and had the honor of being a guest –
but now I have the supreme honor of becoming one of their crew.
Yee-haw! Yippee
ki-yay! Giddy-up, let’s go!
Yes, I’m a Western author. I love writing Western Historical Romance Adventures with iconic settings like the Oregon Trail, Dodge City and Deadwood or with gritty sometimes extravagant scenarios like railroad races, gold rushes, and wild west shows.
Yes, I’m a Western author. I love writing Western Historical Romance Adventures with iconic settings like the Oregon Trail, Dodge City and Deadwood or with gritty sometimes extravagant scenarios like railroad races, gold rushes, and wild west shows.
Where did
my inspiration to write come from?
My First 18 Years, in One Spot - The Country Kid
I grew up on a cattle farm in northern Alberta, Canada in the 70s and 80s. Our TV had 2 channels, the nearest town (population 1,500) did not have a movie theater, and owning a VHS player (long before the days of Netflix or even DVDs) only happened after I left home to explore the world.
My entertainment was the garden, field, forest, and barnyard.
Plus, I read (a lot) and watched a movie (every once in a while) on those 2
channels I mentioned. My favorites were the Westerns with Clint Eastwood, Sam
Elliott, John Wayne, and Kevin Costner (his first film Silverado, still one of my favorites, was released in 1985).
My Years
Exploring – The Gypsy Girl
After graduating High School, I studied Paleontology, Computer
Systems, Computer Animation and Event Planning. I worked as a programmer, TV/video
game animator, and fundraising event coordinator. I found jobs not only in
Canada but in England, Germany, and (for a very brief time) New Zealand. I
traveled as much as I could in Europe and also to places like Belize,
Guatemala, Jordan, Egypt, and Vietnam.
After moving back to Canada (with the plan to stay in one place
for a while), I opened a box I’d packed away long ago. I found a treasure trove
of how-to-write books I’d purchased not long after leaving the farm. I’d
forgotten them and that I’d once wanted to be a writer. I re-read those books
and decided once again that I wanted to write.
Turning
Adventurous Thoughts into Stories – The Western Historical Romance Writer
I sat down and wrote. I joined a local RWA chapter where I met
other writers, both unpublished (like me) and published (like I hoped to be). I
entered my Oregon Trail story, Between
Heaven & Hell, in the
2010 Golden Heart contest and won my category. I entered every year until I
self-published my first book in 2013, but only had the honor of being a
finalist in 2013 with two different books. One was my Dodge City story, Between
Love & Lies.
Now I live in Victoria, Canada where the climate is mild and the
flowers are many. I work in a bookstore because my co-workers are amazing and I
love hearing about their lives and the stories they enjoy. I also work with
other authors as a book formatter (and sometimes more) because these days most
authors do more than write. We publish and/or promote our own books. Storytelling
and publishing are ever-changing works-in-progress. So is life.
But no matter how much I change, I stay the same. My Country Kid
and Gypsy Girl have plans. I want to go on a safari in Kenya/Tanzania and see
the Great Wall in China. I want to live closer to the country and see if a pair
of Corgi dogs will join my next adventures.
And I’m looking forward to hanging out with everyone at Get Lost in a
Story!
I hope you’ll visit me online at my website, follow me on the usual sites
(warning: I post more than my fair share of flower pictures) or write me an
email. I’d love to hear from you!
Follow me on Amazon, BookBub, Goodreads, Facebook Friend Page, Facebook Fan Page, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, Google
** Giveaway Time **
For a chance to win an e-copy of 5 of my books, enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Wow quite the world travels!!
ReplyDeleteI feel like I haven't traveled much in the last few years though. Except for my super lovely trip to South Dakota last month. Love it there! Time to make a plan and get back out there to explore more of this amazing world we live in. Thanks for reading my blog and commenting, Teresa!
DeleteEnjoyed every book by Jacqui that I've read.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading my books & saying you enjoyed them, Sheila!
DeleteNIce how you've transfered your own adventurous memories to the feelings the women must have had when they boarded the trains west in the 1800. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI like to think that life is an adventure at any age, time or place :) Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Judy!
DeleteI love your books and so glad that E.E. has posted another wonderful story on her day thank you so much! I have shared already and hoping that if i win that i can have 1 book in print as can't do ebooks. Jacqui hope to read about you again in GLIAS! peggy clayton
ReplyDeleteThanks for saying you love my books, Peggy! Always a thrill for an author to hear!!
DeleteWelcome Welcome Welcome
ReplyDeleteThank you, Angi!
DeleteLove your storylines and characters.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Margie, for the lovely compliment about my writing!
Deletewelcome
ReplyDeleteHello!
DeleteWhat an interesting life!!! Welcome, fellow Canuck!
ReplyDeleteHello, fellow Canuck! I'm thinking I might do a regular blog post here on Get Lost in a Story that's called...north of the border :)
DeleteI’m a huge Jacqui Nelson fan. I still remember meet her and you EE in Vegas sling with Linda and Rosanne. A day I’ll nevet forget.
ReplyDeleteJacqui I’m loving your books as each one comes out I get so excited.
Love you ladies.
That day is one of my great memories! So much fun to hang out with you, Tonya. Wish we all lived closer and could do monthly (even weekly!) get togethers :)
DeleteWow, you are quite the world traveler. You've lived a very exciting life.
ReplyDeleteI seem to have bursts of excitement in-between long periods of sitting at a desk working on a computer. Be it ever so humble there's no place like home :) Thanks for visiting GLIAS and my blog post, Karen!
DeleteI had the pleasure of meeting You in Deadwood this past summer! It was such a great time there. Enjoyed visiting and getting to know a little about you! Hope to see you there again!
ReplyDelete