Today we are celebrating with Joan Swan, author of Fever and Blaze. We are mixing our anniversary with her blog tour!
I
was never a star English student or a Literature buff, but I’ve always
had a creative soul and an active imagination. Writing was a natural
culmination of those two talents.
Sexy romantic suspense is my genre of choice, and, occasionally, I like to dabble in the lighter side of paranormal as well. I write the Phoenix Rising Series, FEVER, BLAZE, and two more books coming in 2013, for Kensington and the Covert Affairs Series, INTIMATE ENEMIES, independently.
A triple RWA Golden Heart finalist, I am a lover of craft and closet-hoarder of writing craft how-to books. I’m a recovering OCD perfectionist…bet you can just imagine how well that’s going.
In my day job, I work as a sonographer at UCSF Medical Center, rated one of the top ten best medical centers in the nation – a location with an intensity that makes me slightly—okay majorly—insane. This seems to work well with my inner writer. Access to abundant character material—and I’m not only talking about my patients—is a fringe benefit.
I’m married to my
own personal hero, a veteran firefighter, we have two beautiful
daughters and are blessed to live in the heart of wine country on the
gorgeous Central Coast of California.
To keep up with my latest news & releases please visit me online:
Joan was kind enough to take some time out and answer some questions.
- What inspired you to write your first book?
I was a voracious reader and came to a point where I had exhausted all my favorite authors’
works, including their backlists. For a while, I ventured into new
authors, and quickly devoured their work. Then I found myself
dredging. Although I wasn’t as picky a reader then as I am now, I still
required solid plot and consistent characters. When I simply ran out
of satisfying reads, I started to write. Not because I thought I could
do better. Not because I had any thought of being published. Just to
pass the time until something new came out.
But
it only took a few chapters before I realized I was hooked. That I
loved creating stories more than reading what someone else had created.
From that point on, I wrote. And I studied craft. And I wrote some more.
I sold eight years and nine manuscripts later.
2. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Um…everything.
There is very little about writing I find easy. If it becomes easy, I
know I’m sitting back in my chair, cruising. I’m a life-long learner and
thrive on growing, so I’m constantly taking classes, picking up new
techniques, changing something up. I’m still trying to make the next
book better than the last.
Coming up with ideas, creating first drafts, constructing characters, divising plot, securing structure, editing, revising, promotion, appearances, agent and editor relations…they’re all challenging to me.
3. How do you come up with the titles?
I
pull from the theme of the novel and choose a few words that invoke
that feeling or theme I’ve tried to capture. I brainstorm with other
authors readers. And then, of course, it is often changed by the editor…
4. If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Oh, of course!! LOL.
Whenever my editor sends my manuscript to me for edits, the cover page
says, “Only minor corrections such as spelling or word usage should be
made at this stage” or something to that effect. **snort** Every time I
look over a manuscript, no matter how many times I’ve read it, I can
find something to change to make it better – clearer, faster, funnier, deeper, scarier, etc.
If
I’m doing my job right, my writing should be getting better and better,
so whenever I look back at a past work, I should be able to find things
to change.
But
overall, I love BLAZE. Anything I’d change in this book would be very
minor. All the big pieces are in place and I’m very proud of this novel.
5. What books have most influenced your life most?
The
Nancy Drew mysteries started my real love of reading. I couldn’t wait
to get the next book. As an adult, the well known romantic suspense
authors of the decade have spurred me toward a writing career of my own—Suzanne Brockmann, JoAnn Ross, Kat Martin, Linda Howard and so many more…
6. Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Many!
I’m a huge Darynda Jones fan! She and I finalled in the Golden Heart together in 2009 and I’m in love with her Charlie Davidson series.
Leslie Tentler writes romantic thrillers and MIDNIGHT CALLER finalled in the 2012 Thriller Awards as best first novel.
Marina
Adair writes contemporary romance and is bursting at the seams with two
books sold to Kensington, a three book deal with Sourcebooks AND a
three book deal with Montlake, all within a few months time!
Kendra Elliott writes romantic suspense that I’d put more in the romantic thriller category for Montlake.
Shana Galen, Katherine Ashe, Britt Bury, Elisabeth Barrett, Cassie Alexander, KTBryan, Cassie Carver, Melissa Meyer, DJ Adams…I could go on and on!! LOTS of talent up and coming!
7. What book are you reading now?
I’m reading a few ]…
Who Dares Wins by Bob Mayer
The Ghosts of Belfast by Stuart Neville
Creole Belle by James Lee Burke
8. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Yes, thank you for reading my books! Book three in the Phoenix Rising series, RUSH, releases October 2013 and book four releases April 2014.
And,
I have a special offer for those who read my self-published novel
Intimate Enemies. If you’d like to review the book after reading it, I’d
like to gift you my next self-published book. Details are here.
I hope you all enjoy reading BLAZE as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Thank you so much Joan for stopping by and letting us participate in your tour!
Joan Swan's BLAZE Blog Tour Schedule
Tour runs from September 17 - October 6
October 1 - Close Encounters With The Night Kind - http://closeencounterswiththenightkind.blogspot.com/
October 2 - Book Monster Reviews / Literal Addiction -
Dr. Alyssa Foster will admit to a bad boy fetish…
But
when she finds herself face to face with a convicted murderer with a
ripped body, a determination for freedom and an eye on her as his get
out of jail free card, Alyssa knows she’s in deep trouble…. Not just
because Teague Creek is a prisoner desperate for freedom, but because
his every touch makes her desperate for more.
A man with a life sentence has nothing to lose…
Teague
Creek has one shot at freedom, but his plan to escape with a hostage
develops a fatal flaw: Alyssa. On the run from both the law and deadly
undercover operatives who know of his strange abilities, he needs to
avoid trouble, but every heated kiss tells him the fire between them
could be just as devastating as the flames that changed him forever.
Purchase Links:
The hotter they come, the harder they fall…
With a man like him, every mission becomes personal…Ever since FBI agent Keira O’Shay started tracking a young boy named Mateo, she’s felt a connection even her empathic abilities can’t explain. Sheneeds to
save Mateo from the cult leader holding him hostage. Nothing can
interfere with that—not even the reappearance of Luke Ransom, the
hot-as-hell fire captain she’s regretted walking out on for three long
years.
Losing Keira
left Luke vulnerable—in every way. When they were together, the powers
each possesses were mysteriously enhanced. But it’s the sexy, surprising
woman beneath the tough exterior that Luke’s really missed. Even if she
betrayed him utterly. And even if agreeing to help her uncover a
government conspiracy means watching his life and his heart go up in
flames again…
Purchase Links:
Joan would like to give 1 person a copy of Blaze!
This is US/ Canada only. If you are International and have an address you can use please enter.
All giveaways this month end on October 7th.
Hi guys, sorry so late but I was working and wanted to just stop in to say how much I enjoyed FEVER and am looking forward to BLAZE!!!
ReplyDeleteHey Phyllis, thanks for dropping by sweets!
DeleteI am ashamed to say I have not read Fever. After seeing the cover, I am going to run to the bookstore, tripping and falling all the way, to get it! I will try to find Blaze at the same time. I love the covers and the books sound like winners!
ReplyDeleteLOL Patsy, hope you LOVE it!
DeleteI loved the Nancy Drew mysteries too!
ReplyDeletelag110 at mchsi dot com
Thanks for stopping by!
Delete<3 <3 Fever, Blaze, Intimate Enemies... Joan really knows how to grip her readers by their interest, that they anticipate the next word, the next page and the next book.
ReplyDeleteLove ya girl and your books
Raonaid at gmail dot com
Aw, right back at you xoxoxo
DeleteI so wish I could enter this contest. I don't have a facebook page.
ReplyDeleteI think I read all the Nancy Drew books that was available when I was a kid.
I believe I still have them in my attic.
luvfuzzzeeefaces at yahoo dot com
Read fever. Looking forward to reading blaze and the rest of the series
ReplyDeleteCool Sheba! Enjoy!
DeleteYummm! This sounds delicious. An absolute must add to the TBR pile!
ReplyDeleteMilliemcclain29 at yahoo dot com
:) Thanks!
DeleteHi Joan! Of the books you have published right now, which one is your favorite? Or if you can't name a favorite, do you have a favorite character? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteOh, that's tough. Probably BLAZE...it's so fast and fun. And probably Mitch, because he's always surprising the crap out of me. :)
DeleteGreat interview! I'm looking forward to reading Blaze :)
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Deleteenjoyed the interview (enjoyed Nancy Drew when I was young, but then discovered romance novels & didn't look back ;), thanks for the chance to win Blaze as it looks like a good read
ReplyDeleteThanks Gamistress! Yes, I moved on from Nancy Drew to romance as well :)
DeleteI loved FEVER so much I'm dying for BLAZE. Thank you so much.
ReplyDeletevsloboda(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi Victoria! Thank you!! I hope you LOVE it!
DeleteHow in the world do you keep up with your crazy schedule? Working a real job, 2 girls & a husband to keep up with and writing? That is a lot!
ReplyDeleteHi Texas,
DeleteIt is a lot and I've ended up cutting out a lot of those personal things I either like to do or do to take care of myself. Unfortunately, not the best scenario. I would love to quit the day job and write full time... Someday. :)
Congrats on the new release. Blaze sounds fantastic. Can't wait to read it. How many books will there be in the series? Thanks for the great interview.
ReplyDeletee.balinski(at)att(dot)net
Hi Joanne,
DeleteI signed with Kensington for 2 more books after BLAZE and I can envision at least 7 books, but some of those might come in a spin off series as opposed to being within the Phoenix Rising series.
Do you ever get to hang out with the guys on your covers? If so.. I think I need to start writing again.. great incentive. And congrats on the new release.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! We live together 24/7 -- in my mind :)
DeleteGreat interview! I can relate to trying to make it perfect and want to keep changing things, even though I don't write. I am sure it is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI didn't like Luke at first, in Fever, but I was starting to near the end. :) Have you done book signings? If so, do you ever get nervous about talking to your readers?
Love the covers of these too! ;)
Hi Tina,
DeleteThat was one of my challenges with Luke -- he's an antagonist in FEVER for Teague. Rest assured, it won't take you long to like him in BLAZE :).
I love book signings and I'm never nervous at signings, only when I have to speak in front of groups :)
Congrats on the new book. Great interview. Are there going to be more books in this series?
ReplyDeletemythic021@gmail.com
Hi Vanessa,
DeleteThanks! Yep, RUSH out in Oct 2013, book 4 out in April 2014. :)
Congrats on the new release! So stoked to read it!
ReplyDeleteNow, if Teague from FEVER, Luke from BLAZE, and Rio from INTIMATE ENEMIES all got in a (of course, shirtless! :P) fight with each other, who would win?
I can't wait to read Blaze. I have Fever but not the second one. I don't really have any questions but just want to say Thanks for writing this series.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the release! How many books are planned for this series?
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read BLAZE. I love FEVER. Which series is your favorite right now, this one or the one with INTIMATE ENEMIES in it?
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the release :)
If Blaze was made into a movie, who would you pick to play the main characters? Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDelete