10 Things you never knew about JM Madden!

How did you start your writing career?

Well, like everybody else, I’ve always loved to write. I have notebooks full of ramblings. I think I came up with fan fiction before it was called that. Some of my earliest were where I had a starring role in ‘Tour Of Duty’, only I used horses to rescue the soldiers. Yeah, not very marketable, but it made me happy.

In 2008 I joined RWA and my local Kentucky Romance Writers, and I was so inspired. I was laid off from Toyota in June of 2010, and I decided to get my butt in gear and pursue writing seriously. I loved Decadent’s website, so I submitted to them, and the rest is history.

 

Tell us about your current release.

My current release is Second Time Around which released at the end of December. The release was an excellent Christmas present. I live in Kentucky, so I am surrounded by material. And the story combined everything important to me; love, kids, horses and law enforcement.  If you read it, you will have a very good understanding of me. Here’s the blurb:

     Officer Shane Caldwell responds to a routine end of shift call with some annoyance, but when she tackles and handcuffs her ex-lover and the father of her son, things turn hot in a flash. Four years before Quinn Scott disappeared to make his fortune, and she hasn’t heard a word from him. As his touch ignites old passions, Shane is torn between telling him about the son he’s never known, and protecting young Jackson’s heart from the man who walked away without a backward glance.
When Shane storms back into his life, Quinn isn’t surprised by the incredible attraction which sparks between them. He wants to take up where they left off, but years of lies and unexpected betrayals from family and friends endanger his Thoroughbred breeding operation and his dreams of a future with the woman he never really left behind.
Will old prejudices separate them again or can love grow stronger the Second Time Around?

Tell us about your next release.

My next release is an Urban Fantasy type. It’s a short story, and it will be in an      anthology with two other phenomenal authors through Bonaparte press. That is, if I ever get the edits done. Urban fantasy is not what I normally write, so it has been a learning experience. It’s due out the end of May.

When in the day/night do you write? How long per day?

I have the advantage of being a stay-at-home mom right now. Once the kids and hubby are out the door, I’m usually on the computer.  I try to get all the FB, email stuff out of the way first. Seems like I always have stuff to catch up on because of the time difference with the west coast.

So, mid-morning time is usually the best time for me to write. I write for several hours, break for lunch, then write for a couple hours more. When the kids get home, I actually get up off my butt and do housework. Well, most days. If I’m on a roll, hubby is very understanding of coming home to a disaster area.

What is the hardest part of writing your books?

The hardest part for me is just writing, and not being critical of everything I put    down. I have a tendency to over-analyze what I put to words. I can’t help it though. I think it comes from years of writing police reports, and having to be super-correct in everything I committed to paper.

I have found that liquor quiets my inner critic. ;-)

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

I have a fantastic group of ladies in my chapter that I ship things to here and there. They are honest and thorough, and I really value their input.

Do you hear from your readers?

Ok, I am pretty tickled about this. A lady wrote me the other day and said she was in my aunt’s quilting circle. She read my story and thought it was wonderful, and was kind enough to send me an email about it.

I’ve heard from other people that they liked it, but she was the first ‘random’ person. I was thrilled to hear from her.

Do you use a pen name? If so, how did you come up with it?

Well, I kind of use a pen-name. JM stands for Jennifer May. I can still hear my mother yelling at me across the house. I knew I was in real trouble when she used my middle name. Maybe using JM is a way to give the memory a good connotation. Hell, I don’t know.

What are your favorite TV shows?

I’m pretty partial to The Big Bang Theory right now. It cracks me up because there are so many subtle references. You really have to listen to the dialogue. Actually, hubby and I record it and usually watch it a second time. Also love S#*% my Dad Says.

As for reality TV, I will admit to keeping up with Idol a little bit. And Mantracker. Whoo-eeee, love that Mantracker. And his horses.

Do you have any suggestions for beginning writers? If so, what are they?

 I think it is never too early to build your social platform. Even if you’re just doing informal book reviews on your blog, or chatting about your kids or animals, do something to get your voice out in the world. And then keep up with it. This is very hard advice to me to follow. I’m terrible about keeping my blog up to date.

Also, too, talk about sex on your blog. Your hits will skyrocket…;-)))))

I hope this gives you a little better idea about my life. Thanks so much for stopping by.

www.jmmadden.com

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