by Eva Lefoy
Readers,
When
I first heard about the Calendar Men series, I knew I had to find out more. Who are these hunks? What’s the series all
about? To get answers, I interviewed JoAnne Kenrick, the author of the Mr.
January, and her book, Outback Dirty.
What gave you the
initial idea for the story?
When
I subbed the Calendar Men series, my story for the series was proposed as a doctor
in Las Vegas who gets roped into posing for the calendar and falls for the
photographer. However, as the series took shape, the premise for the calendar
setting was changed somewhat and the focus became a charity calendar for the
fictional Hero Family Fund. We had to submit a synopsis before writing the
story. From there, I can’t tell you how it happened. It just did. I think a little
Outback Magic happened during the day I wrote the synopsis.
Ah yes. I see a little magic does happen in Australia. Tell us
more about the area where the story takes place. Chris's ranch sounds
wonderful. A little hot. A little sticky, Way dry. But yet... romantic. What's
your experience of the place?
I’ve only visited Chris’ melon
plantation in the Northern Territory in my imagination, but I have lived in New
South Wales for a spell. ‘A little hot’ is definitely an understatement. Darn
it does get stinking hot. And very dry. But the people are friendly and laid
back, and the vast space can be beautiful yet also overwhelming and
intimidating. Life is just more relaxed there, and the majority focus is on
enjoying life and family and friends.
Calendar Men. Chris is Mr. January and from his description he
seems born to model - preferably naked. What's a good looking guy like him
doing out with the skinks? Does he miss the camera at all?
Chris is sexy as heck, and because he works the land, is well
built. But he has never been one to strut his swag and boast his good looks. He’s
not even aware of how sexy he is, not really. The one-time gig as a model was
to help the charity calendar since his dad died during military service. So no,
he absolutely does not miss being in front of the camera. He’s a dirt and beer
man all the way! It took inheriting a melon plantation in Pine Creek for him to
figure that out.
The outback isn't Janine's favorite spot! But deep down, she's a
country girl. How does she come to terms with her unwanted heritage during the
story? After all, she has to get Outback Dirty to get her man!
With a man like Chris around, I think even I would come to terms
with living in the outback! Janine is very much like me in that my biggest
problem, and my only problem, about living in Australia was the spiders and snakes.
After six months of checking the bed before getting in every night, and looking
in shoes before putting them on, well, it becomes routine and normal.
I only ever saw one redback spider while I lived in Oz. Well,
there were three actually. And of all places, it was beneath the swing seat my
toddler daughter had been using for weeks previously before we noticed. Can you
say EEP?! Yeah, that freaked me out…a lot. There’s a lot of me in Janine. I can
squeal with the best of ‘em.
Aboriginal societies and shamanism/spirituality. You include a
little bit of that in the story and it works for the characters. How does it
help bring them together and do you think it's possible that outback magic
happens?
Absolutely. A lot of plants have been proven to have
medicinal qualities, and I’m a firm believer that prayer and positive thinking
works. And Uncle Sam, the spiritual
matchmaker of the story, has much wisdom that has been passed down to him and
from his own experiences. He knows exactly what’s needed for them to be
together. A heart needs to be healed, and deep routed pain needs to be
released. With a little bit of spiritual counseling, a touch of outback magic,
and a lot of faith, Uncle Sam does his best to bring these lovers together.
Chris and Janine heat up the pages with their mutual lust. What
does Chris like most about Janine's body? What does Janine like most about
Chris'?
Chris loves it
when Janine wears her serious business suits, because no one would ever tell
what a curvy and sexy body she has hiding under her clothes. And usually red
lacy underwear. She may give off this
power woman attitude, but he knows she’s a hot vixen who only has to show a
sneak of a red bra strap and his pants get twisted and his heart skips a beat.
As for Chris, Janine is hot for him…so hot. She still has the January page from
the calendar, when he posed bared chested and wet. One glance at that shot and
she’s just as wet. With his hard muscles, his piercing stare, and his long
hair….whoa, I can sense her drooling as I type. Or maybe that’s me? He’s one
tough man, but he’s a softy at heart.
Leo and Dingo - any future books there?
It’s certainly possible. Darn them. I didn’t mean to
write a secondary romance plot, but Dingo and Leo’s mini subplot just happened.
And they are the two most unlikely people you’d expect to be attracted to each
other. Yet they insisted. Over and over. So eventually, after several rewrites
of the scenes they were in, I gave in and gave them what they wanted. Each
other. And suddenly, the whole picture of Outback Dirty felt right.
And I agree! Here’s more on the upcoming books, and I
hope you enjoy Outback Dirty!
Eva
Heroes doing good while looking great!
Decadent Publishing
Read all 12 stories
in this brand new multi-author series for 2014...
...and you'll have a new book-boyfriend
for every month of the year!
Told by some of best authors in the
world of romance, the Calendar Men stories have contemporary settings and star
strong heroes doing good while looking great. With off-the-charts swoon-factor,
the Calendar Men pose for a charity
calendar to help military families of fallen heroes. Each has his own special
reason for wanting to help the fictional Hero Family Fund, and each
has his own obstacles to overcome before he can find a happy ever after.
Release
Dates:
Series news, exclusives,
freebies, and more at the official Calendar Men blog:
