Ask the Author: J.M. Stewart
Answered Questions (11)
J.M. Stewart
Hi! Oh gosh. It's been a few years since I've had to search for a critique partner. I found my last two through my agency. But over the years I've found some through the Harlequin.com message boards (don't know if it/they still exist, as I haven't been there in years), some through a publisher we shared, that type of thing. You could also do a Google search for "critique partner" and see what pops up and if anything strikes you. Good luck!
J.M. Stewart
I can do it one: "The coffee maker broke."
J.M. Stewart
None. While not all parts of were ideal, my life has been pretty much straight up. No mysteries. Now, a spooky ghost story is another matter entirely. lol
J.M. Stewart
I'm not sure I actually have one. I often find heroines hard to relate to and they're half the equation, you know? But if I had to say, it would be Jamie and Claire, from Outlander. Just because it's the one book that's stayed with me over the years. Book come and go. I love a lot of them. But these are the ones I remember. I'm not a fan of Claire by herself. But together...they bring out the best and the worst in each other. They challenge each other, stand together through thick and thin, and make each other stronger.
J.M. Stewart
This was hard to answer, but I suppose it's the characters. I was a psychology major in college and I'm a people watcher. I find people fascinating. So I love discovering new characters. Their lives, their secrets, who they are as people and what, deep down, makes them tick. I love watching their story unfold. I love that moment when they become so real the story takes on a life of its own and even though, technically, I'm the writer, I'm often surprised by what ends up on the page. It's addicting.
J.M. Stewart
Hi Joyce! Always happy to have new friends! Congrats on your first book! That's always exciting. :) As for your question... Marketing is so overwhelming at first, isn't it? Honestly, it was a lot of trial and error. I did a lot of research into what everybody was doing. You know, checked out other authors, talked to friends. Then I tried a bunch of different things. But the biggest thing that helped are the friendships I've made. You exchange ideas, collaborate, commiserate, etc. But really, it's just something that comes with time. The more books you put out, the more you learn, eventually you find your groove. Good luck with your release!
J.M. Stewart
The idea for Risking It All actually came to me in another book I was writing at the time. I met the hero, Kyle, while attempting to write his brother, Chase's story. Chase's story never got finished, but Kyle's story grabbed me when he revealed to me that his best friend was a woman and he was in love with her. They tend to grab me that way. It's like my characters sit down next to me and introduce themselves. From there it was about letting the characters tell me their story.
J.M. Stewart
Oh, heck, I wake up? lol Seriously, my stories come to me via the characters. So, getting into a story means getting to know my characters. From there, the story often takes on a life of its own. It often isn't about getting inspired, but more like it's something I *have* to do. But...for the sake of the question, sometimes a song will jump out at me from the radio, reminding me of my current work-in-progress, and I'll put it in my favorites on youtube. If I'm stuck or need a kick in the pants, then often listening to that song helps puts me back in the mood.
J.M. Stewart
Never give up.
J.M. Stewart
Head down, butt in chair, hands on keyboard. Seriously. I power through it and keep writing. The problem with getting writer's block is that it usually means I've either taken a wrong turn somewhere, or I'm too stuck in trying to write the "perfect" book. So, I take a day or two break from the manuscript, then get back to it. It's never easy, of course, but I often find that forcing myself to write through it helps me see what was missing.
J.M. Stewart
I'm currently working on a four book series. About to start Book 4. They're a bit spicier than my normal heartwarming style, for readers who like a little heat with their romance. I've always wanted to try my hand at writing one, and with the encouragement of my longtime critique partner, I decided to give it a shot. I'm having a ton of fun writing them.
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