Meet the Author: Jenna Peterson

February 24, 2009 in Meet the Author
Tags: author, avon books, Books, fiction, genre, jenna peterson, Meet the Author, passionate pen, regency, romance, romantic, sexy, writer, writing

Introducing Jenna Peterson, for those of you who are not already acquainted with this author. I’ve heard some good things about her books!

 

Hi everyone! I’m so happy to be here at the blog. Now I’m supposed to give you a bit of an introduction of myself, so here it goes. My name is Jenna Petersen. I write historical romance for Avon books. My books are set in the Regency period and are super sexy. I write dark, emotion reads, so if you like that kind of thing… I’m your girl. My 12^th book (10^th with Avon) came out just a couple weeks ago, actually, HER NOTORIOUS VISCOUNT. Here’s a quick blurb to whet your appetite:

 

Jane Fenton is certain that her brother is lost in London’s notorious underground, not dead as he has been declared. The infamous Viscount Nicholas Stoneworth has just returned from that dangerous world, where he lived for many years as a fighter. When the innocent Jane approaches the dissolute Viscount for help finding her sibling, he offers her a bargain. If she helps him relearn the niceties of Society, he will use his questionable connections to locate her brother. Though each believes their part of the bargain is an impossible task, they agree for their own sakes. But as the two begin to work closely together, Jane discovers there is much more to the angry ex-pugilist than Society believes. And Nicholas finds a pillar of strength beneath Jane’s soft exterior.

 

But Nicholas’s drive to withhold the truth about Jane’s brother may threaten the fragile bond between beauty and her beast. And his triumphant return to society may end any chance they have of ever being together.

 

In addition, I also write erotic historical romances under the name Jess Michaels for Avon’s Red line, which I helped launch in 2006. My latest is a novella in the collection, A RED HOT VALENTINE’S DAY (which came out January 6) and I’ll have a new single title length book out on April 21, TABOO.

 

You can read more about all my books, including excerpts for them all, at http://www.jennapetersen.com (my Jess Michaels work can also be found there).

 

 I am the owner and webmistress of The Passionate Pen (http://www.passionatepen.com), a site for aspiring authors. The site is turning 10 this year and I’m celebrating with a year-long collection of interviews, top ten lists and HUGE prizes each month. The site has all kinds of resources for aspiring romance authors, so I hope you’ll stop by.

 

That’s pretty much it for me. I’ll be answering some Q&A below, but I’ll be around all day and would love to answer questions and talk to you all! Thanks for having me.

 

What’s your current project?

Currently I’m finishing up the final details on my next historical romance, which comes out in November 2009. It’s a Jenna Petersen release and it will start a brand new series for me about a group of bastard brothers who are trying to find each other and uncover the truth about their own lives. I’m really excited about the book and can’t wait to share it with readers.

 

What’s your genre and how did you choose it or have it chosen for you?

I write historical romance, whether it’s erotic or just sensual. I always loved reading historical romance most, so when I decided to write one, it seemed like the best fit. And the more I wrote it, the more enamored I became of the social morays and behaviors. I really like writing with those societal “rules” in mind (although they do get broken).

 

 Describe what you think a reader will learn about you after reading your book?

I’m not sure a reader will learn much about me, but I hope they’ll come away satisfied with the story. Also I hope they’ll get a sense of my voice, which is dark, sensual and emotional. Readers who like those kinds of stories will hopefully keep coming back because that’s what I like to write more than anything.

 

What was your first writing project and what’s become of it?

Back in college, before I read much romance, I decided to try writing one because I thought it would be “easy”. I learned pretty fast that it wasn’t, but it did put me on the path I’m on now. That book is safely under the bed where it can stay, along with about 15 other unpublished works. Seriously, I’d rather keep moving forward.

 

What makes you throw a book you’re reading against the wall in disgust?

Mostly behavior that doesn’t fit with the characterization an author has established. Character IS story to me, so once I’ve gotten to know a character, I have to feel like their actions fit with what I know. Also, slap stick-style humor. I don’t think staggering around and making a fool of oneself is that funny. But that’s a personal thing. LOL

 

Tell us about your writing process. Are you a plotter or pantzer?

I’m most definitely a plotter. I do character work first (see character IS plot above). Then I build a synopsis. Then I actually do detailed scene “sketches” that sometimes include dialogue. Once I have enough of those sketched out (usually about half a book or so), I start the actual writing. So I really have to have a strong sense of my people and their roadmap before I can write effectively.

 

What’s the worst piece of writing advice you ever got?

A multi-published author once told me I would never sell and should just give up. And she’d never read a word I’d written. It was soul-crushing at the time, but in the end I have to thank her for it because of two things. One, it taught me how I never want to behave as a published author. And two, it kept me going to prove her wrong. You can never let anyone tell you not to follow your dream.

 

If you’ve entered contests: Have you ever finaled or won in a writing contest? If so, which contest(s), which book(s), and which year(s)?

I’ve actually had a very good few years. Here’s a sampling:

 

SCANDALOUS (Jenna Petersen) – Finalist, Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice for Best Sensual Historical 2005

DESIRE NEVER DIES (Jenna Petersen) – Winner, Bookbuyers Best Award for Best Historical of 2007

SEDUCTION IS FOREVER (Jenna Petersen) – 2^nd place, Beacon Award for Best Historical Romance of 2007

EVERYTHING FORBIDDEN (Jess Michaels) – Best Erotic Historical of 2007 by Lifetime Television, Best Erotic Romance of 2007 Lories

 

There’s a full listing of all the contests each of my books has finaled in on my website. I’m so honored every time I final or win contests. They’re almost always judged by readers or booksellers and that means a great deal to me.

 

Thank you again for having me here today! And if you have any questions say hi in the comments!