BOOK CLUB FRIDAY--GUEST AUTHOR JORDYN MERYL

Jordyn Meryl calls herself a genre-jumper because she writes romance, futuristic romance, paranormal romantic suspense, historical romance, and non-romance novels that contain strong romantic elements. Today she sits down for an interview with us. Learn more about Jordyn and her books at her website and blog.

When did you realize you wanted to write novels?

When I was in High School, many, many years ago. But I married young, raised my family and at age 60 decided “It’s time!”.

How long did it take you to realize your dream of publication?

Once I started writing, just a couple of years. I indie published because I wanted in the game-go to book signings, see my stories in print.

Are you traditionally published, indie published, or a hybrid author?

I had a small press publish one of my books, but they folded. So right now all my books are indie published.

Where do you write?

In my family room on my laptop with music blasting. I have a room that we call the writing room that is very nice and organized with a desk top computer and all my “stuff”. But my space is where I have many windows, lots of light and can watch outside.

Is silence golden, or do you need music to write by? What kind?

I need music to get my juices going. I listen to the hit lists on my TV. I did watch VH1 videos, but they removed them. So now I listen to Pandora. I admire songwriters. They can tell a story in a few hundred words that take me several thousand.

How much of your plots and characters are drawn from real life? From your life in particular?

Very few. I have one book set in the city I live in, but the rest are different places I that my characters pick. I would like to say my stories are plot driven, but I think my characters would disagree. My characters create their own personalities, but they are usually traits from people I admire and some I don’t.

Describe your process for naming your character?

I look up baby names online. Sometimes I need nationality names like the stories I wrote with Italy as the setting.

Real settings or fictional towns?

I try to stay fictional, but drawn on the characteristic of real places.

What’s the quirkiest quirk one of your characters has?

Probably Katie in Katie’s Wind. She wanted to be seen as a proper librarian, put deep inside she had some powerful passions. Some of her is me, but most is how I want to be.

What’s your quirkiest quirk?

I use essential oils, strong words of power that inspire me, jewelry and positive thoughts to keep me focused and grounded.

If you could have written any book (one that someone else has already written,) which one would it be? Why?

The Great Gatsby--a tragic love story.

Everyone at some point wishes for a do-over. What’s yours?

I married an Iowa boy in California. I wish we had bought a house on the beach, but instead we ended up land-locked in the Midwest.

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

Things that don’t work when you need them the most-computers, printers, appliances, cars.

You’re stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?

A laptop, coffee and chocolate.

What was the worst job you’ve ever held?

A temp job as a telemarketer. I lasted one day.

What’s the best book you’ve ever read?

Wow that is hard--The Picture of Dorian Gray. What a lesson in vanity.

Ocean or mountains?

Ocean, I miss it so much. The room I write in is my lighthouse room.

City girl/guy or country girl/guy?

City girl-I tried living in the country, didn’t like not have my creature comforts, like pizza delivery.

What’s on the horizon for you?

I retired as a middle school librarian 4 years ago to write. That’s what I want to do, so I will be a 100-year-old romance writer.

Anything else you’d like to tell us about yourself and/or your books?

I have just finished my tenth book, a historical romance set in 1845 New Orleans. The cover model, Eric J Steffee, is a good friend and brought my character August Decoudreau to life. I am very proud of this book. It will be published the week of August 29^th and will be available as an ebook on all formats for $.99 until Oct 1^st (My birthday!) Please read it and give me an honest review.

Son of a Gambling Man

1800 New Orleans was a time of change for the city on the Mississippi River. August Decoudreau and Isabella Greenwood grew up in the shadow of the very prestige and legal prostitute establishment of The House of the Crescent Moon.

Isabelle’s mother, Stella, was one of the girls of the house. The Madame of the House treated her girls well and protected them. But it only took one despicable customer and a bad judgement call to turn the lives of everyone in a different direction.

Isabelle is sent off to an all girl’s school and August joins his father, a gambler, to travel on the riverboats of the Mississippi River.

Will the two lovers find a way back to each other or be forever separated?

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