Welcome all.
Today I’m very lucky to be
interviewing JF Holland author of The
Only One, This Time, Second Chance, Full Circle coming End Dec. Blue Christmas,
Date Night, Moon Sworn, Bound by The Moon, Fire in The Moon, Light up The Moon,
Magic in The Moon (coming soon) Immortal Flame.
ME: Hi JF Holland, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell
us a little about yourself and your background?
JF HOLLAND: I still live in the small town in Partington in
Manchester, UK where I was born at home on January 10th, 1968. Now a wife and mother, I live with my husband
and 6 children- and a small menagerie of animals.
I've always loved the underdog,
the fighter. But, let's face it, we all want to believe in a happily ever
after. As a huge fan of books (book nerd is the endearing term my children
use), as I have an immense paperback romance collection (which also includes
paranormal romance). If I'm not writing, I've got my head stuck in a good book.
You can't beat reading. I love watching the plot and characters come to life in
my imagination; so much better than television.
When I was younger, I tended to
re-write books and fairy-tales where I wasn't completely happy with the ending.
My perchance for alter stories confused the hell out of my children once they
learned to read as none of the books matched the stories I'd read them growing
up.
Until I became ill, I had a
varied career including Admin, Customer Service, and Teaching unemployed adults
IT and customer service skills. I'm now
at home full time, classed as disabled (neuro fog can make life, and writing
fun and challenging at times). So instead of twiddling my thumbs and feeling
sorry for myself I decided it was time I started to do something I love with my
life. So, I began to write my own stories again. it keeps my mind active and
it's fun. Is it easy, hell no, but it’s worthwhile. I’m challenged each time I
write due to how my brain now processes information. I find it difficult
learning new things or retaining information, but I look at it as I did
learning to stay on my feet and walk again. I also don’t always see what’s
right in front of me, broke a foot with that one, my head told me a leg had
moved when it hadn’t. I’m also probably the only person around who could run
over her own foot while sat on a mobility scooter, fun explaining that one in
A&E.
ME: What genre do you write?
JF HOLLAND: Heated Contemporary & Paranormal Romance
ME: What are you working on at the minute?
JF HOLLAND: I'm just finishing up the 5th book in my paranormal
shifter serial, Magic in The Moon, due for release at the end of the month
(fingers crossed) relapses can interfere sometimes. I'm also partly way through
the 4th book in my standalone read contemporary series (Dennison Property
Services). Full Circle is due out at the end of December.
ME: Can you share a little of your current work with us?
JF HOLLAND:
Magic in the Moon (shifter)
As Nathan lumbered down the side
of the old house, he watched Jaden, disappear through the trees, before going
up the wall which ran around the property. He ran along the top of it in a
crouch, flattening his body and using a stop start motion, trying not to garner
any attention, keeping to the cover of the trees which grew before the
wall.
Nathan
tried to stay out of sight too, using the building, statuary and old
gravestones - not an easy fete for a nearly eight-pound grizzly. As he got to
the edge of the house, the back grounds came into view. Maisie, now out there
in the open was trying to edge further back from the others - looking for an
escape route.
Eyes
widening, he spotted that she held a brunette before her as a shield, knife to
her throat. Eyes moving around restlessly as he stood in the shadow of the
house - going low and shuffling forward, he spotted Helena. Nicolas and Adam
were on one side of her and Sam on the other. She was playing with a ball of
fire, tossing it in the air and taunting Maisie.
Probably
not a good idea.
Especially
not when she was using a hostage as a shield. Maisie was crazy and psychotic
enough to slit her throat and try to use the ensuing chaos as a means of making
her escape over the wall.
Eyes shifting back to the others, he
watched Helena again flick the flame in her hand smirking, and heard Maisie
growl. The sound drew his attention and Nathan watched how the madness now
swirled in her eyes, like a sickness. Mouth thinning at her uncoordinated,
jerky movements. Obviously, she was feeling trapped. She took surreptitious
looks over her shoulder,
awkwardly shuffling backwards, dragging her captive
with her.
Full circle (Contemporary) and unedited
Beth gazed into his eyes, seeing
nothing but truth. No guile visible and head tilting to one side she nodded.
“I
know what you mean.”
“You
do?”
“Yes,
I’m comfortable with you.”
“Not
too comfortable I hope,” Len grinned. “I don’t want to be another Alan.”
“No,
what I feel for you is not brotherly,” she told him holding eye contact.
“How
hungry are you?” Len asked, finishing his beer in a long swallow.
“For
food, not so much,” Beth told him, watching his pupils expand as he watched
her.
Len
pulled his wallet out of his pocket and left notes on the table to cover their
meal. He put his empty glass on top and rose - holding out his hand to Beth.
She finished her own drink, then put her glass down and stood, slipping her
hand into his.
ME: Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead
character from your most recent book?
JF HOLLAND: I've always seen Jason Momoa as Jaden, one of the main
characters in the Bound Books. Jaden is a black Jaguar shifter.
ME: While you were writing, do you ever feel as if you were one of
the characters?
JF HOLLAND: No, I don't make up what I write. I see the story in my
head as a movie screen, so I just write what I see, surrounds, conversations,
how they look, what they feel.
ME: When did you decide to become a writer?
JF HOLLAND: I've always written, when little if I didn't have a
book in my hand I was writing or drawing.
ME: Which writers inspire you?
JF HOLLAND: I have a few favorites, but I do love humor in a book,
therefore Jill Shalvis, Lynsay Sands, JR Ward.
ME: Do you write on a typewriter, computer, dictate or longhand?
JF HOLLAND: I use a laptop (can't sit at a desk) on days when my
hands don't want to play (but my speech isn't slurred) I use text to speech.
ME: Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer to just see
where an idea takes you?
JF HOLLAND: I'm a pantster, I start with a simple idea and see
where it leads. I've found that once you give a character personality, they
tend to do their own damn thing. I'm surprised at half the things that appear
in my books.
ME: Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors.
JF HOLLAND: I read quite a lot, not as much as I used to. Then
again writing eats up a lot of my reading time. I have a lot of favorites, JR
Ward, Kresley Cole, Gena Showalter, Jill Shalvis, Lana Adrian, Christine
Feehan, Lynsay Sands - the list goes on.
ME: What book are you reading now?
JF HOLLAND: I'm reading JR Wards, The Chosen.
ME: Do you think that giving books away free works and why?
JF HOLLAND: That's a tough one because it only works if they read
the book and that you can't guarantee.
ME: How do you relax?
JF HOLLAND: I read, spend time with my dogs, I love live music and
have a son who's a drummer in a band. I also occasionally go to the cinema.
ME: What is your favorite quote?
JF HOLLAND: My own, 'The dust will still be there tomorrow!"
ME: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
JF HOLLAND: Just write, but write what you enjoy yourself as it
transfers to the page. Also, don't expect everyone to enjoy what you write, or
you'll be extremely disappointed. Also, don't expect to release everything that
you write, I have a file full of partial or full manuscripts that I had written
before I released my first.
ME: What does your writing process look like?
JF HOLLAND: A general idea, then I sit and write what I see playing
in my head. Sometimes it moves so quickly it's more like jotting down notes.
Then once I've finished - and not always with an end - I go back to the
beginning again. I do a read through and flesh out the scenes, restructure for
flow and pace. Then, when it's all fresh in my mind I'm normally shown the
ending.
ME: What is your least favorite part of the publishing / writing
process?
JF HOLLAND: Marketing, trying to get your books out there and into
hands.
ME: Is there a certain type of scene that's harder for you to write
than others? Love? Action? Racy?
JF HOLLAND: Sex scenes are difficult believe it or not. You have to
take in to account so many factors. Hand positions, if this was there would
that fit here. You would not believe how technical it can get.
ME: Did you learn anything from writing your book(s) and what was
it?
JF HOLLAND: I research each shifter's animal, so I get their sounds
and movement right. I've learned some of the craziest information since I
began, like a grizzly bear can weigh up to 800 lbs. and that they clack their
teeth in warning. It’s also weird how when I can't take in a lot of
information, snippets like that stick lol
ME: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family
members.
JF HOLLAND: My editor, she's always around for a bit of moral
support or to kick me up the arse.
ME: Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and
why?
JF HOLLAND: Marilyn Monroe, I'd really like to know her true story,
not what people say about her.
ME: What is your favorite theme/genre to write about?
JF HOLLAND: I love paranormal because you are not limited in your
imagination.
ME: What is your favorite theme/genre to read?
JF HOLLAND: I read what I write so Contemporary and Paranormal
Romance
ME: What secret talents do you have?
JF HOLLAND: I can put leg behind my neck, but no, I'm not showing
you lol
ME: If you had a superpower, what would it be?
JF HOLLAND: Time travel, I'd like to be able to go back in time and
spend time with loved ones who are no longer here.
ME: Where is one place you want to visit that you haven't been
before?
JF HOLLAND: Italy, the canals and the buildings as well as some of
the beautiful countryside and beaches.
ME: How can readers discover more about you and you work? i.e.
Website: Blog: Facebook: Twitter: Lnkedin: Pinterest: Amazon Author Page:
Smashwords: Book Links: (* American, UK, etc.) Goodreads.
JF HOLLAND:
ME: Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t
included?
JF HOLLAND: The importance of reviews, reviews are like tips for
authors. If you like the book let them know, leave a review, even if you just
say, 'I enjoyed it,' or 'I'd recommend it' tell a friend, share a post.
ME: Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy
schedule to take part in this interview.
JF HOLLAND: Thank you so much for your interest, it's appreciated.
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