Good morning. It’s Meet and Greet Monday! 

With us today is Romance Author, JoAnne Kenrick.

 Welcome, JoAnne!

Thanks so much. Let me get comfy before we begin. Tea – check. Big comfy chair  – check. Cheat sheet on JoAnne Kenrick – erm….check?

I think I have everything, so let’s get started. Oh wait, I need biscuits to dunk in my tea.

Back, chocolate digestives at the ready. And…go!

1. Have you made any New Year’s Resolutions for 2014?

Yes, for sure. I plan to be better organized both in my work at in the home. I can hear book bloggers…and my family…cheering in glee! Hehe. I am my own worst enemy a lot of the time, and it’s purely down to the fact that I’ve a terrible memory and don’t use the calendar or a to-do list as much as I should. Well, not in 2014! I’m ALL IN.

2. What goals have you set for your writing career in 2014 that you’re determined to meet?

Oh my gosh. I just want to make it through RT2014 at New Orleans without making a huge fan-girl fool of myself in front of my favorite authors! And to present successful pitches for some of the projects I’ve been working on.

3. Tell us, what’s the first thought that comes to your head when you read the following words –

Romance … is alive and kicking!

Wolves … are gorgeous creatures. Maybe almost as gorgeous as Alcide 😉

Selkies … Oh, that reminds me, I must finish Isle of Man and Selkie book 2, because the self set deadline is fast approaching.

Dean Winchester … *thud* Sexy as hell and then some.

Duck Dynasty … That’s some crazy stuff, that is.

4. Tell us a bit about yourself. Where do you live, do you have a significant other, any youngsters running around?

I live in North Carolina, in a two story red-brick traditional. The realtor’s photo pulled me in straight away as it reminded me of country homes back in the UK. It’s cozy, yet with the space of a USA house. I always buy with my heart. The rooms are a little smaller than I would have liked, and at times the layout makes me grumble…but overall, I do love our little home.

I’m married and have two kids; one entering their teens, the other mid-teens. It can be a little crazy at times, but mostly I wish they’ d come out of their rooms more often to bug me 😀 Instead, I have to bug our kitties for attention. They are both super nuts and have been given new nicknames this Christmas due to a little ‘fight’ they had. Scarface for the younger kitty, and The Godfather for the older one. Territory wars. I sure could do without those.

5. Tell us about your “big break” in the publishing world. Was there any one person believe in your work first (besides yourself of course)? What did you do to celebrate your first contract?

My big break happened only because of the amazing support from my writerly friend I’d met online who , at the time, was also a book reviewer. Nicole Hicks (smooches hun). She went over my first manuscript and helped me bundles during that nervous ‘first submission’ period. After a lot of rejections, another authorly friend offered to read my work. Turns out, she was an editor for a brand new publishing house, Decadent Publishing. She helped me prep my submission to Decadent, and I hit send yet again. I mostly expected yet another rejection. But days later, I was offered a contract. How did I celebrate? I kinda didn’t. I didn’t really believe it had actually happened until release day. It’s been three years since that first release, but it feels like one! I love my job.

6. What is your favorite junk food?

Crisps / potato chips. Cheese and onion flavored when I can get my greedy hands on them. But mostly, they’re not available in the States so I have to settle on sour cream and onion.

7. What are you a collector of? (ie: types of knick-knacks, purses, shoes, etc)

Computers that don’t work. Oh wait, you mean on purpose? Erm… handbags and No7 lipsticks.

8. What five items do you take everywhere with you – besides cell phone, keys and purse/wallet?

eReader. EOS lip balm, and Katy Perry’s PURR purse size perfume. If it’s the winter, I also carry with me, a mini umberella, stretchy gloves, and a pocket pack of tissues.

9. What is your favorite TV Show?

Really? I only get one? *cries* Well, okay then. BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER. But more currently, BIG BANG THEORY or BREAKING BAD.

10. Have you read any books that have made you cry?

Nicolas Sparks’ work always makes me cry. I can’t read/watch his stuff anymore. I’m too sappy.

11. Have you ever thrown a book you’ve been reading against the wall because you couldn’t finish it?

Nope. I know by the first few pages if I’m going to read til the end, at that point I’m not invested in the story so it’s no biggy.

12. No matter the story, where do you always draw inspiration from when you begin each story?

The location usually is the first thing I draw inspiration from. Once I have the sights, sounds, and scents down on paper, the characters take it from there.

13. What three words do you think best describe you?

Scattered. Well-traveled. Bashful.

14. Where have you travelled that you’d love to return? What made it so special the first time?

Austraila; the location and the people are what makes that country so amazing. And their wines.

15. If you were given an all-expense paid, five day/night trip to anywhere, where would you go?

All expenses? I’m hoping aboard first class Qantas flight to Australia, baby, and I’ll start my trip on the Gold Coast to re-vist Steve Irwin’s zoo.

16. What is your one pet peeve about the writing business?

Having to waste my time chasing down pirates when I should be writing, and knowing there are readers out there who don’t think authors should be paid for their hard work. Now that’s crushing!

17. Who is your celebrity crush?

Again, just one? Ack. Chris Hemsworth. He can whack me with his hammer any day.

18. What do you find most challenging about writing?

Staying on task without a boss sitting behind me watching how much I overuse Facebook and whatnot. Yeah, I would have written a thousand books by now if I had a boss like that sat in my office with me on a daily basis.

BLOG POST:
All this talk of Australia, and since my brand new release was set in the Outback, I am all nostalgic. Kacey! I don’t suppose that offer of an all-expenses paid trip was legit was it? No? Bugger. Well… I guess sharing some photos and revisiting my favorite places in Oz will have to do then.

Ready to come on a journey with me?

Let’s start at the Blue Mountains, New South Wales.

Stunning scenery, I’m sure you can see why this is absolutely one of my favorite places I’ve ever been to. Gorgeous. And the air, I can’t describe it. So fresh and invigorating. Must be all those eucalyptus leaves.

Not to mention, the Blue Mountains are home to the amazing THREE SISTERS. Isn’t it amazing.

And we can’t talk about Australia without taking a trip to Steve Irwin’s zoo…can we? NOPE! Or without sharing the pics of me with Mash the Koala. Awww. He was so fluffy and cuddly. And with me feeding Joey, my new bouncing friend.

I don’t know about you, but I am so ready for a trip down under now. Maybe I can help you out with that…with my new release OUTBACK DIRTY.

BLURB:
She’ll do anything to win him back… even if it means getting OUTBACK DIRTY.

Chris Ruter’s plan for Australia Day is to beat the heat by letting the beer flow. His New York ex, Janine, seems determined to drive the heel of her sharp stiletto right through the wall he’s built to avoid memories of her–but does she want him in front of her camera or in her bed?

Janine Red is ready to get outback dirty to win back her sexy ex. Following him to his plantation, their bushwalk turns into a trip down memory lane. Can the magic of the outback heal her sprained ankle–and their hearts?

Exclusive excerpt at the ARe Cafe

 BOOK LANDING PAGE FOR BUYLINKS: http://calendar-men.blogspot.com/2013/12/mrjanuary-calendarmen.html

 To find out more about JoAnne’s work, please visit her site: www.joannekenrick.com

 TWITTER: www.twitter.com/joannekenrick

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/joannekenrick

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~