I have to admit when I emailed Jayne Ann Krentz asking her to interview on my blog, I wasn’t expecting a yes. After all, this is the woman who writes under three different names. She wouldn’t have time for little ole’ me. Shockingly, she said yes! After getting over my initial surprise, I managed to type up some questions.
Do you have a favorite book, or book you’re most proud of?
My favorite book is always the one I’m working on at the moment.
I’ve always loved your historicals under your pen name, Amanda Quick. I’m not much of a futuristic reader, but I’d love to give them a try. What would you say to a person hesitant to give your more contemporary books a read?
If you like my kinds of characters and the mix of romance and suspense that I do, you’ll probably enjoy any of my three worlds. Regardless of the era, my heroes and heroines share fundamental values and worldviews. They exhibit the ancient historical virtues: courage, honor, integrity, determination and the ability to love.
What does change between my worlds is the kind of plots that I can do. In fact, it was writing a futuristic years ago that made me decide to fire up my historical career. I realized that, at its heart, SHIELD’S LADY was a classic “Marrige of Convenience” story. It didn’t sell well as a futuristic but the historical market was a perfect fit for that kind of plot. That’s when I decided to invent Amanda Quick.
You certainly don’t seem afraid to try something new. What made you decide to jump into the futuristic and paranormal category?
The first book I ever wrote was a paranormal futuristic. It never sold because there was absolutely no market for it. At the time there wasn’t even a name for the sub-genre! So, I backed out of that end of the market and took a look at contemporary, instead. But since the start of my career I have always been drawn to romantic-suspense with a psychic twist so when the paranormal thing got hot, I jumped in with my version of it. Now, with my Arcane Society series, I’m writing all three elements in each of my three worlds. I am a very happy camper.
Of all of the sub-genres you write— historical, contemporary and futuristic— do you favor any over the other?
No. In fact, I find it very refreshing to move back and forth between my three different worlds.
How do you decide what to work on next? Do your editors have a say? Or do you pretty much write whatever genre you feel the need to write next?
I write according to what comes up next on my contract.
You’re a huge advocate of romance books. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard people say that romance is smut. What do you say to people who belittle the romance genre?
I never engage in conversations with such rude people. If anyone seriously wants to know how I defend the genre they are free to pick up a copy of the book I wrote a few years ago together with several author friends. The title is DANGEROUS MEN AND ADVENTUROUS WOMEN: ROMANCE WRITERS ON THE APPEAL OF THE ROMANCE. It was edited by me and published by the University of Pennsylvania Press. It is still in print.
I know you struggled to get published and contemplated giving up many times. What made you keep going and is there any advice you can give other struggling writers?
Writing is an addiction for me. Heaven knows I tried to quit a thousand times during the six long years it took me to get published. I think that if you were born to write, you just cannot stop. The single most important piece of advice I can give struggling writers is to join Romance Writers of America. As a member you can learn more about the business of writing in six months than I did in those six long years going it alone.
Is there any genre you’d like to write that you haven’t yet?
Nope. So far I’ve been able to fit everything I’ve ever wanted to write into the romance genre. This is the genre where my core story truly belongs. I can’t see myself ever leaving it.
A woman who reads my blog and loves your books, wanted me to ask: “What made you think of dust bunnies in your Harmony books? I love them! They remind me 
of my cat, except smaller.”
I have always loved putting animals in my books, usually dogs because they fit into a lot of plots. When I started the Harmony series it was the perfect opportunity to invent a new kind of pet: a small, scruffy little predator with a psychic twist.
What do you do when you’re not writing? Any hobbies?
In addition to writing, I love to cook. I think I enjoy it because, unlike a book which takes forever to complete, you get instant gratification with cooking.
Where can we find you on the web?
http://www.jayneannkrentz.com/
Thanks for having me here today!
Leave a comment and email addy! Two lucky people will win an autographed copy of The Third Circle in paperback! Winners will be announced on Monday!
Terrific interview! Jayne, your books are must reads for me in all three sub-genres. When I heard you say once that your paranormal books weren’t well received in the beginning, I was shocked. I can remember waiting for the next Jayne Castle book. I’m glad the market has changed and you have these elements in all the genres.
Jayne, great interview. I just finished a week-long marathon of reading my Amanda Quick keepers 🙂 .
Hi Lori, thanks for snagging Jayne for an interview.
Jayne, you know I’m a huge fan, but my favorites are the Amanda Quick and the audio are a must for me. I listen to them more than once.
I also just finished listening to Running Hot and wrote about it in my PW blog on Friday. I love how you brought the Arcane Society into the present. And now I’ll make everyone jealous by admitting that I’m currently reading Obsidian Prey, the new Jayne Castle book. 🙂
I’m a fan…does it show?
I’ll have to look for THe Third Circle.
Wonderful interview! Thanks to Lori my TBR pile is growing weekly! THE THIRD CIRCLE is right there at the top. Thanks Jayne and Lori!
Thanks so much for inviting me to do the interview, Lori. You obviously have a great group here.
And thanks for the kind words on my books! I wish you all the best of spring
–Jayne
Hmm. Not sure why the comments thingy won’t take my google account name. I’ll try again.
–Jayne
I’ve only read your historicals, but after reading about the dust bunnies, i’ll have to give your others a try!
Nancy
Great interview! I love historical romance novels! Lori’s blog has allowed me to experience some great authors! I look forward to picking up an Amanda Quick book soon! 🙂 and ya never know… it may take me to Jayne’s other time periods….
I think most people start out with a favorite time period: historical or contemporary. And it takes some convincing to get readers to move between those different landscapes.
The same thing happens in the mystery and suspense genre. Some mystery readers will only read hard-boiled private-eye novels. Others prefer police procedurals. And still others will only read international suspense.
–Jayne
Hi Jayne! I love all your books. Great interview.
Alison
I remember when you were writing for Harlequin as JAK. That’s where I discovered you. I would have read your historicals way sooner if I’d know you were also AQ. Do the pseudonyms ever get confusing making it hard for your fans to follow you?
Bev
Great interview. I’m rather curious why the three different pen names. Is it more of a branding thing, or are many readers not open to one author writing such different genres?
Aaron: The answer to the question of why I use three names is that over the years I ended up with three different careers! Trust me, I didn’t set out to do that. But every so often in my career, I’ve managed to kill off a perfectly good name by publishing books that no one wanted to buy. Whenever that happened, I had no choice but to try another name. For example, those futuristics I mentioned at the start of my career destroyed my Jayne Ann Krentz name for a couple of years. That was when I fired up my Amanda Quick career. When I went back to futuristics, I decided to use my Castle name (which happens to be my real name) in case I shot myself in the foot again.
–Jayne
Great inteview! I love hearing about how your Amanda Quick name came about. How interesting!
Jenette
I love that you can write a variety of sub-genres. I’ve read your suspense and historicals. I’ll have to try your futuristic.
Cherish
Thanks for doing this interview, Jayne. Your books are a real treat in all your sub-genres.
Lori, thanks for another great interview.
Jayne, thanks for all the great reads you’ve gifted us with! What a fabulous career you’ve built. Thanks in advance for all the great books to come.
Jayne, I’ve been a huge fan since I discovered JAK, Stephanie James, and Jayne Castle in the 1980’s, and have since added AQ to the mix. I love your books and have most of them — your characters are timeless and I never get tired of reading them. Thanks for all the years of wonderful reads, and I look forward to many more!
Yay! The Perfect Poison is out! I’ve been waiting for Caleb Jones to find his love. 😀
Great interview, ladies!
I’m so happy you didn’t give up writing – your Amanda Quick books are some of my favorites and I can’t imagine what it would’ve been like without them. That is great advice for writers struggling to get published. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Margay
I love this statement: “They exhibit the ancient historical virtues: courage, honor, integrity, determination and the ability to love.” Congrats on another great interview, Lori!
great interview !!!!! I love you as Jayne anne Krentz and glad you write uner 3 different genres
Donna
I started reading Amanda Quick, and then found Jayne Castle. You’ve given me many hours of enjoyment! Thanks for the great interview.
Hi Lori and Jayne,
Lori – thanks for getting Jayne- what a coup!
Jayne – you may remember me. I had written you awhile ago telling you that I’m a tremendous fan of Amanda Quick, among your other nom de plumes, and that you are the single most influential author on my writing. (Although wait, maybe you’ve received many emails like that!) I love taking apart your books in trying to understand your method of combining the suspense and the romance and other delicious parts of your stories because you are the master. I also read your “Dangerous” book when it first came out, which I thought was wonderful. Ok, Ok, I know enough of this idol worship, just send me the book- work for you? Thanks Jayne and Lori
I haven’t read any of your newer books but I love your older contemporaries – I just finished Trust Me which I hadn’t read in over 10 years so it was almost brand new to me! I have 4 favorites that I read over and over – Wildest Hearts, Silver Linings, Midnight Jewels, and An Uneasy Alliance. I guess your books got too paranormal for me at the time. I’ve only recently started reading and enjoying paranormal/psychic type reads so I’m sure I’ll make my way to your newer stuff. I also just started reading historicals this past year and while I haven’t read a lot I’d say about half were yours!
Susanna