Interview and Giveaway: Jade Lee

Please join me in welcoming author Jade Lee to Debbie's Book Bag today! Jade is her promoting her recently released novel, What the Bride Wore. I was privileged to be able to ask her few questions about her writing and this novel. Enjoy the interview and check out the giveaway details at the end of the post.

DEB: Jade, tell us a little bit about yourself.
JL: Well, you can read my bio – 40 books, USA Today bestseller, blah blah.  Here’s what you need to know: Smart, sexy regency. We’ve decided to name that SMEXENCY. Though that kind of looks like Mexican Pregnancy, so maybe not.  Unless, of course, you want to take a Mexican vacation to get pregnant, but really, that’s not me.

DEB: What was your inspiration for this book?
JL: Inspiration comes in many forms. 
Form 1 – two people hiding their identities have to discover the truth about each other and themselves. *yawn* 
Form 2 – Latte me up, baby. With enough caffeine, drying paint is thrilling.  
Form 3 – I was watching a tv show and saw the scene: “Oh my God, you think my BROTHER is trying to kill me?” Breath, breath. “Okay, nevermind. I’m off to boink the heroine.” I was left with a WTF, no one handles that revelation in thirty seconds. Which led to the center of What The Bride Wore where the hero has to face the disaster of a relationship he has with his brother (hero of Winning the Bride). Fortunately key aspects of the love story help him face the problem.  
Form 4 – The Supernatural brothers are HOT. I just want to write about them.

DEB: Is it a single title or part of an on going series?
JL: Ongoing series.  Four women who run a bridal salon in the regency. Check out my website for an overview. http://jadeleeauthor.com/books/bridal-favors-series

DEB: Were you always fascinated by weddings or is this just an idea you got for the series?
JL: Funny you should mention that. My daughter recently got engaged. I’m in the midst of wedding planning that is way more than I ever imagined. Omg, it’s joyous, overwhelming, exhausting and exhilarating. So even if I said – oh, who didn’t love wedding dresses and flowers as a kid? – I now know that weddings are a zillion times more complicated than what I imagined when I was 12. Now, because I’m a proud mama, I have to share this picture of my daughter in the dress I wanted her to get. It is not (of course) the one she choose, but here she is. All together now, say Awwwww, she’s beautiful!

DEB: What is about the Regency period that you think draws romance readers to it? 

JL: Lots of answers here too. 

1. Cinderella going to the ball and finding love with the handsome prince. 

2. The hero possibilities. Hot aristocrat or self-made man. And they all want me, me, me!

3. Colin Firth in a wet linen shirt.

DEB: Do you have a favorite author or genre that you like to read for pleasure?

JL: Whatever I’m not writing at the moment. Which means I end up reading about fungus and space dust because I’m always writing about ten different things in different genres at any given moment. And there’s nothing you can do with ....wait...mushrooms in love on a comet... Hmmmm.

DEB: How long have you been writing and what was your first experience with the publishing industry like?

JL: Here is my first 7 experiences in publishing.  I’ve sold a book!  WOO HOO!  Oh s--t, they just went belly-up.

Then it was, I sold a book!  It’s coming out next year. I mean it’s going to take an extra seven months. Okay, so not this year, we’re sliding into another year. Six more months. Hallelujah! It’s finally out. Oh d--n, I just got screwed.

And then there was Dorchester. (For those not in the know, just google Dorchester Bankruptcy)

DEB: Do you have advice for new writers?

JL: It’s a marathon, not a sprint. So there is no sudden flash of inspiration that makes a career. That would be like blowing your wad in the first mile (FYI - it’s mixed metaphor day). 

In short: write every day. A little bit. Every day. For the rest of your life. One step at a time, one word at a time.

Also (taken from Smash) PROTECT THE WORK. All else will come and go. Protect the work.

DEB: Tell us something about yourself that readers may not know.

JL: You know everything. I’m an open book. And if I’m not, get me a latte and I’ll spill everything you never wanted to know about me.

Or how’s this? I think my toes look weird. Stubby, knobby and weird.

DEB: What are you working on right now?

JL: You get a 1 word hint: Gypsy.  Want a few more? Regency. Sexy. Book-of-my-soul.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of What the Bride Wore by Jade Lee.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.

~ US Addresses only.

~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, August 22nd.

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