Welcome multi-published author, Jannine Gallant!

Thank you for having me on your blog today, Rachel. It’s always a pleasure to visit you!

You're welcome anytime! Jannine is my first author to visit my blog as part of the Honky Tonk series from The Wild Rose Press. Published across the sub-genres, Jannine reminds me of myself with her passion for what she does and the need to tell stories wherever and whenever they demand to be set. A good online friend, I look forward to sharing more of Jannine's life and writing with my visitors!

Let's get started...

When and why did you decide you wanted to be a published author?

I was in high school when I decided I was going to be an author. Published of course! I started my first book (a historical romance), headed off to college with a double major in English (creative writing) and history, and expected the rest to fall into place. Oh the naiveté of youth! It took me about 25 years to get my first book published.

What is the best and worst thing you have learned from an editor/agent?

Ally Robertson, my editor for my first published book, taught me what is expected of a writer in today’s market. I didn’t have a clue about Point of View. She patiently pointed out my egregious head hopping, and I fixed it. It would have been so easy to look at the mess my manuscript was in and write a polite “thanks but no thanks” note, but she took a risk. Every time I submit a manuscript to an editor, I learn something new about how I can improve my writing. I’m extremely thankful to the wise and wonderful editors who’ve made my writing shine!

Favorite Authors

I don’t know that I have a favorite author. What I read depends on my mood. Lately, most of the books I read are by other Wild Rose Press authors. I appreciate their support and like to give them mine. And their books are amazingly well written! Right now I’m reading the other Honky Tonk Hearts books in the series and loving them.

What is your typical day?

I just got a part-time day job, which has cut down on my writing time. Up at 6am to get the girls off to school. Quick round of email, blog comments, FB posts, and twitter updates. Walk the dog and go to work. Home by 3:30 for a little writing time before picking up the girls from ballet and sports practice. Homework help, dinner, laundry, etc. Collapse on couch to watch TV for an hour before bed. Fri. Sat. & Sun. I don’t work, so I write all morning (yippee!) and prepare blogs.

Share your blurb or short excerpt from your latest release with us.

Blurb for Nothing But Trouble:

Chase Paladin avoids commitment like a patch of stinging nettles. He's seen how love can trample a man, and he doesn’t plan to get hitched—ever. But when Honor Jackson walks into his life, hell-bent on keeping her distance, she turns his convictions inside out.

One look at the too-handsome cowboy with laughing green eyes and a killer smile, and Honor knows he's nothing but trouble. She's come to Redemption, Texas to help an old friend, not to let another man charm her into certain heartache.

But every time she turns around, Chase is there, and the closer they get, the more she fears he’ll break her heart. So when anonymous threats make it clear that someone in Redemption wants her gone, Honor is ready to oblige. Only now Chase isn’t certain he can live without her.

Will two wary hearts take a chance on love before it's too late?

Short Excerpt: Chase and Honor’s first kiss!

Moths fluttered around the bulb shining over their heads. As the silence lengthened, his green eyes darkened and took on a sensual glint. Her breath caught when he tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The safety of her apartment lay steps away, but her feet remained rooted to the doorstep.

His face lowered slowly, so slowly she could see the individual whiskers in the stubble along his hard jaw, the tiny lines radiating from the corners of his eyes, the shades of gold in the hair brushing his collar. His lips touched hers, gentle at first, then with intention. Cupping her face in his hands, he teased her mouth open and lay claim. Her head spun as she gripped his wrists and kissed him back, nearly melting at the utter eroticism of his thrusting tongue. When he released her, she staggered against the door and raised her hand to her lips.

He let out a shuddering breath. “Go to bed, Honey. We’ll finish this sometime when you’re not so vulnerable.”

The clattering of his boots down the stairs echoed the pounding of her heart.

Who would you cast to play your hero and heroine in a movie?

This is an easy one! Josh Holloway (Sawyer from Lost) would make a perfect Chase. As for Honor, Rachel McAdams (Claire from Wedding Crashers) has a girl next door look just right for the part.

Did you plan to write this book? Or write it as it came?

I saw the call out for the Honky Tonk Hearts series shortly after I finished my last book for the Class of ’85 series. I loved being part of a group project and interacting with the other authors. Still, I didn’t write about cowboys… But I saw the opening scene for Nothing But Trouble so clearly in my mind, I couldn’t let it go. The rest is history. LOL

What surprised you the most when you became published?

That’s an easy one, too. I expected to make an actual living from my writing. Who new only a select few do that!

Do you have a dedicated writing space?  What does it look like?

Computer in an alcove at the top of the stairs. Trees outside my window. Dog staring at me, waiting for her walk. LOL

What’s next for you?

I have a suspense novel with The Wild Rose Press out in August. The title is A Deadly Love, and it’s about a serial killer stalking women in the redwood forest of Northern California. Of course there’s plenty of romance to go with the murder and mayhem! My current WIP is a series of 3 novellas revolving around 3 best friends who witnessed a murder when they were girls. My intent is to self publish these books.

Author photo and contact information:

To learn more about Jannine Gallant and the stories she creates go to: http://www.janninegallant.com/, http://janninegallant.blogspot.com/.

To purchase Nothing But Trouble, go to TWRP Website: http://bit.ly/IbOwjk, Amazon: http://amzn.to/HQrNtk, or Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/HQrYVv.

You are so busy! Wow, can't wait to read Nothing But Trouble as I'm playing with the idea of a cowboy story myself... ;) Bittersweet is still on my Kindle waiting to be read - I will get there, promise.

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