1.)
What was your first job? Did you like or dislike it? Why?
Ha! I worked in the seafood department at a grocery
store because I was too young to be a cashier and they thought my goal of going
to college for Marine Biology would come in handy. Yeah, dead fish, lobsters,
seafood. All it did was make me smell fishy when I got home after a shift!
2.)
Do you have a pet peeve? If so what is it?
I am conscientious to a fault. So those that are not drives
me a bit bonkers (e.g. following through on commitments, not responding to emails/messages,
being late, disorganized…yeah all that). But we are who we are. So, if I had to
pick another one, it would be reckless drivers.
3.)
Would you describe your style as shabby chic, timeless elegance,
eclectic, country or ____?
Hmm, I’m a jeans and t-shirt kind of woman. I like
classic. Not big on trendy stuff though I do like to look at it. I go for
simple, practical, and comfortable. When writing, some days the yoga pants
don’t get swapped for jeans until after lunch!
4.)
Tell me about your book A Hundred
Kisses and where you got your inspiration for it?
Her answers may lie with an old aunt on the isle of
Uist.
Under the façade of a trader, Alasdair Montgomerie
travels to Uist with pivotal information for a Claimant seeking the Scottish
throne. A ruthless baron hunts him and a dark past haunts him, leaving little
room for alliances with a Highland laird or his tempting daughter.
Enter a journey.
Awestruck when she realizes that her unlikely travel
companion is the man from her visions, a man whose thickly veiled emotions are
buried beneath his burning lifeblood, Deirdre wonders if he, too, will die in
her bed if she follows her father’s orders. Amidst magic, superstition, and
ghosts of the past, Alasdair and Deirdre find themselves falling together in a
web of secrets and the curse of a hundred kisses…
My inspiration for this came first from my love of
Scotland and history. I love stories of loss and hope and of course a
happy-ever-after. Early feedback from beta readers and agents helped me go
deeper with my story. I explored Scottish lore and myths, hence the paranormal
element to it. I am a nature-lover and tend to thread in spiritual elements, so
Deirdre’s ability came about. The prequel, A
Hundred Breaths, will be out early next year, and tells the story of her
mother who hailed from the mystical isles and has a unique ability of her own.
Oh, and there are Vikings! And yes, it will be a trilogy—I am working on book
three!
5.)
Who is your role model? Why?
It
depends on what part of my life. Parenting: my children inspire me. Former
career as a scientist: the women who paved the path for this generation (e.g.
college professors, and Eugenie Clark, marine biologist). Writing: Diana
Gabaldon and JK Rowling. Poetry and art: my mother.
6.)
How much of your book is realistic?
Most
of it is real. I love history so I did a boatload of research for this book. At
some point though, with any story taking place before the 15th
century, an author needs to fill in some blanks. But whenever possible, I
researched for accuracy, down to food, fauna, locations, clan history, names,
and political history. The “magical” ability Deirdre possesses is a product of my
imagination, but loosely based on Scottish lore books I’ve read. Sometimes you
need to improvise!
7.)
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
I’ve
been writing on and off for twenty years. Last year, my first book was released
by the The Wild Rose Press. Though I had written three “practice” novels before
that and with no publication success. Now I have contracts for three more books
– the prequel (a historical romance), a contemporary romance novella, and a
contemporary women’s fiction. I also enjoy writing travel magazine articles
when I can. I would love to write a children’s book series (however, that one
is proving more difficult), keep with the romance and women’s fiction novels,
and pursue a few mainstream fiction novel ideas, too.
8.)
Share one fact about yourself that would surprise people.
I
love sharks!
Audio book: A Hundred Kisses by Jean M. Grant
Social Media links:
Website: http://www.jeanmgrant.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeanGrant05
Buy links:
iTunes: A Hundred Kisses (Unabridged)
Also available as e-book from The Wild Rose Press, Google Play, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo.
Bio:
Jean’s background is in science and she draws from her interests in history, nature, and her family for inspiration. She writes historical and contemporary romances and women's fiction. She also writes articles for family-oriented travel magazines. A Hundred Kisses is her first published novel. On the front for publication in early 2019: the prequel (A Hundred Breaths), a contemporary women’s fiction, and a contemporary romance novella. She’s also writing the third book in the “hundred” trilogy.
Thanks for hosting me today!
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