Interview with Jean Grant Author of Will Rise From the Ashes
Give a warm welcome to Jean Grant author of Will Rise From the Ashes released April 17, 2019. Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Jean and Will Rise From the Ashes.
Tell us where your writing journey began and why you write across genres?
I began my writing journey in the Scottish middle ages. My first love has always been medieval romance (and yes, later, Outlander, ahhh Jamie Fraser). Castles and crags, warring clans and cultures, sweeping landscapes of mystery and moor, lairds and ladies, gallantry and greed. So much fun! After spending a good deal of time hanging out with my medieval heroes and heroines, I jumped ahead in time and wrote a contemporary novella (Soul of the Storm). At the same time, I delved into a contemporary women’s fiction story. Now I’m back finishing up a trilogy in historical Scotland. Jumping around through time and space…
Why do I write across genres? Simply put, I have diverse interests. Maybe too many? By writing different genres I feed various passions. Maybe I am too faceted, a bit scattered, and just write what my heart tells me. Going back and forth in editing between my brogue Scottish men and my modern voices can be tricky, but it keeps my brain sharp (and exhausted!). I also write in both first and third person.
Will I delve into another genre? Never say never. I’ve found my niche in historical (with paranormal elements) and contemporary romance, and women’s fiction.
Finding a thread. There is a central thread weaved into all my stories: journeys of hope, spirituality, and of course happy-ever-after. Or as I like to say: stories of heartache, healing, and hope. My women’s fiction usually has a romantic element, too. Even though I write across genres and sub-genres, I find that I home in on a central theme with each story. Each character has an emotional wound and backstory they must heal (in some way or another), and I always end with hope.
Now for the Speed Round (one word only answer): Yep, I know torture for a writer!<evil laugh rubbing my hands together with glee>
Favorite movie: The Princess Bride
Favorite book: Outlander
Last book read: Spirited Quest
Favorite color: Pink
Stilettos or flipflops: Neither
Coffee or tea: Coffee
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: All
Pencil or pen: (red) pen
Favorite song: Sleepwalk (Santo and Johnny)
Streak or not: yes!
Favorite dessert: anything
Favorite junk food: cheese (any!)
Favorite thing to do to relax: flower-garden
Champagne or gin: champagne
Paranormal or Historical: historical
Wonder Woman or Top Model: Wonder Woman
Favorite TV show: TWD
Hot or cold: Hot
POV: First
I’d die if I don’t have: taxes
Review or Not: Yes
Click on the cover to read more or purchase.
A little about Will Rise From the Ashes.
Living is more than mere survival!
Young widow AJ Sinclair has persevered through much heartache. Has she met her match when the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts, leaving her separated from her youngest son and her brother? Tens of thousands are dead or missing in a swath of massive destruction. She and her nine-year-old autistic son, Will, embark on a risky road trip from Maine to the epicenter to find her family. She can’t lose another loved one.
Along the way, they meet Reid Gregory, who travels his own road to perdition looking for his sister. Drawn together by AJ’s fear of driving and Reid’s military and local expertise, their journey to Colorado is fraught with the chaotic aftermath of the eruption. AJ’s anxiety and faith in humanity are put to the test as she heals her past, accepts her family’s present, and embraces uncertainty as Will and Reid show her a world she had almost forgotten.
Buy links:
Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ iTunes
A sneak peek between the pages of Will Rise From the Ashes.
A gray column of ash exploded on the screen. The plume darkened the sky.
“Mom, come look!” Will said, without turning from the TV.
She fidgeted with the mail on the kitchen counter. Then said a bad word. The metal trash lid clanged open, and she grumbled. He tapped a finger on his thigh as he listened to the newscaster.
A few minutes passed. “Mom…”
“One minute,” she called. He turned. She dragged the basket of dirty laundry from their vacation to Yellowstone down the basement steps. Thump, thump, thump.
“But it’s the volcano! On TV!” His pulse flickered. This was important. She needed to see.
“Hang on a sec, Will.”
The clock read 9:03 p.m. Eastern Time, but it still felt like Mountain Time and he wasn’t sleepy. He counted to one second. He knew she didn’t mean that. Her “a sec” or “a minute” could be way longer.
She returned from the basement and opened the window over the kitchen sink. The metallic, vibrating hum of the foghorn sounded in the distance. He rose and added a tally mark to the chart on his clipboard. Soon, he’d need to make his snow charts, too. But it was only August.
“Where are they?” Mom said.
She came through the doorway to the living room with her mug in one hand. It smelled like burnt stinky milk. He covered his nose.
“Mom, watch out!” She almost stepped on his eight red volcano cut-outs lined in a row in front of the TV. His heart kerthumped. He straightened one, so the bottom edge realigned with the rest. There, better.
“So, honey, what is it? Find an interesting documentary to watch?” she finally asked, drawing her gaze to the TV as she stumbled. “Will, the tape and scissors. I need you to pick them up, okay?” She yawned. “We need to go to bed soon.” She leaned over the coffee table and clicked her laptop shut with another curse. “I can’t even track their flight. Where are they?” she repeated to herself.
Her brown eyes were shiny, holding that sad look she got when she thought about Dad. Some expressions confused him, but Mom was easier to understand than others. She was sad a lot these days. Was she sad about his little brother Finn not returning home yet? He approached her and hugged her around the waist. He nudged the top of his head against her ribcage. “It’s okay, Mom. Finn and Uncle Brandon will be here. Maybe their flights were delayed again?”
She exhaled. Coffee breath. His stomach squeezed. Delays. Yuck, he didn’t like delays either.
She said in a whisper, a raspy grating sound, “They should’ve landed by now…the traffic north to Maine from Boston isn’t awful this time of day. Finn’s going to be so wired.”
But he’s not a robot, Will wanted to say, but he knew it was just one of Mom’s weird phrases. The commercials ended. He grabbed her hand. “Look, Mom. Yellowstone! Maybe Finn and Uncle Brandon saw it erupt since we were all just there! How lucky of them to see that, huh?” He pointed to the LIVE symbol in the bottom right corner.
Her mug slipped and fell in a crash, spilling all over his volcanoes.
About the Author:
Author of historical and contemporary romance and women’s fiction. Travel writer. Former Scientist. Daydreamer. Hiker girl. Loves sharks, lip-balm, Post-its, and Snoopy.
Social Media links:
Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Bookbub ~ Amazon Author Page ~ The Wild Rose Press
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Will Rise From the Ashes!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Contemporary Fiction, Jean Grant, Will Rise From the Ashes, Women's Fiction by Tena Stetler with 16 comments.
Jean Grant Author of Soul of the Storm
Give a warm welcome to Jean Grant author of Soul of the Storm! A Deerbourne Inn novel. Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Jean and Soul of the Storm.
Thanks for stopping by Jean. I see you’ve brought guests?
Yes Matiu Christiansen and Charlotte MacGregor from Soul of the Storm tagged along with me.
Wonderful! Let’s start with Matiu. Tell us about the real you—
Kia Ora! Well, that’s a choice question. I’m knackered tonight. Too much time on my feet. Worked two jobs today. Wait, what was the question?
Tell us three things we’d find if we looked under your bed?
Dirty laundry, old (probably important) papers or bills, and a stack of outdoor enthusiast magazines.
……What makes you laugh out loud?
Funny jokes my cuz back in New Zealand tells me.
……What makes you angry?
Feeling judged or when people try to change the real me. They try to take the Maori out of the mate.
What event in your past has left the most indelible impression on you?
A few bad years with the wrong bros while I was in my teens. Back when I lived in New Zealand. I’ve been in Vermont now for ten years.
What do you most value?
Nature. Family. Competence. Ambition.
…..What do you sleep in at night?
Usually my work clothes, as I’m too tired to change out of them and I crash on the couch.
What is the type of woman you want to spend the rest of your life with?
Somebody who loves me for me and doesn’t try to change me, somebody who is sweet, kind, and genuine. A love for the outdoors is a plus. I work at the outfitters, do trail mucking, and offer guided kayak tours.
What do you consider most important in life?
Family and my own inner soul. Keeping to your roots.
What is your biggest secret?
I’m opening a business back home in New Zealand later this year…and I kinda met this gal. She’s sweet. But I don’t know how to tell her I’m leaving.
Thank you so much. Now lets put Charlotte on the hot seat. LOL
Who are you really?
That’s a loaded question. I’m, well…I-I like to keep to myself these days. Not sure who I am anymore.
Tell us three things we’d find if we looked under your bed?
Nothing but emptiness. I’m kind of a neat freak, like routine, (that’s a long story) and I’ve been getting rid of things that remind me of my past. Trinkets, old photos, that sort of thing. Now…inside my closet you’ll find a box tucked away with, well…never mind.
……What makes you laugh out loud?
I don’t laugh much anymore. My sister used to tell the best jokes though especially about her adventures abroad.
……What makes you angry?
My controlling ex. Though he’s long gone.
……What do you sleep in at night?
You mean when I do sleep, right? Well if my OTC meds work and I’m not haunted by nightmares—uh, that’s a long story—I like a thick, warm blanket and flannel pjs. I’m always cold.
Who were the biggest role models in your life?
(silence)
Charlotte?
(sighs) My sister was, but she passed away a few years ago. I’d rather not talk about it. Though she loved life and we used to conquer mountains together.
What kind of man do you want to spend the rest of your life with?
Someone who is not controlling, loves nature, and can see past all my uh, well, my inability to move past something that happened.
What kind of man would you never choose?
Somebody like my ex: controlling, cheating, lying, narcissist. A guy who won’t let me see my family.
What is most important to you in life?
Family.
What is your biggest fear?
(pauses) Mountains.
But I thought you liked to conquer them with your sister?
That was before. This is now. (shudders) No, I just can’t climb another mountain after-after what happened.
Jean, tell us a little about writing this story. Was it fun or difficult? Do your characters always act as you expect? Are you a plotter, or fly (write) by the seat of your pants?
This was a fun one to write! My first novella and my first book in a multiple-author series. I live in New England and was excited to write about a region near me. I hightailed it to Vermont to do research, go on some hikes, talk with locals. I also traveled to New Zealand years ago for my honeymoon, so from that amazing experience I came up with my hero, Matiu. I like his backstory. He was adorable and inspiring to write. (I tend to love all my heroes). And Charlotte’s backstory just came to me (some inspired by life, some just felt like it naturally applied to her character), too. She is a woman with a tragic past, but who loves the outdoors, and needs to move past some pain and guilt. Matiu is the perfect fella to help her with that.
A little about Soul of the Storm
Tagline: Will love help her summit one more peak?
Blurb:
Charlotte MacGregor lost the thrill of conquering mountains five years ago when her sister disappeared on a hiking adventure without her. Still guilt-ridden, Charlotte heads for a vacation to rustic Vermont with a friend—where she’s surrounded by reminders of her devastating loss and plagued with unanswered questions.
Matiu Christiansen is an outdoors buff. He works multiple jobs to save for his dream of owning an outfitter in New Zealand. He’s never quite felt at home in the United States and he yearns for his Maori roots, but his attraction to Charlotte puts a kink in his plans to move home later this year.
Thrown together by coincidence, Charlotte and Matiu form a kindred bond through their shared love of the outdoors. Can Charlotte surmount her demons to assist Matiu on a rescue when a late-season snowstorm hits? And can Matiu help Charlotte heal from the pain of the past?
Excerpt
She went to feel her ring on her finger with her thumb…but the ring wasn’t there. That old habit would not die even years later.
A dog bark intruded. The man crossed to the back door. “Reka, sweet girl, take your nap. Only a few hours here and then home, okay?” He spoke to her like a father to a toddler. The dog barked again. “A swim and walk this morning weren’t enough for you?”
He approached the dog, petted it, and whispered affections.
Charlotte made a soundless “Aww” and kept perusing.
The man returned, nearer. Residual sweat traced his brow. He pointed to a selection of books in the middle. “These are the best. Depends on what you’re looking for. Honest reviews or glorified fantasies?”
“Honest reviews, always.”
He stroked a hand through his neck-length black hair, the longer top layer falling over his forehead. He squatted and withdrew a few books from the lower shelf. “You could go with the popular or famous names, sure, but I like these authors.” He handed her one.
A book on South America sat in her hands. She muttered, “Thanks. Don’t need that one.”
“Oh, already been there, eh? All good, all good.” He took it and shoved it back on the shelf. “Where do your dreams lie then?”
She swallowed. No, I wasn’t there in that way. I was supposed to have been there. Five years ago. Instead she said, “Well, Vermont for now.”
“You’re in luck. I’m from Willow Springs.”
Buy links for SOUL OF THE STORM:
About the author:
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. When she’s not writing or chasing children, she enjoys tending to her flower gardens, hiking, and doing just about anything in the outdoors.
You can find Jean on her Social Media links:
Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Bookbub ~ Amazon Author Page ~ The Wild Rose Press
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Soul of the Storm!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Contemporary Romance, Deerbourne Inn Series, Jean Grant, Soul of the Storm by Tena Stetler with 15 comments.
Jean Grant – Why Audio Books – A Hundred Kisses
Give a warm welcome to Jean Grant, author of A Hundred Kisses. Today she is celebrating the release of her audio book. Don’t you just love audio books. I sure do! 
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Jean and the audio book process.
A bit about the audio book process…
I am an avid fan of listening to audio books. When I worked out of the home, they were my pleasant company on the commute. When we take long road trips, the lyrical voices sweep us away and help the hours pass (btw, the Harry Potter series on audio – divine! Same goes with Outlander.). So, when I heard that my book’s publisher, The Wild Rose Press, added this opportunity, I jumped at it! After a few months and no bites from narrators, I took the next step: I researched several voice actors available with ACX, emailed them, and hoped for the best. If I learned anything in the past year of my first book’s release, it’s that the author must take initiative in marketing and promotion (and I am still learning and have a massive list of “to-do’s” to attack this fall for two more upcoming books). I was elated that Rosalind Ashford agreed to narrate the book. It was like Christmas each week for me when I received the audio book chapters to listen to and review. She was pleasant to work with and I hope you enjoy her work with A Hundred Kisses as much as I do! Happy reading, err, listening!
p.s. Rosalind stopped by on my blog to tell me more about her background and the recording process.
My Top 5 reasons why I love audio books:
- The commute to work/road trips/travel
- I can multitask during exercise, cleaning…
- The lyrical and magical voices of the narrators
- My eyes get tired writing and editing all day
- To get lost in another world and daydream
p.s. and no, I’ve never crashed my car or gotten distracted while listening. In fact, I used to get to work, park, and not want to leave my car mid-scene!
Click on cover for a listen to a snippet of the audio book. or to purchase.
Tell us a little about A HUNDRED KISSES.
1296
Two wedding nights. Two dead husbands.
Deirdre MacCoinneach wishes to understand her unusual ability to sense others’ lifeblood energies…and vows to discover if her gift killed the men she married. Her father’s search for a new and unsuspecting suitor for Deirdre becomes complicated when rumors of witchcraft abound.
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.
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…
A peek between the pages of A HUNDRED KISSES:
She sensed no colors in the murky, lifeless water, and it was freeing. All breath escaped her. Muted visions passed before her eyes—her mother, her father, Gordon, and Cortland. Just a moment longer, she thought…
Suddenly, a burst of warm light invaded her thoughts as air filled her lungs. Red-hot hands burned her shoulders and ripped her from her icy grave. She breathed life into her body. She coughed, gagging on the change.
Muffled words yelled at her.
Oh, God, so hot. His fingers were like hot pokers. Her head pounded as she slowly returned to the present. Heat radiated from her rescuer. Somebody had pulled her from the water.
“Wh—?”
“Hush, lass. You nearly drowned.”
His voice was as soothing as a warm cup of goat’s milk on a winter’s day. A red-hot glow emanated from his body. Never before had she felt such a strong lifeblood, and it nearly burned her. She struggled in his arms to get free. She blinked, only seeing a blurry form before her. “Release me!”
She splashed and wriggled, and he did as told. She clambered to the shoreline. Numb and shaken, she began to dress. It wasn’t easy as she fumbled with slick fingers to put dry clothes over wet skin. She instantly regretted her naked swim. She pulled on her long-sleeved white chemise first.
She faced the forest, away from her rescuer. He quietly splashed to shore. His lifeblood burned into her back. He wasn’t far behind, but he stopped. She refused to look at him until she was fully clothed, not out of embarrassment of her nudity, but for what had just happened. He released a groan and mumbled under his breath about wet boots. His voice was not one of her father’s soldiers.
When she put the last garment on, her brown wool work kirtle, she squeezed out her sopping hair and swept her hands through the knotty mess. She fastened her belt and tied the lacings up the front of the kirtle. Blood returned to her fingertips, and she regained her composure. Belated awareness struck her, and she leaned down and searched through her bag for her dagger. She spun around.
She gasped as she saw the man sitting on the stone-covered shoreline, his wet boots off. Confusion and the hint of a scowl filled his strong-featured face. She staggered back, caught her heel on a stone, and fell, dropping the dagger. Dirt and pebbles stuck to her wet hands and feet, and she instinctively scrambled away from him.
His glower, iridescent dark blue eyes, and disheveled black hair were not unfamiliar. Staring at her was the man she had seen in her dream—it was the man from the wood.
Also available on iTunes. Link (if you have the iTunes app): A Hundred Kisses (Unabridged)
Also available as e-book from The Wild Rose Press, Google Play, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo.
If you enjoyed A Hundred Kisses in audio, print, or e-book format, be on the lookout for its prequel, A Hundred Breaths, to be released in the upcoming months! I also have a contemporary Women’s Fiction releasing early next year.
Bio:
Jean is a scientist and a mom. She currently resides in Massachusetts and draws from her interests in history, science, the outdoors, and her family for inspiration. She writes historical and contemporary romances and women’s fiction. She enjoys writing non-fiction articles for family-oriented travel magazines and aspires to write children’s books while continuing to write novels. When she finally got to visit Scotland, it was nothing short of breathtaking. Jean enjoys working in her flower gardens, tackling the biggest mountains in New England with her husband, and playing with her sons, while daydreaming about the next hero and heroine to write about…
Find her at the social media sites below.
Website: http://www.jeanmgrant.com
Twitter: @JeanGrant05
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeanmgrantauthor/
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with A HUNDRED KISSES audio book!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged A Hundred Kisses, Historical Romance, Jean Grant, Paranormal by Tena Stetler with 8 comments.
