Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a best-selling Northwest author who has forty-five short stories, novellas and full length novels in print. I write in Christmas Romance, Sweets, Contemporary Romance, Paranormal Romance, Historical Romance, and Erotica.
I have hit Amazon’s top fifty authors ranking and my books have been #1 in sales.
My novel Shot in the Dark was a finalist in the Emerald City Opener, Cleveland, and Toronto RWA contests and I’ve been the president a few times of my RWA local chapter that Debbie Macomber founded.
I’m an Associate Publisher for the indie traditional publisher, Books to Go Now who resides in the Seattle area. They pride themselves in helping new authors get their foot in the door with well-edited manuscripts, professional covers, and platforms uploads.
I live in a hundred+ year old house that I grew up in. My semi-small town holds an interesting mix of resident hillbillies, yuppies and Navy Seals. And of course Seattle, only a few miles away, is the birthplace of Starbucks so coffee is always on the check list. I blow glass beads with a blow torch, (which relieves a lot of stress and people don’t bother you), and a big fan of musicals. I’ve been trying to work my way through my bucket list which in the last few years included two trips to the UK. The Paris Opera House (where the Phantom lives) was one of the things at the top of the list! Amazing!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest release is Love on the Airwaves. When people think of Washington State, they think of Seattle. The metropolis city that keeps getting bigger and bigger every day. But, just a hundred miles East and over the mountain pass there is desert, cowboys, and small towns with the population of a few hundred (if that).
When I had the idea for my new series, The Pancake Club, I knew I wanted to place it in one of these small towns. It’s about four single friends who meet at the Memories Diner for breakfast a few times a week. The fun thing is that the Memories Diner really does exist in Ritzville, Washington. It’s an adorable home cooked meal restaurant with tons of small town charm. I got to talk with Lori Gorman who is one of the charming owners and tickled pink to have our book series set in her diner.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I really try and write as often as possible but with my publishing company, Books to Go Now, sometimes it’s difficult to fit in. People ask me how I write so many stories, I don’t watch a lot of TV. I need a block of time and to be in the zone of hopefully uninterrupted time. I HAVE to have music on or I can’t concentrate. I also have an AWESOME critique group. If you are or want to be a writer it is imperative that you find a critique group. They will hassle me to no end if I don’t have pages or a darn good excuse as to why. This is good motivation.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Diana Gabaldon is my writing goddess. I’m a HUGE fan geek and her books have been an obsession for the last 20 years. I am over the moon happy with the amazing miniseries on TV now.
I love Christine Feehan, Julia Quinn, Tanya Webb, and local authors, Chris Karlsen, DV Berkom, Darlene Panzera, Joanne Jaytanie, and Sharon Kleve.
What are you working on now?
I am working on a lot… as always. Kind of a baby of mine that I have been working on for forever, Sleep Fall, is at the editors for a later this year release. It’s a Paranormal Suspense where when the heroine dreams she changes reality and no one remembers what it had been before.
I have 2 short story series, The Pancake Club, that Love on the Airwaves is in, and The Love List series with Love Uncorked that takes place in Washington States wine country.
I have another sexy novella, In Love with Santa, coming out in late October and then a New Adult series short story, Ten Minutes for Christmas in the Handmade for Christmas series.
And my holiday collection, Dog Tails for Christmas on audiobook.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think taking advantage of ALL the free social media sites is a MUST. Besides Facebook and Twitter, make sure your Amazon Author page is up to date. I have had good luck with the Goodreads giveaways. Blog hops. FB parties. Fan pages. Readers love stuff. Just giving away a free ebook is not going to cut it anymore. Make sure your giveaways are affordable (to you) and be careful of overseas shipping to readers. I’ve known authors who have spent $30 to ship a paperback to Europe.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t just be an writer, anyone can write, be an author. A good one. Join a critique group, take feedback and criticism. Believe me, if you don’t get it before, you will get it from the readers and reviewers who have keyboard courage.
Writing is the best. Enjoy your journey and write what you love.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Get your butt in the chair and write, no excuses.
What are you reading now?
Submissions.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to continue my Places to See series I’m in when I get back from Germany next month.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Outlander, Drums of Autumn, one of my books, and The Complete Works of Shakespeare.
Author Websites and Profiles
Jennifer Conner Website
Jennifer Conner Amazon Profile
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