Interview With Author Jennifer Peer
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, there. I’m Jenn and with the help of excessive amounts of coffee, I write Action & Adventure Thrillers, Romantic Suspense, and Contemporary Romance novels with my partner in crime, Dexter the Corgi.
I published my first novel, The Last Bloom in 2021 with Boroughs Publishing Group followed by True Beginnings (True McLaren Series- Book One) under the Cheeky Amour Publishing House imprint in March 2022. True Enlightenment (True McLaren Series- Book 2) released in December 2022, also under the Cheeky Amour Publishing House imprint. I am currently hard at work on my next release, a standalone Contemporary Romance called Not On Your Latte coming in the Spring of 2023.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest release is called True Enlightenment (True McLaren Series- Book Two) and it is the second in a planned five book series. It is a continuation of True McLaren’s story. True McLaren is an interesting character and the first spark of this fiery redhead came while I was watching my then fourteen-year-old daughter sparring with training knives and machetes against adult men who stood over a foot taller than her. She held her own and often had them backed in corners, conceding the match to her.
True McLaren’s moves are often those I’ve seen my now 21 year-old daughter use.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I think one of my oddest writing habits is to suddenly come up with an idea, often mid-sentence, and stop writing to research it right then. I have to know everything I can about the topic in order to move forward with my plot/action.
Since I am primarily a “pantser” rather than a “plotter” (think to outline or not), I always have a loose plot that my characters help me develop as we go along.
And yes, my characters become real, three-dimensional people in my mind. This helps me determine how they will act or react in different situations.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Janet Evanovich is a long-time favorite author of mine, and I feel she has influenced a lot of my dialogue choices. Her characters make me laugh out loud with their antics and things they say. The thing I appreciate the most is that her dialogue is natural and pulls me into the conversation. I try to do the same with my characters.
What are you working on now?
I am currently hard at work on a standalone contemporary romance called “Not On Your Latte”. It’s about Remi Chastain, a driven, small business owner who is a classically trained pastry chef with an intense love for creating unique coffee drinks that her customers can enjoy with her delicious pastries.
The old saying ‘all work and no play’ applies here, and she has essentially been called out by a local, very public, gossip columnist. Things have been especially all work and no play as she prepares for an annual ‘Battle of the Baristas” competition (yes, it’s a real thing) to solidify her reputation and that of her new business.
When the invitation to the hottest masquerade event (all guests use assigned pseudonyms) of the year, she puts work aside for an evening of no regrets fun with her best friend. Of course, she gets more than she bargained for and things get rather complicated in a comedy of errors and misrepresentations.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I work on a shoestring budget currently, experimenting to see what works and what doesn’t for me. I’ve attended a lot of free advertising classes and am utilizing Amazon and social media for advertisements. I have also used Hello Books several times and recommend them.
I have also used giveaways and joint promos with other authors to get my name out there. My focus now is to drive people to my new website where I have several free Bonus Content items for download (with more added monthly) so that they can get an idea of who I am, where I am from, and what kind of books I write. I find this especially important as I write in two different genres with some overlap.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be open to different ways of doing things. The author community is very supportive and there are a lot of free resources out there if you look.
Also, even though things like marketing when you have zero experience can feel like learning a new language, don’t run away screaming, accept that it will take time. It gets easier and yes, you will make mistakes, but eventually it does click.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Writing is personal and what works for you may not work for others. I think each author has their own subjective writing style, and that’s what makes books so interesting. No two authors ever write exactly the same way, which is good. Variety keeps people interested. It’s really all about how you spin your storyline. As long as you tell an engaging tale, readers will be forgiving about many things.
What are you reading now?
I am reading a book coming out April 5, 2023 called “Rescuing Jellybean” by my good friend and fellow author Nicki Pascarella. Romance and puppies…need I say more?
My TBR is huge and never seems to shrink since I add as fast as I finish.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I plan to write a few standalone romances and the third book in the True McLaren series in 2023 which is ambitious as I am not a full-time author, I hope to get there eventually, but for now, I cram in as much time as I can and still do my best to spend time with my family so they remember who I am.
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?
Complete works of Shakespeare (Yes, I realize how nerdy that sounds, but it’s true)
Game On: Tempting Twenty-Eight by Janet Evanovich (Because I haven’t had time to read it)
Going Rogue by Janet Evanovich (because I haven’t had time to read it yet)
The Recovery Agent by Janet Evanovich (can you guess?)
Yes- these are the only three Evanovich Books out of everything she has written, that I haven’t yet read. While I could whip all of them off my list in a few days, I prefer to savor them like a fine wine. Plus, I will get a fix to last me until the next comes out.
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