Interview With Jessica E. Subject, Author of Accidental Romance

I’m delighted to welcome Jessica E. Subject here today for an interview and a look at her new contemporary romance, Accidental Romance. Don’t forget to comment and leave your email address for a chance to win in her giveaway!

Hi, Jessica, and thanks for being my guest! Tell us a little about your new release:

Accidental Romance is part of the new The Challenge series at Decadent Publishing. Here’s a little bit more about the series:

Challenge: A test of one’s abilities or resources in a demanding but stimulating undertaking.

In every life, there are challenges, boulders in the flowing stream of existence. From the physical, to the psychological or emotional, nobody is immune. No one gets through life intact, but the challenge is not to avoid damage, but to work through, past or around the things that make life so difficult.

We all know people who do this—live fulfilling lives in spite of the difficulties they are forced to deal with.

The Challenge series is about characters who do just this—and the people who love them. Challenge is a romance series with a twist. The “challenge” takes a central role in the characters’ romance.

Blurb: At twenty-two, Leanne Declan has graduated from college and hopes to take over the family farm until a tragic accident changes her life forever. Unable to do the simplest everyday chores, she must depend on her family and friends as she learns to face life’s challenges. But when her fears threaten to destroy her future, can an unexpected love be strong enough to help her dreams come true?

What inspired this story?

The editors for this story asked me to be one of the launch authors for this series. I’d already worked with them before, and have stories published where the characters face other challenges such as Alopecia Areata, and acid facial burns. Though, it did take a bit of time to come up with the idea. I’ve never lived on a dairy farm, but we lived across the road from one, and my husband used to work at a couple when he was a teenager.

What is your favorite scene from this story and why?

That would have to be the first scene when Leanne and Jake are in the barn together. Though the scene was not part of the original story. It was suggested by one of my critique partners, and added during edits.

What are your writing goals for this year?

I have a list of stories I want to write and have published this year. I have another 1Night Stand story that I want to write, plus the sequels to Never Gonna Let You Go and An Unexpected Return. I have a new series that I plan to self-publish, called Alien Next Door. The first story is finished and ready to go to the editor, and I’m hoping to write the other two this year as well. Now that I have my rights back for the first two books in my Mark of the Stars series, I want to rewrite the first, and get at least those two published. (There are six total in this series.) I also have a futuristic clone new adult romance to write, as well as a contemporary small-town romance. Busy, busy!

Can you share with us “the call” story?

On Facebook, one of my author friends told me about the new 1Night Stand line at Decadent Publishing. This was back in 2011. She suggested I add my sci-fi twist to the series. So, I wrote Celestial Seduction and sent it to her to critique for me. The story went back and forth for a bit, and when she thought it was ready, so told one of the editors of the series that I’d be submitting the story. Well, that editor asked if I could send it in as is, and she would take a look at it to see if it fit the series. I did, and later that night, I heard back from her, with a contract attached to her email. It was all so quick and came as a total shock to me. Now, none of my other stories have been contracted so fast. I’ve had “revise and resubmit”s as well as rejections since then.

Where do you start when writing? Research, plotting, character, or…?

I usually start with plotting the story out in my head. This usually takes a couple of days, during which time, I will write a bunch of notes. If any research has to be done for the first scenes, I will do that next. Otherwise, I’ll just start writing until there is something that I need to look up.

How do you balance writing and everyday life?

I’m not sure. I still haven’t figured that one out yet.

What is your favorite food to cook or eat?

I love pasta! I’ll eat any kind, though I am picky about the meat that goes into it.

Do you listen to music while you write? What are you listening to now?

Sometimes. I need background noise, otherwise, I go crazy. I can’t stand quiet unless I’m sleeping. Right now, one of the kids is watching Finding Nemo, so that’s what I’m listening to.

Who first introduced you to the love of reading?

My mom. She read to my brother and I every night. I’m hoping to instill the same love of reading upon my own kids.

These are few of my favorite things:

1. Waterfalls

2. My planner

3. Books

Excerpt:

A million needles pierced her wrist. She had to get away from the fire. Leanne flicked open her eyes, screaming, longing for the agony to stop.

White walls surrounded her. Machines beeped. Taking in the new scenery, she closed her mouth, the pain forgotten. Bags filled with clear liquids as well as blood hung from a metal pole. She followed the tubes from the bags into her left hand. Was that where the burn came from? She glanced at the other arm, the end of which was wrapped in thick bandages. The image of spinning blades and her mangled flesh flashed before her eyes. She screamed again, tears falling down her cheeks. This can’t be happening.

Bodies rushed into the room, many in scrubs. With her vision blurred, she didn’t recognize anyone. All strangers. She was in the foreign place by herself. A nightmare. Has to be.

“Shh, calm down, sweetie. You’ll be okay.”

A familiar voice. She glanced to her other side to see her mom standing beside her, her eyes glassy. She held her hand, but Leanne couldn’t feel it, only the throbbing which had returned to her other one, the one that was…gone? She groaned, turning on her side, and pulled her knees up to her chest.

“Mom, is it really…?”

She brushed her fingers over her forehead. “Don’t worry about it right now. You need to rest.”

“It hurts so bad.”

“I know.” Her mother stroked her face again. “But the nurses will help it go away.”

“Leanne,” one of the nurses hovering around her said. “I want you to take deep breaths and count backward from ten.”

“Ten.” She sucked in air and cried out in agony.

Between clenched teeth, she continued. Anything to stop the pain. “Nine.”

Ice traveled through her veins. “Eight.”

The throbbing slowly ebbed away. Seven.

Darkness swept over her and pulled her down with it.

Bio:  Jessica Subject started writing to encourage her daughter to read. Now she writes to keep herself grounded. Although she reads many genres, she enjoys writing Science Fiction Romance the most and believes everyone in the universe deserves a happily ever after. She lives Southwestern Ontario, Canada with her husband and two kids and loves to hear from her readers.

You can find Jessica at:

Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Authorgraph

Buy Links:

Amazon (Canada / US / UK) | Decadent Publishing | All Romance | Barnes&Noble | more

For your chance to WIN Accidental Romance swag, leave a comment telling me your goals for 2013. Winner will be notified by email on January 26, 2013.

Good luck!