Interveiw & Giveaway with Judi Fennell

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Judi Fennell to the blog today.  We are chatting about her new release “Magic Gone Wild”

Judi, can you please share with us a little about yourself
JF: I was a princess in a former reincarnation who’s desperately trying to get back to that time. LOL. Nah. But I wouldn’t mind it. I’m finding it hard to believe I’m my chronological age and that my these kids who live in my house who are now driving could have come from me… I love romantic comedies (and walks on the beach…), and believe in happily-ever-afters. Yes, I’m a huge Disney fan and think the Magic Kingdom really is magical. And, someday, I WILL get to the Neuschwanstein Castle to see the real one Walt designed Cinderella’s after.

Have you always wanted to be an author?
JF: Always. I still have my journals from elementary school and the first story I ever wrote was about a talking raindrop. But only “those people” get to be authors, so I never really thought it was possible. I’m so glad I was wrong.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?
JF: I don’t know that I have quirks. I need peace and quiet, or some innocuous white noise. Typically, I turn on classical music because I need something I can’t sing to. If I can sing to it, I’m pulled out of the story. I like to write on my sofa, at a coffee shop, or at a fast food restaurant – hey, they have free WiFi and good (if bad for me) food.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
JF: Magic Gone Wild is different from my other 5 books in that there’s really no “magical” setting. All of my other books take you to these fantastic places that come right out of my imagination. Not in this book. This one takes place in a Northeast PA small town, so I had a challenge in keeping the feeling of magic readers enjoy in a Judi Fennell book. Turns out, I made the characters—every day furniture, dishes, etc—magical and had a blast doing it. Think Fantasia – a movie which frightened the dickens out of me as a child, but it’s the perfect analogy. And, yes, I do know Disney did that movie. 🙂

How did you come with the idea for this story?
JF: You know, I don’t know. Sometimes I know how the story came about and others, I just get a character/scene in my head and go from there. That’s what happened with this story. I saw the prologue and the opening chapter. I knew the human hero would end up in the magical world and have to figure out what was going on. I knew the genie would be inept. Wasn’t sure why, but knew that she didn’t quite have a handle on her magic. That was about it when I started writing. The prologue is necessary in this book because it gives you insight into the story that both the reader and I needed. My editor said she’s not big on prologues, but in this story, it’s necessary. I did have a lot of fun writing that scene, though I had to go back and tweak it as the story progressed to make events fit later events. And then, of course, there are my sidekick characters. Merlin was a hoot to write—he just showed up and started talking and wouldn’t shut up at all.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
JF: Current WIP is my first straight contemporary book, entitled Beefcake & Cupcakes: Magic Mike has nothing on Gage Tomlinson and his guys, as cupcake baker Laura agrees when she meets up with the strip-club owner during a bachelorette party. But can she deal with the jealousy that comes from having the hottest boyfriend in town who strips down at the drop of a dollar bill? Look for it at the end of August 2012.

I also have a light-hearted contemporary paranormal that was all over the internet a few years ago in several online contests, titled, Beauty and The Best, that’s now available online. It’s the story of personal-chef-romance-writer-wannabe Jolie Gardener, and reclusive-widowed-artist Todd Best who get a little help from a guardian angel named Jonathan who shows up as a kitten.

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?
JF: Jude Devereaux. I have a very short list of “keeper” books: Bewitching by Jill Barnett, When He Was Wicked, by Julia Quinn, and A Knight in Shining Armor, by Jude Devereaux. I’ve met and chatted with the first two (Jill gave me a cover quote for my website and my books!), so she’s the last one to meet.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
JF: Pour all of your heart and soul—all of your emotions—into the book. Write it. Then divorce yourself from it and give it to KNOWLEDGEABLE people to critique. Yes, “critique.” Not “read.” You don’t want your mom’s feedback of, “It’s wonderful, dear!” to be your guiding force in this industry. Get other writers’ opinions, listen to what they have to say, see what works for you, and revise until it’s ready to send out.  Then start writing the next book.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.
JF: Touring Western Europe. I lived in Spain in college, but never got around to seeing the rest of the “Continent.” 

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
JF: Stephanie Julian’s By Private Invitation. Look for it in the Winter of 2012 from Berkley. Erotic romance that sizzles!

Is there anything else you would like to add?
JF: Thank you so much for having me!

MAGIC GONE WILD BY JUDI FENNELL – IN STORES AUGUST 2012

Amazon | B&N

Every Time She Uses Magic Something Goes Terribly Wrong…

Vana wishes she hadn’t dropped out of genie training. Now she’s determined to get a grip on both her genie magic and her life. But the harder she tries to fix things for her intriguing new master, the more she drives him crazy…

 Except There’s Nothing Ever Wrong About Him…

Pro–football player Zane Harrison finally has control of the family estate and is determined to put to rest his grandfather’s eccentric reputation. Until he discovers that behind all the rumors is a real, live genie who stirs feelings in him he’s never known before. The more Zane tries to help Vana harness her powers, the more her madcap magic entangles his heart…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Judi Fennell is the award-winning author of six light paranormal romances, including a trilogy of mermen-inspired love stories, and three genie-inspired romances. She lives in suburban Philadelphia where she’s working on her next magical romance! For more information, please visit www.judifennell.com, or follow her on Twitter, @JudiFennell.

Sourcebooks has given me 1 copy of Magic Gone Wild to giveaway.  To enter please fill out the Rafflecopter form below
a Rafflecopter giveaway