Books-n-Kisses to super excited to welcome JD Tyler to the blog today.
J.D. Tyler is an award-winning, multi-published author who writes for New American Library under three pseudonyms. Whether this is due to an overdose of ambition or a multiple personality affliction, she’ll never tell.
J.D. writes dark, sexy paranormal romance and has a huge thing for shifters, vampires, the Fae, and just about everything else that goes bump and grind in the night. She can’t get enough of those dangerous supernatural heroes, and the fun of creating her own was just too much temptation to resist… so she didn’t. J.D. doesn’t do self-denial.
When she isn’t writing, J.D.’s idea of a good time certainly isn’t cleaning house (sniff), bungee jumping (not in this lifetime, or the next), or camping (her idea of “roughing it” is a slow bellboy). She enjoys reading, being pampered like the diva she is, and spending time with her awesome family. She lives in Texas with her husband and two teenagers.
JD, Welcome to Books-n-Kisses. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to sit down and talk with me about your new book series.
JD: Hi, Kelly! Thanks for inviting me here for a visit today!
Kelly: Do you need anything before we begin? Coffee, tea, soda?
JD: Coffee I suppose, since it’s too early for a margarita. J
Kelly: It might be a little to early, yes… *wink, wink* Shall we begin?
JD: Mmm, good coffee. Sure! Fire away.
Q1) Can you share 5 fun facts about yourself?
JD: Ooh, a fun one! Let’s see…
1) My friends know that I’m a huge Bon Jovi fan!! (I go to their concert every time they come to Dallas!!)
2) I, along with my family, was once country star Mickey Gilley’s special guest at his show
in Branson, MO. My family knows Mickey’s steel guitar/fiddle player/comedian, so we got in free and met Mickey after the show. Very cool.
3) I once met country star Charley Pride in a restaurant in Dallas. I saw him walk through the door, and he was SO tall, broad, and handsome I thought he was a Dallas Cowboy at first. Then he spoke to me and I saw the RCA recording logo on his jacket, the HUGE Rolex on his wrist, and realized who I was speaking with. I almost had heart failure. J
4) My house is haunted. My husband, the snarkiest “ghost non-believer” in the history of the world, recently saw his very first ghost, a lady in a robe, walking down our stairs in broad daylight and almost choked on his lunch. He no longer laughs when the kids or I tell our ghost stories or watch TAPS Ghost Hunters on TV.
5) Thanks to the English teacher I had as a senior in high school, I can still recite the ENTIRE prologue to the Canterbury Tales in Old English, from memory. We had to say it for a grade, and she taught it to her class by playing the old 33 on her record player (early DVD, baby readers) over and OVER. For weeks. Thanks loads, Mrs. Dale. Twenty-seven years after high school, that nifty little talent makes for great fun when my friends and I get drunk.
Q2) Tell me a little about your 3 pseudonyms? I mean 3 really… WOW!!! How do you keep them all straight?
JD: In addition to writing paranormal as JD Tyler, I write romantic suspense as Jo Davis, and paranormal erotica as Jo Carlisle. Honestly, it’s not as hard as it sounds writing-wise. I work on one book at a time, and all of my focus is on that story and those characters at the moment. The most difficult thing for me is being organized enough to keep up three websites! Sometimes I get behind and am late sending in updates to my web folks.
Let’s talk books…
Q3) Please Describe Primal Law in 140 characters or less. (oh and I will count them….. just kidding.. I won’t, well maybe I should!)
JD: Here’s a short blurb (sorry, I didn’t count the characters!):After a massacre leaves Jaxon Law crippled, he must relearn how to fight-and battle the anger and guilt threatening to overwhelm him. But when Jax rescues a beautiful woman who awakens his primal instincts, he is unprepared for the dangers that lie ahead. Soon he must decide if the deep connection he feels with Kira is worth defying the ultimate shifter law…
Q4) How did you come up with the idea for the Alpha Pack series?
JD: My publisher asked me to write a shifter series, and I was thrilled. I wanted it to be suspenseful and fast-paced, and very sexy. I thought, why not combine Navy SEALs/military-type heroes with shifters and Psy abilities? I hit on a whole new concept I thought could work well, and it does. I love these Alpha heroes!
Q5) Primal Law is Jaxon Law’s story. Tell us a little more about Jax. *wiggles eyebrows*
JD: Jax is a tattooed, goateed, motorcycle-riding bad boy with issues. His biggest source of guilt is that he trusted the wrong woman, and she literally turned out to be a witch who’d helped set up the ambush of his team. Now, there’s no way he’d ever trust another female, or so he thinks…
Q6) It looks like Black Magic is up next. Black Magic is a novella in your Alpha Pack series. Would you like to share a little with us. (sorry no cover art just yet)
JD: BLACK MAGIC is a stand-alone novella involving our Sorcerer/black panther/Necromancer Kalen Black and Dr. Mackenzie Grant, the lady who’ll eventually be his Bondmate. This will be the story of how the spark between them becomes a blaze, and how a sacrifice on Kalen’s part will alter his destiny. This sets up their full-length book, which will be the 3rd of the series. Kalen’s story will be explosive!
Q7) The next book in the Alpha Pack series is going to be Savage Awakening. This is Aric Savage’s book. Can you share a little about Aric and his book?
JD: Aric’s story was fun to write because he’s such a snarky bastard, which of course hides a big heart. His journey is one of self-forgiveness and learning he’s worthy of love. He’s met his match in his lady love, Rowan Chase, who’s a tough LAPD police officer and doesn’t take crap off anybody. Hands down, she’s the best heroine I’ve ever written, and they make an explosive couple!
Here’s a blurb:
After a mission goes wrong, Aric Savage is taken prisoner. Half-dead and despairing, he makes a stunning discovery: his Pack mate Micah Chase, who was reported dead, is a fellow captive. When the Alpha team goes into full-rescue mode, accompanying them is an absolute stunner with sable hair—and a spine of solid steel.
LAPD officer and Psy Dreamwalker Rowan Chase has one priority: her brother Micah’s recovery. Still, she can’t help but be drawn to Aric, the ruggedly handsome wolf shifter who pleasures her as no man ever has—however fleeting their affair is destined to be. But when Aric’s life is endangered, Rowan must ask herself what she’s willing to sacrifice in the name of love, for the man fated to be her Bondmate.
Q8) I noticed that there are quite a few pack members. Will everyone be getting a story?
JD: It’s my fondest hope that everyone will get a story in the future! I’m not sure who will come after Kalen (book 3), but I have an idea or two…
Q9) Do you have any idea who will be after Aric?
JD: Kalen Black’s full-length story is book 3.
Q10) Do you have a favorite pack member? If so, who & why?
JD: It’s so hard to pick a favorite among these guys! They’re all sexy and loveable in their own way, and they’re all different, appealing to a woman’s various tastes in men. Right now, Kalen is getting a lot of my attention, since his novella and full-length book are up next. He’s a fascinating hero, very different and dynamic. Hammer is also shaping up nicely, and in Aric’s story (SAVAGE AWAKENING, April 2012), the reader learns his real first name and why he’s so secretive. He’s the team’s gentle giant, one of my favorite types of hero.
Q11) Tell us about your typical writing day.
JD: I get up by 7:30 or 8, get coffee, check email. Then I reread what I’ve written the day before to get me into the groove. Then I write, write, write! I’m usually done by 4 in the afternoon because my brain is tired.
Q12) So reading over your bio I see that you are not into bungee jumping. But what is something off your bucket list that you can share with us.
JD: I’ve never been to Europe, and I’d love to visit Italy, Greece, and England! I’ll see all the sights. And of course I’ll fly there and back first class! Someday…
Q13) Going back to your 3 different pseudonyms. Do you prefer writing in one genre over another?
JD: All of the genres I write fulfill the need to tell a story, and each genre is different. I have to say, though, that paranormal is my favorite.
Q14) How many books on average do you write in a year?
JD: 3-4. My publisher keeps me busy, and that’s a very good thing. J
Q15) Do you prefer writing series or stand-alone books?
JD: I’m a series kind of gal. I enjoy creating a “family” of heroes and then telling each one’s story.
Q16) Where do you find inspiration? (places, music, pictures, dreams, people)
JD: I get inspiration literally from everywhere. The news, music, photos, people-watching. I’m a incurable daydreamer, which drove my teachers nuts, and yet I managed to turn that into a career!
Q17) What is the best piece of advice you got about becoming an author that you would like to share?
JD: If you want to be a published author, it’s like any other highly selective career—lose the excuses, plant your ass in the chair and write! Join a professional writers group such as Romance Writers of America, learn the business, and hone your craft. And like any other career, prepare to hear the word “no” a lot, then forge ahead again and again until you get the “yes!” you’ve been working for.
Q18) What are your thoughts on ebooks vs paperbacks?
JD: I enjoy both formats, and I buy both. I think ebooks will continue to rise in popularity, but I think there will always be a place for paperbacks.
Q19) Can you tell us what you are currently working on?
JD: Right now I’m working on BLACK MAGIC, Kalen’s novella, which will be out in March 2012. Then up next will be Aric Savage’s story that I just finished, SAVAGE AWAKENING, out on April 3, 2012.
Books-n-Kisses: Again a HUGE thank you to JD for stopping by my blog and share with us her newest book.
JD :Thank you again for inviting me here!
Kelly:JD, What do you say we give the readers a chance to win Primal Law?
JD: Sounds great! I’m giving a signed copy, so good luck, readers!
Giveaway Time:
One lucky commenter will win a signed copy of Primal Law.
To enter please leave a comment below
along with your email (no email, no entry)
Extra points
+1 Follow Books-n-Kisses blog
+1 Like JD FB page
Giveaway will stay open until August 26thWinner Announce August 29th