Historical and Contemporary Romance Author

An Interview with Jennifer Haymore

hintofwickedToday, I’d like to welcome Jennifer Haymore, author of A Hint of Wicked, to the blog. When I first heard about this book a few months ago, I was instantly intrigued. The premise was just too unusual not to spark my interest.

Here’s the back cover blurb:

CAUGHT BETWEEN DUTY AND DESIRE . . .

Sophie, the Duchess of Calton, has finally moved on. After seven years mourning the loss of her husband, Garrett, at Waterloo, she has married his best friend and heir, Tristan. Sophie gives herself to him body and soul. . . until the day Garrett returns from the Continent, demanding his title, his lands-and his wife.

TORN BETWEEN TWO HUSBANDS . . .

Now Sophie must choose between her first love and her new love, knowing that no matter what, her choice will destroy one of the men she adores. Will it be Garrett, her childhood sweetheart, whose loss nearly destroyed her once already? Or will it be Tristan, beloved friend turned lover, who supported her through the last, dark years and introduced her to a passion she had never known? As her two husbands battle for her heart, Sophie finds herself immersed in a dangerous game-where the stakes are not only love . . . but life and death.

As soon as I read that hook, I was hooked. I just received my copy in the mail a few days ago and am itching to sit down and dive into it. In the meantime, I asked Jennifer a few questions about her book and writing in general. So, without further ado, here are my questions and her answers.


Jackie: Tell us a little bit about your upcoming release, A Hint of Wicked. What sparked the idea for the story of a woman who has remarried only to discover her first husband is still alive?

Jennifer: Way back in 2007, my husband and I were discussing plotlines for a new story. I told him how I love getting my characters into horrendous, impossible-to-solve problems and then helping them to figure out a solution, no matter how impossible it might sound. The upshot: The bigger the conflict, the more fun I have as a writer.

My husband thought about it a while and finally said, “What about a man returning from the grave to return to the woman he’s loved forever, only to find her with another guy?”

Hmmm…(I actually think my first verbal reaction was, “Hmmm…”) what an idea! I took it and ran with it, and haven’t looked back since. 

highlandobsessionJackie:  You’ve been writing under the pen name, Dawn Halliday, for some time, and have quite a few books out with Samhain and Ellora’s Cave, and NAL will be releasing a Dawn title soon. Could you tell us how your “Dawn” books differ from your “Jennifer” books?

Jennifer: The Dawn books, while being romances first and foremost, have a stronger erotic element than the Jennifer books do. My first New York title as Dawn, Highland Obsession, will release from NAL/Signet Eclipse in August.

[Editorial comment: Ooooh, hot cover. I’d like one to go, please :).]

Jackie: How do you write a book? Are you a plotter or a pantser or somewhere in between? Do you start at the beginning and write straight through to the end, or jump around and write scenes that are clear to you regardless of where they appear in the book?
 
Jennifer: I’d say I’m somewhere in the middle. Now that I’m contracting books on proposal, my editors want to see a complete synopsis before I finish a story. So I write synopses now, and I do find them to be a beneficial loose guide when I’m on deadline and working hard to finish a book. However, if the characters decide to take a radical turn, I usually hand them the reins and let them take the story where it needs to go. Characters often surprise me! So I still very much follow my characters’ leads as opposed to shoehorning them into a plot I’ve laid out in advance.
 
Jackie: What’s your favorite scene in A Hint of Wicked and why?
 
Jennifer: That’s a really difficult question to answer, since I like different scenes for different reasons! I’d have to say one of my favorites is when Garrett walks in on Sophie and Tristan in bed. It’s a painful scene for all of them for a variety of reasons—I think I’m a little bit of a sadist when it comes to torturing my poor characters! <grin>

Jackie: You know I have to ask this. Tristan or Garrett?
 
Jennifer: Um…both?


So, want to find out who the heroine of A Hint of Wicked actually chooses (since Jennifer is clearly too wishy-washy to choose for herself)? Well, you can! Jennifer has graciously offered to give away a signed copy of the book to one lucky commenter to be chosen at random. To enter, just post a comment below. Winner will be announced on Thursday at noon PST!

20 Comments

  • B.E. Sanderson May 18, 2009 at 6:56 am

    First off, love the new digs, Jackie.

    Second, thanks for introducing me to a new author/book. The premise sounds delicious, Jennifer, and now I have to (HAVE TO) find a copy to see what happens. Unless, of course, I win this contest, and then I’ll only have to find the book with the hunky highlander. Yay. =o)

    Reply
  • Booklover1335 May 18, 2009 at 7:25 am

    Hi Jackie & Jennifer,
    I
    love the premise for this book, and I can’t wait to read it! I really like the fact that the conflict that needs to be solved in this book is emotional, and does not appear to involve any danger. It seems that so many historical romances have some sort of danger that the hero must save the heroine from. I like that is not the case with this book.

    From what it sounds both Garrett and Tristan are great men, which would make the choice incredibly difficult. I can’t wait to find out how and what Sophie decides, and since your titles under Jennifer have less of an erotic element that she does not end up with both of them, despite your parting comment 🙂

    Really hope I win!

    Reply
  • Lisa Marie Wilkinson May 18, 2009 at 12:14 pm

    I’ve been waiting for Jennifer Haymore’s debut novel, after watching her do so well on the contest circuit! I have the book on order from Amazon.com and anxiously look forward to reading it. Congratulations on your success!

    Lisa Marie

    Reply
  • Jane May 18, 2009 at 1:51 pm

    I look forward to reading this story. I had no idea Jennifer wrote under another name and will have to check out her Dawn books.

    Reply
  • Maija P. May 18, 2009 at 4:34 pm

    Hi!
    I haven’t been this excited about a book in a long time 🙂 I read LaVyrle Spencer’s triangle themed Twice Loved years ago and still remember it. All the pain, love and tears I felt when I read it. I am so looking forward to reading A Hint of Wicked and hopefully experiencing many wonderful emotions while reading it 🙂 So please count me in 🙂

    Reply
  • Sue A. May 18, 2009 at 9:16 pm

    The conflict in both A Hint of Wicked and Highland Obsession is one that I like read as a story premise. I’m looking forward to seeing how the heroines decide who’s the best man.

    Reply
  • Val Pearson May 19, 2009 at 5:50 am

    I so wanna win this book, it looks like such a juicy read! Wish I was torn between two husbands!

    Reply
  • Louisa Edwards May 19, 2009 at 10:36 am

    I often find love triangles hard to enjoy, but for some reason this one sounds extremely tempting! I’d love to win a copy.

    Reply
  • Mae May 19, 2009 at 10:45 am

    Wow, read the excerpt and definitely can’t wait to read this one. I’m already looking forward to the other stories … such torture!

    Reply
  • Lori Ann May 19, 2009 at 1:44 pm

    I am dying to read A Hint of Wicked. I read the excerpt for it and loved it. Now I cannot wait to see which man Sophie ends up with in the end.

    Reply
  • Caffey May 19, 2009 at 2:47 pm

    I so loved the tease of the booklet of this book Jennifer! It won’t get out of my head til I know what happens!

    Yep so unique a story! I keep thinking how will this turn out! Its going to be a all nighter read! I didn’t know that you were both the same and I love the Dawn books of yours from EC. Now more to read!

    Dawn if one gets their story, do you plan to write the other one’s story?

    Loved the interview and yep that cover, I want one to go too 🙂

    Reply
  • Jennifer May 19, 2009 at 3:44 pm

    I’m looking forward to reading A HINT OF WICKED and HIGHLAND OBSESSION. Both sound like wonderful romances.

    Reply
  • Penney Wilfort May 19, 2009 at 6:06 pm

    I love it, this book sounds so good, I’ll be getting it when it comes out.
    Penney

    Reply
  • Lynda May 19, 2009 at 8:46 pm

    Oh wow! A Hint of Wicked sounds wonderful. One of my favorite series books has a similar set up but with brothers. The losing brother later got his own book but I still felt so sorry for him. Lots of built in angst. Can’t wait to see how you deal with the scenario! Both covers are great BTW.

    Reply
  • Sandy M May 19, 2009 at 11:37 pm

    Oh, I didn’t know you wrote as Dawn Halliday too! Cool. Have to check those books out. I soooo love your new cover, Jennifer. Looking forward to reading A Hint of Wicked.

    Reply
  • sara hurt May 20, 2009 at 7:04 am

    COngrats on this book, it looks wonderful. You are a new author to me and I would love to read this book. I love historicals and the twists and turns of this one intrigues me.

    Reply
  • Lethea Benson May 20, 2009 at 8:10 am

    A HINT OF WICKED soundslike a great read, I enjoyed the interview! I have to wonder if it’s difficult to swap your mind set between writing as
    Dawn Halliday & Jennifer Haymore?
    Looking forward to reading A hint of Wicked=)

    Reply
  • Jennifer Haymore May 20, 2009 at 7:05 pm

    Hi everyone!

    Caffey, I love sequels, because I love keeping “in touch” with characters I’ve grown to know throughout the course of a book. So, yes, the “losing” characters will always get their own book (if they’re worthy, that is–some of the villains definitely aren’t!). I think I’ll be writing sequels for as long as my editors allow it!

    Lethea, Sometimes it definitely is a challenge to swap between the two. My Dawn voice and my Jennifer voice are very similar, but the books take place in different countries 100 years apart! I get so involved in the setting and the characters in the book I’m writing, sometimes I have to really work on wiping them from my mind before I move to the next book. Then I become embroiled in that period and with those characters…and I have to wipe THEM from my mind to go back to the first era. It’s a crazy cycle!

    Thanks again, everyone, for stopping by! And thank you, Jackie, for having me! 🙂

    Reply
  • admin May 20, 2009 at 9:22 pm

    And thank you, Jennifer, for answering all my nosy questions :).

    I’ll be putting all the names of the posters in the randomizer and announcing a winner tomorrow, so stay tuned!

    Reply
  • Yihabudewumig August 23, 2009 at 5:30 am

    Reply

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