Jeaniene Frost

I am so excited to welcome Jeaniene Frost as our Author of the Month. I had taken an extended break from reading for no real reason but I saw an interview with Charlaine Harris and she had mentioned Once Burned the first book in the Night Prince series. Once I read that book I have not stopped reading since. I am so grateful and love everything that Jeaniene writes. I can’t wait for each new release!!!

1 Tell us a little bit about yourself (family, hobbies, pets, etc).

Gosh, I never know what to say about myself that won’t put people to sleep. I am so boring, my publishers have to try very hard to make my biographies sound even the slightest bit interesting. Okay, let’s see, I married my high-school sweetheart and we’re coming up on our 25^th wedding anniversary at the end of this year. I have two dogs who believe that I was put on this earth for the sole purpose of serving them, and since I write books for a living, it should surprise no one that reading is my favorite hobby. Aside from that, I am a big fan of ordering in food versus cooking, and traveling to fun places by car because I am afraid to fly.

2 How did you get into writing and why romance?

I wanted to write ever since I was twelve, when I first attempted to make short stories out of my dreams. That was also the age that I swiped a novel from my mother’s book shelf and discovered the romance genre. I’ve been hooked on romance novels and the dream of writing ever since. That’s why I chose the romance genre when I finally stopped procrastinating about writing a book and actually did it. At the time, I had no real thought about getting published. I just wanted to write a story featuring my favorite elements: romance, vampires, action, steaminess, and humor. No one was more shocked than me when the first book I ever finished turned out to be the same book that kicked off my career as a published author.

3 Name a romance book or series you would love to see as a movie/TV series.

The Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr, and the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. Both have stunning worldbuilding elements that I would love to see on a big or small screen, and since both writers are friends and fabulous people, it would thrill me for personal reasons, too.

4 Have you ever read a book based solely on its cover?

I used to do that a LOT when I had more time, but now that my TBR pile is taller than me, I am very choosy about what I add to it. Mostly, I now read based solely on recommendations from friends or trusted blogger/reviewer sources.

5 I know that authors aren’t supposed to have favourites but was there one character you couldn’t wait to write about and why?

I really can’t wait to write about Ian, who will be making his headlining debut in the upcoming Night Rebel series. Ian first appeared in the second Night Huntress novel as one of the villains, and I fully intended to kill him by the end of that book! However, as the ending drew near, I decided to let him live and kill him in the next book. *grins* Needless to say, I changed my mind about killing him in that book, too. Soon, Ian started showing that there was more to him than his constant, gleeful attempts to both manipulate and/or copulate with every character in the Night Huntress series. By the time Ian appeared as a significant side character in Into The Fire, the final Night Prince novel, I knew I had to tell his story, and I’m so excited to be able to.

6 Where is the one place in the world that inspires you the most?

New Orleans. There’s such history there, and if that weren’t enough, there are so many paranormal stories associated with that city, too. I’m going back in September for NOLA StoryCon, and I can’t wait!

7 What is your ideal way to end a long day?

A hot bath followed by time on the couch watching TV with my husband and my dogs. Throw in some delivery food, and it’s nirvana for me. See? I told you I was boring!

8 Describe your ultimate holiday.

It would be toss-up between a ten-day vacation at the Universal Orlando theme parks on Florida, or a ten-day vacation in the French Quarter of New Orleans. I LOVE both places, and really, my preference for once versus the other changes from day to day depending on my mood. Right now, I might lean more toward Universal because I’ve been to New Orleans more recently than I’ve had a theme park vacation, and I am a theme park junkie. In case anyone was wondering (you weren’t, but I’m going to tell you anyway, heh) I always pick Universal Orlando theme parks over Disney because Universal’s on-site hotels allow me to bring my dogs with me. Hear that, Disney? Until you begin to allow pets into your hotels, you’ll never get a dime of MY vacation money! (they don’t care, but I feel better saying it ;)).

9 Who is your favourite book boyfriend and why?

I can’t pick just one. I’m way too fickle for that. Let’s see, Jamie from the Outlander series is still one of my favorite heroes even twenty after I first picked up that story. So is Eric from the Southern Vampire series, and for a long time, I was hooked on Jean Claude from the Anita Blake series, too. More recently, it’s been Charles from the Alpha and Omega series, and I’m sure I’ll have more names to add once I get through my TBR pile.

10 Who is your top five “Freebie List”? (I think this is also known as a Hall Pass. Who could you sleep with that your partner won’t mind?)

Snort. I don’t have a Freebie List. Besides, if I ever put enough time and mental effort into making one, it would probably be filled with all fictional characters versus real people, anyway.

11 You have a table booked for four in your favourite restaurant. Who would you invite to join you?

Melissa Marr, Ilona Andrews, my husband, and my sister Jinger. These are the people who know me the best, yet still want to hang out with me despite that ;).

12 If there was one profession you would like to attempt other than your own, what would it be?

Photography, though I wouldn’t be any good at it. Believe me, I’ve tried, and I don’t have “the eye.” But I love how pictures can capture places, people, events, and even feelings. They’re like mini time capsules, and they can also provide raw, unflinching glimpses into people’s lives, which is why I believe in the adage that a picture is worth a thousand words.