Welcome once again to Duck Chat!

It’s only been two years since Jami Alden’s first book was published. A Taste of Honey started her on her successful and rapid rise in the romance industry.  After a few more releases, then came her Gemini Men series and Jami hasn’t looked back once. Today the second book in that trilogy, Kept, is hitting the shelves.

So we’re getting a peek into the real Jami Alden today.  Be sure to leave a comment because Jami is giving away to five lucky readers copies of Caught, the first book in her Gemini Men series.  Let’s chat!

Duck Chat: You’ve had some wonderful success since your first book was published in 2007. What’s that ride been like for you so far?

Jami Alden: Like anything, it’s had its highs and lows (fortunately mostly highs!) Getting published was amazing, and getting moved into the Brava line was a dream come true. I remember reading my first Shannon McKenna book and thinking, “I want to write books like this!” But I’ve also experienced the reality that even a dream job is a JOB, with all the stress and hard work that goes with that. In the past two years I’ve faced some crushing deadlines amid life stress, sick kids, and all the intrusions of ordinary life. But thankfully, I have fantastic writer friends who help me get through everything,, as well as an agent and an editor who are both incredibly supportive.

DC: If you could retire any question and never, ever have it asked again, what would it be? Feel free to answer it.
JA: You know, I can’t really think of one question. Yeah, I get some of the same questions over and over, but I don’t mind answering, and it’s kind of interesting to see how my answers have changed over the years.

DC: Your Gemini Men sound sexy as hell. Where did the idea for the series come from? Will Danny’s story be the end or will there maybe be a surprise or two down the road for fans of the series?
JA: I have to thank my amazing editor, Hilary Sares, for that. I still remember the email she sent, that she wanted to move me into Brava and that I needed to come up with a write-up for a romantic suspense series NOW. And, oh, can it be about three brothers, maybe two of them are twins? So I called my author buddies, Bella Andre and Anne Mallory, and had them meet me at Starbucks, stat, where we hammered out three ideas for me to send to Hilary. Right now the last scheduled book in the series is Danny’s story, Unleashed in October 2009, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed for at least two more 🙂

DC: I’ve heard writers often say their stories take them in surprising directions, or dialogue flows from some unknown place. Is it the same with you? Do your characters surprise you sometimes?
JA: Not really. To be honest, I kind of roll my eyes when authors say, “Oh, I just let my characters tell me their story.” But part of the reason I roll my eyes is because I’m jealous. I would LOVE it if my characters appeared fully formed in my brain and “told” me their story. Sadly, I have to put myself in their places and think it all up myself. That being said, occasionally I’ll be writing a scene and suddenly something happens that I hadn’t planned. Like in Unleashed,  I remember one afternoon I was writing at my local library, and I sat back and said to myself, “Well, that was interesting. Didn’t see that coming.”

DC: Do you ever argue with your characters while you’re writing?
JA: Not really. Because, really, if they’re not acting how I want them to act, that’s my fault, not theirs.

DC: You describe your husband as an alpha male, just the kind of man romance readers love. He has to be inspiration for some of your heroes. Any examples you can give us that you’ve used so far?
JA: Oh, he inspires everything (wink wink, nudge nudge)! Honestly, though, I’ve said my husband is a socially well-adjusted alpha male, and I think there’s a difference. I know part of the fantasy and, I hope, the appeal of my books and my heroes is the idea of cracking the surface of such an emotionally tough guy and watching him fall to his knees for love of the heroine. In reality though, it would be nearly impossible to have a healthy relationship with someone who has such deep, shall we say, intimacy issues. So my husband is kind of the real life ideal – he’s strong and tough and smart (not to mention hot!) who runs a business and does things like build cabins and goes on hundred-mile hiking trips in his spare time, but he’s also very open emotionally and willing to talk about things (more than I am, actually) in a way that I can’t really envision most of my male characters doing.

DC: What is sure to distract you from sitting down and working/writing?
JA: Email.

DC: Get any crazy fan mail? We’d love you to share the funniest or weirdest – your choice!

JA: I’ve never had anything too weird. There was a review of Private Party where the reviewer said she needed to get a toy while reading. It was an erotic romance, so I suppose that was a compliment, but I didn’t really need to know that.

DC: How do you feel your male or female characters have evolved over your career? Do you think you write them differently now than you did when you started?
JA: Wow, that’s really tough. I guess I would say everyone’s gotten a little edgier as I let more of my voice shine through. When I first started out, I tried a variety of things, historical and category among them, and I think I was trying to sound like other authors rather than sounding like myself, if that makes sense. I’m also more conscious now about trying to make sure my men sound like men both in dialog and internal thoughts.

DC: Any works in progress you can share with us?
JA: Right now I’m working on a new romantic suspense idea – and that’s all I’m going to say 🙂

DC: Is there a genre you haven’t tackled but would like to try?
JA: When I first started writing, I wrote a western historical. I think some day I’d like to give that another try.

DC: What advice would you give to your younger self?
JA: Quit worrying about the size of your ass and eat something already! Someday you’ll have kids and you’ll relish every opportunity to sit down and eat a meal in peace and quiet. And if you keep slathering yourself with Tropical Blend and baking yourself in the sun, by the time you’re 35, you’re going to look like a leather Muppet.

DC: Are you lucky enough to have any input on those sexy covers that grace your books?
JA: Nope. But I am very grateful to the Kensington art department.

DC: If you had never become an author, what do you think you would be doing right now?
JA: I probably would have stayed in my previous field of corporate marketing.

DC: Favorite author?

JA: I can’t possibly name just one!

DC: Favorite book?

JA: Contemporary: It Had To Be You, by Susan Elizabeth Phillipsl Historical: A Wild Yearning by Penelope Williamson

Lightning Round:
– dark or milk chocolate?   dark
– smooth or chunky peanut butter?   smooth
– heels or flats?    It’s hard to lug around a toddler in heels, so I default to flats.
– coffee or tea?   coffee. Lots.
– summer or winter?   summer
– mountains or beach?   mountains
– mustard or mayonnaise?   dijonnaise
– flowers or candy?   flowers
– pockets or purse?   purse
– Pepsi or Coke?   coke
– ebook or print?   print

And some fun stuff:

1. What is your favorite word?   Schadenfreude  [Ed. [shahd-n-froi-duh] – satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else’s misfortune.]
2. What is your least favorite word?   Fanny – when used to refer to a woman’s butt. Especially in a book, when a male character thinks or says it. What man under the age of 90 uses the word fanny?
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?   Reading a great book, watching a great movie, going for a run
4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?   Craft workshops that claim there’s only one “right” way to do something.
5. What sound or noise do you love?   Wind rustling through leaves
6. What sound or noise do you hate?   My 20-month-old whining
7. What is your favorite curse word?  God, there are so many that I love. But if I have to choose, I’ll go with the classic F-bomb.
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?   I sometimes think about being a chef or possibly a personal trainer.
9. What profession would you not like to do?   Daycare provider
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you
arrive at the Pearly Gates?   “You used the time you had well.”

DC:  Thanks for chatting with us, Jami!

Remember to comment for your chance to win a copy of Caught!