TS: To say that Jennifer Ryan writes ‘romance’ novels would be doing her a disservice. Her good, solid stories are about good, solid people with a little romance and some modern day ranch life and cowboys is more accurate. I love her stories and so when she agreed to this interview I was thrilled!
Q. Where do you write? Do you have a special room, shed, barn, special space for your writing? Or tell us about your ‘dream’ work space.
A. I have two writing spaces. My “office” is in my kitchen. I love the little table in my breakfast nook with the windows all around looking out at the backyard, pool, and garden. The second place I write is off the kitchen in the small living room. Sometimes I just want to sit on the sofa with my feet up, a movie on the TV I’ve seen a dozen times ten times turned down low in the background, and type away, lost in the story.
Q. Do you have any special rituals when you sit down to write? (a neat work space, sharpened #2 pencils, legal pad, cup of tea, glass of brandy, favorite pajamas, etc.)
A. I’m a creature of habit. I write every day. For the most part, I’m focused on the work, the story, my characters. But I do love to have a cup of tea, cookies or chocolate. I’m pretty sure I keep the Hershey’s company in business.
Q. Could you tell us something about yourself that we might not already know?
A. I started writing when I was pregnant with my daughter Jenna. I named the heroine of my first book, 
Saved by the Rancher, after her.
Q. Do you have a set time each day to write or do you write only when you are feeling creative?
A. With 3 kids, I need to stick to a schedule (that whole creature of habit thing). During the school year, I sit down to write after I drop the kids at their respective schools. I work until 11 AM, hit the treadmill, shower, have a snack, then back to work until it’s time to pick the kids up from school. I eat lunch in the car while I wait at each school. Once home, it’s snack time for the kids and homework. I work until dinner. Cook. Then if I’m on a roll for the day, I’ll work into the evening. Other nights, I’m on the couch with my husband watching one of our favorite shows. On the weekends, I work from the time I get up through the evening with short breaks for meals and doing stuff with the kids. There’s a lot of stops and starts, but I’m used to that. Life happens, but I love seeing the story in my head come together on the screen.
Q. What’s your best advice to other writers for overcoming procrastination?
A. Oh, how I love to procrastinate. That’s why I’ve set up a routine. Some days I write for hours. Others I may only get an hour done. The thing is, I make time for it each and every day. Even if I only get a few lines or paragraphs down, I’ve made progress. Over time it adds up.
Q. Do you ‘get lost’ in your writing and for how long?
A. Yes. I love those days. The story seems to fly across the page – though it takes hours. The satisfaction I feel from a day of great writing can’t be described. It’s such a relief to have the story out of my head and on the page. If my husband is off with the kids hiking or dirt biking, I can write all day without interruption.
Q. Who or what is your “Muse” at the moment ?
A. Let’s just say I’ve got a very active imagination…..
Don’t miss Part 2 on Tuesday
and….Coming Soon! my REVIEW of ‘Her Lucky Cowboy’ released later this month!
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DON’T MISS UPCOMING BLOGS featuring INTERVIEWS with best-selling AUTHORS! Jennifer Ryan,(Aug.), Grant Blackwood (Tom Clancy) Sept. and Julia London.
Don’t Miss it! A bonus Interview with Iconic comic book writer, Chuck Dixon, in September.
Coming Soon! Don’t miss my Reviews of Sue Grafton’s ” X “ , the newest Kinsey Millhone mystery and Jennifer Ryan’s newest release.
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