The Widow Wore Plaid by Jenna Jaxon

Please welcome Jenna Jaxon the author of The Widow Wore Plaid

Jenna Jaxon will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Widow Wore Plaid

by Jenna Jaxon

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GENRE: Historical Romance

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INTERVIEW:

1. What or who inspired you to start writing?

Kathleen E. Woodiwiss and gluten intolerance inspired me to start my writing career. In the spring of 2008 I developed an intolerance to gluten (wheat, barley, rye) and had to change my diet drastically. After six months of no gluten, in January 2009, I got a huge rush of energy and creativity and needed an outlet for all my creative juices. Just after Christmas I bought a copy of Kathleen E. Woodiwiss’s medieval romance (the final book she wrote) called Everlasting. Even though I hadn’t read one of her books in twenty years, I tore through this one, loving every word. As soon as I finished it, I stood in my office looking at the book in my hand, said aloud, “I could write something like this,” sat down at my computer and began to write the book that would become my medieval romance, Time Enough to Love.

2. How did you come up with ideas for your books?

My ideas come from all kinds of places. My Widows’ Club series was inspired by The Weather Girls’ song “It’s Raining Men.”  Time Enough to Lovewas inspired by a History Channel documentary on the Black Death. And the idea for Only A Mistress Will Docame from a line in Mary Balogh’s romance novel A Precious Jewelabout a prostitute’s first night in a brothel. Sometimes I take the premise of a movie and adapt it to the Regency, as in It Happened at Christmas, which is a Regency version of the movie You’ve Got Mail. So pretty much anything and everything can be an inspiration for my books.

3. What expertise did you bring to your writing?

When I started writing historical romance I had an undergraduate degree in History, a Master’s degree in English, and a Ph.D. in Theater Theory, History, and Criticism, for which I researched and wrote a 400 page dissertation. I also had a Master of Fine Arts in theater direction, which actually has come in very handy when writing dialogue and figuring out how people move, stand, sit, and use non-verbal communication. I’d also had a year’s lessons in fencing (for writing those sword-fighting scenes) as well as two classes in Stage Combat (both hand to hand and sword). I’d had horseback riding lessons in college, again helpful in writing historical romance, and I’d traveled to England, Scotland, and Ireland. So I came to the table with a good solid base of knowledge and expertise, although I’m constantly growing and learning from each book I write.

5. As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?

I’m currently writing an historical romance novella for Katheryn Le Veque’s Lyon’s Den shared world series. In 2022 I also plan to write and publish book 3 of my Captivating Countesses series, revise and submit two books I’ve written but which are not currently published to my agent. And hopefully, bring out the final novella in my Handful of Hearts, Heart of Deception.

6. If you could be one of the characters from any of your books, who would it be and why?

If I could be one of the characters from any of my books, I’d be Lady Katarina Fitzwilliam (later Marchioness of Dalbury). Kat is my favorite creation (and her hero is my second favorite) because in many ways she’s the me I wish I could have been. She’s an excellent swordswoman, loves horses and rides well, is not afraid to speak her mind, and is most resourceful when escaping a man’s clutches. She’s my hero!

7. If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your leading roles?

I’ve not actually thought about who could play Jane and Kinellan from The Widow Wore Plaid, but I suppose I would cast Aiden Turner (Poldark) as Gareth Kinellan and Jennifer Lawrence (Hunger Games) as Jane.

10. What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (regarding writing or publishing)

The best advice I’ve ever received regarding writing was from my mentor, Judi McCoy. Her classic advice was “You can fix crap, you can’t fix nothing.” Meaning you have to get the words on the page, even if they are bad. You can always revise and make it better. But it’s impossible to revise a blank sheet of paper. And I guess I’ve been lucky because I don’t remember any bad advice being given to me.

11. Do you outline your books or just start writing?

Oh, yes. I am a plotter through and through, so I cannot begin to write until I have a detailed outline sitting there for me to refer to. My outlines are usually between 10-12 pages, and spell out the plot in as much detail as I can muster. Then, when I start writing, I divide the chapters up either into sections of 1,000 words or sections of 1,500 words ( a chapter is 3,000 words for me) and begin to write from beginning to end. I can’t write any chapter that is out of order. I really don’t see how pantsers do it!

15. Who is your favorite actor and actress?

My all-time favorite film actor is Clark Gable. My all-time favorite stage actor is Len Cariou. My all-time favorite film actress is Katherine Hepburn, and my favorite stage actress is Maggie Smith.

17. What is your favorite reality show?

Project Runway. It’s the only reality show I watch.

BLURB:

The Battle of Waterloo made them widows, but each has found new happiness. And Jane, Lady John Tarkington, intends to keep her freedom, even if love—and one particular gentleman—are determined to claim her heart  . . .

It is a truth rarely acknowledged—at least in public—that a wealthy widow is free to pursue a great many adventures. For two years, Jane has privately enjoyed her independence. Why should she remarry, even when the gentleman proposing is as wonderful as Gareth, Lord Kinellan? She entreats him never to ask her again. But as her Widows’ Club friends—now all joyfully remarried—gather at Castle Kinellan, Jane begins to wonder if stubbornness has led her to make a terrible mistake . . .

Kinellan needs a wife to give him an heir, and he wants that wife to be Jane. They are perfect together in every way, yet she continually refuses him. Just as he is on the point of convincing her, a series of accidents befall Gareth and point to an enemy in their midst. He has promised Jane a passionate future filled with devotion, but can he keep them both alive long enough to secure it?

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EXCERPT:

Throwing up his hands, he groaned and sagged against the wall, his banyan sliding half off him. “Have your way with me, woman. I surrender myself into your hands. Do with me what you will and I swear I will enjoy it.”

Panting, she stepped back from him, seeing the sculpted muscular form, strong arms, and dark eyes glazed with smoldering desire as if for the first time. This man wanted her, or had wanted her to be his wife for a long time. No one would ever make her feel this way again, mo matter how many lovers she might take. She could look for the rest of her life and not find a man as kind or generous or loving as he. And she had all but thrown his love away with both hands. The revelation devastated her and she hung her head.

“Jane?” Kinellan straightened, peering into her face.

Sobbing, she threw her arms around him, laying her head on his broad chest, the only place she wanted it to be. Tears pricked her eyes. The fast beat of his heart beneath her ear should have given comfort, but did not, for her own heart was tearing asunder. The trickle of tears became a flood.

“Darling.” He slipped his arms around her, cradling her close. “What is wrong?”

“I…I don’t want to leave.”

“Sweetheart.” He cupped her chin and turned her face up to his. A thundery frown marred his brow. “Who has asked you to leave? Was it Aunt Prudence? Fiona?”

“N…no.” Jane sniffed, trying to blink back the tears and regain her composure.

“Someone else?” His frown grew darker.

She nodded. “You.”

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Jenna Jaxon is a best-selling author of historical romance, writing in a variety of time periods because she believes that passion is timeless. She has been reading and writing historical romance since she was a teenager. A romantic herself, Jenna has always loved a dark side to the genre, a twist, suspense, a surprise. She tries to incorporate all of these elements into her own stories.

She lives in Virginia with her family and a small menagerie of pets–including two vocal cats, one almost silent cat, two curious bunnies, and a Shar-pei beagle mix named Frenchie.

Blog:  www.jennajaxon.wordpress.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jenna.jaxon

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Jenna_Jaxon

Instagram: passionistimeless

LINKS:

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B091MJ1C8M/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i6

BARNES & NOBLE:   https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-widow-wore-plaid-jenna-jaxon/1139126668

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-widow-wore-plaid

APPLE: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-widow-wore-plaid/id1561405266

GOOGLE PLAY: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=9781420149784

PRINT COPIES AVAILABLE AT:

AMAZON

BOOKS-A-MILLION

BARNES & NOBLE

BOOKSHOP.ORG

HUDSON BOOKSELLERS

INDIEBOUND

TARGET

WALMART

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Jenna Jaxon will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4001