Enjoy a little straight talk with bestselling author Jennifer Probst. Here’s Jennifer!
How do you celebrate when you finish writing a book?
If it’s good, I cry at the ending. Since I sobbed over The Marriage Bargain, I’m hopeful others will too! Then I tell my husband, my twitter friends and my mom!
Have you had any fun fan moments since you became a writer?
I adore receiving fan mail. It’s a high for me. One of my favorites is when readers take the time to comment that my story has affected them – either made them laugh, cry, or think of life in a different way. I’ve had some readers share some of their intimate moments and I’m always humbled by the people I meet along the way.
Do you usually begin a book with a character or a plot?
It’s all about character for me. I love heroes and heroines who are shaped by their past, overcome obstacles, and fight through. I usually start with a vivid character who wants their story told, and I build a plot around them.
Do you have any hobbies or special interests you’d care to share?
I love volunteering at the local animal shelters. I have two rescue dogs and this is one of my passions. If I had more time, I’d probably be more heavily involved, but I was able to write a short story about a rescue dog’s life in his own voice, A Life Worth Living, and I donate half the proceeds to the animal shelters. Besides that, reading, my family, my dogs, and keeping up the pace with my very active boys takes up all my free time!
Who would play your hero/heroine in the tv or film version of your book?
Wow, what a great question! OK, I’m in love with Pierce Brosnan, but since my hero is blonde and kind of brooding, I’ll go with Robert Pattinson for Nick. Yum! He did a great job in Water for Elephants. And for my heroine, let’s do Minnie Driver. She has a great range of emotion to play Alexa and that gorgeous inky black curly hair!
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Oh, yes. Believe in yourself and your talent and NEVER quit. Never. There are many obstacles along the way when you dream of being a writer. People will tell say you can’t do it. Call it a cute hobby. And sometimes cause major doubts. Keep writing, learning, and never quit. Life is a long time and you’re here to enjoy the journey. I literally had a high school English teacher tell me I’d never be published because I wasn’t good enough. I almost quit, but I believed in myself enough to push through the doubts, and I’m happy every single day I get to that blank page of paper and get to create.
What jobs have you had on your way to becoming a writer?
A little bit of this…and a little bit of that! I received a proper business degree and worked over a decade in insurance. I sold, did customer service, and learned a lot. Then I switched to administrative at a college, and rose up the ranks to become Assistant to the Dean. During that job, I worked on my master’s degree. In between these two full time jobs, I taught yoga, was certified to be a travel agent, and taught online classes as an adjunct, sold Lia Sophia jewelry and ranked as the worst waitress in the entire world! I’m willing to try everything because it’s always research for books.
Are you a pantser or a plotter?
A panster all the way! But I listened to the fabulous Susan Elizabeth Phillips who spoke at an Romance Writers Conference and she said she prefers the term “organic writer.” I loved it so have adopted this term as my own! I can write a very rough synopsis – very rough – but like to flesh out the story as the characters talk to me along the way. I guess it ‘s more difficult, but for me, more fun!
Do you prefer print books or eBooks?
Both. I’m addicted to my ebooks because it’s super easy to press the buy button and get instant gratification! But I still love to hold a print book in my hand and smell the pages, so I will always be reading both formats.
What’s in the works for you?
I’m working on the sequel to The Marriage Bargain tentatively titled, The Marriage Trap. Alexa’s best friend – Maggie Ryan – is the heroine and thank goodness she is getting her own story! I had to keep pushing her off the page when she tried to steal the scenes with Alexa, and finally got her to settle down when I promised her own happy ever after! Michael Conte the Count is back, and we get to travel to Italy in this one!
About Jennifer Probst
Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She took a short hiatus to get married, get pregnant, buy a house, get pregnant again, pursue a master’s in English Literature, and rescue two shelter dogs. Now she is writing again.
She makes her home in upstate New York with the whole crew. Her two young sons keep her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean.
She is the author of both sexy and erotic contemporary romance. Her credits include Heart of Steel; “Masquerade” Secrets Volume 11; The Tantric Principle; Sex, Lies and Contracts; and Catch Me. She has also written a children’s book, Buffy and the Carrot, co-written with her twelve-year-old niece, along with a short story about a shelter dog, A Life Worth Living. She is thrilled to share her new series, Marriage to a Billionaire, with Entangled readers.
All of her books are available at her website, http://www.jenniferprobst.com. She loves hearing from her readers so drop her a line or stalk her on Facebook and Twitter!
Connect with Jennifer at her website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
About Author
Ha! I bet you love eBooks now Jennifer, especially B&N ones! I’m hugely excited about your sequel, can’t wait for that one. A fascinating CV too – plenty of real life material for masses more books.
So cool you live in New York as well, I’d love to visit it some day. Particularly at Christmas time,all those amazing buildings and snow … ooh yummy. :0)
OK, Rachel, you have to come down to visit and I will show you around! We will have SO much fun! And oh, yeah, do I now adore those ebooks!!!!!!!!!!