Author Interview with Jean Roberts

Who are you?

My name is Jean Roberts, but I go by Jeanie to my friends. My favorite name is Mom. I graduated from the University of St.Thomas in Houston with a BSN. I joined the U.S. Air Force and served for many years as a nurse. I married a handsome fighter pilot and we toured the world together until he retired and we settled in my hometown. I worked for many years as a nurse administrator at a facility for adults with special needs which was a great joy. I am currently writing/ marketing full time, chasing the elusive dream of a best seller.

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Where do you live?

I live outside of Houston, Texas in a small suburban town.

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What’s your home life like?

Quiet. My husband is a retire pilot who does lots of puttering about the house. I have one child who is in the military, currently serving in the Middle East. Although I love cats and dogs, I am pet-less at the moment.

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What genre(s) do you like to write? To read?

My favorite genre to read is historical fiction and non-fiction history. I love British/English history the best. Author Hilary Mantel is my hero.

My first two books are both historical fiction, based on real people. My third book is a mixed bag of genres, paranormal historical fiction with a bit time travel thrown in for fun.

My current WIP is about two women who are reincarnated from Roman times to current, set in London. It's a blast to write and I'm learning so much history along the way.

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Why did you start writing?

Honestly, I read a really, really bad book and said to myself, I can do better than that. So I did. I didn't tell anyone at the time and didn't show it to anyone until it was finished. I was shocked when readers loved it.

I fell in love with the process and think there are more great stories inside me, waiting to get out.

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What do you do when you’re not writing?

I love to cook! I like to cook without a recipe, just freewheel it. I have tons of cookbooks sitting neglected on a shelf. I also have a large yard with lots of flowerbeds, so I spend a good deal of time pulling weeds. So far, I sound pretty boring but both activities are therapeutic. My favorite thing to do is travel. I lived in England for many years and saw quite a bit of Europe but I love going back. Canada is on my bucket list as well as Eastern Europe. Spending time with family is important to me as well, especially drinking wine with my family!

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Where do you like to go when looking for a new book to read?

​I am a huge fan of the Public Library System, it's a much needed resource in all communities, especially low income and deserves all our support. I head straight for the new book section and can generally find something there to read. I also write book reviews and get requests daily, so I can usually find a good book there. Thrift shops can be a goldmine for good cheap used books. I sound like a cheapskate! I do buy books online to read on my Kindle. I like to buy books from Indie Authors who I've met online and like their style.

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​At what point do you call it quits when reading a new book?

The more I write the less tolerant I am of horrible grammar and syntax. I recently started a book which was going to be traditionally published and it was chock full of errors. I made it about a quarter way through before bailing. I am much more forgiving of Indie authors as many cannot afford a great editor and typos etc slip by. My motto is life is too short to suffer through a boring or badly written book. There's always another one waiting to be read.

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Are you independently or traditionally published?

I have two independently published books and I am querying a third. I like the idea of getting at least one traditionally published book, for me it still seems to be the gold standard of publishing, but I think that notion is changing as more and more people self publish and less and less people actually read books. I have set a time limit of 6 months to get an agent or publisher to take me on, short I know, but if not I'll self publish number three.

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How many books/stories have you published so far?

see above.

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What book/story are you currently promoting or working on?

The book that I am currently querying is called The Heron. It's a mix of historical fiction and paranormal time travel. It's set in New Hampshire and tells the story of two women, separated by 300 years. It's a bit dark as is most of my work, with lots of mystery and suspense. I especially like the time travel element as it is what I call time-mind travel, only their consciousness travels to the past, not their physical bodies. I think it's my best work so far.

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What’s the elevator pitch?

This is one I did for a pitch on Twitter:

Seeking peace at Pine Tree House, abuse survivor, Abbey Coote encounters Mary Foss, dead for 350 years. More than a ghost, she is a conduit to the past. Abbey must free Mary’s spirit to heal her own psychic wounds.

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How long have you been working on it?

​I finished the manuscript in December after a year of writing. Historical details are important so it took a significant amount of research to get the 17th century detail correct.

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When will it be available to buy? Where?

I sure hope it will be this year, sometime. But, both my other books, Weave a Web of Witchcraft and Blood in the Valley are on Amazon!

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How can readers find you?

I do book reviews and write about writing on my website.

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What inspires you to keep writing?

Pursuit of the written word is a solitary flight; its struggles and joys mirrored on the pages of our work.
​J. Roberts

Writing should be as much about the journey as the destination. Embrace the pain, joy and wonder of the written word.
​J. Roberts

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Anything you’d like to add?

​Thank you for the opportunity to share my work with your audience.

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Many thanks to Jeanie Roberts for participating in My Laughably Inane Blog. I wish her all the best with her writing and hope she concocts something delicious.

Sincerely,

Nicholas P. Adams

Just a small-town boy with an overactive imagination.