Guest Blog - Welcome Jerrie Alexander!!

Today, welcome Jerrie Alexander, one of the most interesting people I know. 

She's a chapter mate in my local Romance Writing Chapter,  North Texas Romance Writers.

Welcome, Jerrie.

 

 

First, thank you Karen for having me as your guest.

1. What would you name the autobiography of your life?    Wanderings of a Fractured Mind. I almost used that name for my blog. It's a good description of me. :)

2. Favorite vacation?   The Riu Palace Resort in Negril, Jamaica. My daughter, granddaughter, and I went a couple of years ago. The food was fabulous, the snorkeling unbelievable, and the water was so clear I could see my feet standing in chest high water. A tiny pink fish fell in love with my daughter's colorful swimsuit. It followed her every where she went, swimming in and out between her legs.

3. Favorite Quote?  Hmm. That's a tough one. Maybe...Do unto to others what you would have done unto you. I really think that's a simple solution to a lot of problems.

4. Favorite smells?  You're going to think I'm nuts! A puppies breath.....love that. And the smell of a sweaty horse right after a good workout.

5. What do you keep in the trunk of your car?  Aside from the spare and jack, you'll find stadium seats and lawn chairs that fold up like umbrellas. Our granddaughter plays volleyball and we stay ready to go watch!

6. If you were reincarnated as an animal what would it be?  This dog curled up in the chair behind me. Abandoned and near death, we found him in our back yard unable to lift his head. The vet said he'd been on the road a while and had been bitten by a bigger dog. Since he weighed in at nine pounds, it didn't take much to be bigger. We didn't have a pet at the time, so I don't say we saved him. He saved us. He's healthy and a whopping eleven pounds. I can truly say that a rescue dog knows who stepped up and gave them a home. They're the best!

7. Favorite ice cream?  Blue Bell Chocolate Covered Cherry! OMG! It's the best, but they only bring it out from time to time. Makes me want to buy a freezer just so I can stock pile it.

8. If you could have starred in any movie previously made what would it be?  Any movie with Gerard Butler. *sigh* Okay, maybe not. I think I would have loved to play the boss in The Devil Wears Prada. That role had to be fun.

 9. Where were you born and where did you grow up?   Born in Coleman, Texas. Grew up in Fort Worth. Attended North Side High and love going to reunions. We have one every few years!

Now we've finished the lighthearted, ice breaking stuff.  So, for all of my readers who may not be familiar with your work, could you tell us a bit about yourself and your books?     I write romantic suspense. The Green-Eyed Doll my debut novel released December 2012. The Last Execution releases June 7th this year. Someone To Watch Over Me is a 32K word short story that should come out midsummer.

In your opinion, what ingredients are needed to make up a good love story?   I try to connect the characters through their emotions. Love at first sight happens but for my hero and heroine they first have to experience the ups and downs of life. Sure, they may fall in lust at first sight, but by the end of the book, they have to have earned their happy ending through conflicts and danger.

Tell us a little about your process. Do you start with an idea? A character? What is the easiest part of writing for you? What’s the hardest?    Hard question for me. Starting is the hardest part. After I finish a book, I go through a weird process of fearing I'll never have another original idea for a story. I'll dig around the internet, read FBI profiler cases, run through different scenarios in my head using the 'what if' method. Once I have a premise I'll develop my characters. The easiest part is dialogue. I enjoy developing a different persona for each character and switching back and forth.

Name one book you read in the last 6 months that has left a lasting impression and why?   I hate to admit it but until recently I read very few paranormal books. A few weeks back, my daughter plopped a stack of books in front of me and said, "Read." Which is why I can't give you one title. I devoured J.R. Ward's The Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I have been missing some great stories by not branching out and trying new books.

Let’s talk about your newest release:  What's the  title?  The Last Execution. When's it coming out?    My publisher released it early for Kindle owners to purchase now. The official date is June 7th, 2013 for all venues.  

Buy it here!     

If you had to summarize the book for the readers here  ....

Please tell us about the characters in your book.  Homicide detective Leigh McBride's first assignment with the FBI brings her face-to-face with a past she's tried hard to forget. And when her temporary partner, a cynical ex-marine, lights a fire in her she thought long-extinguished, her darkest secret is threatened.

     Scarred both physically and emotionally, Special Agent J. T. Noble is a man of few words. He prefers to keep people at a distance—until he meets Leigh. He's attracted to her strength and drawn in by her secrecy. But in their line of work, secrets can be deadly.

What scene did you have most fun writing? why? (please share the scene)  J. T. Noble knows nothing about children and when he's questioned by Leigh's son, it's a bonding moment I enjoyed writing. Here's the scene:

       Ethan turned his head sideways as he studied J.T.’s face. Wide eyed, the boy pointed at the scar with his index finger. J.T. wasn’t surprised. The kid was probably curious.

            “How’d you get that?”

            “A piece of shrapnel—” He paused and considered Ethan’s age. “I was in the war. A bomb went off and a piece of metal smacked me in the face.”

            “Does it hurt?”

            “Not anymore.” J.T. marveled at the innocence in Ethan’s eyes.

            “Can I touch it?”

            “I guess so.” J.T. breathed in and waited. Ethan hesitated, leaning closer.

            “I’m not supposed to talk about your scar.”

            “Who said?”

            “Mama.”

            “It’s okay. I won’t tell.”

            J.T. turned his head to the side. No one had outright asked to touch the constant reminder of a day when his best friend caught the worst of an IUD. Hell, people shied away from his right side. Except Leigh, she looked him square in the face. He lay still while Ethan poked a finger into the scar a couple of times. After a few seconds of investigation, the kid cupped the scar with his small hand and patted lightly. The oddest thing happened to J.T.’s heart. It swelled inside his chest and then clenched.

            “Mama said you were a brave soldier.”

            Alien emotions swirled through J.T. and an unexplained urge to hug Ethan put a weird lump in J.T.’s throat. Unable to cope or understand, his mind raced for an idea, anything to end the moment.

Nice!  Thank you! 

Who would who cast in the role of hero and heroine if your book was optioned for a movie?

     When I wrote the book I used pictures of Gerard Butler at age thirty-two and Nichole Kidman at thirty as my models.  I can't imagine anyone else in those roles, so I'd have to defer to Hollywood and pray they could do my characters justice.

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have planned for 2013?

     The short story, Someone To Watch Over Me, should be out mid to late summer. I'm hoping Hell or High Water, book one the Lost and Found, Inc series will also be released this year.

 

 

 Where can readers get in touch with you?   Social media links:

My website

My blog

Twitter

 

Facebook

 

Goodreads

 

Pinterest

 

Thank you so much, Jerrie!  We've enjoyed visiting with you today.