Today I was able to interview one of my new favorite authors, SJD Peterson. She is the author of many different books, including her two newest Pup and Plan B. Her Whispering Pines series has received great reviews and she is hard at work on new things for us to read.  Jo was good enough to spend some time answering my questions. And when you’re done reading her answers, check out some of her works including my favorite – Plan B.

Author Profile: SJD Peterson

1)    Tell us about yourself – be as specific or vague about personal details as you feel comfortable – where do you reside, age, family, pets etc. You’ve written many books, is writing your full time job?

Ugh! I hate talking about myself but for you I shall endure. Let’s see. I don’t share a lot about my family life or my love life ect but other than that, I’m a pretty open book. I live in Michigan and while I love the changes of the season I deplore the winter. I hope this will be my last winter here. I still plan on calling Michigan home, but hoping to travel to warmer destinations while the state is blanketed in snow.  I have a degree in nursing and a second in History. The two are not related in the slightest but before I found writing I had plans to be a professional student. Writing is now my full time job and I’m loving every minute of it. I’m still not comfortable with the success that has fallen upon me as of late. Don’t’ get me wrong I appreciate it, but I’m sitting here thinking, HOLY HELL this is amazing and HOLY HELL this freaks me out. It’s about fifty/fifty. The first time someone asked me for my autograph my first reaction was – Why I don’t owe you any money- luckily I didn’t say it out loud, because that’s another thing about me most don’t know. I have no filter between my mouth and brain. I tend to be a hermit because while I can interact with people and enjoy it greatly, if I spend too much time in public it’s almost guaranteed that I’ll say something that wasn’t supposed to be said aloud and then I stress over it for weeks afterward. We all have mean, ugly, dirty thoughts; mine just seem to skip the filter and pass my lips at completely inappropriate times.

2)    How long have you been writing? And do you write in any other genres besides m/m?

My first book, Lorcan’s Desire, came out in May of 2011 I wrote it the year before and prior to that, I didn’t even read fiction. History geek remember? I’m a little embarrassed to admit but Twilight was the first fictional book I read that my college professors didn’t force upon me, but I moved quickly on to more adult themed books. I now write contemporary romance, BDSM, and paranormal but all within M/M or gay fiction.

3)    Plan B was one of my favorite books I’ve read in the last year. There were many things to like, but Danny stuck out as one of best. Where did the inspiration for his character come from??

Thank you. So glad you liked Danny and Lance’s story. Plan B was inspired by a photo and sound track that was sent to me.I get a lot of people sending me plot bunnies and usually I don’t have time to write them all. However I was totally inspired by Danny’s character. I’d gone through a stretch where every book I read in the genre, the main characters had some kind of abuse, family turned their back on them for coming out, or some other horrible back story. I wanted to write a story that was about a strong gay character who was totally proud of who and what he was and made no excuses for it. Danny has an amazing family, amazing friends and an amazing life. Although Danny cared deeply for Lance, he wasn’t about to change or give up his dreams for someone who couldn’t accept him completely.

4)    Your Whispering Pines Ranch Series has been very successful and well received. Talk about the series a bit. Which is your favorite in the series, will it continue?

The Whispering Pines Ranch Series was never meant to be a series at all. I had planned it as a single stand-alone novel, but once I reached nearly 200k and the story still wasn’t complete I made the decision to turn it into a trilogy. Lorcan’s Desire, Quinn’s Need and Ty’s Obsession is kind of like one really long novel about Lorcan and Quinn finding their way to HEA. Conner’s Courage was an addition I didn’t plan, but Conner because such a great guy I had to tell his story. CC is actually a prequel to WPR since it’s about how Conner and John met years before Lorcan and Quinn were even born. It’s also my favorite book in the series. Jess’s Journey came about because I didn’t kill him like I originally planned J  There will be no more books in this series, however. Ty who was not supposed to be anything more than a quickie in a back alley, became my favorite character. He was also the only guy who didn’t get his HEA so as a thank you to my fans I wrote a free short story called Riveted.  So, a character who was never meant to be, became the inspiration for a new series, The Guards of Folsom.

5)    Some authors feel their best selling work(s) isn’t their best. Is there a story you feel is better than its sales have suggested?  

Yes and No. I think the idea behind Masters & Boyd is for sure one of my favorites. It’s like getting to see what happens after the Happily Ever After. It’s the story of Carrick Masters and Ed Boyd who were lucky enough to get one, but life started getting in the way and Carrick forgot how lucky he’d been. It’s the story of working to keep the HEA and what is truly important in life. That being said, I don’t think it was my best executed story. I’ve learned a lot about writing and there is definitely a few changes I would make to it if I had the chance, but the essence of the story? Not a single change I’d make.

6)    Tell us about you’re working on next?

I just finished TAG TEAM which is the second book in the Guards of Folsom series and splitting my time working on PONY the third book in the series and Sua Sponte which is the next book in my Rough Rangers series.

7)    What is your favorite book that you’ve written and why?

WOW tough question. I love every book when I first come up with the idea, but hate them all when nearing the end. My favorite book to write was PUP. It was a lot of fun for the most part, but my favorite overall I’d have to say was Conner’s Courage.

8)    If you could meet any of your characters, who would it be?

Yeah another tough question. I’d like to meet them all for one reason or another, but if I have to choose it would be a tossup between Danny from Plan B and Micah from PUP. They are such great characters and I know there would be much laughter and shenanigans.

9)    What’s your favorite part of the writing process?

Writing, THE END

10) What’s your least favorite?

Writing THE END and blurbs. *grumbles* I hate writing blurbs and synopsis.

11) Do you ever model characters after people you know? If so in what way? Looks? Personality? Life events?

All the time. Danny is based on a young man I know. PUP aka Micah is loosely based on one of my author friends who loves the shiny, Natty and Brad from Simple are based on a real life couple, the list goes on and on.

12) What have you read lately that most people haven’t read but should?

Unfortunately I don’t have a lot of time for reading with my crazy writing schedule and pressing deadlines. But if I could only pick one, I’d say: One Breath One Bullet by S.A. McAuley. I’m not usually a fan of Sci Fi but the characters in this book Merq and Aemise are truly amazing. Like two of the best ever!! It’s now available for pre-order at Total E-bound. http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=2133

13)  If you could meet any writer, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

Umm… well…. Okay….Not even sure. How about Will Somers. While not truly a writer per se, he was King Henry VIII fool and kept detailed notes about Henry’s life. I’d love to sit and have a chat with him for sure. (Yup total unapologetic history geek)

14) What’s a fun – non-writing – day for you?

Hanging out with family and or friends. Unexpected road trips are the best. A suite seat at the Joe during a Red Wings game. NOT having to go to a Tigers game on a cold rainy day in April.

15) Besides reading and writing, what else do you enjoy?

I’m not big on movies or TV but I love the History Channel  (Big surprise there right?) New fan of the Supernatural series. Love the Red Wings. Cookies. Time with family and friends. Liquid Lunches with Sam. Gay porn. Sexy men. Hearing my BFF Scotty Cades voice after not hearing from him for a while. Art fairs. Pimp houses and fantasizing that Zane Garrett is all mine. TEAM ZANE!!

Thanks for being my guest, now it’s time to plug your work –

Totally my pleasure and thank you for having me!

Plan B

Blurb:

Danny Marshal has always lived his life out loud, but his androgynous appearance is only a small part of who he is. One night at a frat party, Danny meets Lance Lenard, football jock and apparent straight guy. Lance is shocked when he’s immediately attracted to Danny’s feminine side. Danny is happy to be the subject of Lance’s first man-on-man experiment—until Lance begins to struggle with the fact that despite his appearance, Danny is indeed a man.

Lance’s whole life has been focused on his goal of playing in the NFL, and he knows those dreams will be smashed if anyone finds out about his little secret. Although Lance has grown to crave Danny’s touch, he’s not willing to give Danny what he’s grown to crave: a boyfriend who’s proud to love him for every flamboyant and snarky cell in his body.

Life sends Danny and Lance in different directions, each of them focused on his respective Plan A. But the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3555&cPath=55_424

Bio:

SJD Peterson, better known as Jo, hails from Michigan. Not the best place to live for someone who hates the cold and snow. When not reading or writing, Jo can be found close to the heater checking out NHL stats and watching the Red Wings kick a little butt. Can’t cook, misses the clothes hamper nine out of ten tries, but is handy with power tools.

You can find her at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SJD.Peterson

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SJDPeterson

Tumblr: http://sjdpeterson.tumblr.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4563849.S_J_D_Peterson

Email: sjdpeterson@gmail.com

Blog: http://sjdpeterson.blogspot.com

Dreamspinners Page:  http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/index.php?cPath=55_424