Andrew Q. Gordon

Today Jamie Lynn Miller stops by to talk a bit fan fiction, why she writes eBooks and, oh yeah, her  her new book, Memory’s Prisoner. 

Thank you so much for hosting me here today, Andrew, I really appreciate it.

Today I’d like to talk about why I got into writing ebooks, back in 2008. Unlike some opinions I’ve read over the years, I embrace my fan fiction roots. I started back in 1995, writing X-Files fiction and it just spiraled on from there. In fact I’m still writing fan fiction today and loving every minute of it.

There’s always been this general impression in the “professional world” that all fan fiction is garbage, written by 15 year old girls. Well sorry, hate to tell you, but I’ve known fan fiction writers who would put professional authors (and TV show writers) to shame. And there’s been plenty of professional paperback novels I’ve read that belong in the trash can.

I’d finally gotten so fed up with fan fiction writers being looked down upon that I set out to prove (to myself at least) that my writing was good enough to get published, despite my “roots”. And look at that, it was! Five times so far!

After my fourth book with the same publisher I challenged myself again – to submit to another publisher. Would I be good enough for someone else? And look at that, Dreamspinner accepted me on my first try! My next challenge is self-publication and I’m already well on my way. I should have that book out in the next month or so.

Bottom line – everyone’s got to start somewhere. And for me (and many of you) it was the fan fiction world. Everyone needs to hone their craft and there is no harsher critic than fandom. I took my bumps and bruises along the way and it made me a better writer, to what I am today.

In fact, if it hadn’t been for fan fiction I never would have discovered my love of hurt/comfort, which is now the main theme in all of my ebooks. And Memory’s Prisoner here is no exception. This time the hurt is both physical and emotional with Mitch and Joey needing to lean on each other to get through their injuries that have changed their lives, providing the comfort they both desperately need.

Thanks again, Andrew, for having me here today! I hope to hear from all of you who are also proud of your fan fiction roots!

Read on for an excerpt from Memory’s Prisoner…

BLURB:

Detectives Mitchell Reid and Joseph Valentino of the Chicago Police Department have finally moved from friends to lovers, partners on the job and off. Then an escaped bank robber with a thirst for vengeance shatters their world. The police tactical raid to recapture the convict goes horribly wrong, leaving Mitch severely wounded and Joey with a devastating head injury. They both survive, but Joey’s long-term coma and memory loss will change their lives – and love – forever.

~~~~~~

Excerpt:

Mitch crouched at the corner of one crate, preparing to slip to the next closest one. The flash from a rifle’s muzzle inside the warehouse caught Mitch’s eye as it illuminated the gunman.

Doyle.

Their eyes locked and an evil, maniacal grin crossed the psychopath’s face. Mitch’s cover had been blown. A split second later he heard the ominous click of the triggering mechanism inside the crate he was leaning against and Mitch knew he had seconds to live.

Launching himself up and away from the crate, heedless of the gunfire surrounding him, Mitch desperately tried to put as much distance between himself and the bomb as he could. Four frantic strides were all he could manage.

The force of the explosion threw him off his feet and hurled him forward, wave after wave of intense heat and debris at his back, before he slammed down onto the dock. Excruciating pain like he’d never known raced through his battered body as he rolled across the wooden surface before coming to rest on his back. Dazed and winded, fighting unconsciousness, Mitch heard Tim frantically calling his name. His head lolled to the side as he tried to answer but his gaze caught sight of the torn, bloody mass of flesh that was his left leg.

“NO! MITCH!”

Joey’s cry of utter terror drew Mitch’s attention from his mangled body. He looked up to see his partner racing toward him, surrounded by Team Three, weapons blazing. Uncaring of the extreme danger he was in, Joey charged forward in a desperate rescue attempt, his fear for Mitch written all over his face.

Horrified, Mitch tried to call out, managing only a hoarse whisper. “No… get back….”

Two feet from Mitch it happened.

Another crate exploded, sending huge pieces of debris through the air. Unable to slow down or change course, Joey plowed directly through the explosion, his head suddenly snapping violently to the side as a large piece of wood impacted it.

“JOEY!”

The scream was torn from Mitch’s throat as he watched his partner’s expression change from one of terrified concern to one of total confusion as the wood hit its mark and his body crumpled like a rag doll.

The nightmare had begun.

~~~~~~

About The Author:

Jamie Lynn Miller has been writing fiction since childhood and decided to take the plunge and go pro in 2008, finding to her amazement that people truly enjoyed her love stories. She’s a romantic at heart, and her tales reflect the desire we all have to find “the one,” persevering through trials and heartache for that happy ending.

Jamie has a degree in fine arts and has spent the last twenty years working as a graphic designer, though she’d much rather be writing. She was born in Chicago and still lives there today with her husband and their two furry, four-footed children, er… cats.

If she’s not brainstorming story ideas, you can find Jamie at a sci-fi convention, in front of a furnace doing glass blowing, or on a mat twisted into a yoga pose.

Buy Links:

Purchase Memory’s Prisoner from:

AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_11?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=memory%27s%20prisoner%20by%20jamie%20lynn%20miller&sprefix=memory%27s+pr%2Caps%2C543

DREAMSPINNER: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4414&cPath=55_994