Ask the Author: Jayne Ann Krentz
Answered Questions (28)
Jayne Ann Krentz
Hmm. I don't see the line in question in my question list but I'll take a flying leap here. Is it the one that reads: "He was the ugliest man in the bar and he had his eye on her?" If so, I can assure you that I get that one quoted back to me a LOT! It's from The Guenevere Jones books -- THE DESPERATE GAME.
Jayne Ann Krentz
Hi, Eileen--Thanks for your interest in Joy and Sharp Edges. Regarding Joy, I have a long list of books for which the rights have been reverted. I'm trying to get them into ebook format but it takes time. You can find a list of my books that are available in ebook format at my website: (www.jayneannkrentz.com) As far as Sharp Edges, however, the publisher still holds those rights so there's nothing I can do about the pricing. All I can suggest is that you contact the publisher. Many thanks for your interest in my books and best of summer to you.
Jayne Ann Krentz
Hi, Kim: Trust me, I never intended to end up with three pen names! Back at the start, the idea was to use a different name for each of my three worlds. A lot of people don't enjoy all three settings: historical, futuristic and contemporary. The idea was that when they pick up a Jayne Castle they know they'll get a futuristic. When they pick up an Amanda Quick they'll know they're going to get a historical. And when they pick up one of my JAK titles they know to expect a contemporary setting. To be honest, I never expected all three names to develop an audience but that's what happened. Therefore, when I got the idea of doing Arcane stories in all three fictional landscapes I was sort of stuck with having to do it under those three names. All I can say is that it seemed like a good idea at the time.
Jayne Ann Krentz
Hi, Theresa -- my favorite pen name/time period changes according to what I'm writing at the moment! To paraphrase a song lyric, "I love the time I'm in." But by the time I've finished telling a store in one of my three worlds -- futuristic, historical or contemporary -- I'm ready for a change. Turns out that moving between those three names and three worlds refreshes me as an author. I do realize that not all of my readers will follow me into all three of those worlds. (By the way, watch for a real change of time/place in my next Amanda Quick, THE GIRL WHO KNEW TOO MUCH...)
Jayne Ann Krentz
Thanks, Annette -- yes, I think the documentary, LOVE BETWEEN THE COVERS did a good job of taking a close look at the romance novel -- authors and readers -- and why we love the genre so much. Glad you had a chance to see it.
Jayne Ann Krentz
Thanks for your interest in the St. Helens trilogy. I have no plans to return to that world. Actually, it was writing those books that led me to Harmony and the dust bunnies. Now I keep discovering new mysteries on that planet so I'll be there for a while. But who knows what the future holds? Best of summer to you.
Jayne Ann Krentz
I don't have any plans to do Emma's story. My apologies but my contemporary romantic thrillers have gone in a rather different direction. But if you want to see how the Coppersmith family turned out you can catch up with their descendants in the current Harmony titles: SIREN'S CALL and ILLUSION TOWN.
Jayne Ann Krentz
Hi, Maverickgirl31! Thanks for your interest in the audio editions of my books. A lot of my backlist is available in audio format but, as you noted, not every title has been released in audio. In most cases that is because the publisher still holds those rights and chosen not to put the books into audio. I'll ask my agent to check on the status of those two titles. Stay tuned! Meanwhile, best of summer to you.
Jayne Ann Krentz
Hi, Anika -- thanks for the questions. I'm still discovering Harmony, so to speak. ILLUSION TOWN is my version of Las Vegas on Harmony. With dust bunnies. And a descendant of the Coppersmith family from the Dark Legacy series. The way things look right now, the future for Arcane is definitely on Harmony. My Amanda Quick and Jayne Ann Krentz careers have gone off in another direction -- more toward straight-up contemporary romantic thrillers. I hope you continue to enjoy my stories. And best of everything to you in your own writing!
Jayne Ann Krentz
Hi, Gina -- Yep, I can only work on one book at a time. I'd get dazed and disoriented if I tried to write two books at once. I don't even want to think about it. Writing is a rather chaotic process for me. I would love to be able to do a complete outline and know exactly where I'm going before I start a book but, sadly, that is just not the way my brain works.
Jayne Ann Krentz
Annette: Thanks so much for taking the time to let me know that you share my sense of humor. Trust me, not everyone does. I figure that if you find laughter in the same things that amuse me it probably means we share a lot of other things as well -- I'll bet a lot of our core values are similar because one's sense of humor is linked to those values, don't you think?
Jayne Ann Krentz
Thanks for the question, Patty -- I don't have plans to do another contemporary Dark Legacy book or a Ladies of Lantern Street historical story but if you enjoy the paranormal vibe, be sure to check out my Jayne Castle series set on Harmony. In SIREN'S CALL, for example, you can follow the adventures of future descendants of the Coppersmith family.
Jayne Ann Krentz
Thanks for the question, Anna -- do I have a favorite character? Well, let's put it this way: I'm always in love with the characters I'm writing at any given moment. However, that said, I know the dust bunnies would be very upset if I didn't make it clear that they hold a special place in my heart.
Jayne Ann Krentz
Marcia, thanks for the question about my Dark Legacy series. I am no longer using paranormal elements in my contemporary JAK woman-in-jeopardy suspense novels. However I am still having a lot of fun with the paranormal vibe -- and the Coppersmith family as well as Arcane -- in my Jayne Castle titles. The latest is SIREN'S CALL which features a descendant of the Coppersmith clan. I hope you enjoy it.
Jayne Ann Krentz
The best writing advice I ever received and which I pass on every time I give a talk on writing is: Find your own voice and write to your strengths. Don't try to soften or weaken your voice in an effort to sound like other writers. In the end, all you have in this business is your voice. It is what sets you apart from every other writer. It will make you or break you. Discover your voice; sharpen it, hone it.
Jayne Ann Krentz
Thanks for the question! For now, my contemporaries, written under my Jayne Ann Krentz name (my married name) will focus on straight-up woman-in-jeopardy style romantic-suspense -- SECRET SISTERS, for example. However, Arcane will continue in my futuristic Harmony books written under my Jayne Castle name. (Little known factoid -- Jayne Castle actually happens to be my birth name).
Ahem. Where was I? Oh, yeah: Harmony/Arcane. If you enjoy those books you may be interested to know that in July a new adventure begins on Harmony with ILLUSION TOWN. This is Las Vegas on Harmony only way more weird.
Ahem. Where was I? Oh, yeah: Harmony/Arcane. If you enjoy those books you may be interested to know that in July a new adventure begins on Harmony with ILLUSION TOWN. This is Las Vegas on Harmony only way more weird.
Jayne Ann Krentz
I love the mix of romance and suspense. I don't care what the time period is -- historical, contemporary or futuristic. I crave great romantic-suspense.
Jayne Ann Krentz
Nope. Attraction at first sight? Yes. Curiosity at first sight? Yes. But love? No. Love takes time.
Jayne Ann Krentz
Hi, Debbie! Yep, that line led to the rest of the plot. Thanks for letting me know that you liked it. I am honored!
Jayne Ann Krentz
Hi, Jenny: Thanks for your interest in my books. Yes, I do have a regular publishing schedule (Jan. for my Krentz titles, April for Quick titles and August for my Castle titles). You can get details on my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/JayneAnnKrentz ) And, yes, I am currently writing my historicals in the Victorian era. Not sure when I'll get back to the Regency or Medieval eras. But who knows?
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