Giveaway & Interview with A.L. Jackson!!!

Hi Amy! Thank you so much for taking the time out for an interview. Taryn and I are your biggest fans! Seriously, we are. We love all of your books and the connection we have with each one. Your words have a way of weaving themselves into our hearts and never leaving....just how we like it!

That truly means so much to me.

Taryn, you were one of my first reviewers when Take This Regret was previously published, and I have to say, I never forgot your kind words or the fact that it had affected you so greatly—I hope you know what a positive impact it had on me. I’ll never forget it.

And Janna, you’ve become one of my biggest supporters. I believe authors are nothing without the book lovers who talk about our books, so I thank you for that. Best of all are the awesome friends I got out of it.

In Take This Regret, Pulled, and now in When We Collide, there is a heart wrenching back story in each of the books. Where do you find your inspiration that draws such heartache in your books?

 

This is a hard one to answer because I’m not quite sure why my stories come out this way. In fact, my brother recently asked me if I was unhappy because he didn’t understand why I write what I write, but that’s the farthest from the truth. But I do believe everyone has had tragic events or circumstances in our lives that have somehow scarred us, and when I mix in my own fears and insecurities, this is what naturally flows out.  Plus when characters have to overcome such great odds to be together, it makes their happily ever after even sweeter.

In When We Collide, there is a supernatural pull between the main characters. Why did you decide to go the supernatural route?

 

In all of my books, I like for my characters to experience a stronger bond than is normal, Melanie and Daniel with the energy between them, Christian with his connection to his daughter, and now William and Jonathan. William having the dreams was what I saw first when the idea for When We Collide came to me, so while I really hadn’t planned on writing something with such a supernatural element, it wasn’t something I could ignore. It felt integral to the connection between Christian and Jonathan.

When We Collide is a bit darker than your other two books. Were you trying to change things up when you wrote it?

When the idea for When We Collide came to me, pretty much the entire plot was right there in my mind. And yeah, it was dark.  I wavered between trying to soften it as I outlined and began to write, but I felt I had to be true to the characters. Somewhere between my subconscious and conscious, I knew I was writing elements of this story for different people in my life who mean so much to me, and softening it just didn’t work. In the end, I just wrote what I saw unfolding in my head.

Have you thought about writing any sequels to any of your books?

Right now I’m writing a prequel to Take This Regret, which will be a novella starting with the day Christian and Elizabeth met as freshmen in college. It’s going to be a lot lighter than what I usually write, but man, I’m really excited to write these two falling in love. From there, I’m not sure.  I keep getting requests for a Take This Regret sequel, so you never know.

In all of your books, you have a theme that is my favorite- reunion/rekindled romance with lots of angst. Oh how I love it! Is that something you enjoy writing about?

 

Oh my gosh, yes. Lost love that is found again is one of my favorite themes. . .it’s what I love to read and what I love to write. There’s just something about bringing back what was meant to be.

For those who have not read your books, how would you describe them? Which would you recommend to read first?

 

My books are character driven with lots of emotion. I want my readers to feel and experience what my characters are feeling. It’s usually a rollercoaster, but I’m a firm believer in a Happily Ever After.

First? Oh gosh, I don’t know, they’re all so different from each other.

Do you have an outline when writing a book, or do you just write and see where it takes you?

 

I do try to outline.  It helps to keep me on track. I typically start with the beginning, middle, and end, and then fill in the chapters from there.

Which book has been the hardest to write emotionally for you?

Definitely When We Collide.

Is there a part of you in any of your female characters? And if so which one relates most to you?

 

I was a young mother, so I really have drawn from the emotions I felt during that time in my life (or more so, what I see now as I reflect back on it). Even though my experiences weren’t exactly the Elizabeth, I drew most from myself when I wrote her.

Do you have any books in progress? If so, can you tell us about it?   

I’m working on the prequel to Take This Regret right now, and then I’m torn between two books after that. I have a very super intense supernatural/paranormal romance manuscript that is about 25% complete waiting to be dusted off. It’s very unlike other paranormal romances out there, very character driven and has the same feel as my other books, just the character’s circumstances are different. It’s definitely the sexiest thing I’ve written. Or I’m going to start on another contemporary romance that will be in line with Take This Regret. I can’t decide. Preferences, anyone?

If you could use four words to describe your books what would they be? 

Intense, passion, forgiveness, hurt.

What's your favorite quote? 

“I hate writing, I love having written.” ― Dorothy Parker

Thank you again, Amy, for doing an interview with us.

Thank you so much for having me! 

Since we are such big fans of this author, Janna has decided to make coasters of each of the book covers for the giveaway!




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