Hi Jennifer! Welcome to Fallen Angel Reviews. I have been looking forward to speaking with you for weeks!

Your novella, Harvest Magic, was just released in print as part of Ellora’s Cave Seasons of Magick anthology. What was your reaction to hearing this story would be re-released in print?

When my editor first approached me about releasing the story in print, my first reaction was joy that I'd be able to fix something that a reader of the e-book had said wasn't clear. (I do tons of research for each story, and hate to get any of my details wrong.) That was followed by excitement about getting the book into stores, where it would attract a whole different audience from the ebook buyers.

I thoroughly enjoyed your latest release from Cerridwen, Fugitive Lovers. For readers that have not had a chance to meet Val and Raven, can you describe these dynamic, would-be enemies?

He's a somewhat rigid police officer, held to an incredibly strict moral and behavioral standard -- which means, even though he knows all the technicalities of making out and making love, he's still a virgin. She's the only daughter of the leader of the Auric Rights League, an underground equal-rights movement, dedicated to proving herself worthy of her father's regard. They're both extremely honorable, wanting the best thing for everyone. The problem is that they've been culturally conditioned into believe diametrically opposing views of what that is.

The history of the Aurics was well explained, but still left the possibilities open as the Aurics come into their various abilities. Can we hope for more stories about them and the ICP?

I don't have any additional stories planned at this point (although I always thought that once he was off the Most Wanted list, Raven's father might take some action on the smoldering attraction between him and Mrs. Alexandre). I've been developing stories in my World Gates series, and revisiting the order of mystic Guardians that I created in Sex Magic, as well as creating a family of cougar/human hybrids.

You spoke recently at the Central Ohio Writer’s Conference on Paranormal romance. What do you find the most engaging aspect of a live audience?

I love the energy of a live audience. Their excitement is contagious. This probably explains why I also enjoy performing in community theatre.

In your opinion, what makes Paranormal romance so popular?

I think because it lets everything be bigger. The alpha-heroes can be more alpha, without being jerks, because you don't expect the same behavior from a vampire or werewolf that you do from a human. The stakes of the conflict between the hero and heroine can be more dramatic, with not just their hearts on the line but the fate of the world. And the heroine can have powers that readers always dreamed of.

Besides the chance to get hugged by some delicious models, what is the most rewarding quality of going to conferences?

Meeting readers. I never get over the thrill of hearing that someone read one of my books, and enjoyed it enough to remember my name and the book title. And when a reader reacts as if the characters are real…I'm just in Heaven. That means I accomplished everything I was trying to do with my writing, and successfully shared the vision in my head with a reader.

Can you tell us one thing about yourself that readers would never guess?

I played against a Chess grand master at the age of 9. (He won.)

Shadow Prince, Book 2 in the World Gate Series, was an excellent story. I loved the inspiration for the story. Can you share with readers where the idea came from?

I'd been in a mind-numbingly dull all-day business meeting, and had drifted into a sort of zen fugue. As I walked out to my car in the parking lot, still not entirely connected to reality, I was suddenly struck with the image of a young minstrel beginning a song, and a knife flying through the air to imbed itself in the wall beside his ear, effectively silencing him. For that brief moment, the minstrel and his world were more real than the parking lot where I was standing. The characters and situation provided the opening of Shadow Prince, and the totally freak-with-your-mind experience of one reality sliding into another provided the emotional context for the heroine's inner conflict.

Now once you found the minstrel did the story evolve in chronological order, or do you write scenes as they develop?

I have to write in chronological order. I may know the big picture when I start, but I only discover all the tiny details that bring the story to life as I'm writing, and that discovery has to happen in the same order as the story unfolds.

I must admit that there were a few scenes in Shadow Prince where I was moved to tears. I know I appreciate individuals within a story that can illicit this level of response. As you write, do you feel the same level of connection to the characters?

There are some writers who say they see their stories as if they were watching a movie of the action, and others who say they hear their characters' thoughts and conversations. Neither of those methods has ever worked for me. The only way I know how to write is the way I learned to act -- I become the character. "Jennifer Dunne" just sort of … goes away, and my body becomes a conduit for expressing the reality of the character, through the medium of words. I live the story with my characters, as my characters.

Will there be more books forthcoming in the World Gate Series?

There are currently two books outlined that tell the story of Reynart's sister Ladria, and her mission to the Mages' Council, as well as her struggle against the forces that do not want her news delivered. I also have an 8,000-word short story written that describes the dancing girl that Angie painted, and how she knew Reynart. Then there's a novel set some hundreds of years in the past, before magic was unleashed upon their world, as well as three novels in various stages of completion that describe the unleashing of magic, the Tsiech revolts, and the founding of the kingdom of Nord D'Rae, which occur slightly more recently. So, I guess the answer is a qualified yes. The stories are there, but I haven't signed contracts for any of them yet, so I can't tell you when they might be available for readers.

Since most of us only see the finished product, will you describe a day in your life as you bring your characters to life?

I have a full-time job, so I don't do any writing until after dinner.
First, there's much procrastination involving email and online games of Ticket to Ride (www.ticket2ridegame.com). Eventually, I read what's been written so far. And then I stare at the screen, letting my mind drift, until I start typing. (In a side-note, I touch type without being able to see the keyboard, because the cat sleeps in my lap while I work, and if the keyboard tray is pulled out, she tries to sleep on the keyboard. So the only way I can protect it is to type with my arms tucked under the desk.) At some point, I come back to awareness, usually when my eyes are starting to drift closed of their own volition because I've stayed up so late. I read over what I wrote, and either get a thrill of "Yes! That's it! That's what happened!" or a dull sense that what I wrote may be close to the correct actions, but it has no life. In that case, I'll usually give it to my critique partner, to see if she can tell what I did wrong. Rinse and repeat.

Is there a particular character that still calls to you even after you have written their story?

I love Reynart. There's so much more of his life story to tell, of the time before he met Angie, or the time between Not Quite Camelot and Shadow Prince.

With the holidays approaching, what is your favorite holiday tradition?

My favorite holiday tradition isn't from the Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Years holidays. My favorite holiday tradition is from Easter. Everyone knows that the Easter Bunny hides treats for boys and girls to find on Easter Sunday. In most homes, they either come in a big basket, or are hidden around the house/property and must be hunted. But in our home, the Easter Bunny played a game. He'd deliver our baskets, which would contain the first clue in the form of a poem with the final word missing. We'd race to the location described, to find a piece of candy and another clue. Until finally, the last location would have a chocolate rabbit, and the farewell poem saying how much he'd enjoyed playing with us, and looked forward to seeing us again next year. Now that I'm the adult, I love writing the poems and watching the frenzied hunt to figure out the clues.

What are you currently working on? Can readers expect to see this soon?

I'm currently working on a novel titled Wolf Mind, the sequel to Sex Magic. It follows the story of Heather, the apprentice of the hero of Sex Magic, after she gets her psychology degree, and tries to establish herself as a psychologist while proving herself as a mystical Guardian. She gets involved with a man who is convinced he's a werewolf. The problem is, he's right. And he's not the only one.

Don't expect to see it anytime soon. Even after I finish writing it, it will need to go through the editing process and get assigned a release date, so it's realistically going to be a 2007 release at the earliest.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

I think the only thing is to remind readers how much I love hearing from them. So please, if you read my books and want to comment on them, drop me a line. My mailing address is Jennifer Dunne, PO Box 496, Endicott, NY 13761-0496.

Thank you so much for stopping by Jennifer.

Thanks for having me!

Readers, feel free to stop by Jennifer’s site. You can’t help but have a good time while you are there. She offers readers some wonderful excerpts from her work as well keeps us up to date with what’s going on in her journal. If you are really daring, see if you can find her “Jennifer needs responses section” and then find out yours as well. It will definitely liven up your day.

Interviewed by: Amanda