Hi Jaycee and welcome back to FAR, it's great to have you here. Jaycee Clark is an award-winning author with New Concepts Publishing.

Hi, Jaymi. Thanks for having me back, it's great to be here.

It has been a while since you've chatted with us. What have you been up to?

What have I been up to? That's a loaded question: Running the kids up and down the road, battling the laundry monster and writing, of course. Always writing and plotting.

The last time you were with us, Deadly Shadows, had just come out. How has your life changed since then?

Oh wow. How has it changed? In more ways than I thought. I'd always dreamed of being published and it's great, but I've learned that publishing that first book is just the beginning. That's when the work really begins. Suddenly there are deadlines and expectations, either self imposed or from others, but they're there.

Has my life changed in the day to day way of things? No, I still have to coerce the boys out of bed to get to school on time and glare at the dirty dishes wishing they'd magically get done.

Your Deadly series has received awards and rave reviews; do you feel any pressure to write at the same level or to surpass your earlier writing?

Oh my, yes. Deadly Games liked to have done me in. I stressed so much over Ian's story that I just stalled out. Completely. I also learned which anti-acids really work and which don't. I worried if he met my expectations, if he'd meet the reader's. Luckily, so far, he has. Now I'm worrying about Quinlan. And the poor man does get his story. When…well, I'm working on that. But yes, the pressure is there. And if not from my self, then from my agent, bless her heart, who only says: push it. Grreeaaattt. I wonder if I'm pushing it enough? Not enough? Too much? Guess we'll see.

Several of your books can be found in e-book format and print. What's it like knowing you have books out there in the stores?

Surreal. Totally surreal. I still just stand in the aisle and grin like a stupid idiot. My preschooler often accompanies me on my shopping expeditions. Of course, I have to stop by the bookstore. It's a compulsion. They might just have a reference book I'm looking for. Anyway, he's gotten to where he sighs and says, 'Do we have to look at your books again?'. Poor kid. What can I say, I stay grounded.

You have several new releases and works in progress, what can you tell is about them?

Well, Revenge II from the Ghost Cats Anthology with Michelle M. Pillow and Mandy M. Roth was just released in October. Revenge II continues the story of cat shifter mates, Lorenzo and Reya and the evil they have to battle.

Deadly Games, the fourth Kinncaid book, should be in print sometime in December.

The Dream, a regency suspense has been contracted by Cerridwen. No date yet. It's the story of an American widow who travels to England in search of her family. She finds more than she bargained for though.

I also just contracted Angel Eyes with Samhain Press, no date on that at present. It's a contemporary suspense with psychic elements in it.

And I'm currently working on two contemporary suspense novels for my agent. Cold Range is about a woman who survives a brutal attack and learns to live again, unfortunately, a killer is still watching her every move.

The other is, Buried Lies, book two in my Gaelord series.

Tell your fans something about you they would never guess.

I like musicals. I know, but really I do. I love to watch Annie, the Wizard of Oz, The Music Man, Chicago, Moulin Rouge. What can I say?

What is your favorite part of a book to write?

The last two words: THE END. That's my favorite. I can breathe then.

Do you feel as if the characters live with you as you write? Do they haunt your dreams?

Not my dreams so much, no. But live with me? Yes. They invade much of my life so that my kids often say, "Mom! I'm talking to you." Then I blink and listen. Driving, dishes, laundry, dinner…yeah, I think about my characters a lot.

What does your working space look like?

Bwwahahahahahaha…come into my parlor said the spider to the fly. No, I'm kidding. Well, almost. It's in the basement, no windows. No, it's not. It's a converted spare bedroom and it's a disaster area most of the time. The blinds need replacing, my desk looks like a hurricane hit it and since it's the only room in the house where the boys don't hang out in for any length of time, it's got a pile of Christmas presents and wrapping.

Describe what a typical day is like for you?

There's typical? Wow, didn't know that one. Typical days are one of two things, either writing at the coffee shop while both are in school until one gets out at lunch, or writing at home in between practicing ABC's on the days the preschooler doesn't have school. Then the evenings are usually homework, dinner, the norm. And when it's quiet, I might get some writing or editing done. If I'm lucky. Otherwise I tend to get most of my writing done in the mornings.

You find yourself stranded on a desert island, what things could you not survive without?

I'm way too practical, I'll admit it. An endless supply of freshwater and quinine tablets. Other than that, some photos of family. Of course a hunky genie in a bottle would be nice so I could wish my way home. :)

If you could go anywhere, do anything or be anyone for 24 hours, what you do you?

I'll pick go anywhere, because if I'm there, I'll be doing stuff I'd want to and I rather like who I am. So… I'd go to Scotland. I've always wanted to go there.

Have you ever had an embarrassing or memorable moment at a book signing?

Both. Embarrassing was when only my sister and a friend bought my books out of everyone there-Lord, it would have been worse if they hadn't come, huh? *g* And memorable…signing at RT last year. Yeah, that was big, and my first and I don't know that it can ever be topped. It was great!

Do you have a character that is especially close to your heart?

For my females, I'd have to say, Jesslyn. She's my favorite, she's bitchy and contrary yet vulnerable too. She was fun to write. And my heroes….ugh, that's tough. Either Ian Kinncaid or Lincoln Blade. Shady dangerous men who give their all for others. *g* They were fun to write too.

Could you tell us your biggest pet peeves?

Dishonesty is a major pet peeve. Narcissists are pet peeves. SLOW drivers who hog the road are pet peeves and long check out lines.

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

Happy holidays! Other than that, I can't think of anything. Thank you so much for having me and I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season! Hugs & chocolates,
Jaycee

Thanks again Jaycee for being here with us. To learn more about Jaycee Clark and her fantastic books, check out her website.

Interviewed by: Jaymi