Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer some questions for us at FAR- Fallen Angel Reviews. We know a few things about you such as your web site: www.janeleopoldquinn.com but we are all curious to know more. So by answering these questions you can help us get to know you.

What makes Jane Leopold Quinn the great writer that she is? What do you attribute to your success?

Thank you for calling me a “great writer.” I’ve always thought I was great; I’ve just been waiting for the rest of the world to catch up. :-) (joke) Seriously, I don’t know about being a success. I think I really felt like a success the first time I wrote “The End” on a manuscript. To realize that I wrote a whole novel, around 100,000 words, a beginning, middle and an end, was an emotional moment. I loved my characters. I still do. I loved my plot. I still do. But that’s not Ancient Ties. To shorten this answer a little, I feel like a success because I’ve accomplished something a lot of people would like to do but haven’t - yet. But I’m not at the pinnacle - yet. (another joke)

If you could pick one place to go back in time what would it be and why?

No hesitation, I’d go back to the Wild West. I love Westerns. My first two mss were Westerns. I know that personal amenities in the 1800s weren’t what we’re used to now, but there’s still a lot of romance to that time. The mouth waters thinking about a long, lean, jean wearing, booted cowboy with a big Stetson And a gun belt riding low on his hips.

If there was one thing that you could not live without what would it be?

Books.

Of all your books, (the ones you have read and written) which one would you say holds the most meaning for you and why?

The first one not published yet. I’d like to fix it and get it out there. They were the first characters I created and are dear to me. As far as books I’ve read, the ones I love the best are Jane Austen’s, as a lot of other writers say. Jo-Ann Mapson and Dorothy Dunnett are two non-romance writers I adore.

If you were going to visit any place in the world to research a book where would it be?

I’ve already visited the Roman Baths at Bath, England to good results. Other than that, I’m fascinated with small town America. I have one ms, a contemporary, about a small town deputy sheriff. Hmm, maybe I should create a small town and tell the stories of the inhabitants. Urk! Has this already been done?

What would you say is the greatest and best thing that ever happened to you?

The greatest thing that’s happened to me is that I got a second chance at love and marriage. Almost everything that’s been good in my life has happened after 40. So, I’m the poster child for “life begins at 40.” The other great thing in my life was when I became a single mother to my 16 year old niece and tried to give her the love and structure she needed in life.

What is something that makes you crazy?

Haha, how long do you have? What really drove me crazy in the past was fretting about what I was going to do with my life. I’m talking about being middle-aged - eek - and wondering where my life had gone. Who was I? Now I know. I’m an erotic romance writer.

Do you have a yahoo site where people can join to find out the latest and greatest books out there by you?

My website is www.janeleopoldquinn.com. The only book on it is Ancient Ties, but I’m certainly planning for more.

If you were to pick a place to write where would your ideal place be?

I have three places that have been the best for writing. I started out sitting in my corner of the couch and handwriting a ms. As I got more serious, I created a desk area in a corner of our living room. We live in a two bedroom condo and space is at a premium. My office area has expanded a little, and it overlooks our balcony and a tenth floor view of Lake Michigan. The third writing spot is a coffeehouse in downtown Chicago. I’ve been going there for several years to write before work. They’ve finally granted me free second cup status.

What is the oddest thing that has ever happened to you?

The oddest thing that has ever happened to me is this. Who would have thought that plain, shy, bookish Janie Leopold from Dubuque, Iowa would turn out to be a romance writer, let alone an erotic romance writer!?

Do you think being a teacher has prepared you for writing?

I was a teacher but haven’t been for a long time. For the last 26 years, I’ve been a secretary, first at an architectural firm and now at a law firm. What really prepared me for writing was hours spent reading and dreaming, then finally having the confidence to put pen to paper.

Besides writing what occupies your time?

Besides writing - I have a full time job as a legal secretary - no romance there. So, my writing time is an hour and a half before work and on the weekends. I have a husband, but he’s not much work and actually does the laundry. We have no kids or pets. I also make silk flower arrangements and miniature houses and room boxes. Both have overtaken our condo. When I’m not writing or reading or making yet more flower arrangements, I’m watching HGTV. I can’t wait to retire so that besides being able to write full time, I could get back into miniatures.

Do you have any more writing projects in the works? If so can you give us a little info about them?

I just finished a short story for Whiskey Creek Press Torrid for their Torrid Teasers. It hasn’t been accepted as of this writing, but I’m extremely hopeful. It’s a good story. Valentine’s Day, about childhood friends who find their way back to each other.

I interrupted a ms to finish up the short story. The ms, Haunted Lives, is a contemporary about a Chicago tactical (undercover) cop and a secretary. He spies, in a good way :-), through her bedroom window as she’s - shall we say - “entertaining” herself. Naturally, he’s interested. Each of them have reasons they don’t want to get involved with someone but can’t resist the good sex. They have some adventures in violence and in passion (not at the same time) and eventually get together.

I’d love to go back and revise my first two Westerns. Jake and Ivy is about a young woman, Ivy, who falls in love first with the Flamenco and runs away with a dance troop to escape an arranged marriage. Jake is a horse trader who falls in love with her. They weave around each other in Southern California in 1880. He can’t forget her, but they’re separated by a twist of fate. Jake’s long lost brother kidnaps Ivy to return her to her father. Since romances have a happy ending, I’ll leave it at that.

Second Chances is about Jake’s brother Nick (Ivy’s kidnapper) and his romance with Margaret who owns a ranch in Northern California. Margie (with a hard “g”) doesn’t want any man, especially Nick.

I also have one more contemporary about a small town Iowa county sheriff’s deputy, Hank. Home to Stay’s heroine Nickie’s house is being vandalized. Hank has to discover the reason and the culprit along with discovering the truth about his past. Then he has to let himself accept Nickie’s love.

So you can see, I have a lot ready to work on. All of these are completed mss. They just need revision, which, being an anal perfectionist, means will take forever.

With such glowing reviews on Ancient Ties, what can we as the readers expect from your next book?

No one is more surprised that I am about my reviews. Three 5-star and one 4-star so far. I’m waiting for two more. My first reaction was that those people liked me. But as time went on, and I read the reviews - over and over - it was even more gratifying to realize that they liked my characters. So now I think I have performance anxiety. What if the next one isn’t as well received? What if? What if? I just have to get over myself and move on.

As far as what to expect from me - more hot, more love. I love writing graphic love scenes, emphasis on love. My people don’t hurt each other, they heal each other, complete each other. The traditional meaning of romance novels: two people who find each other and have a happy ending. Oh, and they have a few adventures along the way.

There are two women I’d like to particularly thank. My mentor on Ancient Ties was Joan Powell, who’s published by Wings e-Press. She worked with me word through word to perfect the book in every way. The other woman is Sandra (Sam) Tibbetts, my WCP editor, who was also on the staff of Romance Junkies. An experienced editor, she took a first time author and worked mightily to turn my already hot ms into a Torrid one. We also worked to perfect it word by painstaking word. I adore and revere these two highly experienced women. Unfortunately, Sam died earlier this year, much too young and much too soon. At least she saw my first 5-star review from JERR and knew her hard work paid off. I hope I’ll take what I’ve learned from these two women into my future writing.

Thank you so very much for answering the questions as I am looking forward to hearing more about you and the books you have coming out.

Interviewed by: Wendi