Today I am speaking with Jane Beckenham. Hello Jane and welcome to Fallen Angel Reviews.

Jane, New Zealand sounds wonderful. I imagine there is plenty of inspiration that comes to you when writing your stories. Hiring Cupid has a nice cover; I love the books by Linden Bay.

Thanks Linda. I’m so happy to be with you at Fallen Angel, as you gave Hiring Cupid such a fab review. Thanks LOL!

Yes, NZ sure is lovely. It’s Maori name is Aotearoa, which translates as the land of the long white cloud! For my books set in NZ, like Hiring Cupid, or my current release from Linden Bay, He’s the One, I try and give it a little bit of NZ flavor. Plants etc. For eg. Pohutukawa is our NZ Christmas tree, it flowers Nov thru Jan, our summer and lines the coastal areas. With its scarlet fronds, against the blue summer skies, it’s very beautiful

I’m very happy with both Hiring Cupid and He’s the One’s covers. I wanted something light, sexy and a real ‘teaser’. Definitely think those men do it! Linden Bay does great covers.

We would love to hear more about Hiring Cupid, would you enlighten us on the story?

Carly is a workaholic (like...we all know that life!). She’s basically dateless and desperate; having lied to her friends she has this sexy guy as a boyfriend. No one has seen her. So Carly does what every sensible businesswoman does, she hires herself a gigolo...or so she thinks!

Jane, do you have other works in progress that you would like to share with us?

He’s The One, is my current release (October 07) from Linden Bay. Again, set in NZ, it was such a fun and sexy book to write. Taylor Sullivan needs a man. She needs sex. A wedding planner, her brides often ask her questions about sex, but inexperienced, she can’t answer them. So this gal gives Cade Harper a proposition he cannot refuse.

I’ve currently got about 3 things on the go. I’ve a Regency in London with M&B, a time travel/historical with Source books – all under consideration, and I’ve got a sexy novella I’m nearly finished, plus editing my next (hopefully LOL) book for LB. What do they say about no rest for the wicked!

How many books do you see yourself composing in the next year?

I aim for at least three per year, hopefully four, but really it depends on the home front, and what disasters get in the way. I try and get a sensible balance between my home and writing lives, but admit I’m a bit obsessive at times with the writing, doing late nighters and early mornings.

Do you command your characters or do they take charge of you?

I think the characters are in control. I start out bossing them around, and then they definitely take over. I was struggling this a.m. with what my characters should be doing, and basically said, ok, you guys, what next. Took myself off to my bedroom for a snooze (read that as meditation LOL!) and hey presto, Mr. Sexy Hunk (character not my hubby LOL) whispered in my ear exactly what he wanted to do!

What would you say is your favorite method for relaxing?

I love looking at decorating magazines. I’m a closet decorator, just love it. It’s pure escapism, I mean who can redecorate their house every year, but I can just by looking at magazines. Now I bet you thought I might say sex or chocolate, didn’t you? Gotcha!

What is your favorite genre to read and write?

Reading is historicals, time travel, and category romances. And pretty much that is what I write too.

Do you go through much research when writing your books?

For my time travels, absolutely. Woman of Valor was set in Israel, and I’d lived there years ago, so that was easier. But Be My Valentine is set in Jamaica and I’ve never been there. So the library, internet and friends online who had traveled there was great.

I’ve just contracted – The Sheikh’s Proposal, for Red Rose Publishing, and that is all about perfume markets, so that was great to research.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

I don’t think I did (I know, that goes against what most writers say, but heck it’s the truth), but when I said this to some friends once, they corrected me and said that I always talked about writing. You know, I don’t remember that. However, I spent many years of my youth and teens in hospital and developed a love of reading. It became my escapism from pain, so I guess writing was the next progression. Actually, it’s been really interesting, as since I’ve been writing, I’ve discovered that an uncle was a published author and my mother a closet writer, and now a nephew is writing children’s stories. So I guess it’s in the genes.

Jane, what would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

Gosh this is an interesting question. I had to phone my author friend, Melody Knight to find something interesting about me LOL! Probably that I live in New Zealand. I mean we’re so way down there, sort of falling off the planet! And, how about that I met my husband on a blind date and married 11 months later, and now hitting our 25 wedding anniversary. Phew. Am I interesting or what? Not!

How beneficial do you find workshops or conferences for the author?

I really like them. There’s always something you can learn. No one knows it all. At least I sure don’t!

For Fun: What is your favorite television show?

Oh I love those makeover programs (homes) and the ones that make people over too. Like – Do I look good naked! – The program, I mean!

What is your favorite flavor tea?

Eeeeew, don’t drink tea or coffee.

Do you have a favorite flavor ice cream?

Gotta be chocolate. Or an NZ icon – Hokey Pokey, that’s vanilla with bits of hokey pokey in it. Delicious!

What is your favorite soft drink?

Diet coke! Sad I know. I keep telling myself it’s frying my brain! But I do drink lots of water too. Really, I promise!

In the story, The Secret Garden, the children found a lovely garden to go for peace, solitude and complete happiness. Where would you say is your secret garden?

Gosh, what a lovely concept. My automatic response was...my mind. In my mind I can escape everything, and anything, I can be who I want, how I want, where I want. Guess that’s the author in me. Physically, my secret garden would be my bed. LOL. Sleep is for wooses. I spent years in hospital and bed because of a physical disability; so I’ve come to enjoy being in bed, find it relaxing. You’d think it would be the opposite, that I’d want to disassociate myself with something that relates back to pain etc, but nope. Now, I’m starting to scare myself with too much psycho-babble.

Do you have another website other than, http://www.janebeckenham.com that you would like to share with your readers?

My web site is being updated as we speak. I’m absolutely totally techno-challenged. However, I do have a fab yahoo group newsletter that goes out about every 2 months. Actually, I hope to get a competition up on it asap in time for Christmas. Readers can join it here

Also if they’d like to check out my books. Here are links.
Hiring Cupid He's The One.

Jane, thank you for sharing time with us today. I wish you the best in your writing endeavors.

Many thanks Linda, it was lovely to chat.

Interviewed by: Linda L.