Have you always wanted to be an author or is it something that has come about fairly recently?
I think there was always a part of me that wanted to write. I did a lot of writing in high school, especially, but it was one of those things I didn’t consider a reasonable goal. I let it slide by the wayside, but started writing again a few years ago. I definitely don’t ever want to stop again.
Did you write often as a child/teen/young adult?
When I was young, I enjoyed the writing assignments in school. I actually looked forward to papers and themes. It continued through high school, as I’d mentioned earlier. I did a bit on the side, but I guess I lacked the confidence to take my own writing seriously enough to continue. Dumb mistake.
What inspired you to write your current novels/stories/etc?
Drew In Blue had multiple inspirations. I wanted to explore the male main character in a romance, I wanted to tackle a small-town setting, and I wanted to have a realistic love story featuring imperfect people. My work in progress is also a romance, but besides the requisite love story, I’m tackling the loss of my father in a way I haven’t done before. It’s an emotional process, and my sinuses will be relieved when I come to the end of this one.
What writers have influenced you the most and why?
I have to count Stephen King as my biggest influence. Funny citation, considering I write romance. But I think he’s always drawn me in with the themes of average people being thrown into extraordinary situations. He’s a master of the every man, I think.
What is your favorite genre to read and why?
I’m all over the place when it comes to genre. I like to read the classics. Something in me wants to sample as many of the literary titans as humanly possible. I enjoy contemporary stories, too. I do seem to have an attraction to dystopian stories. But really, I like to pick up a book and be surprised by finding something great. I don’t care what genre it falls under.
Do you write in your favorite genre that you read or do you get out of your comfort zone?
I think, if I knew that someday I’d pen a novel, that I’d be surprised to find I’d chosen romance. But I like to tweak the rules to make romance work for me. I enjoy really delving into character-building, and I need to have a solid storyline. I don’t really do fluff. What’s most important for me, as a writer, is to create characters who have really grown from the person they were in the first chapter. It just so happens that the romance genre allows me to do that in a way I enjoy. Love makes people go to great lengths, after all. So I enjoy finding the journeys my characters are willing to embark on for the sake of love.
Whose opinion(s) about writing do you value most and why: other writers, readers, family/friends, editors/publishers
My beta-girls rock. A couple ladies I know look at my in-progress material, not so much for grammar, but in that voracious reader capacity. I trust them when they say something doesn’t feel right. I tend to isolate when I write, and try to follow my gut. Too much outside input can really throw you off course.
What genre do think would be the hardest for you to write and why?
Fantasy and Sci-Fi themes would stump me. I don’t think I would have the patience for the extreme world-building one must work at to create a story that is believable. I certainly envy anyone who can tackle that monstrosity of a writing responsibility.
Are you currently published? If so, tell us a bit about your book(s)/stories/poems/etc.
Drew In Blue is a contemporary romance available for download on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance, and OmniLit. Readers can visit my website for purchase links, excerpts and to take a gander at the fabulous reviews Drew’s been lucky to get since publication as an ebook.
The basic story is that of a thirty-something loner, Drew Doyle, who manages to father a child out of wedlock, and soon becomes the unwilling sole caregiver for the boy. Something he, frankly, really sucks at. But with the help of his best friend and former girlfriend, Kris, Drew starts to figure out just what he needs to do to provide the life his child deserves, and the life he’s always wanted.
What is your current project and how soon can we expect to see it?
My work in progress is tentatively titled Daddy’s Girl, but that’s subject to change at any given moment. It’s about the black sheep of the family, Janie McGee, who thought she’d left her miserable small-town life behind, but is drawn back to her roots when her father becomes gravely ill. Love is found amid tragedy, but the question is, will Janie accept it before it all slips through her fingers?
My lovely status bar I use to track the progress of Daddy’s Girl tells me I’m very close to finishing. After some editing, I’ll be doing my best to get Janie to print as soon as possible. Cross your fingers for me!
Which character of yours do you relate to the most and why?
In Drew In Blue, I think I relate to Drew most. I understand why he’s so closed off to the world around him. It’s a safety net, not a real desire to shut people out.
In Daddy’s Girl, I relate all too well with Janie. I’m familiar with a lot of her battles, and sometimes it hits a little too close to home as I’m writing.
Which character has been the most difficult to write and why?
In Drew In Blue, Drew’s best friend Kris was difficult, in the sense that I couldn’t always relate. She’s a woman who knows what she wants in life, but doesn’t have to play a role to get it. She’s comfortable in her own skin, she’s confident in her talents, and she isn’t afraid to speak her mind. I like her chutzpah. I wish I had some of it.
Joe McGee, Janie’s father in Daddy’s Girl is very difficult to write, especially as I’m nearing the end of the story. I really like this guy, and I feel bad about his fate. I find myself in tears at times, worrying about poor old Joe.
Connect with JM Kelley: Website Twitter @JM_Kelley Facebook To purchase Drew in Blue please visit: Amazon Barnes and Noble All Romance OmniLit
Thanks for having me on the blog, Shay, and for such awesome questions! Had a blast answering them
This sounds like a very interesting book, and definitely one that I would really enjoy reading! Thanks for a great interview
jwitt33 at live dot com
Absolutely loved Drew in Blue and anxious to read Daddy’s girl. Great job JM