Welcome Jamie Lynn!
Tell us about your new release, Broken Soldier. What was your inspiration behind it?
The majority of the inspiration for this book came from my time spent attending citizen police academy classes. I would listen to the detectives talk about undercover work and how far they needed to go and how dangerous it could be and how it could end up breaking them, living this other life. And this was just to take down drug dealers or gangs. So I upped the ante even further by making this a military book and the “target” an arms dealer supplying weapons to terrorists. Just imagine the lengths a covert ops team would go to, to stop this man. I really put Connor and Shawn (most especially Shawn) through the emotional and physical wringer to complete their mission.
What can readers expect when they read a story from you? What would you like readers to know about your writing style?
Well-rounded characters with faults and flaws. And in-depth research. Since my tag line is “Men in uniform…and out” I do a lot of research (much of it hands on) to make my cops and firemen and paramedics (and now soldiers) come alive and be authentic.
And until this book I would have also said “Hearts and flowers romance with a bit of angst thrown in for good measure”.
But that statement changed pretty drastically with Broken Soldier. I believe in challenging myself as a writer and taking chances. And that’s what I’ve done here. This book is dark and gritty. It tackles drug use/addiction and how far Shawn is willing to go, submitting himself to the bad guy emotionally and physically until it breaks him and nearly kills him.
This is a big change for me, and I hope that my regular readers will give this book a chance. Because even though it’s not my usual style, I am, and always will be, the Queen of Happy Endings. I will put my boys through hell, but love and dedication will always put them back together again. So give it a try! You just might like it!
What was the most surprising thing you learned about yourself while writing your latest release?
That I could write dark and gritty. I didn’t know if I could get into that mindset. It was a great challenge for me and I’m happy to say I succeeded! It opens up new avenues for me to explore in my writing in the future.
I also surprised myself by writing my longest book yet, at 51,000 words. That’s a great accomplishment for me.
How long does it take you to write a book?
Usually a couple of months. I have a regular full time job and my writing time is very limited to just an hour or two each morning. And I’m also a big time plotter. My outlines are extensive, like pages long. So that takes up a good chunk of time before I even write the first word of the book. But then because I have done such detailed outlines, the writing of the actual book flows pretty easily after that.
Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, how do you cure it?
Oh sure, absolutely. Thankfully it usually never lasts longer than a couple days. I find that I work through my writer’s block in my dreams. If I’m stuck on something I make a conscious effort to think of it right before I go to bed then my subconscious takes over and runs through different scenarios. It really works! I’ve woken up many times with my solution.
Are you working on anything new at the moment?
I don’t have anything in process right now. Taking a bit of a break. I would love to tackle a Coast Guard book next, though, in keeping with my men in uniform theme. I’ve already started scribbling down notes. Though I certainly wouldn’t be adverse to visiting Connor and Shawn again. I think Shadow Unit has more stories to tell.
What comes first, plot or characters?
Nine times out of ten it’s the plot for me. I suddenly think of some situation that I want to be the main focus of my book and the characters develop from there.
What’s the most satisfying thing about being a writer? What do you enjoy most about being a writer?
Being able to get all of these words and ideas out of my brain! Because if I didn’t have the ability to let them out I might go a bit crazy. 🙂
And the satisfaction comes when my readers “get” what my vision was, what my story is supposed to mean. That it impacted them in some way. One of my previous books dealt with m/m domestic abuse. Not an easy subject to tackle. But I received the most amazing, positive feedback on that one for how I handled it. That makes struggling to sometimes get the words out all worth it. 🙂
Despite the fact that you do extensive plotting and outlines, do your characters still sometimes take over and send the story in a different direction?
Usually not with major plot points, but with dialogue for sure. I had an idea in my head how the conversation(s) would go and suddenly my guys are taking things in another direction. And it’s usually for the better! Rule of thumb – always listen to your characters. 🙂
BLURB for Broken Soldier:
Sergeant Connor Finley and Sergeant Shawn Weller are dedicated soldiers working covert ops for Shadow Unit — a joint UK/US anti-terrorism task force.
Partners in the field and out, they had been through hell together for the last four years and made it through standing side by side. But when their latest undercover op to bring down an arms dealer plunges them into a world of drugs, sex and violence, Shawn must literally get in bed with the enemy in order to complete the mission. And Connor is forced to watch, helpless, as his partner is broken into pieces.
Will love be enough to put them both back together or will this be their final mission?
WARNING: Contains scenes of drug use, graphic sex and realistic situations
GIVEAWAY!
Leave me a comment (AND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS) for your chance to win a FREE copy of any of my backlist books!
EXCERPT:
By the time the door to Jae’s room opened again an hour later, Connor’s muscles were so rigid with anger he could barely move to step aside as Jae and his entourage emerged.
Up until tonight, Connor had only had Shawn’s vague mentions of what transpired between himself and Jae. But now he’d seen it for himself – what Shawn was willingly putting himself through for the sake of the mission. The expression on Shawn’s face tore at him, his heart seizing up in his chest at the humiliation he saw there, and that Connor was witness to it. Fury burned through Connor’s veins and it took every ounce of self-control he had to not to break Jae’s neck right then and there. And again right now as Jae stepped out and then turned to address him as Kwan, the dancers and the other security guard filed past them, headed downstairs.
“Connor, I’m taking the limo. Please see to it that Shawn gets back to the house.”
Connor unclenched his fists and swallowed. “Of course,” he answered, forcing a small smile on his face, which disappeared the instant Jae turned his back and walked away.
Connor couldn’t get back in the room fast enough, but what he saw stopped him dead in his tracks.
“Oh, Christ…” he breathed, closing the door behind him.
Shawn lay face down on one of the couches, completely naked except for a gold chain around his neck. There were red marks on his back and near his hips, obviously made from Jae’s hands and fingers. He could see where Shawn’s skin was wet and sticky from the champagne Jae had poured over him. Shawn’s clothes were scattered on the floor, along with two of the empty champagne bottles…and a used condom.
Concern for Shawn overrode his anger and disgust and he pushed those feelings aside as he crossed the room quickly and dropped down beside his partner. Shawn was breathing hard, his blue eyes glassy with pinprick pupils, caught in the grips of another heroin high.
Connor swallowed hard. “Shawn…mate…can you hear me?” he asked quietly, reaching out and resting a hand on Shawn’s bare shoulder.
Shawn’s reaction was immediate and explosive.
“No!” he yelled, knocking Connor’s hand away and scrabbling backward on the couch, as far away from Connor as he could get, curling in on himself. “Get out, Connor! Get out!”
Connor shook his head, moving down toward his distraught partner. “No…Shawn…”
“I don’t want you to see me like this! Get out!” he pleaded, voice breaking.
Connor felt angry tears flood his vision at the anguish in Shawn’s voice. He reached out to lay a hand on Shawn’s bare leg.
“Don’t touch me!” Shawn yelled, striking out.
His swing was clumsy but it caught Connor unaware and he managed to clip Connor on his jaw before he could get out of the way, and Connor tipped sideways back against the table.
“Oh, God…” Shawn breathed. “I’m sorry…I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean…” he rambled, reaching out for Connor.
“It’s okay,” Connor reassured him. “I know. This isn’t you.”
And it wasn’t. Connor knew the heroin was responsible for Shawn’s erratic behavior and wild emotional swings.
Shawn grabbed two fistfuls of Connor’s t-shirt and pulled him close, resting his head on Connor’s shoulder. “Don’t go, Connor…don’t go…” he panted.
BUY LINKS:
All Romance Ebooks (ARe): http://tinyurl.com/phwnx9k
LuLu (ebook): http://tinyurl.com/hveo8lq
LuLu (print book): http://tinyurl.com/hp921w3
BIO:
Jamie Lynn Miller has been writing fiction since childhood and decided to take the plunge and go pro in 2008, finding to her amazement that people truly enjoyed her love stories. She’s a romantic at heart, and her tales reflect the desire we all have to find “the one,” persevering through trials and heartache for that happy ending.
Jamie has a degree in fine arts and has spent the last twenty years working as a graphic designer, though she’d much rather be writing. She was born in Chicago and still lives there today with her husband and their two furry, four-footed children, er… cats.
If she’s not brainstorming story ideas, you can find Jamie at a sci-fi convention, in front of a furnace doing glass blowing, or on a mat twisted into a yoga pose.
CONTACT INFO:
Email: jamielynnmiller@live.com
Blog: http://www.jamielynnm.wordpress.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jamielynn.miller.3
GIVEAWAY!
Leave me a comment (AND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS) for your chance to win a FREE copy of any of my backlist books!
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