Joining us today is award-winning contemporary romance author, LaConnie Taylor-Jones. LaConnie’s debut novel, When I’m With You received the Romance Slam Jam Emma Award. Her second novel, When A Man Loves A Woman was recently released by Genesis Press. It is a sequel to When I’m with You. We’ll talk to LaConnie about her writing, her books, and what the future holds.
Welcome LaConnie. It’s a pleasure to have you with us.
Q: Please tell us a bit about yourself.
A: Hello everyone and thanks for having me! I’m a native Memphian and currently live in Northern California with my husband and four kids. By trade, I’m a health educator consultant as well as an active volunteer with several social and community organizations. I started writing in the summer of 03. My debut novel, When I’m With You released in November 07. My sophomore project, When A Man Loves A Woman hit store shelves this April.
Q: How do you juggle two careers and being a wife and mother? Are there days you wonder if it’s all worth it?
A: I’ve learned to say No! Saying it doesn’t mean never. It simply means not right now. And yes, there are days when I’ve asked myself, “What in world did I get into?” However, after glass of wine followed by a hot bath, I’m ready to go at it, again.
Q: What made you decide to focus your writing on contemporary romance?
A: The romance genre drew me! The stories are fresh, smart, and diverse. Simply put, romance fiction tells the story of two people. The only difference between romance fiction and other types of fiction is that the story centers on the love between two people and provides an optimistic ending.
I was first captivated by the genre in 1979 while a junior in college. As a matter of fact, I flunked an organic chemistry mid-term after staying up the entire night reading my first romance novel, The Flame in the Flower by the late Kathleen Woodiwiss. That night, I knew I was hooked for life.
Q: How did it feel to hear that you won the Romance Slam Jam Emma Award for When I’m With You?
A: I was in attendance at the Romance Slam Jam Conference, which by the way was absolutely fantastic! I felt like I’d won an Academy Award when the MC said, “and the winner is … ” It’s a night I’ll never forget!
Q: Tell us what When A Man Loves A Woman is all about.
A: When a Man Loves A Woman hit store shelves April first and is the sequel to When I’m With You. The premise of this story is betrayal—not just any kind of betrayal, but the ultimate unfaithfulness no woman should ever have to go through. Readers will see how a woman’s life that was once shattered is made whole again.
Q: Who are A. J. Baptiste and Victoria Bennett? Why will readers relate to them? Why will they want to see them together?
A: A.J. is a single father and pediatrician with eyes for Victoria (Vic) Bennett. Even though Vic has sworn off men and promises to keep her heart closed, her feelings are intense for A.J. Readers will love A.J. and Vic because the chemistry that evokes between these two is sparkling! Both are involved in an accident that will change their lives forever and their emotional ups and downs will keep readers enthralled from start to finish.
Q: Does being a single father make A.J. more vulnerable than the average guy?
A: Absolutely not! A.J. makes his living helping little people get well and when he adopts the twins, it’s a natural extension of his love for children.
Q: Victoria has soured on love. Does that mean she’s a total pessimist or is she only pessimistic about men?
A: I wouldn’t say Vic is a total pessimist or that she’s pessimistic about men. However, she is a woman who hasn’t figured out how to forgive and let go of the past. When she does, she learns to love, again.
Q: Where can readers purchase your books?
A: They can find it at all the major bookstores and on-line at Amazon.com, Barnes and Nobles.com, Books-A-Million.com, to name a few.
Q: What’s up next for you?
A: My readers have totally embraced the Baptiste Clan and I want them to hold on to their seats. The youngest Baptiste brother, Ray will find love in his story entitled, If I Were Your Woman, which is slated for release in April 09. Also, there are two other Works in Progress as well. With all of this, I plan to stay pretty busy in 2008.
Q: Is there anything you would like to add?
A: With all of my stories, there are three things I’d like readers to take away. First, I want them to understand the beauty and power of love that exists between the right man and woman, Secondly, I want readers to know and cherish the importance of family. Finally, I hope readers can discover strategies that they can apply to whatever real-life situation they’re facing to help overcome it.
Thank you for stopping by today, LaConnie. Best of luck with your writing!