Conversation with Jayne Ann Krentz Handling a Book Launch in Quarantine

Jane Ann Krentz, of my favorite authors has a book authored in her Amanda Quick identity coming out on May 5th.  Close Up is set in Burning Cove. 

A few years ago Amanda Quick books left Victorian England and settled in Burning Cove, 1930's Hollywood's favorite Beach town getaway spot. I am an enthusisatic follower of the move. 

As a major fan I pre-order her books. When I realized the actual release was going to be during the quarantine I contacted Jayne for a brief Q&A and she graciously responded.

Q: Writers tend to spend a lot of time at home. But I imagine the quarantine makes that time at home feel different. What do you do to keep yourself relatively sane?

JAK:  Trying to take it one day at a time here in Seattle. I'm sticking with my routine as much as possible -- Pilates three times a week (on the floor of my living room), writing every day, staying in touch with readers on social media.  Luckily my husband and I have worked at home for years and spent a lot of time in each other's company.  We get along well.  That said, I will admit I have discovered the pleasures of Zoom Happy Hours with friends!  

Q: Close Up - the 4th Burning Cove book comes out May 5th. How are you and your publisher dealing with the book launch?

JAK:  We're running some experiments with Facebook Live signing events.  I'm fortunate to be working with two great Indie bookstores --https://poisonedpen.com/ in Scottsdale, AZ and https://page2books.indielite.org/ in Burien, WA.  I'll be signing books for readers who ordered CLOSE UP  through those bookstores on April 27 and April 28 here in my living room via Facebook Live.  Fingers crossed that readers will enjoy the experience.  

This will be live at 11:00AM today, Tuesday April 28 on Jayne's Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/JayneAnnKrentz/

Q: What's next in the worlds of Jayne Ann Krentz, Jayne Castle and Amanda Quick?

JAK:  The second book in my Fogg Lake Trilogy, ALL THE COLORS OF NIGHT, will be out in January (under my JAK name).  I'm working on the next Burning Cove book now and I'm planning on working in another Jayne Castle Harmony novel after that.  It seems a lot of readers are missing the dust bunnies.  The little critters have really taken over my Jayne Castle world!

I couldn't be happier. The first thing I did during Quarantine was reread all of the St Helens books, followed by the Ghost Hunter Books and then on to Harmony.

I can't wait to read Close up. I manage to change the shipping address so I will get the book here in Michigan. Here's the blurb for Closeup.
Thank you for being here, Jayne.

Welcome to Burning Cove, California where 1930s Hollywood glamour conceals a ruthless killer…
 
Vivian Brazier never thought life as an art photographer would include nightly wake-up calls to snap photos of grisly crime scenes or headshots for aspiring male actors. Although she is set on a career of transforming photography into a new art form, she knows her current work is what’s paying the bills.
 
After shooting crime scene photos of a famous actress, the latest victim of the murderer the press has dubbed the “Dagger Killer,” Vivian notices eerie similarities to the crime scenes of previous victims—details that only another photographer would have noticed—details that put Vivian at the top of the killer’s target list.
 
Nick Sundridge has always been able to “see” things that others don’t, coping with disturbing dreams and visions. His talent, or as he puts it—his curse—along with his dark past makes him a recluse, but a brilliant investigator. As the only one with the ability to help, Nick is sent to protect Vivian. Together, they discover the Dagger Killer has ties to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood royalty and high society. It is a cutthroat world of allure and deception that Vivian and Nick must traverse—all in order to uncover the killer who will stop at nothing to add them to their gallery of murders.

Yes! I can't wait till May 5th. Dear ones, if you haven't tried the burning cove books, or any Jayne Ann Krentz check your library. I know you will find her there.And she has two 99 cent Kindle deals this month.

Kindle Monthly Deals - yep, two of them!

Amazon has selected both THE PIRATE and THE ADVENTURER as Kindle Monthly Deals for April. You can get them through the end of the month for only 99 cents each! Three classic heroes (a pirate, and adventurer, and a cowboy) make up my Ladies and Legends series and are the love interests for three very good friends.

The Pirate

After a day-long flight, Kate has lost her luggage and missed her only connection to an island resort. Faced with the unexpected, things only get worse when a local thief tries to relieve her of her money as well. Too tired to sit idly by and lose everything, Kate takes matters into her own hands and not only frightens away her attacker, but causes enough of a scene that she earns a ride to her hotel on a private boat with a very intriguing man.

The Adventurer

Map in hand, Sarah hires a treasure hunter to help her on her quest to discover a lost family heirloom buried on the grounds of the old family property. Too bad the guide she thinks she's hired really doesn't want the job. Sarah's relentless pursuit of her inheritance finally causes Gideon to give in and take Sarah on the adventure of a lifetime.

Happy reading

ABOUT CLOSE UP

Welcome to Burning Cove, California where 1930s Hollywood glamour conceals a ruthless killer…
 
Vivian Brazier never thought life as an art photographer would include nightly wake-up calls to snap photos of grisly crime scenes or headshots for aspiring male actors. Although she is set on a career of transforming photography into a new art form, she knows her current work is what’s paying the bills.
 
After shooting crime scene photos of a famous actress, the latest victim of the murderer the press has dubbed the “Dagger Killer,” Vivian notices eerie similarities to the crime scenes of previous victims—details that only another photographer would have noticed—details that put Vivian at the top of the killer’s target list.
 
Nick Sundridge has always been able to “see” things that others don’t, coping with disturbing dreams and visions. His talent, or as he puts it—his curse—along with his dark past makes him a recluse, but a brilliant investigator. As the only one with the ability to help, Nick is sent to protect Vivian. Together, they discover the Dagger Killer has ties to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood royalty and high society. It is a cutthroat world of allure and deception that Vivian and Nick must traverse—all in order to uncover the killer who will stop at nothing to add them to their gallery of murders.

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Book News for You. Plus # Giveaway

This is from Little Bird Publicity.

They are going to send me a copy of Virgin River which is already on my bookshelf. I am giving away my copy to one of you. It really is a lovely series. If you haven't read it, this is your chance to read the first one. I own them all. The Giveaway is open for US readers only. Sorry. Postage.

Little Bird:

We're excited to share this special breaking news announcement with a select group of our favorite bloggers and influencers:

Netflix has ordered 10 episodes of Virgin River, a contemporary romance based on the beloved, 20-book Harlequin series from #1 New York Times bestseller Robyn Carr. The series has sold more than 13 million copies worldwide.

Reel World Management and Roma Roth are producing the series; Sue Tenney will serve as showrunner and executive producer; and Roma Roth and Chris Perry will executive produce. The series will start production later this year.
About the series:

Melinda Monroe answers an ad to work as a nurse practitioner in the remote California town of Virgin River thinking it will be the perfect place to start fresh and leave her painful memories behind. But she soon discovers that small-town living isn't quite as simple as she expected and that she must learn to heal herself before she can truly make Virgin River her home.

Robyn Carr is the author of more than 50 novels, which have sold over 28 million copies worldwide. She has written 11 #1 New York Times bestsellers. Her upcoming novel, The Best of Us, will be released on January 8th, 2019.

Next

News from my friend and former critique partner, Allison Morse. Her new YA book, Dragon's Shadow is now available on NetGalley. A thrilling rollercoaster ride, Dragon’s Shadow is a fun read that delivers.

Now at #NetGalley https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/150111 …

I bought the book when it came out. You can read it at NetGalley for free. Why? Because Dragon's Shadow needs more reviews.

https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/150111 …

My five-star review: Twins separated by a curse and magic. Kylie lives in our world. Jarlon lives in a world ruled by magic. A world where three races - Human, Cortali, and Shinwar are ruled by one King. The twin’s destinies are intertwined and unless they can defeat the great dragon, they have no future.

I loved the way this story played out. A beautifully built world and a well-written story.

I just finished The Other Lady Vanishes by Amanda Quick (Jayne Anne Krentz) 
Blurb
After escaping from a private sanitarium, Adelaide Blake arrives in Burning Cove, California, desperate to start over.
Working at an herbal tea shop puts her on the radar of those who frequent the seaside resort town: Hollywood movers and shakers always in need of hangover cures and tonics. One such customer is Jake Truett, a recently widowed businessman in town for a therapeutic rest. But unbeknownst to Adelaide, his exhaustion is just a cover.
In Burning Cove, no one is who they seem. Behind facades of glamour and power hide drug dealers, gangsters, and grifters. Into this make-believe world comes psychic to the stars Madame Zolanda. Adelaide and Jake know better than to fall for her kind of con. But when the medium becomes a victim of her own dire prediction and is killed, they'll be drawn into a murky world of duplicity and misdirection.
Neither Adelaide or Jake can predict that in the shadowy underground they'll find connections to the woman Adelaide used to be--and uncover the specter of a killer who's been real all along.

My review: Yay! Another mystery set in the 1930's in Burning Cove. This is a stand-alone novel But the setting is Burning Cove - a 1940's Hollywood getaway playground for the very rich and or famous. I love the time, the place and the characters. Amanda Quick in a new and rare form.

That's it.  Right now I'm reading Penny Reid's Grin and Beard It.

What are you reading? Leave me a comment giving me a book recommendation and your email address 

Blessings all.

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Amanda Quick Goes Hollywood, 1930's Style

Amanda Quick, Jayne Anne Krentz's nom de plume for her Victorian suspense thrillers, has taken a step into the future. The Girl Who Knew To Much is set in the world of 1930's Hollywood. 

Amanda/Jayne Anne Krentz held a question/answer session at The Ripped Bodice in Culver City.

The Ripped Bodice is the only bookstore I know devoted exclusively to the romance genre. I waited to buy her book until the session because it didn't seem polite to come with an already purchased copy and ask her to autograph it. After the session I hurried home to read it. It was worth waiting for. But then I knew it would be.
 

I filmed the Ripped Bodice interview, thinking to use portions of the video in this blog. Alas, the sound is too soft. You can watch it on Vimeo. Here are a questions from it.

Why 1930's California?

This is the first book in my whole life that I've ever come up with a one sentence description of a book. We call it the elevator pitch. "A failed magician, a hired killer and a celebrity gossip columnist walk into a 1930's Hollywood bar." And I have to tell you when I started this book I got that same rush as when I started my first Regency. I knew this world. I realized the vibe of the world clicked with the kind of characters I do. My heroes and heroines are usually in the process of reinventing themselves and that fits perfectly in 1930's California.

 What are some of the things you discovered in your research that were interesting?.

Well, I can tell you right now that Jockey Briefs were invented in 1935.
And the elegant draped men's cut suit. The one we know today that is broad in the shoulders and kind of narrow at the waist? It was invented by a Brit and was a real hit in the US. One of the reasons was you could wear a gun under it.
I usually start from a sociological point of view. The clothing they wear interests me. They food that they eat. Hey, when was the last time you saw abalone on a menu? It was on every major menu in 1935.
I stumble across factoids and sooner or later I know that one of those factoids will translate into a plot point I can use.
I stumbled across the fact that radar, which became so critical to World War II, was in the process of being developed in the 1930's. Every major nations was working on it and in every major nation, it was all top secret stuff. Getting that information into a small device that could sit on a battleship was the big goal. Do you have any idea how hard it is to write a book about radar when the word didn't get invented until 1941?
And of course there were great cars. The hero drives a Cord. 

I love Cords. They are beautiful pieces of art.

What's coming next?

The next book will definitely be set in the thirties. In the same world. After that I'm going to wait and see how my audience reacts. I hope they love it as much as I do. 

Personally, I loved every moment of The Girl Who Knew Too Much  

Amanda Quick's traditional wit and style fit beautifully in this new venue.

I love her protagonists and the beautifully developed characters surrounding them. I know there is going to be another story in Burning Cove and I wish I didn't have to wait a year for the next one.

Anna Harris runs from a dangerous nightmare to start a new life in Hollywood. Her new identity is Irene Glasson, string reporter for a Hollywood gossip magazine.

Irene's first big story leads her to The Burning Cove Hotel, an exclusive resort in a small town up the coast. The favorite haunt of Hollywood moguls and stars who want privacy.

When Irene arrives for her meeting, she expects to get a tip on the latest up and coming leading man, Nick Tremayne. She doesn't plan on finding the body of her source at the bottom of the pool.

Now Irene’s investigation into the drowning threatens to tear down the wall of illusion that is so deftly built around the famous actor, and there are powerful men willing to do anything to protect their investment.

Seeking the truth, Irene finds herself drawn to a master of deception. Oliver Ward was once a world-famous magician—until he was mysteriously injured during his last performance. Now the owner of the Burning Cove Hotel, he can’t let scandal threaten his livelihood, even if it means trusting Irene, a woman who seems to have appeared in Los Angeles out of nowhere four months ago…

With Oliver’s help, Irene soon learns that the glamorous paradise of Burning Cove hides dark and dangerous secrets. And that the past—always just out of sight—could drag them both under…

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Who are your favorite Romance authors.

I have so many authors I read. I have fewer that I read over and over. I thought I would try a post on some of the authors I cannot part with.
Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I think I have everything SEP ever wrote and I read many of them over and over again. She's always been good but she's grown so much over the years. Many of her books feature a really great B story line
Natural Born Charmer and This Heart of Mine both feature older couples as B stories and I adore them.  Her dialog is fabulous, her heroines feisty and her plots wonderful.  Many of her books feature characters from her other novels which makes them into one huge family and I love revisiting the people I've grown to love in minor roles in her new books.
I've pre-ordered her latest book, Heroes are My Weakness  and I can't wait.

Jayne Anne Krentz aka Amanda Quick aka  Jayne Castle

I've read all of her books. The ones I like best are the ones which feature telepathic links of some sort between the heroine and the hero. (When I was younger, my ambition was to be rich, thin and telepathic. I've achieved none of these but I like reading about them.) All of her books have a mystery in the background. In the past few years, she's come out with three books per year, one under each name. Each features a hero and heroine with a PSI Talent and and organization called The Arcane Society, Her heroes have a sense of irony. Her heroines are intelligent and the mysteries are great fun.
While I read all three of her styles, I have a special weakness for her futuristic world novels written as Jayne Castle. Her newest book,  The Hot Zone  comes out August 26th and yes, I pre-ordered it.


Lynn Kurland    Lynn has two worlds. Time Passages and The Nine Kingdoms

I am partial to the world which contains the de Piaget and MacLeod books All of the MacLeod and most of the de Piaget  feature Time travel.  The first of them is A Dance Through Time
Over the course of the books many medieval heroes and heroines have been brought forward it time. Other members of the modern families end up going back in time and staying there.
I love her medieval world and I love best when medieval heroes or heroines are brought to the modern world. Her romance level is sweet. No overt sexual scenes. But the love is wonderful. She has made a wonderful set of time travel rules. Reading Lynn Kurland and Robert Heinlein's Door into Summer taught me I got to make up my own time travel rules.  Lynn's latest book Dreams of Lilacs  is a medieval de Piaget book featuring many of the characters I love.

Who are your favorite authors and why? Please leave a comment telling me. You'll be entered in the Rafflecopter giveaway of three audio books of Time and Forever

The audio book came out while I was on my way to Brazil and I couldn't share my joy till I came home. Stephanie Bentley, the narrator did a wonderful job.
I am sleep deprived, so I'd better stop. (nineteen hours in transit from Abadiania, Brazil to Los Angeles)
Also there is a new Paleo fudge recipe on the recipe tab, so please check it out.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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