On Writing
 I started writing in 2003 when I discovered I couldn't find books with heroes and heroines who interested me. I wanted to read about older people, so I started to write about people in their 50s who were re-experiencing love after the loss of a spouse or after divorce. These are people who re-enter the dating world at a new phase of their lives, and there're concerns (and worries) they face which a younger person doesn't face. IF NOT FOR YOU is about Layla Whitford, who's divorced and happy in her single status -- until she meets Max Lerner, that is. Then she starts to re-evaluate her life and her influence makes Max re-evaluate his, too.
I also wanted to read fun books -- books that aren't exactly humorous but which are lighter in tone than a lot of romantic suspense books. That's how I started my 'sexy/cozy' mysteries. I have several books out in that genre with Wild Rose Press (Candy, Corpses and Classified Ads, for example). These books again feature older heroes and heroines, and they all have a great cast of supporting characters.
On the Writing Process
I get ideas from almost anywhere - put me in a situation, and I'll think "hmm, could someone get murdered here and how?" My current work in progress is about a murder in a casino. Some friends and I have an annual retreat to a casino where we brainstorm plots, and yep, we brainstormed how to kill someone in plain sight in a crowded casino. I'm using the idea right now.
I tend to start with a basic idea ("Murder at a National Conference" for example, which will come out in June with Wild Rose as Autographs, Abductions and A-List Authors) and then I start to build characters, plot points, and a general purpose for the book. I don't outline, but I do have a good sense of what should be happening by chapter 6, what should be happening by chapter 10, etc.
One unique thing I do is I write in chapters. I never assemble a complete book until I'm finished writing. I find if I write in chapters, I always have a good hook at the end of the chapter and I have consistently paced chapters. I also have a good sense of how long to make the book before I start -- my RS books are often a bit longer than my sexy/cozy books because I'm writing in 2 POVs, and that seems to make the book a tad longer.
The hardest part of writing is finding out if one of my editors will like the book -- I've got 3 publishers, and I always hold my breath when I finish a book and keep fingers crossed someone will love it!
On Writing Schedule
 I write every day. I work a full-time job (get to work at 5 a.m. so I can leave by 3 p.m.) I usually am sitting at my computer by 6 at night and try to write for at least an hour or two, in between doing promo, organizing things, answering email, etc.
I'm a very focused writer. I write my RS books (If Not For You, Your Saving Grace, Brilliant Disguise) in 8-12 weeks. I write my sexy/cozy mysteries (Brownies, Bodies, and Breaking the Code, "Candy"," Autographs") in 6-8 weeks. Before you gasp, remember I have a very clear idea of the plot, the setting, the characters, and the action before I ever sit down to write. My time travel books (Forgiveness, Temperance, Endurance) all take longer because I have to get the historical details right and those books involve reincarnation -- and I've created some 'rules' governing what can and can't happen. So those books often take 4 months to finish.
I also edit a bit as I go so I don't have a lot of rewrites when I finish. I'll type "The End", go back and do a re-read for plot consistency then put the book away for a month or two and immediately start a new project. Then I'll return to the book and polish it - I have a little checklist I use to catch those chronic boo-boos I have (overuse of certain words, too many adverbs, too many passive words, etc.)
On Writer's Block
I don't think I ever experience it. I do slow down on books at a certain point (often around 2/3 of the way through) but if I do, I just switch to another book and do some research or I turn to another project (gardening, house cleaning, etc.) and within a day or two I'm on track again.
On Conferences and Contests
I don't think conferences were as critical to my success as much as contests were. I've attended several RWA National Conferences and they're a great place to network and meet up with friends from around the country, and when I was starting out I got some great ideas from the workshops. I prefer smaller conferences for pitching and trying to sell a book, because there's more time to get to know the editors, etc.
I started writing for publication in 2003 and in 2005 I started entering contests. More than anything, I think contests prepare you for the reactions your story may get when you 'send it out to the world'. Some people will love it, some will hate it, some will understand it, and some won't get it at all -- and that's true after you're published, too. I also got some valuable insights into pacing and characterization from different contest judges. All of the books I currently have published (five out at this time) were entered in contests and placed, which gave me the confidence to polish them and send them along to an editor.
On Getting "The Call"
 In 2006 I decided it was time to get serious about finding a publisher, so I narrowed my contest entries and started focusing on publishers. I pitched at a conference to an editor, who loved the concept and she sent me an email about a week after receiving the book and said she'd love to buy it. I wasn't sure if it was the right publisher for me, though, so I took my time reading the contract and asking questions.
In the meantime, another publisher offered me a contract on two other books I'd submitted, one a romantic suspense and one the start of my paranormal/time travel series. So while I was negotiating with one publisher, I was reviewing another one.
The upshot was I didn't experience a "call" moment -- I was too busy with the business aspect of it to pause and enjoy it until months later, when the books finally released. At which time my DH and I celebrated with a lavish dinner!
On Being a Published Author
The best thing about being published is that I have an assigned editor at each publisher and I can bypass the slush pile. This doesn't mean my books will automatically get bought -- I've been turned down by my publisher (which is why I have 3 publishers and not one). But having someone who is eager to read my work is such a big boost to my ego. And it shortens the entire process, too.
The worst thing -- the business of books. Promotion and marketing take up at least 50% of my time, whether it's chats, interviews, ad designs, web site updates, and the hundreds of other things an author has to do to promote a book. I'm glad I'm with a smaller publisher because I get a lot of support from other authors and the publisher. I'm not sure I'd get that with a bigger publisher.
The biggest challenge for me is convincing people I'm really an author because my books come out first in digital. I have to explain that yes, I receive royalties, and yes, these are 'real' books. It isn't until people see the traditional print version that they begin to believe I'm an author. It's not as big an issue with many of my online RWA groups because they have authors who are published in digital and print. And it certainly isn't an issue with the younger audience -- I'm surprised how many of my readers are in the 18-35 year old range. I was equally surprised by how many are in their 50s -- Baby Boomers are embracing the new digital technology and my books seem to find a good home with that audience.
I've given talks to various organizations and taken along my ebook readers (I have several different models) and I usually make at least one convert once I demonstrate how to use them. It's a matter of getting the word out, I guess.
Best Advice Received
"Get to the point."
On an early draft of If Not For You, I didn't have Layla (the heroine) meet Max (the hero) until chapter 3. A critique partner said, "Look, they need to at least talk right away so we get drawn into the story." She was right, and I rewrote the opening of the story. I keep that in mind now on every scene I write -- Get to the point.
And the advice paid off -- If Not For You went on to win "Unsinkable Heroine" in the Molly contest and to be bought and published by Cerridwen.
Worst Advice Received
"This book is too complicated -- you don't want to ask readers to think while they're reading, they should settle back and enjoy the story."
This was about Forgiveness, the kickoff book in my paranormal series for Cerridwen. I thought that comment was sort of insulting to readers, like they were children who didn't want to take the time to understand a complex plot. Yes, it is a complicated book (it involves reincarnation, guardian angels, and a shapeshifting dog named Jim), but readers have loved it and I've sold 2 more books in the History Patrol series, so...
On Promotion
Self-promotion is critical -- absolutely essential. A writer can't sit back and wait for word to leak out about his/her book, the author has to participate in advertising them.
I think the best tip I can give someone is to do what you're comfortable doing. If you want do book signings or participate in online chats, or do a blog tour, that's fine -- as long as you do it because you want to be there. Target the audience you want to reach, and do selected advertising there (whether it be posts, blogs, book store signings or whatever). If you want to use a publicist, then try one. I have and am not sure it's the best strategy for me, but I'll continue to try different things until I find the right mix I think might work.
My philosophy has always been that I'm not only promoting my current book. I'm promoting my back-list, too. If I sell one book, then I hope readers will go to my web site www.jayellwilson.com and find out about my other books. I'd like to develop an audience for all my books, not just the one I have out now. I plan to be in this business for a long time and I know my books will always be there, available to my readers (that's a big advantage to being in digital format -- the books will probably always be there).
On Publishers
I'm with Cerridwen, Resplendence Publishing and Wild Rose Press.
The History Patrol series is with Cerridwen as are two of my romantic suspense books (Your Saving Grace and If Not For You). Two more History Patrol books have been contracted following Forgiveness (Endurance and Temperance will be coming out later this year and next year).
Wild Rose is my publisher for my sexy/cozy series ("Brownies", "Candy", and "Autographs"). Next year I'll have a fourth book out with them, and hopefully 2 or 3 more -- the books are written but I haven't submitted them yet.
I just signed with Resplendence Publishing for Brilliant Disguise, a romantic suspense book about an undercover FBI agent in a tiny Iowa town. That book will release this summer.
I've been very pleased with all my publishers and the professionalism and quality of editorial help I've received. The publishing process has been very smooth with all of them, and while each is unique in many ways, they're all committed to nurturing me as an author and to helping me succeed. I feel I have a personal investment in the company and they've made a big investment in me -- it's a working partnership I've enjoyed a great deal.
On
Agents
I've never really looked for an agent. I have pitched to one or two at conferences, but nothing came of that. The idea of interviewing agents and trying to find the right fit is daunting to me. And I'm not a person who can easily give up control. I'm sure even if I had an agent, I'd be wondering if they were sending my books to the right place, etc.
I suppose if an agent contacted me because he/she had read my books and wanted to represent me, it would be great. But my books are just quirky enough to be somewhat outside the mainstream, so I'm not sure there's an agent out there who'd be willing to take the chance.
On the Future: What are you working on now?
I'm finishing my casino murder story, which is a follow-on book to the one coming out with Resplendence this summer. The casino book features two main characters who were secondary characters in Brilliant Disguise.
I'm getting ready to write the fourth book in my History Patrol series, which will be set in 1970s America during the start of the American Indian Movement. And I'm working on another book for Wild Rose to follow the one releasing early next year.
I'm also doing edits on 3 other books I'll be submitting to Wild Rose (all first-person mysteries), and I've got edits to do on one other book I'd like to submit to Resplendence soon.
As you can see, I'm never at a loss for work to do!
Advice for Aspiring Writers
If you're writing Romantic Suspense (or mysteries), you have to balance the romance and the suspense. Don't lose track of one or the other. Every scene has to have a purpose, either to advance the character or the plot.
I do a lot of contest judging and the thing I see happening over and over is the plot isn't tight enough. Give the reader ONLY what they need to know at that moment and save the rest for later -- or eliminate it if it isn't critical. Writing isn't about reading YOUR words on the page. It's about letting the characters run the story and show the reader the plot.
The Last Word: Any parting words for our readers?
Writing is a job -- a hard job, sometimes. Treat it as such and give it the time and effort it deserves. Don't be afraid to take chances. If you do, you'll be rewarded.
You can visit JL on the web at www.jayellwilson.com
(Interviewed by Cathy Zornes, April, 2008)
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