Author's Name: Kelley St. John
Website: www.kelleystjohn.com

New Release:
Good Girls Don't
Warner Forever
December, 2005

THE GOOD GIRL PLEDGE

A Good Girl doesn't lie. OK, except when I'm on the job. At My Alibi, I'm well paid to provide cover stories 24/7.

Good Girl knows money isn't everything. I'm not greedy, honest! The fast cash I'm earning is going into a dream: my own lingerie design business.

A Good Girl helps her family. My sister needed a favor for a friend. Now I'm in big, big trouble. Because the guy on the receiving end of my latest alibi is a blast from the past: my old high-school sidekick Bill Brannon.

A Good Girl values old friends. When did Bill go from boy next door to hunk? He's acting like he's been hot for me for years-and wants to give me a taste of what I've been missing...
A Good Girl comes clean. Whoa...I wasn't ready for this! This new Bill Brannon is making me feel things I've never felt before. My toes are curling...my heart can't stop fluttering...and that's before we get between the sheets. How can I fess up without turning off the only man who sends my hormones into overdrive?

You previously worked for NASA.  Can you tell us how that influenced you as an author?

My position involved writing technical manuals utilized to obtain elevation data of the earth's terrain. I worked with cartographers, engineers and programmers on a daily basis and truly enjoyed the enormous learning curve involved with the position, as well as the endless amount of information supplied by those knowledgeable individuals. Writers love information; that position was a goldmine for plotting ideas.

However, while I have written books that involve my experience from NASA, my first sale wasn't a suspense novel. Bill and Lettie's story is a sassy, sexy contemporary that's a classic friends-to-lovers story with a twist--the alibi agency.

Can you tell us how you got the idea for GOOD GIRLS DON'T?

I read an article in a newspaper about alibi agencies and was immediately intrigued by the lengths that some people would go to in order to cheat on their spouses. Then I started pondering what kind of person would work at a place that helps spouses cheat and asked myself what would happen if an alibi consultant ended up lying to a friend. That's when Colette came to life. She explained, "I didn't plan to work here long, only until I got my business going. And I never, ever planned to lie to Bill."

How long did it take you to write GOOD GIRLS DON'T?

Once I started hearing Colette’s voice, the words literally flowed, and the initial draft was written in a month. Then I received the revision letter from my editor, which added another month.

What is your writing schedule like?

I’m generally up at 5:00 a.m. and writing by 5:30 (coffee is a must!). I typically write six hours per day five days per week. My goal is a scene (usually a chapter) per day. My writing week hasn’t changed, though instead of continually writing new books, I now devote some weeks to the revision window.

What advice can you give other writers, struggling to make a sale?

I received two pieces of excellent advice from industry professionals that I'd love to share:  1) "Don't settle for less than your dream."  (NYT Bestseller Linda Howard)  and 2) "Don't hold back; let your characters go where they want." (Harlequin Senior Editor Brenda Chin).  Both ladies are phenomenal -- and both of their tips are right on the money.  Go for the dream...and never hold back!

What is one thing you wish you'd known before you began your career?

I had no idea about the time involved with selling a book. It takes time to learn the business of querying, finding an agent and perfecting that manuscript. But it’s worth every minute. I’m very excited about everything I’ve learned and about everything I’m still learning throughout this process.

Can you talk to us a little about how important you feel RWA contests are?

Contests offer three advantages for writers: 1) affirmation of your abilities from your peers, 2) a critique and/or recommendations for improvement, and 3) the chance to get your work in front of an agent or editor and bypass the slush pile.

When I first started entering writing contests, I did it for the feedback from fellow authors. I wanted my manuscript to be as polished as possible when it hit the editor's desk, and I determined that the critiques contests provided would help me make the book shine. One thing that is important to remember about judges' comments is that you are the author of your work, and if you don't feel something is right for your particular story, you shouldn't alter it based on a judge's recommendation. You want your story and your voice to get the editor's attention.

Later on, my reason for entering contests changed. I entered only the contests where the final judge was an agent or editor I was targeting. My goal was to final, get on the editor or agent's desk and receive a request.

Your website has won awards.  How important is a web presence to you?

Extremely important. Prior to selling, the site gave me a means of sharing my goals with editors and agents, as well as my efforts to obtain those goals. After the sales to Warner, the site became a method to convey information to readers: upcoming releases, excerpts and reviews. Additionally, I wanted my website to be a place for readers to peruse the pages and have fun, so I've also included a section of stories about "The Call." That section has over 150 author interviews regarding the call informing them that they had sold their first book. I also provide a "Cutting Room Floor" section that lets readers get a first-hand look at what my editor changed in the revision process. That section includes the deleted prologue and alternate endings for GOOD GIRLS DON'T. And finally, I also include a contest page, where readers can register to win trips to the locales of my novels.

You're very active in RWA.  Can you tell us about that and how it's helped you as a writer?

RWA was instrumental in providing the knowledge necessary to make those first sales. Although I was knowledgeable with the writing process, I had no idea about the submission process, or the amount of time that goes into moving a book through the publication stages. RWA taught me how to submit my work professionally. Additionally, RWA is one of the most giving organizations I have ever encountered. Members freely share their valuable experience and cheer each other on in achieving personal writing goals.

Can you tell us why you share stories of "the call"?

What's next for you?

After GOOD GIRLS DON’T, my next release will be REAL WOMEN DON’T WEAR SIZE 2, also with Warner Forever, in September 2006. (I love that title!)

Visit Kelley online at http://www.KelleyStJohn.com