I’m so lucky to have Jennifer Jakes with me today. I’ve read Twice In A Lifetime and loved it. I hope you all will buy it too. One of you lucky commenters will get a free copy of the book, so be sure and leave a comment for Jennifer.

1. How did you get started writing?

As a person who’s always had trouble sleeping, making up stories was a lot more fun than counting sheep!  Through the years, there always seemed to be voices, er, I mean scenarios in my head. When our first daughter was born, she was a non-sleeper, so plotting a story became a way to pass endless hours in the rocking chair. I even made a folder called, The Story I’ll Write Someday. Eventually those notes became my debut novel, RAFE’S REDEMPTION.

2. What genre(s) do you write in and why?

Hot Historicals – mainly westerns (my first love) but I have to throw in a pirate every once in awhile.

3. Tell us about your current release.

It’s title TWICE IN A LIFETIME.

Here’s the blurb.
Be Careful What You Wish For. . .
No-nonsense stuntwoman Isabella Douglas will do anything to stop an unwanted divorce and reclaim the happy life she had, even allow her old friend to concoct a magical spell to turn back time. But when the spell goes awry, Izzy finds herself trapped aboard a 1768 Caribbean pirate ship with a captain who’s a dead ringer for her sexy as sin husband, Ian. Convinced he’s playing a cruel joke, she’s furious – until she realizes he doesn’t know her or believe they’re married.
Captain Ian Douglas does not have time to deal with an insane woman who claims to be his wife; he has to save his kidnapped sister. But as Izzy haunts his dreams and fills him with erotic memories he can’t explain, he’s forced to admit he feels more than lust.
Trapped in a vicious cycle of past mirroring present, Izzy knows they only have days to find Ian’s sister and prevent disaster from striking a second time. If she doesn’t, their marriage will be destroyed again – along with the man she loves.

4. What inspired your latest book?

I just had a seedling of an idea about what would happen if a stunt woman suddenly found herself on a 1700’s pirate ship. Then I started asking myself all the Why? How? questions and it grew into the story.

5. What is your favorite part of writing?

Coming up with a new idea/plot.

6. What is your least favorite part of writing?

Figuring out all the little details to make that plot believable. 

7 What is your next project and when will it be released?

I’m working on another western historical. This one is set in 1898 Alaska during the gold rush.

8. What is your typical day like?

Work my day job in the mornings, then come home and start laundry etc, then try to write in the afternoon until time to cook dinner. If I’m lucky I can get a little more writing or editing done before bed.

9. How much time do you spend promoting your books? What works best for you?

I spend 4 to 6 weeks promoting. This includes Blog Tours and a few paid cover ads on either review sites or promo sites. Those things work well. I’m trying out KindleBoard both UK and here. I have noticed an increase because of that.

10. How has your experience with self-publishing been?

It’s been good so far. I haven’t done anything more promo-wise or otherwise than I did when I was published with a House, and this way I get to make the decisions. Yes, OK, I’m a bit of a control-freak.

11. Where do you get the ideas for your stories?

Oh, they can come from anywhere. A picture, a sentence I hear, a song. All of a sudden my mind is off and running.

12. What advice do you have for other authors wanting to self-publish?

First and foremost, start by joining some Yahoo Loops dedicated to Self-Pub. There is so much good info on these loops and you can ask questions to be better prepared before you take the leap!

EXCERPT: TWICE IN A LIFETIME

Her fingers threaded in his thick hair as she traced his mouth with the tip of her tongue. “Kiss me.”

He hesitated, then groaned and covered her lips in a breath stealing kiss. Hot, wet, silky. Her nipples hardened, ached for his touch, the tug of his fingers, the pull of his mouth.

“Touch me.” She pressed a kiss to his throat, then licked his collarbone. “I need your hands on me.”

He grunted and slid his hands down her back. Rough palms gripped her cheeks, grinding her against his erection. His gaze burned through her as he moved his thigh between her legs.

“Yes. Please.” She tilted her hips, rubbing, needing release more than air. “Oh, God, yes.” Desire roared through her, the ache building. Building. The orgasm so . . .damned. . .close.

A sharp knock sounded at the door. “Captain? The men are ready to go ashore.”

Ian pulled back and swallowed hard, his expression hungry, his heart thumping against her breast.

“Captain?”

“Yes. Yes, I’ll be right there.” His heavy lidded gaze skimmed her body. Possessive. Aroused. Regretful as he set her aside.

Her mind crawled to process what was happening while her body was doused with disappointment. “You’re still going?”

He raked through his hair, then nodded. “We need provisions before sailing for Jamaica. I’ll only be a few hours.” He stepped to the door, but turned and pinned her with a hard stare. “But when I return . . .”

“Yes?” Her heart thumped in anticipation of some explicit description of what he would do to her. Oh, but his tongue was naughty in all the right ways.

“. . . I expect an explanation.”