Come Meet Romance Author Ann Jensen

Romance author Ann Jensen writes her novels on her phone in her car. Today she talks about her writing life, her restless mind, and her new dark romance series. Book 2 Lost in the Dark released last week.

What interesting jobs have you had? How have those jobs affected your writing?

From the ages of eighteen to twenty-four I bounced through so many interesting jobs it’s hard to believe, and I lived it. I was a snowboard instructor, a lady fencer in a renaissance fair, shots girl at a biker bar, late night waitress, karaoke host, costumer designer for a theatre and a lovely troop of drag queens, MMA fighter, movie projectionist, actress and computer specialist for a company that I swear was connected to both the Italian and Albanian mafia. Every character I write is inspired by bits and pieces of the wonderful and unique people I met. I’ve always been an extrovert with an active imagination and made friends and learned their stories wherever I went.  Taking the things and people I’ve met in my life and playing the what if game (turned up to ten) is my favorite way to craft my stories.

Where is your favorite place to write?

As a single mom, with two teenage children in the house, writing can be difficult. No matter what time of day or night, if they are home, they sense the moment I get in the zone and that is when they want to share quality time with me. Once I started getting serious about being an author, I tried writing in a Starbucks. Mistake. I love people watching and there are some fascinating individuals who come to coffee shops. I found myself making up stories about them, rather than what I was supposed to be writing.

Don’t laugh but now I write the majority of my books on my phone while sitting in my car. Sometimes parked right in my driveway, but usually I go to a nearby movie theatre parking lot. I pick a spot far away from everyone and sit there for hours writing on my phone. The gas cost is worth having heat/air conditioning and my seat recline into very comfortable positions.

I’ll admit that several times I’ve had a police car stop next to me to see what I was doing. You should see their faces when I say I’m writing romance novels, and it is too awkward to do at home with my kids. Though I have gotten to ask them some cool police procedure questions. I’m shameless. If talking with a wonderful cop about what it’s like to write romance is the cost of my quiet solitude, I’ll take it. If I hit the lottery I may have to splurge and buy one of those limo/mobile offices. Then I’ll be able to do my editing in the car too.

Do you ever experience writer’s block?

No. But I do experience what I like to call restless mind syndrome. Rather than writing I find every excuse to do something else. I’ll spend hours researching mood music, creating picture boards on Pinterest, watching writers on Youtube/TikTok, or if I’m desperate I’ll even clean my house. It’s not that I don’t know what I want to write, it’s that I’m not in the mood to write it. If I force myself things go painfully slow, but eventually pick back up. I think the reason I don’t get writers block is that I outline my books thoroughly in advance. I have at least ten books of outlines done, so there is no danger of running out of something to write any time soon.

Have you written a book you love that you have not been able to get published?

Oh, definitely. It wasn’t the first book I wrote but it was the first one I edited and made and effort to polish. It is an Urban Fantasy that I was absolutely sure was going to be my debut novel. I received amazing feedback from Beta’s and sent it out to agents ready for my six-figure deal. Needless to say, no deal appeared. I got wonderful responses from a few Agents who said that my writing was wonderful but there was no market for Urban Fantasy at that time (The twilight mania bubble had just popped). If I re-wrote it as a romance, I should reach back to them. That story is my baby, I won’t butcher the storyline to change it for market, but I did shelf it. Some day I hope to revisit it and the two follow up books I have outlined for the series and maybe try again as the market changes or self-publish.

That was also the moment my brain went….Hmmm Romance, I love reading romance! Wonder if I could write it?

Can you tell us about any other upcoming books, series, or writing plans?

Saved by the Dark was the first in my Dark Sons MC series and book two Lost in the Dark came out 3/12.  There are seven total books planed for that series the third is already in my publisher’s hands. Each one of the books is designed around a unique strong woman who could thrive in the MC Romance world I created and their perfect counterpart. Then I do my best to put her and her man in as much danger as they can survive and still find time to enjoy falling in love.

I have so many ideas for future series from Mercenary Romantic Suspense to Paranormal Romance. I’m waiting to see how this series goes. When I’m about to start writing book seven I’ll have to put serious thought into picking what set of characters get to come out and play next.

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Saved by the Dark

by Ann Jensen

Forget knights on white horses, how about a hero riding a motorcycle with shining chrome?

Phoebe’s spirit was forged into steel by a childhood split between foster care and the streets. Now grown, the simple act of accepting the wrong drink traps her in the underworld of human trafficking. On her way to be sold to a Mafia sociopath who’s obsessed with her innocent looks and unbreakable spirit, Phoebe desperately reaches out for help from an unlikely hero.

Sharp, VP of the Dark Sons Motorcycle club and former Navy SEAL sniper, has long ago learned being right is not the same thing as being lawful. With his Brothers, he lives, fights, and loves hard, living every day by their code of honor. He never thought to take an Old Lady, especially not one who looks as delicate or has been as abused as Phoebe. But Sharp soon finds himself losing his heart to her, vowing to protect her no matter the cost.

Far from a natural match, Sharp struggles with whether she can ever accept the man he is and not just the safety he represents.

When Phoebe asked for help, she’d been willing to do anything to be safe. But she hadn’t expected to find a new home, an unconventional family, and a man who sets both her heart and body ablaze. Can she overcome her fear and trauma and convince Sharp she’s more than just someone to protect?

This is book one in the Dark Sons Motorcycle Club series and can be enjoyed independently.

Publisher’s Note: This dark contemporary romance has elements of danger, mystery, suspense, adult themes, possible triggers for some readers, adult content, sensual scenes and power exchange. If any of these offend you, please do not purchase.

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Available from:

Amazon  |  Kobo  |  B&N  |  Apple  |  Google

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Learn More about Romance Author Ann Jensen

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