_~ What Skiing Can Teach A Writer ~

 

Let’s give a big welcome to multi-published romance writer, Jenn Bokal. She is here today to tell us about her newest release, share a bit about herself, and to give us two wonderful writing tips.

Jenn, can you tell us a little about yourself

A little about me: I wrote my first book at age eight. An early lover of the written word, I decided to follow my passion and become a full-time writer. From then on, I haven’t looked back. I earned a Master of Arts in creative writing from Wilkes University and became a member of the Romance Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. I am the author of the bestselling Ancient World Historical Romance, The Gladiator’s Mistress, and the second book in the Champions of Rome series, The Gladiator’s Temptation. I have also written the Rocky Mountain Justice series for Harlequin Romantic Suspense (Her Rocky Mountain Hero, Her Rocky Mountain Defender, and Rocky Mountain Valor), as well as writing in the multi-author Bear Creek Rodeo series. Happily married to my own Alpha Male for twenty years, I enjoy writing stories that explore the wonders of love. My manly husband and I live in upstate New York with our three beautiful daughters, two aloof cats, and two very spoiled dogs.

Is there an event in your life that affected your writing?

This isn’t about writing, per se, but I grew up in Colorado and spent much of my childhood skiing with my brother and father. When I was an adolescent, Skier Magazine, named three runs on the town side of Telluride as the most difficult in North America. My brother and father were excited to conquer the mountain, and I went along for the experience. After much cajoling, my father convinced me to try the easiest of the three runs. We got off the lift, came around the side of the mountain, and I was feeling confident. The slope was difficult, but not so much that I was struggling. THEN, we dropped off a lip, and I stopped short. The moguls were HUGE. The pitch was steep, and I was definitely on a slope that was beyond my comfort level. In fact, I thought about taking off my skis and climbing back to the lift and coming down an easier run, but it was too far to be practical. My father saw my distress and skied up next to me. I couldn’t do it, I told him. Then he asked if I could ski to the next mogul down. I could, so I did. My dad followed. Can I do another mogul? he asked. I could, and again—did.

 Step by laborious step, I made it down the mountain. It was then that Dad told me one of the most important things I ever learned (when I was willing to talk to him again, that is!). I need not take on any challenge all at once but simply complete the next step. That lesson has stayed with me to this day and is something I often remember when a book seems too challenging. I just write the next word, the next sentence, the next paragraph.

Are there certain characters you’d like to go back to or is there a theme you like to work with?

 I gravitate to having heroes or heroines who are parents in my books. I think that’s because I’m the mother of three. Another theme I like, and hope to explore more, is to have seasoned heroes and heroines—as in above age 40. I am in this age category and find that I sometime have a hard time as a reader connecting with characters who are the age of my kids! I think that there is a certain amount of wisdom that comes with age, along with compassion and forgiveness—all very attractive attributes.

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

I do! Mastery of any skill—writing included—takes 10,000 hours. If writing were your full-time job, and you worked 40 hours a week, for 50 weeks a year, taking 2 weeks for vacation, you would write 2,000 hours in a year. That means it would take 5 years of full-time writing to get to 10,000 hours. It seems incredibly daunting, I know. But I share this with folks so that they will hopefully do two things. First, I hope that they are kind to themselves. 10,000 hours is a long time, and they shouldn’t be disappointed if mastery and success don’t happen in weeks or months (or sometimes, years). Second, in order to get better at writing, one must write. Finally, I had professional success before I put in10,000 hours of writing time.

What project are you working on now or what book will be next?

I have a book coming out with Harlequin Romantic Suspense this fall. Under the Secret Agent’s Protection is an October 2019 release. This is a continuation of the Rocky Mountain Justice series, and I don’t want to give anything away, but I’m super excited.

Is there anything special that you would like to say to your readers and fans?

Thanks for stopping by Zara’s site! This has been a fun interview and I hope you enjoyed it!

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The Cowboy’s Secret Lover by Jenn Bokal

Retired bull rider, Kurt Crawford, has made a mess of his life. He’s in debt and his daughter needs lifesaving surgery. There’s only one way he can make enough money to pay for the procedure. Kurt has to return to rodeo—and win another national championship. The road to nationals leads through his hometown of Bear Creek, Texas. When Kurt gets thrown from the bull and knocked unconscious on the first night of competition, he never expected to find his first love, Faith McGregor, providing emergency care.

Faith McGregor has found herself in an impossible position. Her ex-boyfriend is her newest patient. As a nurse practitioner, she knows that he has to give up bull riding for good. Because of so many previous injuries, another fall could be deadly. Yet, when Kurt shares that he’s hoping to make enough money to pay for his daughter’s surgery, Faith finds it difficult to force Kurt back into retirement. All the same, she can’t let him endanger his life.

When Kurt’s daughter goes from bad to worse, Faith devises a plan to save the young woman’s life. Will it be enough? And, what will come of the renewed romance between Kurt and Faith when the rodeo is over?

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Available from

AMAZON

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Learn More About Jen Bokal’s Romances

Harlequin Author Page

Webpage

Facebook Page

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Jenn Bokal would love to hear from you.

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