~ Jo McNally and The Power of Love ~

Romance author Jo McNally is here today to tell us about herself and the wonderful romances she writes. You can find my review of her romance the Life She Wants here.

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Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Hi, everyone! I write contemporary small town romance for Harlequin, and my stories have emotion, humor, and heat. I’m married to my soul mate and best friend, but we both traveled some pretty broken roads to find each other. That’s what taught me the overwhelming power of love. Originally from the Northeast, we now live in eastern North Carolina with our 100-lb rescue dog, Tully. It’s basically her house–we’re only here to serve at her pleasure.

When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?

I wrote my “first romance” when I was around ten. All I remember is that it had a heroine named Destiny and horses and a tornado. I played with writing on and off for decades, but never dared to think I could do it for a living. I focused on my business career and climbed the corporate ladder (twice!). Then I went to a Career Night at a Girl Scouts meeting when I was almost fifty, and a little girl asked me if I was doing what I dreamed of doing when I was her age. At the time, I was the Director of Customer Service for an international manufacturing company. That was NOT what I’d dreamed of doing! Within months, I was writing seriously, and a few years later, I sold my first book, She’s Far From Hollywood, to Harlequin.

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

Well, for a long time, the answer was yes. What was supposed to be the first book of my Lowery Women series didn’t get published because it had a ghost in it, and Harlequin Superromance didn’t do paranormal stories. Over a period of 3 or 4 years, I tried to get it published through different lines. But guess what? That first book is finally getting published! It Started at Christmas is coming in December from Harlequin Special Edition, as a prequel to the Gallant Lake Stories. The romantic ghost will be more of a legend, but still a powerful part of the story. Never give up!

Where do you get your ideas?

Literally…everywhere. I listen, watch, and read all the time. I generally start a book with the characters. What would happen if a Hollywood diva had to hide out on a Carolina farm? What if a domestic violence victim on the run met an ex-cop whose partner died on a domestic violence call? What if an uptight city-girl accountant had to work with a laid-back winemaker to save her aunt’s winery? Then I work with those characters and grow a story around them.

What would one of your characters say about your writing?

Ha! They’d probably ALL agree that I need to step aside and let them tell their stories. When I get bogged down in a story, it’s usually because I’m trying to “force” characters to do something that’s not authentic for them. I’ve learned to stop fighting them and listen.

Do you have a new book coming out soon? What’s the release date?

After a year with no releases, I have four books from two new series coming out this year! First up is Slow Dancing at Sunrise from HQN. It’s Book 1 of my new Rendezvous Falls series, set in the Finger Lakes of New York State. This book releases on June 25th. What makes the Rendezvous Falls series special is the meddling senior book club, where members are more likely to be cursing and drinking than knitting and baking cookies. And in each book, one of the book club members has their Point of View in the story.

Book 2 of this series will be out in November. It’s a holiday romance titled Stealing Kisses in the Snow. In September, my new Gallant Lake Stories series begins with A Man You Can Trust from Harlequin Special Edition. Gallant Lake is a fictional resort town in the Catskills that’s seen hard times, but is making a comeback thanks to the Gallant Lake Resort. The second book from Gallant Lake will be coming in December. It Started at Christmas is the origin story I mentioned earlier, and will tell how the resort got started.

Do you have any advice to give aspiring writers?

Read. Read. Read. In your genre. Outside your genre. Craft books. Just keep reading (and writing, of course). And remember–it’s never too late!

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Slow Dancing at Sunrise by Jo McNally

Welcome to Rendezvous Falls, New York, where love is where you least expect it…

When accountant Whitney Foster’s carefully calculated life blows up, she escapes to the one place that’s always felt like home. But Rendezvous Falls has changed since she’s been away. Her aunt Helen’s winery is in trouble. And she doesn’t trust the sexy, surly stranger working the vineyard as far as she can throw him.

Luke Rutledge would do anything for Helen, who’s been like a mother to him. Revive the winery? Sure. Repair her property? No problem. Tolerate Helen’s infuriating, big-shot niece? Well…maybe. But as he and Whitney are forced to work together to rebuild the business, her chilly facade reveals a woman as complex and intoxicating as a fine merlot. Throw in a matchmaking book club hell-bent on happily-ever-after and it’s a potent cocktail.

Love should never be calculated. But it doesn’t take Whitney’s math skills to see that this is adding to up to one tantalizing adventure…

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Buy 

AMAZON  |  B&N |  KOBO  |  iTunes  |  Harlequin

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Learn more about Jo McNally

Website: https://jomcnallyromance.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoMcNallyAuthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jo.mcnally/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoMcNallyAuthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15850595.Jo_McNally

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Do you love small town romances?

Jo McNally would love to hear from you.

Post your thoughts and comments below.