Congratulations on the July 2006 release of your debut book, NOWHERE TO HIDE with LoveStruck Books. I feel as if I have
discovered the next best selling author after reading NOWHERE TO HIDE. I could not put it down. What a way to come
out off the gate running! I was too surprised to find that this was your first book. You read like such a seasoned writer.
Thanks Tammy, I think that’s the ultimate compliment a debut author can receive. It’s so nice to know that others
enjoy reading this story as much I enjoyed writing it.
Has romantic suspense always been your niche?
I’ve been writing thrillers in screenplay form for about six years. I only took up novel writing three years ago. Writing
romantic suspense is a good fit for my personality, in that I tend to have a darker, more cynical view of the world
and it matches up well with my writing style in that I eschew flowery prose.
What got you started on romantic suspense?
I find myself drawn to romantic suspense because I like the dichotomy of something terrible (the suspense) happening
in the lives of characters, while at the same time something wonderful (the romance) is also happening. As a writer,
finding the balance between the two is a challenge, a challenge that I enjoy.
I see LoveStruck Books is a new publisher and your book is one of their debut books. How did you find out about them?
What influenced you to go with them?
I feel lucky to have found LoveStruck. I had actually been offered a contract on Nowhere to Hide by a larger, more
established company, if I would make some significant changes to the manuscript. I wasn’t willing to do that, because
I felt it would have fundamentally changed the story. Fortunately, LoveStruck Books liked the story I had written and
they were willing to let me tell it. My editor, Alley, really helped me to keep my vision intact and that is something for
which I’ll be eternally grateful.
Their site claims you will be in print as well as electronic format. Just how excited are you?
Do you remember that old Pointer Sisters song, “I’m so excited, I just can’t hide it!”? That’s me, the fool walking around
with a perpetual grin. It’s great that the book will be published in both formats because now it will be available to
that many more readers.
I see on your web site that NOWHERE TO HIDE is the first in your Justice for All series of books. I for one am happy to see
that this is the beginning of a series. The characters are great and wonderfully multi-layered. Your next book in the
series, NOWHERE TO RUN, looks very promising. Care to share a few excerpts?
Yes, I’ve always planned that Nowhere to Hide would be the first in a six book series (no small dreams for me, lol).
Each of The Six kids that escaped from The Trust will get their own story. Nowhere to Run, the second book, will focus
on Justin, the computer whiz from Nowhere to Hide. While I can’t share an excerpt, I’d like to say that I love The Six.
They may not be biologically related, and they’re often dysfunctional, but they are a family. Telling their story as a
family, as well as individuals fascinates me and I hope it holds the interest of the readers too.
Often a writer’s first book is the toughest to write. Are you finding the second book easier or harder to get on paper?
I’m finding this second book in the series more difficult to write. Even though it’s a sequel, it also has to be a
stand-alone novel. Nowhere to Run must not only continue the Justice for All story that was started in Nowhere to Hide,
but it must also tell the complete story of Justin and Sara. Walking that tightrope has proven to be more of a challenge
than I’d anticipated.
Do you outline your stories before you write them, or do you "go with the flow"?
I’m a plot-driven, rather than a character-driven writer. Since I come from a screenwriting background, I tend to
outline my books like I would a screenplay. I basically just hit the big moments and then I fly by the seat of my pants
for all of the little moments that reveal character in-between. That way the story doesn’t feel stale while I’m writing it.
I’ve actually outlined the entire series, so that I know what absolutely must happen in each individual book in order to
reach my desired outcome by the end of book six. Obviously with Nowhere to Hide being the first book, I had to
introduce The Six and The Trust, but at the same time, I wanted to maintain an almost exclusive focus on Alex and Wolf.
I hope that I’ve done that because these are two characters that I really love and I tried very hard not to shortchange
them.
Your characters are wonderfully vibrant. Where do you come up with them? Are they based on people you have met?
Do they become a part of you as you write? Do their lives sometimes take over a part of your life?
I came up with The Six first. I found Alex to be so interesting in that she’s so independent and strong, but at the same
time, the very thing that makes her independent is also her greatest weakness. I created Wolf to be, on the surface,
her exact opposite (thief versus cop, loner versus family guy) but in reality he’s the person who not only sees the best
in her, but he helps her to be her best self.
Most of my characters are based on a personality trait possessed by myself or someone I’ve known. For instance, I very
loosely based Carl Luger on an ex-boss (not one of my favorites, lol).
While my characters don’t take over my life, there is a drawback to writing suspense in that I find myself imagining
terrible outcomes to normal, everyday occurrences and I tend to become suspicious of everyone around me.
Most authors are also avid readers. Is this the case with you?
I guess I’m a bit odd, but the more fiction I write, the less I read. My to-be-read pile is a mile high. My mind is so full of
my own characters and stories that I’m always entertained. I mostly read the fiction work of writers I have some
sort of personal relationship with. I also read a lot of nonfiction. Not material that I’m using for research, but just
subjects that interest me.
How hard is it to write love/sex scenes? You did a great job building the tension between Alex and Wolf. How hard is it
to find the right balance?
I always say, “Killing people is easy; it’s the loving part that kills me”. Writing love/sex scenes was, without a doubt, the
most difficult part of writing Nowhere to Hide. Here’s how I approach it. Most readers have had sex, but most haven’t
killed anyone (I hope!) so I feel like there’s extraordinary pressure to make it believable for the reader. It may be the
only aspect of the book that the reader can relate to on a personal level, so I’d better not screw it up. Then there’s
the added complication that you’re putting on public display this private act, but you’ve got to make it feel intimate.
To top it off, I have to make it believable that the chemistry between these two characters is so explosive that even
though they’re running for their lives, they just can’t help themselves; they’ve got to make love. The love scenes are
difficult to write, but they’re integral to the story.
Have you ever suffered from "writer’s block"? If so, what do you do to overcome it?
I actually think that writer’s block is your brain’s way of shouting, “Stop! I’ve had enough. I need a break!” The best way
I’ve found to combat writer’s block is to work on different projects simultaneously. I think of it as “creativity
cross-training”. For example, when I was writing Nowhere to Hide, I was also working on a screenplay and a comedic
novel.
I am really going to enjoy watching your star rise. How do you think your life will change as your name becomes known
in the fiction world?
LOL, while I like the idea of my name becoming known, it’s my husband who loves the idea. He’s constantly telling me
that he’s ready to retire the moment I make it big.
So when do you expect NOWHERE TO RUN to come out? How long does it take you to write a book start to finish?
(Of course I am trying to gauge how long my wait will be here - LOL.)
Sorry to disappoint you, but I haven’t finished writing Nowhere to Run yet. I’m planning on having finished it by the end
of July, but since I don’t yet have a contract for it to be published, I can’t say when it will be available. I’m actually
blogging my progress on it at www.nowhere-to-run.blogspot.com . Feel free to drop by to check in to see how I’m doing.
Any final advice to aspiring authors?
I feel like I’m an aspiring author myself, but I’ll pass on a few lessons I’ve learned.
1) There’s no “right” way to write a book. The right way is the way that works for you. Just to give you an
example: countless books say you should write in the morning. I’m sure that if you’re a morning person that might
be helpful advice, but I’m not a morning person. I hate writing in the morning and I no longer even try to write in
the morning unless some sort of divine inspiration strikes.
Which brings me to my second nugget of fortune-cookie-wisdom
2) If you wait for inspiration, chances are you’ll never finish your book.
Do you have anything to add that I might have missed, like I don’t know, do you have a favorite reviewer/review site?
Just kidding. Please, what else can you tell us?
I’d like to invite everyone to visit my website www.jenniferelbaum.com or drop me a line at jenniferelbaum@gmail.com . I’m
looking forward to receiving feedback from readers. In conclusion I’d just like to thank you Tammy and everyone at
Loveromances for your incredible support. Thank you!
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