Can you give us a brief overview of
your latest book? Is it part of a series?Do you have a favorite character?
It’s got to be the hero, Harvard. He’s this huge, calm, immovable force that Rachel has no idea how to deal with. I love that he’s a deadly, ex-CIA agent, but he has no desire to step on Rachel’s toes. Instead, he supports her as they work together to find her blackmailer. I love Harvard. I wish he were real!
Did you try the traditional route to
publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?
I started out writing crime novels
and had an agent for that, but when I switched to writing romance, we parted
ways. Then I sent my first romance novel to Harlequin, who changed editor on it
four times and lost it three times in two years. A friend suggested
self-publishing, this was back in 2012 when ebooks were just taking off, so
that’s what I did. I pulled the book from Harlequin and self-published it—and several
more after that! Then, a few years ago, I decided I’d like to try traditional
publishing too, so I got another agent and contracted a couple of books to Entangled,
in a different genre than those I usually write. So, now I’m a hybrid writer
and I love it!
How long before you got your offer
of representation/your first contract? Was it for your first novel?
It took 34 queries with my crime
novel to get my first agent. As for my current agent, I was at a conference and
took part in an early morning cold reads session. This is where you submit a couple
of pages from your manuscript to be read anonymously by someone else in front
of the group before the agent or editor gives their opinion on it. Once my
pages were read the agent said, “I’ll represent whoever wrote that.” At the
time, I was happy just being self-published, so I turned her down. Three years
later, I decided I wanted to be traditionally published as well as
self-published, so I called her up and asked if she was still interested. Fortunately,
she was! It then took her a year to sell my weird hybrid futuristic romance
series. 😊
What factors influenced your
decision to go with a particular agent or publisher?
With my first agent, I just signed
with the first person who wanted me! And we weren’t a good fit. So, I learned a
lot from that. Which meant that by the time I’d gotten around to signing with
my current agent, I’d checked her out and had a long chat about what we could
do for each other. I went into that relationship with my eyes wide open, aware
that the agent works for me, not the other way around.
Are you currently under a
traditional publishing contract for future books or do you have manuscripts
that you will self-publish? Are you doing both?
I do both. I have a series called,
Red Zone, that is set about a hundred years in the future, in what I envision
the world to be then. This series is published by Entangled. It has a set of
ex-army ranger heroes—from this time—who were victims of an experimental weapon
and woke a century later with changed DNA. They each have an animal that they
share their DNA with, but it isn’t like shifters, they don’t change into that
animal. Instead, the animal lives on their skin like a tattoo and can become three
dimensional and separate from them. The books tell the stories of these
displaced people, trying to make it in a new world, and falling in love while
they do it.
As well as that series, I’m starting
a new romantic comedy series, set in Scotland, that I’ll self-publish. And, of
course, there’s Benson Security six to write!
If you used a graphic
designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative
process for your cover?
I design all my own covers. I studied
art at college, which makes me think I’m qualified to do this, even though I
know I’m not! But I enjoy it. 😊
What is your writing process? Do you
listen to music or do you like silence?
I prefer silence. But, I have been
known to play the same songs on an endless loop too. It becomes background
noise and helps me concentrate. Harry Styles got me through writing Rich. 😊
Do you outline your story or just go
where your muse takes you?
I’ve tried outlining, but it doesn’t
work for me. I end up writing something different anyway, so it’s just a waste
of time. Instead, I make sure I know my characters inside out before I start the
book. That way when I throw them into a situation, I can guess how they’ll
react and that drives the plot.
Did you hire an editor to review
your manuscript before publishing?
Absolutely!! This is very important.
You want to be as professional as possible when you self-publish. I have a
copy-editor, a proofreader, beta readers and often an developmental editor too.
What advice would you give a new
author just entering into the self-publishing arena?
Be professional!!! Don’t be in a
hurry to put your book out. Make sure it’s finished to the highest standard
possible before you upload it to any retail sites. The biggest mistake I see
new writers make is that they aren’t ready to self-publish, and then their
sales are terrible and they become discouraged. If you are brand new to this, hire
a developmental editor for the first few books. You won’t regret it. They’ll
help you to hone your storytelling and to get rid of the dross in your book.
Then for every single book you put out, hire a copy-editor and proofreader. No
one person can catch every mistake, so it’s important that your book goes past
two professional sets of eyes. Don’t cut corners. Polish your work. Otherwise
you aren’t doing yourself or your readers any favors.
Rich
Janet Elizabeth Henderson
(Benson Security, #5)
Publication date: April 23rd 2020
Genres: Adult, Thriller
Rachel Ford-Talbot has nothing to do with her family or their pharmaceutical business. And she likes it that way. As one of four partners who own an internationally renowned security business, Rachel prefers to leave her past, with all its secrets, deeply buried.
But when a series of thefts reveal that the family business is being targeted for industrial espionage, her father begs Rachel to investigate. His illness makes it hard for her to refuse, but Rachel wonders if he truly understands what he’s unleashing on his company. Because she isn’t the same bright-eyed graduate that walked through their doors years earlier. Now, she’s strong, powerful, and somewhat terrifying. A woman who doesn’t suffer fools lightly and who is afraid of nothing.
She also isn’t alone.
This time, she has the might and expertise of Benson Security at her back. And an ex-CIA agent at her side—because Michael “Harvard” Carter has appointed himself her bodyguard for the duration. Even though Rachel doesn’t need, or want, the annoyingly sexy man’s help. But while the world sees a first-class bitch when they look at her, Michael sees only someone who intrigues him. Which makes him the biggest threat of all.
***This is a standalone novel. You don’t have to have read any of my other books to enjoy it.***
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo
Author Bio:
Janet is a Scot who moved to New Zealand fifteen years ago. Among other things, she’s been an artist, a teacher, a security guard at a castle, a magazine editor, and a cleaner in a drop in center for drug addicts (NOT the best job!).
She now writes full-time and is working on her 19th book. Her books have won several awards, including the Daphne du Maurier award for excellence in mystery and suspense. When she isn’t living in her head, she raises two kids, one husband, and several random animals. She survives on chocolate and caffeine.
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