Meet Maddie James

I'm having coffee and chatting with bestselling romance author Maddie James this morning.

MJ: Hi Joan. Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog today. I’m happy to be here!

Meet Maddie James

This bestselling author is published worldwide in at least 7  languages. Her books, available in ebook, paperback, and audio formats, span the romance genre from contemporary to romantic suspense to paranormal romance.

Landing on all major retailer top-selling lists, she’s been listed as an Amazon Top 100 Romance Author and a Rising Star in Western Romance at iBooks.

Find Maddie James Online

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Amazon * Google+
 Now, let's discover more about Maddie James.

The Dirty Dozen

1. In which genre do you write and why that particular genre?

MJ: It’s easy for me to say that I write in the romance genre, but pinning me down to one sub-genre isn’t very easy. I started out publishing romantic comedy and short contemporary romances back in the late 90s. From there, I migrated to romantic suspense, time travel, and paranormal stories. Today, I’m still writing in all of those sub-genres plus contemporary western romances, which are my best sellers. I write in these sub-genres because those are the types of books I like to read. It seemed natural to gravitate to writing them too.

2. What inspired your most recent book?

MJ: Tempt Me is my most recent release but it is actually a book that was mostly written over 15 years ago. This romantic suspense is an idea that hounded me for many years. The inspiration came from a newspaper article. The story, of course, veered way off the path of that article, but it definitely was the impetus to write the story. Last year, I pulled out the partially complete manuscript and started re-reading what I had written. The story still seemed fresh, although I had a bit of updating to do, and with the help of my editor, I finished the book, and we took it to market last fall. I think it’s personally the best book I’ve ever written. What the readers think remains to be seen!

3. As an author, what can readers expect when they read one of your books?

MJ: I’ve been told I write humor well, so if there is a hit of comedy in the book, you’re going to get some snappy, funny dialog. A former editor said that I “write suspense like Iris Johansen.” That was a mighty nice compliment and I’m unsure if that is true or not, but readers of my romantic suspense stories tell me I do suspense well—that they didn’t see plot twists coming, and that I keep the reader on the edge of her seat.

4. How did you "become" an author? For instance, was there a moment when you said: "I think I'll write a book."

MJ: Wow. I started writing in the mid 1980s. It took ten years of writing and submitting the traditionally way back then before I sold my first book to Kensington. I’d toyed with writing for years before that—poetry, essays, short stories, articles—but always knew that if I wrote anything lengthy, it would be a romance novel.

5. What's the best thing about being an author?

MJ: It’s satisfying getting to the end of a story. It’s exciting seeing that book in print on the shelf. It’s super-wonderful to navigate the 15-second commute from my coffee maker to my office, while wearing my jammies.

6. What's the worst thing about being an author?

MJ: Loving your craft so much and seeing that wonderful book you wrote, your baby, floundering in the marketplace.

7. Do you have editions of your books available other than ebook editions?

MJ: Yes. All of my books are available in ebook, and the vast majority of them are available in paperback. I’m currently working on getting all of my stories in print in one format or another. If the story is not long enough for a book of its own, I’m combining them into collections and “two-fers” (two books in one print volume). So watch out for those! I also have a few books in audiobook format.

8. Do you listen to audio books? If so, where can readers find them, and what device do you use to listen to audiobooks?

MJ: I have, on occasion, listened to audiobooks but it’s not my preferred way to read. I’m guilty of distracted driving when listening to a book, so driving while “reading” is not an option for me. I like them but rarely make it a choice for me. I imagine it’s because I’m such a visual person—I need to see the words on the page, whether they are digital or in print.

I do, however, have three of my books in audio, and hope to have more in audio in the future. You can find my books, Falling for Grace, Rawhide and Roses, and A Perfect Escape at Audible, iTunes, and Amazon in audiobook format.

9. What device do you use to read ebooks?

MJ: I’m a Kindle gal. I have two of them actually. I also still occasionally read paperback. When traveling extensively for my former day job, I always had my Kindle loaded and in my carry-on bag, ready to read!

10. If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring author, what would it be?

MJ: Read a lot. Write a lot. Keep on doing both. And if it’s your dream, don’t give up.
I would also add that being an author currently is a lot more than putting words on the page. So, educate yourself about all of the publishing options today, and don’t go into any situation without research and knowledge.

11. If you could tell readers one thing, what would it be?

MJ: That we write our books for you, the reader—but sometimes we write them for ourselves. Authors can’t survive without you. We know and understand that you are our bread-and-butter. We also know that sometimes we write books that you shake your head at. Books where you say, “that’s not her usual type of story” or “I didn’t expect that kind of book from her.” I’d like readers to know that even though we love and need you, and we often write books with our readers in mind, we sometimes write books just for ourselves. We write because the story has to be told. And if it’s not the usual type of story we put out, that’s okay. There could be something deeper going on with the author that is the grounding for the story.

12. What is your current big dream (or goal) as a writer?

MJ: I simply want to continue writing, to entertain my readers, and to support myself with my craft.

Tempt Me by Maddie James

Detective Jordan Cross has one thing on her mind—get the bastard killing kids in her small southern city; the person she thinks is also responsible for her niece’s disappearance.

Journalist Tate Walker has a similar goal—keep the people of his city informed about the serial killer, and perhaps write a Pulitzer-worthy story in the process.

When Jordan and Tate’s lives careen together around the case, they pick up the battles of their pasts and carry them forward—battles of trust and mistrust, lust and love, truths and misunderstandings. Determined to keep her focus on the case, Jordan finds it difficult to resist Tate’s sexual temptations. Tate uses every advantage to tempt her back into his bed. Then, thrust into a dangerous situation, those battles suddenly fall away—and the only battle left to fight is for their lives, and their love.

Add Tempt Me by Maddie James to Your Library: Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * iBooks

Takeaway Truth

This sounds like a great book. I'm going to grab a copy. How about you?