Interview with novelist J.M. Anton

Today’s guest is novelist Jackie Anton. Reviews and Interviews is just one stop in Jackie’s virtual book tour for her novel Fateful Waters.

Jackie is going to be giving away a $25 Barnes and Noble gift card at the end of her tour to a lucky commentor. So if you'd like to be entered for a chance to win, make sure to leave an e-mail address with a comment below.

And if you'd like more chances to win, visit her other blog tour stops and leave comments there.

Welcome, Jackie. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

As an accomplished equestrian with a lifetime of experience: as trainer, exhibitor, 4-H and youth club coach, as well as a horse show judge, I am able bring many years of experience working with horses and young riders to my “Backyard Horse Tales.” Traveling extensively has given me many opportunities to research life in other parts on the country, and get to know their residents.

Please tell us about your current release.

Fateful Waters was my NaNoWriMo 2011 winning competition novel. This writing challenge is sponsored by the Office of Letters and Light. The characters took hold of their direction and after the word count of 50,000 words was reached I had to rein them in. Almost a year later the novel came out in print.

Follow Melinda Potter and Alexandra Parker, across the country, as the friends travel from their home on the shores of Lake Erie to the drought-stricken state of Texas. After graduation from The Ohio State University, Melinda has a date with an online Romeo. Lexie, who is supposed exert a moderating influence on her impulsive friend, winds up in a hospital where she wakes to everyone calling her Mrs. Ross. She doesn’t have a clue how she got there, or who Mr. Ross is.

What inspired you to write this book?

Our family lived in the Texas Panhandle when I was still in elementary school. We still have family there struggling through the draught. That and the current online dating trend sparked the idea of sending two Ohio raised college grads to Texas to meet with an online match.

Excerpt:

“Are you in a hurry to be hamburger? I could have run you over in this blinding rain! Now, look, you’ve killed Mel’s Cadillac.” The beast wouldn’t move out of the road. Pushing on its rump didn’t accomplish anything, nor did smacking it on the hip. That little bout of temper left her with a stinging hand.

The white face was halter-less—it’s not a horse, she reminded herself—and she didn’t have a rope or even a belt. Now nearly knee-deep in slop, she stood there, hands on her hips, glaring at the cow. While she was assessing the situation, the cow let out a bellow. A small echo bounced back from a few feet away. Lexie spotted a small calf stuck in the mud. All that was visible was the head and a small portion of its back. The little one was sinking in a run-off of muck that had flowed from the slightly higher terrain behind it.

She removed her navy jacket that had matched her now trashed slacks. Lexie waded closer to the calf, hoping she didn’t sink along with it. Keeping a wary eye on its watchful mother, she slipped the jacket around the calf’s neck and gave a tug. She managed to raise its head a little higher, but it was stuck and could not get any traction to assist in its rescue attempt. Giving a little stronger tug she lost her own traction. She was sitting on her butt in the mud, propping up the small creature’s head when the ghost riders just appeared from out of the storm.

What exciting story are you working on next?

I am again trying my hand at the writing challenge. My 2012 entry involves a young woman who lost her family and at a young age goes to live with her maternal Grandmother. She finds out that she is an heiress via mail from a Denver law office. Casey discovers that she was not an orphan and sets out to find out why she was abandoned.

Writing life: My writing life is pretty diverse; I author adult romance and adventure novels under the pen of J.M. Anton. As Jackie Anton I author the popular Backyard Horse Tale series. Backyard Horse Tales: Sox 2^nd Edition was awarded the prestigious Mom’s Choice Award of Excellence for Family- Friendly Media. Based on reviews, I have high hopes for Fateful Waters as an entry in 2013 writing competitions.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

It’s only been recently that I was willing to call myself a writer, and now an author. I think my first short stories were written in junior high, and have developed from there.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like?

Some days inspiration takes a holiday. On those occasions I turn to editing, and usually that will usually get the creative juices flowing.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Usually I have several projects going at a time. If one group of characters won’t cooperate, I work with the group willing talk to me on that day.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

As a young child I wanted to be a cowboy! How does that country song go? I wanted to ride with Gene and Roy.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

For fun I usually ride my horse. I love to read, bake, and sketch or paint. I love to hear from readers. They can contact me at talesbyjackie@yahoo.com. I try to answer all fan e-mail.

Also, there’s a 10% discount through my book’s website, and also through the “Backyard Horse Tales” website. The discount code to use at checkout for each is 1DepCart0.

Thanks, J.M. Readers, don't forget about a chance to win a $25 B&N gift card. Leave an e-mail address with a comment below so you can be contacted if you win.