Welcome back Sara Jane Stone. I am really honored to get the chance to interview Sara on her writing process and journey. Such a great interview, thank you Sara!

What is your writing process?

SJS: I start each book with a character outline and a short summary of the story. This two-paragraph blurb generally resembles the back of the book copy. Sometimes, if the publisher requests one, I write a synopsis. Then I start writing the first draft. I write whenever I have time until the manuscript is complete. I usually go back to the beginning about halfway through and read what I have to make sure the characters and plot are on track. And after the first draft, I go through many, many rounds of revisions and edits 🙂

Describe your journey as an author so far.


SJS: I discovered romance novels while working as a sales representative for Random House. The more I read, the more I wished to write them myself. After a few failed attempts, I wrote a story that caught an agent’s attention. Then I wrote another that I sold to Harlequin. My debut, Command Performance, released three years ago. Mixing Temptation marks my 13^th published book!

How do you stay motivated?


SJS: I love to write. But deadlines also help. I’m generally very motivated when the first draft is due. And I’m always eager to hear what my editor thinks about story.

What has been your biggest obstacle while writing and how have you overcome it?


SJS: Learning how to structure a story. I wrote a few terrible manuscripts before I sold my first book. They were creative and I had a strong voice, but the characters lacked goals and motivation. Also, I’d skipped the conflict. My agent and my first editor helped me by recommending books about story structure. Save the Cat, a screenwriting book, is my favorite. My agent recommended a number of blogs. Then I took everything I’d learned and read a lot of romance novels. I reread some over and over until I understood structure and could apply what I’d learned to my own writing.

Why did you write this book?

SJS: Great question! I wrote this one for all of the readers who asked for Caroline’s story. Initially, I pitched Caroline’s story to my editor as a secondary character/plot line. But readers started asking, so I spoke to my editor and we decided that this was the right direction for this series. Even though writing a story about a woman who’d been raped while serving in the Marines didn’t exactly sound like a recipe for happy-ever-after, I found one for Caroline. But wow, the bumps along the way! Mixing Temptation was the most challenging story I’ve written so far. And the most complicated to research. The first person accounts and interviews were heartbreaking to read. In the end, I think the story delivers on the HEA promise romance readers expect. And yet it is also realistic.

Thank you for being a part of the Mixing Temptation blog tour! And happy reading!!

Title: Mixing Temptation (Second Shot #3) by Sara Jane Stone

Release date: September 13, 2016
Publisher: Avon Impulse

Synopsis

In the third installment in Sara Jane Stone’s dazzling Second Shot series, a beautiful but broken woman must decide if true love is worth risking everything…including her freedom

After a year spent living in hiding—with no end in sight—Caroline Andrews wants to reclaim her life. But the lingering trauma from her days serving with the marines leaves her afraid to trust the tempting logger who delivers friendship and the promise of something more.

Following an accident that nearly robbed him of his hopes for the future, Josh Summers believes life has given him a second chance. He wants to settle down with the woman who stole his attention and his heart. And he’s willing to wait until she’s ready to be more than “just friends.” When fear of discovery leaves Caroline pretending to be his date, Josh tempts her to try the real thing—a relationship built on trust, not lies.

But then the past threatens and Caroline must risk everything—including her freedom—to bury her demons before she can take a chance on happy-ever-after.

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About Sara Jane Stone 

After several years on the other side of the publishing industry, Sara Jane Stone bid goodbye to her sales career to pursue her dream-writing romance novels. Sara Jane currently resides in Brooklyn, New York with her very supportive real-life hero, two lively young children and a lazy Burmese cat. Join Sara Jane’s newsletter to receive new release information, news about contests, giveaways, and more! Visit www.sarajanestone.com and look for her newsletter entry form.

Author Links:   Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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