Meet Jordan
I’d like to say I’m the life of the party, a laugh a minute kind of gal, and outrageously cool, BUT that would be a slight fabrication.
I’m actually an ex-flight attendant with a penchant for huge bookstores and big dumb action movies. I prefer quiet dinners with friends over maddening crowds. Happily married to my very own Highlander, we split our time between two continents.
FAQ
Have you always wanted to be a writer?
Actually, yes. I was asked what I wanted to be in seventh grade and I wrote down author and flight attendant. I thought that an author went to an office to work just like an executive. The funny thing is that I’ve been fortunate enough to do both.
What inspired you to write Romance?
I’m a sucker for a happy ending. And at the time it was all that I read. That has changed over the years. I’ve started to venture into other genres like Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, and Horror, which has been fun.
What should readers know about your books before they buy them?
Readers should know if they pick up my books they’re in for an adventure that can’t be contained by one genre. (ie I find it difficult to write in just one genre at a time.)
Should any of your books be read in a particular order? Or can they all be read as a stand-alone novel?
You should read the first book in my Atlantean’s Quest series, The Arrival, if you want it get the full enjoyment out of the series. My Dead World series is a trilogy storyline, so it should be read in order. All the rest of my books are stand-alone.
Do your books have a HEA (happily-ever-after)?
Yes, I try to make sure that all my books end on an upbeat.
What are your heroes and heroines like?
My heroes tend to be strong alpha males because I like them that way. I try to make my heroines like people I’d be friends with in real life. (i.e. likable, fun women with a strong sense of self)
What do you hope readers take with them after reading one of your books?
That life is anything but ordinary and that you can always change your circumstances no matter how bad they might be.
What do you hope they will understand about romantic fiction and/or about you?
I hope they understand that romance is as viable and necessary as every other genre out there.
You write in a lot of genres. What’s your favorite and why?
My favourite type of story isn’t really a genre. I like to write action/adventure stories. They can be paranormal, contemporary or historical. If I had to pin down a genre it would be supernatural and historical. Yes, I cheated. What can I say? I like writing them both.
RED–released in November 2008 from TOR–was the first book in the Dead World Series. How many installments will follow in this series?
There are two more books in this series, SCARLET and CRIMSON. They released in June 09 and November 09 respectively, closing the trilogy.
Can each book be read as a stand-alone novel? Or can the reader expect an ongoing storyline that will conclude in CRIMSON?
I think the reader will be able to pick up each book and understand what’s happening, but the trilogy is written with an overall story arc that starts with book one, RED, continues in book two, SCARLET, and ends with book three, CRIMSON.
Readers loved your Atlantean Quest series as well as your Phantom Warriors series, both published at Ellora’s Cave, a lot. Can you see a sequel for either of them in the near future? Or has everything been told here what was to tell?
I actually started a third book in the Phantom Warrior series, but haven’t had time to finish it yet. I feel that I’ve done all that I can with the Atlantean’s Quest series, which is why I started exploring the Phantom Warriors. They were from the planet the Atlanteans settled on and seemed like an interesting people. I could and would like to write several more stories set in their world and on earth.
Where do you get your ideas?
The easy answer is everywhere. Most of the time, the character starts talking to me and lets me know what’s happening. I tend to begin with a sentence and build the story around it. A lot of authors ’see’ movies in their heads. I used to write that way, then suddenly it switched to the characters speaking. I guess you could say I went from visual to audio. 
How many books do you usually write a year?
It varies from year to year. The most I’ve ever written in a year is five books. I don’t want to ever do that again, if I can avoid it. *g* I prefer to write two single titles a year and a category length book or two single titles and a few novellas.
What do you like most about being a writer?
One of the top things is the ‘uniform’. It would be followed quickly by the flexibility. I can work anywhere there’s an internet connection. That said, it’s fun chasing down a new story idea. There’s nothing like the excitement of starting a new book.
How much research do you do and how do you do it?
This depends on the type of story I’m writing. If I’m writing a historical, then I do quite a bit of research. I’ve bought several non-fiction books about various time periods. I try to have things on hand so that I don’t have to run to the library or the bookstores. If I’m writing a contemporary, then I don’t tend to do a lot of research. I try to pick subjects I know something about in real life.
Does reader feedback help you with your writing? Is feedback something that is very important to you?
Unfortunately, feedback doesn’t help a lot because it varies too greatly from reader to reader. (ie one person thinks the hero is a bastard, the next person loves him) I suppose I would pay attention if I was hearing the same thing repeatedly, but that’s never been the case thus far. My critique partners’ feedback is very important to me, but they look for different things than readers do. I’d love to have a group of readers who’d give me great feedback, but that’s very hard to find. (Yes, I have trust issues.)
When do(es) your next book(s) come out? On what are you working right now?
SCARLET released on June 2, 2009. MAMMOTH BOOK OF VAMPIRE ROMANCES released September 2009 and CRIMSON released in November 2009.
The Mammoth Book of Special Ops Romances releases in May 2010 and Blood Lite 2 releases in October 2010. I’m currently working on proposals for multiple new series.
Any advice for aspiring writers?
Read, read and read some more. Also, don’t be afraid to take classes and buy books on the craft.
