Jewel Quinlan had an abundant imagination and a
strong desire to write novels from a young age. She particularly enjoys writing paranormal and fantasy romance but also writes contemporary as well. An avid traveler, she has visited fifteen countries so far (which she enjoys using
as settings in her novels) and has plans to see more of the world. She has a particular fondness for Bavaria and studies the German language as one of her hobbies. During the day, she works as a pharmaceutical sales representative
and, at night, she writes romance. She currently lives in Orange County, California with her two dogs; Shimmer and
Penny.
For more information about Jewel Quinlan
Website |Facebook |Twitter | Tumblr | Goodreads| Amazon
How long have you been an author?
Writing has been in my blood since I was very young but I didn’t published my first book until October 2013 (Rock Star Ex). Since then I have had three other books come out (Stealing Cupid’s Bow, Extreme Heat and Surrender Sweet Succubus) and have several more in progress that are scheduled for publication in 2014. All of my books are being produced into audiobooks as well.
Rock Star Ex is currently available as an audiobook on Audible, iTunes and Amazon and the other three are currently in production.
Have there been any surprises along the way?
Oh yes! Writing the story is only about one-fifth of being an author. Once the first one comes out you are then up to your eye-balls in learning how to market it. And marketing includes things like setting up a website, blog, Facebook Page, Twitter account, sending the book out for reviews, begging people to put it up on their blog, paying for advertising and making swag. (takes a deep breath) It’s been a pretty steep learning curve. And I am the least tech-savvy person in the world! But I’m glad to say that I’ve tackled it all and am now able to relax…just a little bit…until the next challenge comes up.
Why this story? What was your inspiration to write it?
This story was originally written for an anthology called the Bad Boys of Summer. Unfortunately, due to changes in the royalty structure, I decided not to include it in the anthology and publish it as a stand alone. So, as you can imagine from the anthology title, I had to think of where I might find my bad boy. Where would it be hot and what would he be doing?
For work I often drive up the coast to Santa Barbara. Along the way the freeway goes by a kiteboarding beach in Ventura and you can see the kites from the freeway. I have always been fascinated by that sport. Heck, I’m fascinated by any career that is not an office job. So I put my bad boy together with that and love of traveling and Extreme Heat was the result.
What was your favorite part of the book to write?
The opening scene by far. Kai was competing in a kiteboarding event in the first chapter. I really
enjoyed researching kiteboarding. There are some amazing videos on YouTube. After you watch them you can feel the adrenaline coursing through your veins and it makes you want to try it. Kiteboarding is officially on my bucket list.
Is there a message you want your readers to take away from this book?
It’s never too late for a new beginning.
Do you have any other upcoming releases or projects you would like to talk about?
Yes, I am always up to something! I recently did a live reading at Lady Jane’s Salon OC from my book Stealing Cupid’s Bow which came out in February of this year. It was recorded for podcast and will soon be available on iTunes. I also recently self-published one of my stories titled Surrender Sweet Succubus. The release date was April 11th. It is currently available wherever ebooks are sold and is in production to become an audiobook. In September I will be attending the Hot Mojave Knights Reader Event in Las Vegas NV as a featured author and will be doing book signings there. My website www.jewelquinlan.com has more information on these and other things coming up.
Where can readers find you?
Here are my links. Stop by and say hi!
Website |Facebook |Twitter | Tumblr | Goodreads| Amazon
Fun Questions:
Who is on your "to be read" shelf?
Had to pull up my Goodreads list for this one, lol. Next up for me are The Prince by Kiera Cass (Book 3 of The Selection) and Once a Mistress by Debra Mullins.
What are you reading now?
I am exploring previously untasted territory with Cinda’s Fella and Ridin’ Red by Nikki Prince. Woo! She is a red-hot writer!
If you could only pick one book from your childhood to preserve for others to read,
what would it be?
The Island Stallion by Walter Farley. I was completely horse crazy for many years.
How do you find your muse?
She is always with me, whispering from the shadows, but sometimes need coaxing with a good glass of wine.
Where is your favorite spot to write?
Most of my writing gets done at my dining room table. Once in a while at a Peet’s coffee shop. I love their Uzuri African Blend!
What book do you think should be made into a movie?
If we are talking about my books, Stealing Cupid’s Bow for sure. I constantly had film in mind when I wrote each and every chapter. Not sure who I would get to play Cupid. Who could possibly fill the shoes of the god of love?
If we are talking about other people’s books I think The Wallflower Series by Lisa Kleypas would be awesome!
When photographer Chloe Gaige gets assigned to
cover the Pro Kiteboarding finals in Morocco she never expects to run into her childhood crush. Back then, their age difference is what caused her to pull away. Would he resent her for how she treated him back then?
Fully grown, pro kiteboarder Kai Shephard is a tough competitor used to going after what he wants…and getting it. When he catches sight of Chloe in the crowd with her camera, nothing can stop him from trying to be with her again. Except Chloe, that is. Would she see him for the
man he is now?
BOOK EXCERPT:
“I’m glad you’re here, Chloe.”
“You are?”
He turned his head toward her and looked into her eyes, his hands pressed into her back, drawing her closer.“Because I’ve thought of that night hundreds of times.” His words
were loaded with meaning.
Chloe skimmed her eyes over his handsome face. He was positively smoldering with emotion. She swallowed hard. This was the moment, the one she would never forget. Her eyes
locked on his and her mind churned over the different signals and sensations her
body was picking up.
“Have you?” he whispered.
They were so close. His lips were right there, and he could kiss her any second. His deep, dark eyes were drawing her in.
She nodded.
He lay still, waiting, but she said nothing more. “You have to give me more than that,” he
said. “I still don’t know what happened. I thought you liked it when I kissed you.”
Anxiety filled her. It was time to come clean. What would he think of her reasons? How would he see her after she admitted what a weak person she was? “I did,” she said blurted.
“It was just….”
His clasp on her back remained firm and he turned his body to face hers so their fronts were
pressed together. “Just what?”
Chloe could feel her face filling with the heat of embarrassment. Did he really want to talk about
it?“It was just…school and my friends and….” She stopped and buried her face in his chest, not wanting to say anything more. He smelled so good. The warm scent of athletic male and ocean breeze.
He grasped her chin with his hand and lifted her face. “What else?”
Looked like she wasn’t going to be able to get out of explaining. He had that earnest look in
his eyes again, the one she remembered from long ago.
“I need to know,” he said.
She couldn’t deny him. “Our age difference,” she said with a wince.
“Seriously?” His breath whooshed out with his surprise. “I mean, I know you’ve made comments
about it before, but that was the reason you wouldn’t talk to me anymore?”
“Yes. No. Sort of,” she said in a rush. “Couldn’t you see how strange it would have
been?”
“No.”
She sighed. “Of course not. You are such a male. If you were a teenage girl you would
understand.”
“What is there to understand?”
She pulled away from him and lay on her back once again. “All the pressure,” she said. “To fit in, to be cool, to be part of the group.”
“And you and me would have been a problem?” he asked, sounding hurt.
The tone in his voice caused her long-held guilt to well up. “Not a problem, exactly. Just…not
usual. I don’t think the guys in the senior class we always hung out with would have accepted you even if some of my friends had,” she explained. “Come on, Kai. I’m sure you remember what it was like being a teenager.”
He ran a hand through his hair and stared up at the stars. “I do but what I don’t remember is
ever having problems fitting in.” After a moment he gave a great exhale. “Okay, sure. I guess I can understand. Not that I’ve ever lived my life caring about that stuff, but…I get it. I don’t like it, but I get it.” Using the arm still cushioning her head and shoulders, he turned her to face him again. “But you did like me then?” he asked.
She nodded.
He smiled. “And what about now?”
She felt shy and squirmy under his gaze but admitted with hesitation, “Yes.”
He beamed at her response. “And does our age difference still bother you? I’m twenty-one and
you’re twenty-three. We’re always going to be a couple of years apart.”
She looked away from him feeling very shy and hating it. He still liked her? Was it possible after
she’d rejected him? A small thrill shot through her stomach. “No. Why should it bother me?” she said, with a small shrug. Chloe was sure she looked braver than she felt.
“Because I want to be with you, Chloe. I want what was lost to us before.” He searched her face
with his eyes and then added in a low voice, “And because I’m going to kiss you.”
BUY LINKS:
Evernight Publishing | Amazon| All Romance e-Books | Barnes and Noble | BookStrand | Apple iBooks | Sony or add it to your shelf on Goodreads