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Posted on September 14, 2020 at 8:00 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek
Today we’re interviewing author Jean Joachim.
She writes romance in a variety of styles: football, contemporary, military, suspenseful, and sweet.
SADYE: Which of your characters would you most and least like to trade places with?
JEAN: I’d most like to trade places with Callie Richards, from my Now and Forever series, because her mate, Mac Caldwell, was my first hero crush, and is still one of my favorite men.
She lives on a college campus. She’s funny, sexy, and her man is totally devoted to her. Sigh.
I’d least like to trade places with Giselle Davenport, the heroine of my book, You Belong to Me.
Giselle has macular degeneration. And although she has a totally drool-worthy mate, Cal, I would not like to have such limited eyesight.
She grew out of my experiences with my father who had that affliction. I admired his bravery. He never complained or behaved like he was disabled in any way.
I hope I have conveyed his strength into Giselle. While I have such respect for her, I wouldn’t want to have to deal with her challenges.
SADYE: Which of your characters would you most and least like to become romantically involved with?
JEAN: Which would I most like to become romantically involved with? That’s tough. I’d have to say, all of the men — and no, not at one time!
If I want the reader to fall in love with my hero, then I have to fall in love with him first, myself. So every man qualifies.
I have a special, personal affection for Johnny, from Love’s Last Chance in my Hollywood Hearts series because he resembles someone I used to know. Ahem. Enough about that.
Add Gunther Quill, from Lovers & Liars, also from the Hollywood Hearts series, because he’s such a handful.
All of my football and baseball players because I adore athletes! All the men from my Pine Grove series. And especially Danny Maine, from Now and Forever, the Book of Danny.
I’m afraid I can’t think of anyone I wouldn’t want to be involved with. If there was such a character, he’d never be a hero in one of my books.
SADYE: What have been the most surprising, rewarding, and challenging parts of your writing career?
JEAN: The reader responses have been the most rewarding part of my writing career.
When a reader loves a book, or if a book reaches a reader in a special way, like the women who wrote that they’d had miscarriages like Lauren in Griff’s book, or the blind woman who loved how strong Giselle Davenport was — those comments touch me deeply.
And the readers who bug me for the next book and write glowing reviews. Writing a book is hard work. But people like those, who are so loving, supportive, and loyal — it warms my heart.
I had no idea what to expect when my first book was published, nor my sixtieth. It’s worth it all to reach into someone’s life and warm their heart or cheer them up.
The most challenging part of the career is to keep myself disciplined. To aim to reach writing goals every day.
And then, the hardest part, trying to ignore nasty or hurtful reviews. It was so disappointing to discover that some people take out their frustrations in their own lives on writers. And there’s nothing we can do about it.
Toughening up my tender hide has been an enormous challenge, and unfortunately, I haven’t made much progress.
SADYE: What has been the most touching or memorable piece of reader feedback you’ve received?
JEAN: My best friend of fifty years died from ovarian cancer. When she was undergoing chemotherapy, she’d take one of my books along.
She told me she loved them, they helped her pass the time and took her away from her surroundings. I was so touched. Her words became my mission — to take readers away.
And if there are those out there with sadness, loss, or difficult times, I hope my books will give them some respite, like they did for Marilyn.
After she passed away, I donated 150 copies of my books to a chemotherapy center on Long Island. I hope they bought a few hours of peace to those who needed it.
SADYE: What message or theme would you like readers to take away from your work?
JEAN: While my books are not preachy, they do have an underlying message.
So many plans and schemes in life go wrong. When you have true love and a loyal partner, you can weather any storm.
I hope my books convey the message that love, loyalty, and self-sacrifice will get you through almost anything.
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Learn more about Jean Joachim on her website, where her books can also be purchased.
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Categories: Author Interview