Author Interview with Jerrie Alexander

http://jerriealexander.com

Meet Jerrie Alexander!!!

A career in logistics offered me the opportunity to travel to many beautiful locations in America, and I revisit them in her romantic suspense novels. 

I write romantic suspense and contemporary erotic romance with alpha males and kick-ass women who weave their way through life’s obstacles to emerge stronger because of, and on occasion in spite of, their love for each other. I like to put my characters in difficult positions, make them suffer, and if they’re strong enough, they live happily ever after.

My books are written to stand alone with no cliff hangers.

  • What is the first book that made you cry?

Jerrie: I think that’s a gift that many authors don’t have. Monica Burns made me cry in Kismet. That words she put on paper could cause such emotions in me, made me want to be a better writer and turned me into a stalker fan.

Elizabeth: I love this cover and it’s going on my TBR list immediately!

  • Does writing energize or exhaust you?

Jerrie: Both! If the scenes are flowing and my muse had found it in her heart to show up and is pumping ideas into my head, it’s exhilarating. It gives me a high that pushes me to keep going. But if it’s one of those days where the words don’t come easy and she’s nowhere in sight, I’m exhausted. That’s when I walk away for a while.

Elizabeth: Most of the time energize but if I’m really not feeling it I move away from it for a bit. Distance gives you perspective.

  • Does a big ego help or hurt writers?

Jerrie: LOL. I know a few who have healthy egos, but I can’t tell if it helps or not. Truthfully, I think most of us have a little self-doubt. I admit to it. I want my readers to hate seeing a story I’ve written end. I want them to be completely satisfied that they money they spent was worth every cent.

Elizabeth: Luckily, I haven’t come across any authors with super big egos! Okay, well maybe one, but karma knocked her back down to size pretty quickly. I think most authors set their egos aside when writing so they can dwell in their character’s personas.

  • What is your writing Kryptonite?

Jerrie: The first line and last line of the book! I don’t plot but I have a story in mind when I start. I was taught to write with a beginning and an end in mind. The theory is that if you don’t know where you’re going, your writing will wander all over the page trying to get there. I will rewrite that first line until it resonates with me and then everything flows fairly easily. (sometimes)

Elizabeth: I love this answer! Yes the first line can set the whole mood of a work if well done.

  • What comes first, the plot or the characters?

Jerrie: Always the characters. Especially in my romantic suspense books, I do a complete profile on the main characters. I lay out their pictures, individual histories, and I decide what their biggest obstacle to overcome will be. Then I start putting problems in front of them to solve. Sounds strange 😉 but it works for me.

Elizabeth: I agree with Jerrie, characters first since they drive the action.

  • Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

After I lost my husband, my ability to write suffered. My doctor suggested I try a genre that would require research, digging into something I knew little about. So, I decided, what the heck, I’ll write BDSM. I considered using a pseudonym for the four book erotic romance series that was the result of his advice. Hindsight being 20/20, maybe I should have used one. My family isn’t too enthusiastic about my choice of genre. But as the old saying goes, it is what it is. I wrote them and am not ashamed of my hard work. It achieved what I needed it to. I’m writing again and loving it.   

  • What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

https://amzn.to/3exNTXh

It depends on the story. A lot of the second book of the Lost and Found, Inc. series is set in the Columbian jungle. Boy did I do some research! I wound up with eighty-one pages. Some were answers from a friend who is a retired SEAL. He advised me how to blow up a building, hack my way through the dense undergrowth, and kill a countless number of villains.

I have to admit that was a lot of research but I felt it critical to the story.

  • Describe yourself in three words.

Loyal

Honest

Spontaneous.

  • Name three of your favorite things.

Traveling

Bread pudding

My dog, Buddy

  • Name three of your least favorite things.

Cold weather

Illness

Isolation

Thanks for joining me this week Jerrie, I loved getting to know you better! If you’d like to learn more about Jerrie’s work check her out below:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/jerriealexander

Facebook: http://facebook.com/JerrieAlexanderAuthor

Instagram: http://instagram.com/jerrie_alexander

5 thoughts on “Author Interview with Jerrie Alexander”

  1. Elizabeth,
    Thank you for having me as your guest. It’s always fun to learn a little about what goes on in a writer’s mind.
    I appreciate your support.

    1. So happy to have you and you’re right, it’s fun to learn about other people’s process. Thanks for being here. E

  2. What a wonderful interview!
    So interesting the way each author achieves his/her goals when putting words to paper.
    Jerrie, don’t forget hilarious and kind is your self description!
    Thanks, Elizabeth and Jerrie!

    1. Kathleen,
      Thanks for stopping by, you always add something fun to the conversation.
      E

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