A Texas Christmas: Author Interview with Jolene Navarro

How did you come up with the idea of your Christmas themed book?
It did not start out as a Christmas story. I had a heroine that had been in one too many weddings and now she was in her twin brother’s second wedding. Can you imagine how that made her feel? 

Where does the romance for her come in?
Her brother’s best man is the opposite of everything she wants in a husband. So we know where this is going, right? I love putting people together that don’t look like they would fit, but the side of her that is afraid of risk and lives in fear of making a mistake needed to be challenged. In walks the hero.

He’s an artist that lives in the moment and thrives on spontaneity. He was in and out of foster care as a child and has no family or traditions. He sees life as short and lives in the moment. This gets him in trouble, so together they learn to trust in God’s plan and enjoy every day with arms wide open while planning for the future. What better time for new beginnings and hope for the future than a Christmas wedding. So the story became a Christmas story with a lost soul in the midst of a huge family. It had to be Christmas. 

What made you decide to do a Christmas themed book?
Some fellow authors with Love Inspired and friends were doing an anthology and invited me to join them. The theme they already had was mistletoe memories. Of course that brings kissing to mind and for me I thought of the end of a wedding ceremony.

“You may kiss the bride.”

It makes me sigh every time.

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions? 

When I think of Christmas, I think of family. It has always been a big family event, from loading in the car to see the lights or getting the kids together to build gingerbread houses. Our town has a night time Christmas parade on Main Street. Christmas Eve is spent with my mother’s family out on a ranch in the Texas Hill Country. Christmas day is spent hanging out with my kids. With all the family get-togethers, comes the need for lots of food. I love cooking for the holidays.

What’s next? (future books, novellas, special appearances you want to mention) 

In July I will have my first Historical out. It's called, Lone Star Bride. It is set in the young county of the Texas Republic. Sofia De Zavala wants more than to be a housewife so she dresses up as a boy and joins the cattle drive leaving from her father’s ranch.

Right after that, in August my fifth Clear Water book will hit the shelves. A much loved reoccurring character single dad, Adrian De La Cruz, will get his chance at a happy ending with the Bergmann’s prodigal sister.

What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been give that you’d like to share? 

Writing takes perseverance and the wiliness to fail. In failure, you learn and go at it again. Other than that I’m a craft junkie. Book, workshops and conferences are a great way to sharpen your writing tools, but you have to finish the book and start a new one – edit, repeat.

What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner? 

As an author, you have more control that you know, but always take the time to listen to those in the business.

Any last words or tips?

Finish a story. There is power in writing the end. Then write another story. Enjoy the process.

That's all for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Jolene's writing and upcoming books, here's how to do that.

https://www.amazon.com/Jolene-Navarro/e/B00CGBRMCA/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_1

http://jolenenavarrowriter.com/

Christmas in Texas: Author Interview with Jolene Navarro

How did you come up with the idea for your Christmas themed book?
I have to admit when I first proposed this story it was set in the spring. My editor came back and said they had an October opening and thought this might be a great Christmas story. With family traditions, finding a home and overcoming loss I agreed. As I dove into the rewrites I realized this story is so much deeper because of the Christmas theme I was able to work with. The holidays can be the toughest times of year when dealing with grief. All the traditions and memories come to the surface. On the other hand I had a single mother that never had a true Christmas so bringing them together, well it was wonderful for me to watch the love develop.

Give me a short synopsis on the story for my readers?
Homeless, single mother Karly Kalakona has a new job on the Childress ranch. It is the perfect Christmas gift she and her son needed for their future. The single mom just never counted on dealing with not only a stubborn patient, but also his prodigal son.

Pilot Tyler Childress, has spent his adulthood exploring the world, avoiding the grief and regret he left on his family Texas ranch. He returns home due to his father’s illness. The chemistry he shares with his father’s nurse is undeniable – and has him thinking of sticking around past the holiday season. Can Tyler’s need for wings and her desire for roots make a perfect home full of love in time for Christmas?

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?
I love Christmas, from decorating the tree to gathering with my mom’s family on Christmas Eve and eating tamales. It’s all the little things like spending time with family, drinking hot chocolate, baking cookies and singing songs. I love Christmas music. I have a large collection of Nativity scenes that I set out each year.

What’s next? (future books, novellas, special appearances you want to mention)
I’m about to turn in book four in Clear Water Texas. A marine that is now a Texas State Trooper finds out his ex-wife had his son and never told him. Overnight he becomes a father to a four year old son and that son’s nine month old sister. It is Garrett Kincaid and Anjelica Ortega’s story. I should be getting a title soon. It will be out in September.

Any special awards or achievements you’d like to mention?
A Texas Christmas Wish was on the Publisher Weekly top 25 for two weeks. It was very exciting to see my book up there with Nora Roberts.

What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given that you’d like to share?
To keep writing. To sit in the chair and write and once you finish your story don’t be afraid of digging deep and revising. Then move on to another story. Write, rewrite, finish and start over.

What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?
To sell or market your story well - you need to know your hooks. What will make an editor or reader know pick up your story over all the other books out there?

Any last words or tips?
Don’t forget to keep reading the best in the field. Once you start writing, finding reading time can be difficult. But like any field you have to keep an eye on what is going on with the ones that are most successful. But don’t confuse that with following trends.

If you'd like to learn more about Jolene and her writing, here's some options to do that.

Website: http://jolenenavarrowriter.com/
Amazon page: http://amzn.to/1kmRgSX

A "Love Inspired" Christmas: Author Interview with Jolene Navarro

What made you decide to do a Christmas themed book?
Christmas is just a special time and really pulls on the heartstrings when it comes to home and family. I love those themes. I’m excited to share with you that I just turned in another Holiday book to my editor that will be out October 2015 (you’re the first to get that news, so shhh. Don’t tell anyone)

Could you give me a short synopsis on the story for my readers?
Lone Star Holiday: Twelve years ago, Lorrie Ann Ortega left the tiny town of Clear Water with stars in her eyes. Now she’s back home-trying to find purpose in her life and put her mistakes in the past. Even so, she knows she’ll never be the kind of women who would make a good wife for the handsome widowed pastor, John Levi. When she agrees to watch his two daughters she starts spending way too much time with him. To the small towns surprise and her’s, she just might be the Christmas miracle the beloved pastor needs.

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions? 
Oh, there are so many, decorating the tree the weekend after Thanksgiving; Setting up all the nativities I’ve collected including the ceramic pieces my mother made; hanging the hand painted stocking of my now almost grown children; reading Christmas stories and drinking hot chocolate; Gathering at my Aunt’s ranch to celebrate Christmas Eve with my grandmother, aunts, uncles and all the cousin and now great grand cousins. The Tamales and chili we eat. Oh I could go on and on.

You write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired line. What drew you to write for this specific genre?
Faith is an organic part of my life and many of the people in my life. I also have strong ties to small town life which is a big part of Love Inspired. I love heroes and heroines that are a bit messed up but still want to do the right thing, to find a deeper purpose in their everyday life. I wanted to write about people that struggled, failed and got back up and tried again. I also love the dynamics in small town life.

One of the unique aspect of the Love Inspired books is the questions for discussion at the end of the book. Do you put together those questions? Or does the publisher?
The author writes the questions and I used the point of conflict, the choices my character made or have to make. Going forward there will not be discussion questions. They have been cut from the books to save space. 

Were other books started and stopped along the way? 
At one time I had about six different stories bouncing around at different levels of completion. I heard Jodi Thomas speak and she said, “You have to finish the book and you have to get it out there. Then you have to finish the next book. Rejection is part of being published don’t be afraid of it.”

How long did it take to write your first book?
It took me about a year and a half and a great deal of rewrites to finish it. I focused on finishing my small town story. It was the easiest to finish because I know small towns.

How did you go about finding an agent?
After completing my book, I signed up for a regional conference and made an appointment with Pam Hopkins, an agent that works with the New York houses. I gave her my pitch with the hooks lined up and she requested a copy of my manuscript. I was told for the most part agents at these conferences will ask for a copy but it didn't mean they would represent you, so I didn’t get my hope up.

I did take what I had just learned from Alex Sokoloff and reorganized the whole book before I sent her the full manuscript. She took me on as a client and in about six months I had a contract with Harlequin. I love my agent. She made calls I wouldn’t have been able to, but I do think you are better off by yourself than with a bad agent.

Did you submit to other publishers before you sent the full manuscript to your agent?
Pam, my agent was the first person I ever submitted to. She said the story Lone Star Holiday was a perfect fit for Love Inspired and I agreed. She made a call to Emily an editor at Love Inspired and Emily was interested. So she was the only one we sent the story to. That was my target publisher for that story.

What do newbie writers need to understand about submitting a manuscript that they may not consider?
Number one advice: Know your hooks (also called troupes) and the conflicts. Editors want to see the development of layered conflicts.

I haven't heard the term "troupes" except for a troupe of actors. Can you define that for me?
A troupe is the same has a  hook - Some publishers use that term. Entangled Publishing will always ask which troupes you are using.  Reunion Story, Enemies to Lovers, Mistaken Identity, Secret Baby, Single Dad are just a few. Harlequin calls them hooks. The themes romance readers love to read. You always want to stick with well known hooks but add your unique twist.

What do you think you learned from writing your first novel that helped you in the second one?
What I did learn from book one, get the rough draft done then rewrite. Each book is a learning process.

How do you write? Did you do an outline first? Character development? 
When I first decided I wanted to write for publication, I thought you just sat down and wrote, that the story would flow. Ugh, yeah it flowed – all over the place. I bought books, went to workshops, joined critique groups and started learning the craft of writing.

Then I went to listen to Alex Sokoloff. She changed my writing career. I learned about story boards and story elements and how to use them to create deep character driven story that keeps the reader turning pages. So now I have my characters and I play with them until I know their secret, their deepest fear and the lie they believe about themselves. Once I know that I can do a basic story board that moves them through their story – from the false identity to their true essence. It might change along the way as I get to know them more but it works like a road map. Sometimes there is construction or an accident or just a prettier route but I know where I’m going. 

What suggestions do you have for making the most of social media?
Don’t get swallowed up in the whirlwind of social media. You need a website and from there pick what you like. Don’t try to do everything and don’t go on there just to promote your book. Ugh, no one wants to see that over and over again. It’s all about building relationships and promoting who you are as a person/writer.

I don’t think people find a new author because of social media, but when they look for you give them a reason to stick around. What is your brand/image what kind of story do you tell. Let that be the face of your social media.

What type of publicity do you do to promote your book?
Truthfully, I haven't done as much as I should. Being with Love Inspired is a gift, because they have a large book club that buys the book before it hits the shelves. I love Facebook and connect with other Love Inspired authors and readers on social media. I just did a reader conference in North Texas. That was fun.

What has worked best for you in generating sales?
What works? Getting new books out there for the readers to find, connecting with readers and word of mouth. It is hard, and you can feel like you’re talking to yourself at times, but then you get a message of how you touched someone and you know you did what you set out to do. 

What is some of the best writing advice that you’ve received or could give?
Keep writing, on the days it feels like everything is corny, or boring or just plain trash, keep writing. Your tired or sad or full of doubt, just keep writing. If you want to be a professional writer you have to write even when you don’t feel like it. It becomes a habit like anything else and you can train your brain to create if you practice.

If I take too much time away it is harder to start back up, like exercise. Uhm...let’s not talk about exercise. My sister is a yoga instructor and tells me the same thing about exercising – you have to do it even if you don’t feel like it. One thing at a time, right? 

What’s next? (future books, novellas, special appearances you want to mention)
I just turned in book three to my editor, so I’m going to take this time to work on ideas for another series. Maybe look at branching out to another publisher. In today’s market I think it is important to diversify.

That's it for today's interview. If you'd like to know more about Jolene and her books, here's two options for doing that.

http://jolenenavarrowriter.com/
http://www.harlequin.com/author.html?authorid=2485