Kris Jacen
Pre-Interview : Kris Jacen grew up just north of Boston, Massachusetts, met her soldier in high school but did not marry him until almost ten years later. She moved around with him and their daughters (born in two different states thanks to the Army) for the first 19 years of their marriage (they celebrated their silver anniversary in 2018) before settling in western New York. She has been the Editor in Chief and Formatting Director for Man-love Romance Press and its imprints since January of 2008 and has never looked back. Working with the amazing authors at MLR has allowed her to both hone her editorial skills and indulge her inner fan girl. She also acts as editor, mentor and sounding-board for newcomers which lets her “pay-it-forward” and help authors realize their dreams.
Author Interview :
1.What inspires you most to write? I’m not sure. I always said that I was AN EDITOR with no ambitions to write something other than a plot bunny wouldn’t go away.
2. What is your favorite genre? Contemporary
3. Who is one author you admire if any and why? Nora Roberts – she started to keep sane and has entertained millions with her stories.
4. How do you overcome blank writing spells? Go for a run. My characters seem to like to talk when I’m running.
5. What legal publishing advice can you give? Make sure that your literary rights are in your will and that your publisher(s) (if you have one) know your wishes. If you self-publish, there are forms that you can fill out with Amazon, etc. so if something happens to you, your beneficiaries won’t have to fight. Also, make sure that your beneficiaries know how to contact all sites/publishers.
6. How many books have you written, are any a bestseller yet? I have a seven-book series centered around the military and three short stories. My latest release, BENT CORNERS, briefly hit number one for Amazon one-hour reads.
7. If you had the opportunity to rewrite one movie script which would it be, why? SAVING PRIVATE RYAN – while it stands a brilliant military story of World War II, I think adding some of the home front or the soldiers dreaming of home could add another dimension to the story and make movie goers connect even more with the characters.
8. What are some difficulties you have experienced in your writing career; how do you handle book critiques/criticism? I tend to not read reviews; reviews are for readers not authors BUT if I do see/read one and it’s not the nicest, I look for some positive in the review. I also try and remember that not every book is for every reader.
9. What are your best experiences in your writing career? I love talking to readers, not even necessarily about my books but in general. I love hearing that readers learned something about military families.
10. Do you prefer to write in silence and or have some sort sound in the background? I write to a Broadway soundtrack
11. What are some encouraging words you’d give to another author/writer? Write! I’ve always said that as an editor, I can teach grammar/punctuation BUT I can’t teach someone how to tell a story.
12. How did you decide the pricing of your material; how did you go about promotion/advertising and distribution of your work? Pricing? I look at what the market is pricing the same length stories at and go with the average. Promotion? I’m lucky in that I have a PA that is fabulous and handles that for me.
13. Why should anyone read your book? To be entertained and maybe learn a bit about what the military and their families go through. I have at least one military tradition in all my books. I take some liberties with military facts but get as close as I can.
14. Did you have a book coach? I have critique partners and a few beta readers but not a book coach.
15. What was your favorite subject in school? History
16. Are you self-published or have an established publishing contract elsewhere? I was with the publisher that I edit for but recently moved my stories to self-publishing.
