Author of 'Heatherfiled' ~ M. Jean Pike

'Author Quickie'

Jean Pike

1. Hi Jean. Thanks for taking the time to share your news and views with us. So, tell us about your latest book.

Thanks for talking with me today, Debby. My latest book, HEATHERFIELD, is a time travel romance, unique in that the heroine, Tory Sasser, not only transcends the boundaries of time to be with the man she loves, but she also crosses over from the real world into the world of fiction!

2. That’s intriguingly original! Give us a quick blurb.

Deep in a box of used books, counselor Tory Sasser comes across a novel without an ending: Heatherfield. As she reads the story of scarred war veteran, Jake Benjamin, her tears fall on the pages – and she could swear new words appear where once there was nothing. But the fictional town of Heatherfield isn’t all it seems, nor is its creator, Destiny Paige. When Tory’s car runs off the road into the mist, she’s transported back to the 1940s – into the novel, trapped by the spirits that govern the place through Destiny. Even more, Tory is caught by the complicated tenderness that is Jake Benjamin. Realizing she’s falling in love with Jake, Tory is desperate to find her way back home to reality. Yet what is more real than true love? No, Heatherfield isn’t all it seems… not at all.

3. Wow! Where is this book available?

The book is available in ebook and print formats in my publisher’s bookstore http://www.blacklyonpublishing.com/ . It is also available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Target.com, or at your local bookstore.

4. What about reviews? Share your best one with us.

I’m thrilled with all of the great reviews Heatherfield is getting. My favorite is the one from Simply Romance Reviews: SRR GRADE: A+

M. Jean Pike is an amazing author. Her stories are magical, emotional and romantic. I could read them over and over. Her new release, Heatherfield, is another beautiful story and one that I highly recommend. Heatherfield is an enchanting romance that will keep you turning the pages long into the night. What happens when you suddenly find yourself living in the world of the unfinished book that you were reading? For Tory Sasser, this is exactly what happens. She finds an old book in a box at the used book store and takes it home. She becomes so emotionally involved with the story that she finds herself crying. As a tear hits a blank page of this unfinished book, the story suddenly begins to write itself. The next day as she’s driving, she gets into an accident and wakes up to find herself in the fictitious town of Heatherfield, circa 1940’s, and straight into the arms of the hero, Jake Benjamin!What a unique plot and it is just that which makes Heatherfield stand out from the crowd. Tory and Jake are wonderful characters. Jake is an honorable man, albeit a lonely and brokenhearted man. There’s something about Tory that awakens a fire within him that has long been dormant. My heart instantly melted for him. Tory has to figure out how she got into this book and how to get back out, however, her feelings for Jake are very strong and she has been making a name for herself in town. She has to choose to stay in this fictitious world or leave the only man she’s ever cared for behind. Heatherfield will pull at your heartstrings!There is a simple elegance to M. Jean Pike’s writing. The proof is in the pages of her new release. I love the emotions she provokes in me just by her writing. Her previous book, Waiting for the Rain, made me cry and it is one of my favorite books. There is a scene halfway through Heatherfield where Jake reads a poem directed to Tory. It was such a moving scene and it brought tears to my eyes. It is a rare thing to find an author who knows how to reach out to her readers and draw them into the story. Heatherfield by M. Jean Pike is a treasure and it is a book that I recommend everyone read!
~Reviewed by Julie Kornhausl

5. Have you written any other books you’d like to tell us about? (Or currently writing one.)

My debut novel, The Winds of Autumn, released in 2005, is a paranormal romance involving ghosts, love triangles and murder. My second novel, Waiting for the Rain, a paranormal romance about an enchanted cottage, was named NOVEL OF THE YEAR for 2007 at Champagne Books. Sample chapters are available on my website: http://www.freewebs.com/mjeanpike

6. Define Paranormal Romance for those of us who have never ventured there before.

Paranormal Romance is a very broad category and that’s what makes it so popular. In these stories the primary focus is the romance between two characters, but they go a step farther and incorporate “otherworldly” elements like ghosts, vampires, shape shifters, werewolves, magic or enchanted places. The paranormal elements can be in your face or subtle. The biggest challenge is making them believable.

7. What inspires you to write about Paranormal Romance?

In life and in fiction I love to be taken by surprise. Combine that with a lifelong fascination for anything spooky or off the beaten path and you have a paranormal romance writer! I love the challenge of creating beautiful worlds in which anything is possible and then giving readers a chance to leave the ordinary behind and step into those worlds for a while.

8. What do you hope readers will gain from reading one of your books?

My stories are highly emotionally charged and though they are off the beaten path, they are true to life. I strive to provide my readers not only with entertainment but with a better understanding of the human condition… or at least my take on it.

9. Tell us your secret to success.

The secret to success in anything is twofold: patience and perseverance. Patience in taking the time to learn your craft and learn it well. Perseverance in setting goals for yourself and not giving up until you reach them!

10. And finally, where can we find out more about you?

In addition to my website, I invite readers to visit my den at Author’s Den, where I have numerous short stories and articles posted, as well as all the latest news: http://www.authorsden.com/jeanpike

Thanks, Jean, for taking the time to share your news and views with us. If you would like an 'Author Quickie' contact Debby at the ‘Romance ebooks’ myspace profile http://www.myspace.com/romance_ebooks or at deb.TWRP@yahoo.co.uk Next on the 'Author Quickie' – Nita Wick