This week in The Loft: Author Jana Richards!

Joining me this morning in The Loft is award-winning author Jana Richards. Jana writes contemporary, paranormal, and historical romance (WWII), and romantic suspense. Her paranormal romantic suspense novel, “Seeing Things,” was a 2008 EPPIE finalist. When not writing, Jana is an accountant/administrative assistant, a mother to two grown daughters, and a wife to her husband, Warren. She enjoys golf, yoga, movies, concerts, travel and reading. Jana and her husband live in Winnipeg, Canada.

Author Jana Richards

S: Good morning, Jana! Thanks for joining me today. Let’s start with the basics– why do you write romance?

J: Because it’s so hopeful. In a world where people are more divided than ever, I think we all need stories that remind us what is really important–love, relationships, family, and friendships.

S: I have to agree. I also think romance novels got many people through the pandemic. They offered a break from a troubled world.

Do you write in other genres?

J: So far, I’ve only ever written romance. But lately, ideas for a mystery series have been whirling around my brain. Maybe someday I’ll tackle mystery!

S: I’m sure your readers will love that!

What do people get wrong about romance?

J: That it’s nothing but fluff and frivolity. I’ve read romances that tackle some serious issues like disease and death, infidelity, divorce, the loss of a child. In a romance novel, people overcome all the obstacles that life throws at them through love. We’re always stronger when we’re part of a loving partnership.

S: That’s so true. A lot of writers pride themselves on bringing light to social issues.

What would you like people to know about you?

J: That I really care about the quality of my stories and that I sweat blood trying to write an entertaining story.

S: What’s the best or worst thing that’s happened to you as a writer?

J: The worst thing was probably a writing conference that I attended several years ago. Everything that could go wrong did and a lot of my hopes were dashed. I sent in a manuscript for a contest the conference was running, thinking it was some of my best work and it was received with a “meh.” A big-name writer I had arranged to interview for a newsletter ignored me. Some of the other conference attendees were rude to me—one I remember in particular. In fact, I was so discouraged after this conference that when I got home, I seriously thought about quitting writing. In hindsight, I probably had a lot of unrealistic expectations about this conference. I was going to win that contest, land an agent, and sell my manuscript, none of which happened. Which brings me to the best thing that ever happened to me as a writer. I didn’t stop writing after the disastrous conference, but I was getting pretty discouraged by all the rejections I was getting. About two years after that conference, one of my writer friends suggested I try submitting to her publisher. They were a brand-new small press that only published ebooks. I figured I had nothing to lose. But honestly, after so many rejections, I had very low expectations. Imagine my surprise and delight when I got an email from the editor with an offer to publish my manuscript! I was thrilled! Getting that offer gave me the confidence to continue to write and persevere in this business.

S: Unfortunately, rejection seems to be part of the “author experience.”

If you had to do it all over again, would you still choose to write books?

J: Yes, because I can’t not write. Even when I was at my most discouraged, I didn’t stop because being a writer is part of who I am.

S: What do you consider your greatest achievement?

J: Hands down, being a mother to my two adult daughters. They are amazing people.

S: What inspired “Unexpected?”

J: “Unexpected” is Book 3 in my Masonville small town romance series, set in the fictional town of Masonville, North Dakota. I’ve lived in small towns and I know they have the reputation of being a kind of a fishbowl–you know everyone and everyone knows your business. But they can also be very supportive places, so I wanted to set a series around characters living in a small town. Ben Greyson arrived in this series in Book 2, “To Heal a Heart.” His sister Blair moved to Masonville to look after their ailing grandfather. Ben and Blair, along with their brother Damon, grew up in a deeply dysfunctional family with an alcoholic father and a mother who could be best described as a sociopath. I wanted to explore the effect such deep dysfunction had on a person. Could someone whose childhood was so scarred learn to have a loving relationship as an adult? Ben has deep trust issues. Is it even possible for him to have a happily ever after with Jamie?

S: Is there anything special you would like people to know about “Unexpected?”

J: I want readers to know what reviewers have told me. They’re probably going to love Jamie, but they’re likely going to be frustrated with Ben. Some reviewers have said they wanted to smack him for being so stubborn. He is quick to mistrust his stepdaughters, grandparents, and even quicker to condemn Jamie when she does what she thinks is best for the children and for Ben. Considering the way he grew up, I felt that it would be unrealistic for Ben to overcome his trust issues too quickly. So be prepared to be angry with him for a while, but please be patient. He’s worth giving a second chance.

Here’s the blurb–

A marriage of convenience. An unexpected love.

Single dad Ben Greyson wants only to retain custody of his two stepdaughters. A dysfunctional childhood has made family the most important thing in his life. When his late wife’s parents sue for custody, a desperate Ben is left with two choices – run away with his girls or marry his next-door neighbor.

Jamie Garven wants to be a mother. She’s intrigued by her handsome new neighbor and falls in love with his little girls. Then Ben is faced with losing his children, and Jamie agrees to marry him for a chance at motherhood. They’re determined to show the world, and the girls’ grandparents, two loving parents.

Their marriage of convenience turns into unexpected love. But Ben interprets Jamie’s efforts to save their family as betrayal—they could lose everything, including each other.