Welcome, Author, Jamie Hill

Today, I'm interviewing my friend and fellow author, Jamie Hill.

1: Thank you so much for being here, Jamie.

First up is the obligatory question. When did you first begin writing?

Like many writers, when I was a kid. At age ten I wrote in spiral notebooks, and when I didn’t have one I used wide-rule notebook paper bound with crocheted yarn chains. Those first few stories were bad, really bad, but to me they showed I had heart and desire to put pen to paper. I threw them away at one point in my life and I do regret that, although it’s probably for the best. If they were to become public, oh my!

2: I love the idea of a notebook held together with croceted yarn chains. Never would have thought of that. So tell us, Jamie What or Who inspired you to write?

Reading Danielle Steel made me stop and think, “I could do that.” Please understand, I’m not putting myself on her level, I’m just saying that her books inspired me to push myself to see what I could do. There’s an old expression that anyone can write one book, but writing a second displays a person’s intentions to actually be a writer.

3: She's one of my favorite writers. So what do you like the most and least about writing?

The thing I enjoy most is starting a book. Figuring out the names, character traits, habits, car makes, jobs, etc. It’s a lot of work that requires much deliberation before any writing can actually be done.

The thing I like least about writing…see paragraph above! Sometimes the initial plotting is just exhausting!

4: Ah, you're a plotter, not a panster. So, then tell us, what do you for fun and relaxation when not writing?

I try to walk several times a week to counteract sitting in front of the computer so much each day. I wish I was more diligent about it. For fun and relaxation I binge watch Netflix shows, which has the added benefit of stimulating my creative writing juices. Current favorites which I’ve seen all of are Blue Bloods, Graceland, Frankie and Grace and Cedar Cove. I want to watch Orange is the New Black, House of Cards, Sons of Anarchy, and many more.

5: I need to start walking. Which authors do you like to read?

My association with Books We Love has introduced me to many wonderful authors, including my hostess Roseanne Dowell. I especially love romantic suspense and really enjoyed her novels Shadows in the Attic and Ring Around the Rosy. I also enjoy reading Ginger Simpson, Gail Roughton, Jude Pittman, Kelly Janicello, Janet Lane Walters and Geeta Kakade. I know I’m leaving some out and I apologize. Find them all at bookswelove.com!

6: I'm blushing, thank you so much for your kind words. Tell us one thing you’d most like people to know about you?

That I always try to do the right thing. Life is hard sometimes, and it’s easy to get drawn into the petty stuff. I try to keep my head above all that, not sweat the small stuff, and just try to do what’s right.

7: Sometimes difficult to do. Tell us about your current novel, where we can find it and your website/blog.

My most recent work is my series, Witness Security. Pieces of the Past and Time To Kill are available now. Cover of Darkness will be available later this fall. My website is http://www.jamiehill.biz/ but I’ve been struggling with Google saying I have malware(though I’ve been assured I don’t) so lately I’m directing readers to: http://authorjamiehill.blogspot.com/

8: Sometimes the internet is more trouble than it's worth. Okay, not really. Do you have any tips for aspiring authors?

Just do it. People tell me all the time how they want to/plan to/wish they could write a book. Just do it. It may not be a masterpiece, but even the best editor can’t do much with a blank piece of paper.

9: Great advice. Do you base your characters on real-life people?

No, that would be creepy. I don’t even really like to use the names of people I know for main characters. I do like to stick my co-workers names in bit parts, that’s fun.

10: I bet it is fun. So where do you get your ideas?

Music inspires me, as do photos I see online. I’d have to say music lyrics, mainly.

11: That's interesting. I've had a couple songs inspire me also. Okay, so tell us what’s one thing no one knows about you?

If I told you, I’d never be able to answer this question again, now, would I?

My love for chocolate and George Clooney are fairly well known. Let’s just leave it at that.

12.LOL, okay, we won't push it. Tell us who your favorite author is and what’s your favorite book?

Not sure I could ever choose just one. While I love to read spicy romance and romantic suspense, two of my ‘off-the-top-of-my-head’ all time faves would be the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling and Holes by Louis Sachar. Go figure.

Thanks for hosting me today, Roseanne!

It was my pleasure, Jamie.

Excerpt from Time to Kill by Jamie Hill. Book 2 in the

Witness Security Series.

A couple of hours later, after Jordan had eaten the donut that Olivia brought her anyway, she glanced up to see their chief escorting a man into the office. Something familiar about him, she swiveled her chair to get a better look. Tall and slender, with spiky light brown hair, he sported a familiar, sexy little cleft in the middle of his chin.

She panicked. Rhodes wouldn’t have. He couldn’t have. No. He. Did. Not.

Pushing away from her desk, she hurried to the break room before either of them spotted her. With her back against the wall, she fumbled in her pocket for her phone and texted Doug.

He’s here. OMG!

Realizing she was being cryptic, she added,

Pierce. Then, Nick Pierce is here.

She waited. And waited. Damn it! Doug always had his phone on him. Unless he was sleeping. Maybe the baby was keeping them up at night. Damn it!

Ben entered the room and refilled his coffee cup.

“Ben! I need you to run interference for me. Go out there and distract Rhodes and that other man. I just need to grab my purse and get out of here.”

He looked at her like she was insane. “What are you talking about? I’ve got a meeting in ten minutes.” With an apologetic shrug, he walked out.

Her phone vibrated and she glanced at the screen. Doug had texted her back.

No freaking way! Wish I was there to run interference for you.

Jordan thought she might cry.

Me too, she typed back. I don’t know what to do.

He replied, I have a few thoughts, but can’t put them in writing. Might be used against me in a trial.

 She smiled and typed, No shit. A moment of hesitation, then she added, I’m scared.

His reply was instantaneous. Want me to come in? Go hide somewhere and I’ll be there as soon as I can.

Jordan brushed a tear from her cheek. Love you for saying that, but no thanks. Not going to hide. She inhaled deeply to bolster herself, then blew out the breath. Thank you. Go kiss that baby. Talk soon. She pocketed her phone.

A mirror hung on the opposite wall and she moved in front of it to check her makeup. Nothing had smeared, thankfully. Before she could decide what to do next, a voice from the past sounded behind her.

“Beautiful as ever, Jo.”