Interview with author Jennifer Schmidt

Today I am excited to post my interview with Jennifer Schmidt. Her book, Risking It All, is due to be released in just three days (you can check out  my review) and she dished some yummy tidbits about the book (who she pictures as Memphis makes us soul mates) and her five must haves if she was stranded on an island--this girl would have some fun!

About the Book

Tell us a bit about your novel. In a nutshell? It’s a story about two friends who suddenly realize what they’ve been missing has been right in front of them all along. Of course it can’t be that simple. There’s drama, conflict, uncertainty, lots of mistakes. It’s about taking a chance on something or someone and learning if it’s worth risking it all for love.

What gave you the idea for Risking It All? How long did it take you to write? I think it took me about eight or nine months to write. I’m a slow writer, mainly because I’m easily distracted. I wanted to write something that was more relatable than my last novel. What better than the complicated, exhilarating plot of two friends falling for each other?

Which character was your favourite to create? Why? Without a doubt it was Memphis. I like making characters that make readers swoon and from what I’ve been told and read from reviewers I think Memphis did his job.

If you were asked to make a soundtrack for Risking It All, what songs would be on it? I actually wrote a post on my blog about RIA music inspirations, and had to go back and find it because I couldn’t remember which songs I selected!

1.  Let It Rain - David Nail
2. Alone With You - Jake Owen
3. Wink - Neal McCoy
4. Sparks Fly - Taylor Swift
5. Far Away - Nickelback
6. Sweat - Inner Circle
7. Tomorrow - Chris Young
8. Crazy Girl - Eli Young Band
9. Sex On Fire - Kings of Leon
10. Still - Jason McCoy
11. What Do You Want - Jarrod Niemann
12. Pull Me Through - Jim Cuddy
13. S&M - Rihanna

I would add Hard To Love by Lee Brice to the list now, though.

If your book was turned into a movie, who would you choose to play the leading characters?

Memphis – Ian Somerhalder.

Kennedy- Evangeline Lilly (Katie Melua is exactly how I picture Kennedy but she’s not an actress)

Ian – Eric Bana

What’s your writing process like? Was there a part of Risking It All that was difficult to write? The ending of a story is always the first thing that I write. It’s where my ideas bloom for the rest of the book. The hardest part to write for RIA was definitely the sex. I wanted so much raw emotion and passion shown that I was terrified to screw it up and it took me days to write the first scene.

Kennedy has been described as being “wishy-washy” and frustrating as all hell with the things she did and how she handled things. I have to ask, how do you feel about Kennedy? Would it surprise you to learn I’m not a Kennedy fan? I knew going into this that she wasn’t going to be the readers’ favourite character. In fact, one of the first things I posted on my personal FB after I finished writing the manuscript was people are going to hate this woman. And I’m fine with that. I tried rewriting her and it just didn’t feel right. For all her good and bad, I’m glad Kennedy is the way she is.

About the author

What is a normal day for you? Take us through your usual routine. Nothing all that exciting, unfortunately. If it’s a school day I get up at 5:30ish, put the coffee on, work out, get the kids up and ready for school, pack their lunches, send them off and the rest of the day just depends. I try to get some writing in while it’s quiet, but I find I work better when I have the background noise of the kids running around.

When you’re not writing, what else do you like to do? I really enjoy cooking and baking, which shocks most people because before I had my oldest I couldn’t boil water to save my life. I’m not a girly-girl, so I like doing what the boys do. Being outside, playing in the mud and getting dirty.

How do you balance being a mom and an author? It’s really not that hard, mainly because I don’t write all that often *laughs* When I have the time, I write. If I don’t have the time, then I don’t sweat it (unless I have a deadline and then I’m one big bundle of anxiety)

Tell us about the day you found out Risking It All was going to be published. How did you react? RIA wasn’t a surprise publication. After I had published my first novel, Last Call, my publisher contacted me and asked if I was working on anything else and if I was interested in publishing with them again. So RIA was already lined up. But when I found out Last Call was going to be published I completely flipped. I think the first person I called was my mom and she thought something happened to one of my kids because I was hysterical.

Is there a certain book that has made a lasting impression on you? His Bright Light by Danielle Steel. It’s a true story about her son and it’s the only non-fiction book I’ve read over and over again.

Your writing is insanely hot. How does your family feel about you being an erotic author? Um…first thanks for that! I love when readers think it’s hot. As for my family, they don’t talk about. Like ever. It’s never been brought up with them˗˗except with my mom. I wouldn’t be surprised if most of them haven’t even read what I’ve written, which I’m totally cool with. We’re not exactly close. Of course there are a couple that are incredibly supportive…but we still don’t talk about it.  C’mon, I write erotica. It’s not exactly something I want my grandmother reading and questioning me about! *laughs*

If you were stranded on a desert island, what five things would you want to have with you? Lee Brice, Jensen Ackles, Ian Somerhalder, Josh Holloway (who better than the two who were originally stranded on an island) and a lifetime supply of matches so we don’t have to rub two sticks together to make a fire. Please do not send search parties.   

What’s next for Jennifer Schmidt?  I wanted to try my hand at writing something supernatural so I’m currently working on a novel centered around vampires. It’s completely different than the previous genres I’ve written so I’m taking it slow and seeing what happens.

Bonus Questions

Favourite movie/TV show/food/season?  Movie: A Knight’s Tale

TV show: on air: Supernatural,  off air: ER

Food: Lucky Charms

Season: Fall

Who would you give the award to for best first kiss (in a movie)? Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles characters in 10 Things I Hate About You. The way he tackles her in the straw, flings off his goggles and wipes the paint off her face makes me swoon every time.

Sweet or salty? Sweet. I can’t stand salt. Blah!

Worst fear? Snakes and water. Mix the two and you can imagine how terrified I was of watching Anaconda—even though it was totally stupid.

Need even more proof this woman is the bomb? A little birdie told me she's giving away a signed copy of Risking It All and her debut novel, Last Call. Head over to her blog and get your chance to win before the 14!
Jennifer Schmidt blog