Jacquie Biggar - An Author Interview at the HBS Author's Spotlight

Today our blog puts the Spotlight on Author Jacquie Biggar. She is a Romance, Contemporary and Suspense writer who writes the 'Wounded Hearts' series.

Author Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Suspense

Website: Jacquie Biggar - Romance Suspense Writer w/Attitude
Twitter: @JacqBiggar
E-Mail: jbiggar@telusplanet.net
Goodreads: Check Out Goodreads
Google+: Check Out Google+
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Pinterest: Check Out Pinterest

Amazon Author Profile



Author Description:
Jacquie writes Romantic Suspense w/Attitude.

Her heroes are tough, alpha males who know what they want. That is until they get gob-smacked by heroines who are strong, contemporary women willing to show them that what they really need is love.

She’s been blessed with a long, happy marriage and enjoys writing romance novels that end with happy-ever-afters.


SPOTLIGHT Questions and Answers with the Author

What do you have on the drawing board next? Can you tell us the timeline for its release and give us a little tease?

I’m actually working on two books right now. One is a Wounded Hearts novella titled, Summer Lovin’ and will release May 26 in a multi-author boxed set called Summer Heat.

This is the story of Mitch Taylor and Rebecca Sorenson. On a trip to Vegas for a teachers’ convention, Becky runs into her high school crush, Mitch Taylor. After a night spent together, they wake up-married. Shocked by what she’s done, Rebecca runs home and successfully shoves the whole experience under the carpet for five years. Then Mitch re-enters her life and nothing will ever be the same.

Excerpt:
Mitch’s lips lowered to hers. All the lights and sounds became a sparkling kaleidoscope and mixed with the sheer perfection of his mouth.

Oh my…

She could die happy right now, in this moment. That wicked, delicious tongue knew where every nerve was located and how to parry and thrust until Becky was utterly lost. She hung on for dear life with her eyes sealed shut to keep the world at bay and let him sweep her away.

The other is something new for me, a paranormal romantic suspense novel. The working title is Trust Me, but that might change yet.

Premise:
Lucas Carmichael and Scott Anderson had it all, money, fame, and fortune. But one night’s stupid mistake takes everything they thought they cherished and dumps it upside down.

A car accident ends Lucas’ life and leaves Scott injured and bitter. As the local ME, Tracy York, investigates the case, discrepancies begin to point to more than a simple drunk driving incident.

When threats are made to Tracy’s life can Scott and his guardian angel, Lucas, protect her, or will she be another casualty?

This is pretty rough, but gives a general idea of where I’d like to go with this story. I’m hoping to work it into a series.

You have a good following on twitter. How important have your social media relationships been? How did you build your following in your niche? Do you see a carry over to your writing success?

I think so, yes. I’ve made a lot of great connections, such as yourself ?, thanks to social media. I joined a couple of writer groups, The Authors’ Billboard and Sisters of Suspense, both of these have helped enormously with cross-promoting and building relationships within the reading-writing community.

Do you do any book signings, interviews, speaking and personal appearances? If so, when and where is the next place where your readers can see you? Where can they keep up with your personal contacts online?

I’ve done a couple of local book signings and many online interviews. The best place to keep up with upcoming events is on my web site: http://jacqbiggar.com


You have great covers. How does your book cover creation process work? Do you hand over the basic theme or do you have more of a hands-on approach? Do you get your readers involved in its development?

Thank you! When I finished my first book, and knowing how important a great cover is, I did research to find some of the best in the business within my price range. I found The Killion Group. They sent out a questionnaire on all the key elements of my book; tone, H/H hair color, occupation, and setting. Then they sent me to some high quality stock photo sites to choose what I wanted. After that it was easy. Kim is amazing, I can’t recommend her enough.

You have several great book trailers. (See links below.) They look very professional. Do you know how much impact they have had on your book’s success? Tell us about the process that you used to create your trailers?

Thank you! When I finished my first book, and knowing how important a great cover is, I did research to find some of the best in the business within my price range. I found The Killion Group. They sent out a questionnaire on all the key elements of my book; tone, H/H hair color, occupation, and setting. Then they sent me to some high quality stock photo sites to choose what I wanted. After that it was easy. Kim is amazing, I can’t recommend her enough.

You have written a novella called The Sheriff Meets His Match. Can you tell us if it has had an impact on the sales of your novels? Are shorty’s one of your styles of writing or are they created to give readers a sample of your work? Do you feel short reads are a product of our email and smart phone age?

I did the Sheriff because fans were asking for Jack Garrett’s story, a great feeling, by the way! This was my first novella but I gotta say, I like ‘em. Done properly, you still get a full story, it just loses that saggy middle, that most writers struggle with anyway. I know, as a reader, I like novellas, they’re a quick, enjoyable read when I don’t have time for more.

I like the idea of Author bundles. You are a part of a novel collection called Dangerous Encounters. What was the impact on your other sales? What was the main objective of bundling your works with other romance authors? How did you put something like that together?
Dangerous Encounters was showcased on HBS Author’s Spotlight

Dangerous Encounters has been a positive experience all around. I’ve made new friends, new fans, and best of all, the cross-promotion has helped my other books get recognized. I met the others in the set through a Facebook group. Some had done this before so they helped make Dangerous Encounters the success it is. I really like the concept of boxed sets. It gets your work in front of readers who may not have previously heard of you.

What has been your experience in giving your books away free? Have you been involved in any other type of giveaways and how did that work out? What was your main goal in doing this? Did you run into any obstacles?

The best thing about giving your books away free is that it allows new readers to find you and possibly buy other books your written. That being said, I wouldn’t recommend it unless you have a backlist. I gained a good portion of reviews from this type of promotion. I’ve also run giveaways of print books on Goodreads, but want to caution, you’re better to do a shorter giveaway with less books than they recommend and unless you can afford the postage I’d skip the autographed copy and send direct from Createspace.

Do you maintain a reader list? What are the methods you use to find your readers and create the list and the relationship? Do you use social media, forums, newsletters and/or support groups to build your list?

Yes, I have a list of twelve readers that I gift copies of my new books to in return for an honest review. I created this list by doing a call-out on my newsletter.

Tell us about Book Bites. Who puts that together and can other authors get involved? (I notice your newsletter is offering free copies.)

There are actually four Book Bites anthologies. They’re all teaser chapters from members of The Authors’ Billboard. They’re meant to create interest in our books and to use for promotional purposes.



Author's Book List
Twilight's Encore - Wounded Hearts Book 3
One man's betrayal will seal another's fate.

Ty Garrett fell in love with Katy Fowler from the moment they'd met. When her father’s betrayal yank the young couple apart, Ty becomes bitter.

After a decade away, Katy returns to Tidal Falls with plans to get married in her family's theatre. But she hadn't expected to run into Ty Garrett, the boy she'd never forgotten.

When unseen forces endanger their lives, can Ty save Katy and win back her love, or is it too late for these two star-crossed lovers?


Book Trailer: Twilight's Encore

Order the Book From:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble


The Rebel's Redemption - Wounded Hearts Book 2
When an old enemy follows and causes mayhem in the small town of Tidal Falls, can Jared Martin overcome the odds to protect the woman he’s always loved and the child he never knew, or will it be too late for redemption?


Book Trailer: The Rebel's Redemption

Order the Book From:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble


The Sheriff Meets His Match - A Wounded Hearts Novella
Jack Garrett has been stung by love in the past so he's not in a hurry to get burnt again, but he can't deny his attraction to the new receptionist, Laurel Thomas.

When trouble comes to Tidal Falls, Jack worries that Laurel is in over her head.

Laurel loves her dysfunctional family but dreams of a place to call home. Just as she settles into a new life, her old one catches up to her and delivers chaos to the town.

Can these two strong personalities find a way to trust in each other and find their happy ever after?


Book Trailer: The Sheriff Meets His Match

Order the Book From:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
KOBO


Tidal Falls - Wounded Hearts Book 1
Tired of living a painful lie, Sara Sheridan steals an incriminating file that proves her abusive husband's ties to organized crime, and flees across country with their young daughter. Now, he's hot on her trail.

ALL HE WANTED WAS PEACE AND QUIET

Nick Kelley had come to Tidal Falls to rid himself of haunting memories from his past life as a Marine. He had no intention of getting involved with his beautiful, but evasive neighbor, Sara Reed and her daughter, Jessica.

THEN LOVE GOT IN THE WAY

Nick and Sara's growing attraction for each other lead them down a dangerous path as her ex-husband closes in on the new life she's made for her daughter and herself and threatens to blow it all apart. Can Nick teach Sara to trust in time to protect the woman he loves?


Book Trailer: Tidal Falls

Order the Book From:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
KOBO
iTunes


Author Recommended by: HBSystems Publications
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