As mentioned in a previous blog post, it's my pleasure to occasionally spotlight people who are making an impact on the world of contemporary fiction. Today I have the extreme pleasure of introducing you to Jill Haymaker, a friend and fellow member of Front Range Christian Fiction Writers. She will be talking about the second book in her Peakview Series, Breakfast for Two in the five interview questions below.
Jill Haymaker was born and raised in Indiana and
Ohio. After high school, she attended Bowling Green State University before
moving to Fort Collins, Colorado in 1975. She has made her home in Fort Collins since, except for
three years in the 1990’s when she attended law school at the University
of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska. She has practiced family law in Fort Collins
for the past 20 years. She has three grown children, a son and two
daughters. She also has three
granddaughters.
The tiny, mountain town of Peakview, Colorado, wouldn’t be the
same without Violet’s Café, and its owner, Violet Woods. Widowed in her
fifties, she leads a solitary life with only her cat Lucky to keep her warm at
night. All thoughts of romance died with Stan. They had a wonderful, long happy
marriage, and she’s content to live out the rest of her life with her memories.
Jill Haymaker was born and raised in Indiana and
Ohio. After high school, she attended Bowling Green State University before
moving to Fort Collins, Colorado in 1975. She has made her home in Fort Collins since, except for
three years in the 1990’s when she attended law school at the University
of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska. She has practiced family law in Fort Collins
for the past 20 years. She has three grown children, a son and two
daughters. She also has three
granddaughters.
Jill has always had a passion for writing. Colorado Sunset was her first full
length romance novel—the first in a series of novels centered in the small town
of Peakview, Colorado. Her second in the series, Breakfast for Two, was released on September 15, 2015. She is
working on the third, a Cabin in the
Pines, to be released in early 2016. She also has had several short stories
published by Chicken Soup for the Soul. Her
latest story is a book entitled Thanks to
My Mom.
When not practicing law or writing, Jill enjoys
gardening, long walks with her Shetland Sheepdog, Laddie, and spending time
with her children and grandchildren. She enjoys their numerous sporting events.
She is also an avid football fan and can be found on autumn weekends cheering
on the Broncos, the CSU Rams, and the Huskers. She has a passion for working
with high school youth- she is a youth group leader at her church, coaches the
Fort Collins High School Mock Trial team and is a volunteer for the Fort
Collins High School Cross Country and Track teams.
Interview Questions:
Interview Questions:
Jill, what is the genre of Breakfast for Two? Why did you choose
this genre?
Breakfast for Two is a western contemporary romance. I chose
this genre because it’s the genre I most like to read, and I really enjoy
writing it. I just love cowboys (not that I know any personally), but I have
always found them to be unique, interesting, and extremely masculine and
attractive. I love writing about the beautiful mountains here in our home
state of Colorado. Colorado is my favorite place in the world, and I want
to share that with my readers.
What inspired you to write Breakfast for Two?
As a reader I have been discouraged by the lack of good romance
novels about people older than 20 or 30. I wanted to show that even people on
their 60’s can be romantic and have a great love story to tell. This book
is the second in my Peakview series. The first Colorado Sunset, was released
last March. The third book, A Cabin in the Pines, is being
written and hopefully will be available in early 2016. I have outlines for two
additional books in the series right now. After that, we will see.
What/who inspires you when you feel writer’s block coming on?
As in all areas of my life, I am constantly inspired by my
children and grandchildren. The fact that they believe I can do anything,
pushes me forward and prevents me from giving up. They all love give me
ideas and read my books.
What made you want to be a writer in the first place?
I think maybe I have always wanted to write, although I have only
been writing fiction for about three years. In school I enjoyed writing,
but more when I got to write what I wanted as opposed to following an
assignment. I have toyed with the ides of writing for many years. For a
long time I thought I would write non-fiction. The idea of writing a
novel just fell into place when a very dear friend of mine started writing
fiction, and I saw how much fun she was having with it. My law practice was
slow at the time, so more for something to fill my time than anything else, I
started writing my first book. I fell in love with the process from day one, it
was so different from writing legal documents. I love writing, and I love my
characters.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Just do it! It’s really that simple. Sit down and start writing
and if you love it, keep doing it. Write what you want to write and what
you have a passion for, not what others tell you is selling, or hot right now.
Trends change. You will get discouraged if you write something that you don’t
believe in. Be yourself and you will shine through in everything you
write.
Breakfast for Two: Book II of the Peakview Series
The tiny, mountain town of Peakview, Colorado, wouldn’t be the
same without Violet’s Café, and its owner, Violet Woods. Widowed in her
fifties, she leads a solitary life with only her cat Lucky to keep her warm at
night. All thoughts of romance died with Stan. They had a wonderful, long happy
marriage, and she’s content to live out the rest of her life with her memories.
Howard Crandall, Peakview’s only mechanic, is a confirmed bachelor
and something of a hermit. When Stan died, he took it upon himself to look out
for Violet. Over the years, they have become friends, but it isn’t until the
past he has hid from for thirty year past suddenly catches up with him, that he
opens up to the idea of finding love
Is there a second chance for these two lonely souls?
Contact info:
Email: jillhaymaker@aol.com
Website/blog: www.jillhaymaker.com
Twitter: @jillLHaymaker
Instagram: Jill Haymaker
Facebook: Jill Haymaker, Author
Goodreads: Jill Haymaker, Author
Breakfast for Two
Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B014VA616G
Link to Trailer: https://youtu.be/PKk16Aqkrbc
Jill's first book in the Peakview Series, Colorado Sunset, will be free on Amazon from
October 1 – 5, 2015.
Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UNP0GTW
Donna -- Thanks so much for giving us the opportunity to learn more about Jill. And, Jill, I agree with your advice to writers. It's so important to believe in yourself and your writing.
ReplyDeleteAmanda, you are so welcome. I am glad to do it. As you said, Jill's advice to writers is key. Sometimes we don't believe enough in our skills and in what we have to share. Thank you, Jill, for reminding all of us!
ReplyDeleteJill, I appreciate your adventure in the steps that lead to writing fiction. Thanks for sharing. And thanks Donna for the interview. Cheers
ReplyDeleteMarilyn, it's fun to do these reviews. It allows me to get to know you all individually and as writers. Thank you to Jill for sharing her story with us.
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