Jane: Oh dear. Now I have to make myself sound interesting! Tres difficile! I’ve just reached a momentous moment in life – 50! Which was rather exciting. I’m a wife to Neil – 24 years this year, and mother 2 two daughters, Anzhela and Yana whom we adopted from Russia 11 years ago. They were 5 and 7 at the time, so it was instant parenting skills required! I work part time merchandising fun jewellery and write full time, I sleep sometimes!

Jane: I’ve always loved reading. I spent much of my childhood and teen years in hospital, so books became my love. I started writing about 9 years ago and prior to that was in secretarial, then motherhood. Dare I say I love being a housewife! Not PC these days, but I love being home, but since writing turned up in my life, housework has taken a back seat at times! I started writing when I met another writer on the net- she encouraged me and it’s been all go ever since.

Jane: My 1^st two books were co-authored with Ellen Ben-Sefer, who lives in Sydney. We met on the net and discovered a mutual love of time travel, and we had both lived in Israel, and from that WOMAN OF VALOR (Janelle Benham), and LEAP OF FAITH (Janelle Benham) were born. They were picked up quite quickly (lucky us!) by Treble Heart Books (www.trebleheartbooks.com) and then I wanted to see if I could do it myself, and that it wasn’t just a fluke! Next came BE MY VALENTINE – a time travel set in Jamaica, and ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID also with Treble Heart.

Now I’ve had two books accepted with Linden Bay Romance – www.lindenbayromance.com HIRING CUPID, is being released 1 July, and HE’S THE ONE, later this year.

I write quite a few articles for my newsletter , plus have author interviews etc.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RomanceauthorJaneBeckenham/ and at times I do a bit of public speaking. It’s the Irish in me, the gift of the blab!

Jane: Valor, Faith and Valentine were all time travel/romances as I really do love reading those. Whereas, Bridesmaid is a contemporary set in the wilds of New Zealand. But Hiring Cupid and He’s the One are contemporary. However, I’ve just written a Regency and M&B London have asked for the full, so fingers crossed. I seem to wander a bit. It really is a matter of what noises are in my head at the time- which is a bit of a worry!

Jane: Just as I said above, it’s noises in the brain cells! I often find I dream a story either just as I’m waking up which is a pain, because I never have enough sleep as it is, or they hit me in full detail, while I’m trying to get to sleep – can’t win! Sometimes when I talk to writer friends about things, an idea hits and I quickly write it down in my TO WRITE ONE DAY FILE!

Jane: HIRING CUPID, is my new release. I just love Italian men, and Marco Valente is so darn sexy. I got the idea of a woman who invents a boyfriend, then having to ‘front up’. So what does she do? She hires a gigolo of course! But then… things aren’t always what they seem! It’s a fun and sexy read, and Marco and Carly so deserve each other.

Jane: I’ve had writers block once and it scared the heck out of me. But I think what it really was, is that I was just too darn tired. I often write from 5 a.m. then do the day to day stuff, back to writing, and then write up until 11 pm. It catches up with me eventually and so I think the time it all dried up, was because I’d burnt that candle far too low!

I haven’t run out of ideas yet, but sometimes I have to sit down and REALLY think. Usually it’s a character that comes to mind, or a saying and then I’ll find a story to fit.

Jane: Promotion is hard work – and very necessary. I have a web site which has just been updated, but I’ve got to ‘fix’ a few things. I’m so untechie and that side is very painful for me LOL! I do a lot of online chats, often public speaking, interviews like this, and I’ve been invited to do a radio interview at http://internetvoicesradio.com in a couple of weeks. Very exciting! I have a newsletter, which I mentioned about and that is fun as I get to ask lots of questions to other writers. Promotion is all about getting your name out there, branding yourself

Jane: www.janebeckenham.com. Well it’s just been updated as I said. You can click on ‘read an excerpt’ and get a free read of all my books. And of course you get to look at my drool-worthy!!! Marco!

Jane: LOL too much sometimes. However, today for example – none, I’ve been north to Whangarei – (New Zealand, of course!) 2 hours each way to see my mother, and now it’s 9 pm and I’m just starting. But I try to write every day. I teach creative writing on Fridays too, so that keeps my brain going.

I normally write the book full tilt, first draft, virtually no editing. Not sure if that’s a good thing or not, because editing can be brutal. I do several edits, then re-edit chaps 1-3 before it heads off to the publisher. Weekends, I tend not to do any writing, until everyone is in bed, and promotion I try and get some done each week. A couple of months ago I made up a 3 month calendar with promotion details for each week detailed. So far so good.

Jane: Conferences of course. But I find I learn most by just talking to fellow writers during the course of the year, plus reading. However, my reading has slowed far too much – smack my hand – I really need to get that TBR pile downsized.

Jane: Definitely through me if you would like an author signed copy. Plus through the publishers www.trebleheartbooks.com for WOMAN OF VALOR, ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID AND BE MY VALENTINE, and www.lindenbayromance.com for HIRING CUPID – though it won’t say ‘released’ until 1 July. My books are also available through B&N and Amazon, though Hiring Cupid won’t be listed for a few weeks. But will also be listed at www.fictionwise.com

Jane: This year I gave myself 2 goals:

To have two more books contracted to Linden Bay Romance. Well, with He’s The One, that’s one down and one to go.

My other goal is to sell to Mills and Boon, and they’ve just asked to read a full regency manuscript, so I’m one step further up the ladder to that goal!

I’d like to be a bit more organised! And not sweat the small stuff! Not sure whether I’ll reach those goals though.

Thank you so much for this opportunity to ‘chat’ to you. If anyone wants to contact me, please do - neiljane@ihug.co.nz