This week I am talking with Jackie Walker and asked her twenty questions to coincide with her newest release, "Rival Hero" which released yesterday, August 31st.
I found Jackie just after she published her debut novel, "Love and Other Chaos". I laughed hard at the antics of the Amos family and fell in love with Jackie's sarcastic style, her characters' snarky banter, and the steam she incorporated into the story. I was thrilled to join her ARC team and eventually also become part of her street team as it was definitely one of the best debut novels I have read. Since 2020, Jackie has released nine novels. I love watching her grow as an author in both her writing and finding her audience. Jackie is not in any way pretentious: what you see is what you get. Readers who love sarcasm, snark and humor that is realistic and sometimes a little over the top should check out Jackie's books. As you read the answers to my twenty questions, I believe you will find that her answers are transparent to the person she is, her motivations, and the differences she hopes to make in the world with her writing.
Though I have not yet met Jackie in person, I will be meeting her next year. We have messaged about margaritas together for a while now, and I am excited because I think we will finally make that come true in April of 2024. For now, let me introduce you to this wonderful author who has made me laugh, and still tugged on my emotions with her insights into human nature and the family dynamics many of us have faced.
Jackie Walker is a loud-mouthed lady with a strong passion for sarcasm, slapstick comedy, cussing, rescuing cats, theme parks, giggling to herself, and drinking margaritas.
In elementary school she discovered she had a passion and a talent for writing. Jackie used her writing skills to fake her way through twelve years of school, four years of college, and many jobs where she was foolishly considered above average and often rewarded for her ability to use words to convey meaning. Crazy, right? She even duped an entire college into thinking she was valedictorian material. Hilarious! After college, she snuck her way into a career where she was paid real money to write things that sounded important and serious. Alas, careers like this typically occur in a business world where it is “frowned upon” to have a sense of humor and speak fluent sarcasm. Thus, Jackie decided to say goodbye to the chains of the business world and become an authorprenuer. Now that she is in charge, she can call her boss names all day long and not get in trouble. She can also clock in late each day and give her co-workers (her cats) the finger when they look at her funny.
Since she was raised by wolves in sunny Central Florida, Jackie often finds herself saying the wrong things in the most inopportune times, leading to embarrassment and shame. This trend has continued throughout her life and to this day she often can be found putting her foot in her mouth and then sneaking away to write something. It turns out that writing is a coping mechanism she uses to process her embarrassment over her inability to be socially appropriate. When she is not talking to the imaginary characters who live in her head and bringing their stories to life on paper, she is hanging out with her teenage son or extended family. She also spends approximately thirty-six hours each and every day scooping litter boxes and refilling water bowls in devote service of her cat overlords. In addition to hanging out with family, taking on craft projects that she never finishes, and writing steamy love stories, she also spends her time reading romance novels in practically every sub-genre except historical (because there just weren’t enough showers back then for sexy times. That’s right. I said it.)
Twenty Questions with Jackie Walker
A. Do margaritas count? If not, then let’s go with chips and salsa to go with the margaritas. Also all Mexican food. I also adore Italian.
2. Do you have a favorite color?
A. I’m partial to teal.
A. That would imply I have a set sleep schedule and I do not. Since I work at home, my sleep schedule tends to fluctuate wildly. Often, my best writing time happens in the middle of the night around 2am-4am.
4. What does a day in the life of Jackie look like?
A. Take care of the cats, make sure my son and grandpa Joe have eaten, then off to work in my home office. I spend an hour or so doing odd things that tend to pile up and checking social media notifications. Then I get to “work” on whatever book I’m writing. I take a break midday and play on my son’s oculus quest VR. I’ve recently gotten addicted to Beat Saber and this VR workout program called Supernatural. It’s an amazing workout and SOOO fun you don’t even realize you’re working out. Get a snack, then back to work (usually on an ice pack to soothe my aching back). I have a group of author friends in a group chat and I typically spend time chatting with them each day to go over our plot holes, business questions or just have fun. My best friend and I message all day long too. So I have some catch up time there before I retire for the night. To unwind, I’ll take my shower then curl up with an audiobook and play some solitaire or watch TV with my son or do something fun with him.
5. Are you a plotter or a pantser?
A. Total pantser until about 90% of the book is written. Every time I’ve attempted to plot, I can’t make myself stick to it. The characters have their own ideas about how they want the story to go, and I can’t stop them. I love when it goes in a totally different direction than I expected. I usually have vague concepts at the start of the book, but that’s it. I know the characters' wounds/personalities/goals). I also know the meet-cute, and the trope I’m going for. Sometimes the suspense is sort of decided, but that typically unfolds more as the story unfolds.
A. Not having to use an alarm clock. I have ADHD and time blindness and was ALWAYS late for work in my past corporate life. It was a huge stresser, but no matter what I tried I couldn’t get past that. It’s so amazing not to have that worry. And also… I love making readers happy and giving them a way to escape their routine lives. I am a reader too and adore that part of romance. I’m happy to give that to people. It’s very fulfilling to create something that makes people feel joy.
A. Managing ALL the “business” tasks that I had no idea would be part of this gig. For example… Marketing is a full-time job for 2 people. Social media is another full-time job (yes, a separate job than marketing). The non-fun stuff like filing copyrights, doing accounting and expense tracking, dealing with piracy/take down notices, keeping an eye on trends, handling formatting when you’ve finally finished a book, and so much more. The hardest part though… is constantly worrying that you’re not good enough or that your next release is going to flop… and then what will you do?! It’s not easy. I wish it were just writing and editing, but that’s the bare bones of an entire monster.
8. What kind of books are your favorite to read? (Contemporary, historical, fantasy, sci fi, monster, paranormal, etc.)
A. I only read contemporary romance – preferably romcom and romantic suspense. I also read some craft books to help with my writing skills. But for “fun”?– Only romance. The spicier the better. I haven’t read any dark romance yet, but I’m curious. And I used to read paranormal romance. That’s how I got into romance to begin with – after Twilight. 😊
9. Do you have a favorite trope to read or write? Why is it your favorite?
A. Friends to lovers is my FAVORITE. Something about that longing and already having a connection. I love to see the secret pining, I think. They both want each other, but neither wants to admit it and risk losing the friendship. That shit just hits me in the feels every time. Brother’s best friend is another favorite, but for the same reasons. They know each other and (often) like each other already but are holding back. I eat that shit up like candy.
10. Do you have a favorite character from any of your books?
A. This is HARD. It’s like choosing between your children when you actually love them all. Ha ha ha. I can only narrow it down to a favorite male and female. Sawyer from Forbidden Hero and Sue from Heartbreak Hero.
What makes him/her your favorite?
Sawyer: He had a hard life but is still funny and outgoing. Humor is my kryptonite in real life, and I just loved his jokes. Cheesy and inappropriate at times, but also all the impressions he does. His voices! I hear them all perfectly clear in my mind. I can imagine he’d be a blast to hang around. And he’s so loyal to his friends. But man… the way he always loved his heroine, suffered in silence for years, longed for her/mourned her and pined. OMG. Loved that. But when they finally got together? He was everything she needed. The way he helped her over her past sexual trauma and anger issues was so powerful for me. I cried so many times writing some of his swoony lines. He was just everything to me. It’s no surprise it’s my most successful book. I “felt” him when I wrote that book. Down to my marrow. And two books later, I still think of him every day. It’s unhealthy at this point. LOL!
Sue: Basics on her - she’s on the spectrum, social anxiety, and ADHD. She’s part of a big loud family, has always known she was different but didn’t know why, and plus size but not obsessing about it constantly. Some of my favorite things right off the bat. But she still wants to be independent and doesn’t let her (often extreme) fears and anxieties hold her back in life. She lives alone, works and paints. She’s content, although tired of being alone at the start of her story. She thinks she’s weak but is actually one of the strongest characters I’ve ever written. My son is on the spectrum and shares a lot of traits with Sue. In a way, this book was an ode to him. I want him to find his person, but I worry constantly that he won’t. When I wrote Sue, I was adamant that she wouldn’t be “just another neurodivergent character.” One of the things that irks me about some romance novels is that characters on the spectrum (or assumed to be) are written as that is their ONLY quality. They are all numbers/logic. I swear some of them are written like Dr. Spock. And that’s so wrong! I wanted Sue to be multi-faceted and as close to real life as possible. Yes, she’s logical. Yes, she misreads body language at times. But she’s so much more. She can use sarcasm (sometimes) and is able to carry on conversations without them being NOTHING BUT AWKARD. And people like her (even if she doesn’t get it or see it). That’s my son. 100%. And that’s so many others on the spectrum. It’s no wonder I get more “thank you” and “love mail” about Sue than any other character. She’s special in all the good ways (to me and her hero).
A. Oof. This is like picking a favorite child too. The meet-cute is always fun. And the “rescue” and “suspense reveals” are exciting for me too. I tend to write those VERY FAST because they pour out of me. But I think I ADORE writing all the “I love you” moments and sweet and tender times leading up to it, when the hero just can’t stifle his feelings anymore. I live for that shit.
12. What is the hardest part to get through?
A. The middle. There is a point in the middle of every book where I think it’s crap and I’m never going to finish. I sometimes lose inspiration for a few days. Writing starts to feel like a chore, and I don’t know where the story is headed. It’s frustrating. But it’s happened every time now, so I know it’s just part of my creative process. Talking about the plot with my author friends and my editor often helps. I also talk out the suspense plot with my son because he’s quite gifted in that area. Sometimes just talking about it is all I need to get back on the bus and push onward.
13. Do you draw inspiration from real life?
A. SO MANY THINGS! Most of the “over the top hilarious” moments from my books have happened to me or people I know in real life. Yes, the broccoli-choking-farting incident in Heartbreak Hero happened to a family member. Yes, the laughing at an inappropriate time during Phantom of the Opera happened to me.
In addition to the funny moments, there are emotional things I’ve put into my characters based on my own feelings and those experiences of people in my circle. Sometimes I don’t even realize I’ve done it until the story is done. I read it back and am like… wow, that is exactly what I was experiencing in my heart back when ____ happened. It’s unreal.
I also had a sexually harassing jerky boss once who was the inspiration for the villain in my debut novel. In fact, there are many things about Cara’s experience in Love & Other Chaos that were based on my life. Sadly, not the sexy hero who fell for her, though.
And writing neurodiverse characters is based on my research into autism, ADHD and anxiety based on my real life. I also want characters with wounds to get therapy. It needs to be normalized. We’re getting there as a society, but not there yet. I’m doing my part.
A. I’d been wanting to bring someone from the CIA into Redleg for a while. And I was due for an “enemies to lovers” type of romance with that office rival vibe. It was just time. When Mia showed up at the end of Comeback Hero and Klein walked in… it just hit me. One night stand, she screws him over, but now they have to work together. BAM! I love writing banter and they delivered in spades. Sometimes there are more things that inspire a story (like Sue in Heartbreak Hero), but this one almost unfolded in my mind first, then on paper. A little different than past stories.
15. What made you decide to write a series that was a bit of romantic suspense mixed with romantic comedy?
A. As I was finishing up my debut RomCom series, I found that I really enjoyed writing in those dashes of suspense. Love & Other Trouble had a brother who was into drugs and it led to some suspense-ish moments. Then Millie in Love & Other Accidents had a stalker. In both of those books, I really got sucked in and found great joy in the process. I was planning on doing the O’Malley RomCom spinoff series next, but when those bodyguards showed up to protect the Amos-holes, I had an inkling of possibility. But when Sue and Leo got on the page together, holy shit! The ideas and sparks flew for me. I had to go where the muse was taking me. I still have plenty of ideas for the O’Malleys and will circle back. In fact, I’m planning on dovetailing Redleg at the end of this series. A guard is needed for someone O’Malley adjacent. That way, my readers will have a continuous path in my world.
16. Who has been the hardest Redleg character to connect with so far while writing this series?
A. Hmm. After they are written, I feel like I know them all – body, mind, and soul. So it’s hard to answer this, looking back. But if I stretch my memory to the actual writing process, it might have been Leo from Heartbreak Hero. He was a bit of a stretch for me. Military, protective, more alpha-ish than past heroes. And he isn’t overtly playful and funny. I tend to find it easier to write funny characters with lots of sarcasm, since that is how I am in real life. So I probably struggled to find his voice for a bit longer than other books. But my editor has extensive military background and knows plenty of “Leo types” so we partnered to find the best qualities and incorporate them into the story. Ultimately, I was pleased with how it came out, and I do adore Leo and how he cared for Sue (and his real and Redleg family).
A. SO MUCH RESEARCH. Military research galore and tons of technical things that weren’t an issue with my first book (spy gadgets, military weaponry and tech, plus the life of an Army Ranger, for example). The language used in the military is different from civilians, you have to write it so that it’s not only authentic to the character but so the average reader can process it without having to look everything up. It’s not easy. With Rival Hero, I had to explore the hacking, IT, and CIA worlds. There’s also been a lot of legal and law enforcement related research required for this series. I try to look up Florida laws and practices wherever possible since that’s where the series takes place. Mental health research is also important to me, and I did a fair amount of looking into Human Trafficking.
18. What is your favorite part of writing an interconnected series?
A. Seeing the old characters in the background and watching their romance continue to bloom. Pregnancy or weddings in the periphery are nice for not only the reader, but also the author. They are like our friends, so we don’t want to say goodbye.
19. What is the hardest part of writing an interconnected series?
A. Keeping the focus on the central characters of the story. I already know the past characters so well, that they can come into a scene and take it over. It’s a hard balance to put them in the book without them stealing the show from the main characters. There’s an art to bringing them in at the right time and then sending them away! The sending them away is hardest for me. I want them all there, all the time. LOL!
A. I have a Redleg Security second generation series planned and the O’Malleys RomCom series. I’ll likely do an O’Malley’s book and then a RL Gen 2 book, alternating to complete each series. I can’t seem to abandon one for the other. The idea of putting either on hold to finish the other isn’t appealing to me, artistically. I hope my readers forgive me for this. I just want to write it the way my heart and muse needs it written (even if the experts say to write only one series at a time).
I only went into the bar to scope out my competition – him.
The scorching hot night that followed was a mutually pleasurable accident.
Of course I knew we were in the running for the same position.
It’s not my fault he didn’t know who I was.
Gathering intel is my specialty.
Maybe if he were better at it, he would have gotten the job instead of me.
I tried my hardest to resist our chemistry, but he was too damn hot.
Too charming. Too funny. Too masculine.
And he smelled so freaking good.
My hormones took over.
Now we're working together on the Redleg Security intelligence team.
Every day. High stress. Close quarters.
Sexual chemistry off the charts.
But he hates me.
The thing is… he should hate me.
I treated him like a pawn.
But he’s a real man with dreams, passion, and pain.
And I’ve never wanted someone as much as I want him.
But it’s too late for us.
I made us rivals when we could have been so much more.
Note: Rival Hero is Book 4 in the Redleg Security Series of steamy romantic suspense novels with romcom vibes. Each book in this series features a different couple complete with their happily ever after and is a "complete story" with no cliffhangers. However, the books are best read in order to avoid suspense-related plot spoilers since each book starts right where the prior book ends. However, each book can be read on its own if you don't wish to read them all. Content warnings will be made available on the author's website prior to release and at the beginning of the book itself.
This novel is written in alternating first person point of view and contains spicy open-door scenes, profanity, a strong heroine who's a former CIA intelligence officer, a swoony former Army Ranger hero who will make you laugh one minute and swoon the next. There's page-turning action and all the feels, along with a healthy dose of humor. There is an HEA, no cheating, and no "other woman" drama.
Book four of the series brings readers the story of Mia and
Klein and their road to their HEA. It
can be read as a standalone and is written in first person from an alternating
dual POV. At 474 pages, this book is not
a quick read: readers will want to allow themselves time to sink into it.
Cal (Calvin Klein) is a little cinnamon roll, a little golden
retriever, and discovers through Mia (to his surprise) that he is also a bit of
a dominant alpha. I will say I
absolutely loved Cal. His relationship
with his mom is exceptionally sweet. I
loved his old soul. I loved all of his
sides. I adored his protective and
overall kind personality. Mia is a nerdy
heroine who is making changes to her life.
She is leaving the CIA and hoping to reestablish relationships with her
estranged sisters. She has seen humanity
at its worst and her ability to trust is severely compromised. Her actions at times are wrong, yet the
author does a good job of letting the reader empathize with why she does what
she does-eventually. I like the relationship she forms with Cal’s mom and with
the other ladies from Redleg. Those
relationships and the way she finally opens up to Cal allow readers to learn
her heart and believe that she deserves her HEA.
Readers who have read other books in this series will expect suspenseful moments along with comedic moments. Those are present along with the heat the author has had in her other books and then some. I think this book may contain the most physical intimacy scenes of all her books and they are hot. Readers who know Jackie will also get the sarcasm, snark, and sometimes crazy sense of humor she always brings to her books and her characters. Both characters have a lot of internal monologues available to readers that, just like our own internal monologues can be at times, are sometimes a little repetitive. Pop culture references are frequently used to draw out the characters’ snark and personalities. As in previous books her characters also frequently break the fourth wall and address the reader directly. Though the book deals with some heavy topics related to Cal and Mia’s families and the Redleg cases, I felt they were handled with care. This is especially true of Cal’s mom and her early onset dementia. Having gone through that with my mom, Cal’s feelings and his mother’s both felt accurate and true to what I experienced. It was heartbreaking and the reader feels that. I loved seeing other members of the Redleg team and how they interacted with each other. The conversation between the guys at the restaurant, in particular, is going to stay with me for a while. This was a good read that made me laugh and swoon.
Connect With Jackie:
Website: https://authorjackiewalker.com/
Newsletter Sign Up: https://authorjackiewalker.com/
(near the bottom of the home page)
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20979535.Jackie_Walker
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jackie-walker
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjackiewalker/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorjackiewalker
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJackieWalker
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/464658371438081
Want to met Jackie in person?
She is scheduled to sign at two events in 2024.
Charm City Romanticon
Ellicott City, MD
April 6, 2024
Turf Valley Resort
Tickets Available Now (Get them while they last!)
Spend the day with indie romance authors and readers. This small, intimate, exclusive event puts readers in the same room as the authors for informative panel sessions, a book signing, and a celebratory banquet pj party.
Held at the beautiful Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City, Maryland (25 minutes outside Baltimore), attendance is limited to create an atmosphere that encourages interaction and limits overwhelm. This is the perfect event for first time book-event attendees as well as individuals looking for a way to connect with others in the indie romance book community that just doesn’t happen at large signings.
Tickets include lunch and dinner on Saturday in addition to admission to all panel sessions, the afternoon signing, and the evening pj party.
Readers Take Denver
Gaylord Rockies – Aurora, CO
April 18 – 21, 2024
Sign up for the event newsletter for all the latest
Tickets are sold out, but watch for chances to win tickets or look for (fair-priced) resale opportunities
Comments
Post a Comment