We are over the moon to have authors Jen Frederick and Jessica Clare sit down with us to discuss their Hitman series.
ABOUT BIO
ABOUT BIO
Jen Frederick
Jen Frederick lives with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog. She's been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at jensfrederick@gmail.com.
AUTHOR BIO
Jen Frederick lives with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog. She's been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at jensfrederick@gmail.com.
AUTHOR BIO
Jessica Clare
Jessica Clare is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author who writes under three different names. As Jill Myles, she writes a little bit of everything, from sexy, comedic urban fantasy to zombie fairy tales. As Jessica Clare, she writes erotic contemporary romance.
She also has a third pen name (because why stop at two?). As Jessica Sims, she writes fun, sexy shifter paranormals. She lives in Texas with her husband, cats, and too many dust-bunnies. Jill spends her time writing, reading, writing, playing video games, and doing even more writing.
RG: You will soon be releasing Last Breath which is the second book in the Hitman series. Can you give us a sneak peek/teaser?
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Jessica Clare is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author who writes under three different names. As Jill Myles, she writes a little bit of everything, from sexy, comedic urban fantasy to zombie fairy tales. As Jessica Clare, she writes erotic contemporary romance.
She also has a third pen name (because why stop at two?). As Jessica Sims, she writes fun, sexy shifter paranormals. She lives in Texas with her husband, cats, and too many dust-bunnies. Jill spends her time writing, reading, writing, playing video games, and doing even more writing.
RG: You will soon be releasing Last Breath which is the second book in the Hitman series. Can you give us a sneak peek/teaser?
Jen: From Daniel’s POV:
Checking to make sure the safety is still on, I had her back the gun and then walk out fifteen paces which puts me right at the kitchen about ten feet from the door. “Wait until your intruder is right here and then shoot. Anything further away and you’re bound to miss.”
She scowls at me. “Because I’m a girl?”
“Because you haven’t shot a gun before. Doesn’t matter if you’re a girl or a guy.” I correct. “I’m going to run out and get you some clothes and shoes and a case and…” I wave my hand toward her body. “Other stuff. When I come back, I’ll say my name. If I think you’re in danger, I’ll say “Honey I’m home’ and that’s your signal to run to the bedroom, grab my pack, and climb out onto the fire escape. Instead of going down, go up to the roof and wait there.”
“And if you don’t come?”
A fearful look creeps into her eyes. I crouch down so we’re eye level. “I’m coming back for you Regan…”
She scowls at me. “Because I’m a girl?”
“Because you haven’t shot a gun before. Doesn’t matter if you’re a girl or a guy.” I correct. “I’m going to run out and get you some clothes and shoes and a case and…” I wave my hand toward her body. “Other stuff. When I come back, I’ll say my name. If I think you’re in danger, I’ll say “Honey I’m home’ and that’s your signal to run to the bedroom, grab my pack, and climb out onto the fire escape. Instead of going down, go up to the roof and wait there.”
“And if you don’t come?”
A fearful look creeps into her eyes. I crouch down so we’re eye level. “I’m coming back for you Regan…”
Jessica: Here’s one from Regan’s POV:
My hands slide around Daniel and I hug him as he strokes my back. It occurs to me that I’m practically in his lap. I want to pull away and take another shower, but a different thought flickers in my mind, and this time when I press my cheek against his neck, it’s to hide the fact that my tears are drying up.
Daniel has weapons.
I move my hands to his waist, still weeping and sniffing, and delicately try to feel for his gun. There’s one taken apart on the table nearby, but Daniel doesn’t seem like the type that wouldn’t have one at the ready at all times. He must have another one on him. It’s become my goal to find it.
So I sniffle and burrow against him, noticing the tent rising at the front of his pants. He’s trying to be comforting, but his body is responding all the same. I pretend not to notice it, even as I let my breast brush against his chest. “I’m sorry,” I say in a wobbly voice. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
He gives a brief chuckle. “You kidding me?” His fingers stroke my damp cheek and I do my best not to recoil from his touch. All touches seem to lead to rough, horrible sex lately. “You’ve been through hell and came out the other side. I think you’re allowed a cry-fest. Try not to slobber on me too much.”
I like Daniel’s humor. A watery laugh escapes my throat, even as my hand grazes something hard tucked into his belt that can only be a gun. Yes!
Before I can grab it from him, though, his hand covers mine, preventing me from snatching his gun. “Cry all you want, sweetheart, but the weapons stay with me.”
I jerk away from him, wiping my eyes. The time for cuddling is past. “You have to give me credit for trying.”
Daniel has weapons.
I move my hands to his waist, still weeping and sniffing, and delicately try to feel for his gun. There’s one taken apart on the table nearby, but Daniel doesn’t seem like the type that wouldn’t have one at the ready at all times. He must have another one on him. It’s become my goal to find it.
So I sniffle and burrow against him, noticing the tent rising at the front of his pants. He’s trying to be comforting, but his body is responding all the same. I pretend not to notice it, even as I let my breast brush against his chest. “I’m sorry,” I say in a wobbly voice. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
He gives a brief chuckle. “You kidding me?” His fingers stroke my damp cheek and I do my best not to recoil from his touch. All touches seem to lead to rough, horrible sex lately. “You’ve been through hell and came out the other side. I think you’re allowed a cry-fest. Try not to slobber on me too much.”
I like Daniel’s humor. A watery laugh escapes my throat, even as my hand grazes something hard tucked into his belt that can only be a gun. Yes!
Before I can grab it from him, though, his hand covers mine, preventing me from snatching his gun. “Cry all you want, sweetheart, but the weapons stay with me.”
I jerk away from him, wiping my eyes. The time for cuddling is past. “You have to give me credit for trying.”
RG: We meet Regan and Daniel in The Last Hit though their paths never cross. Did you always know that they would get their own book?
Jessica: I think so. We were about halfway through with LAST HIT when we started plotting out romances for the other heroes because we were having too much fun writing. We figured even if no one else wanted to read the stories, we wanted to write them!
Jen: Pretty much. When Daniel appeared we knew he had to have his own book. Every wisecracking former military man doesn’t needs his own romance. Or as Daniel says about a friend of his, “Every king needs a queen.”
RG: Regan is not as naive and innocent as Daisy will her relationship with Daniel be a little bit more volatile because of that?
Jen: This is a much rawer story because of what happens to Regan and though the time is compressed in the story, she goes through the ringer.
Jessica: There’s definitely a ton of emotion going on with Regan. Daisy was kind of like a baby bird discovering everything. Regan’s kind of like…well, a bird that’s been stomped on and has to figure out how to fly again. Jesus, I have no idea why I’m giving bird analogies, but run with it!
RG: Will we see a reunion between Regan and Daisy in this book?
Jen: Yes and you get to see Nick again being surly.
Jessica: Of course! I think it’s on everyone’s mind.
RG: Do you think that Daisy's innocence gave her the ability to see the good in Nikolai, to see beyond what other people might have seen when they looked at him.
Jen: A more worldly heroine (like Regan) probably would have been afraid of Nick and his intensity.
Jessica: I think it didn’t occur to Daisy that Nick could be ‘bad’ because she thought he was a nice guy. Part of Daisy’s character growth was that the world isn’t black and white. You can’t just automatically categorize people as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ on a whim. Daisy needed to learn that there are shades of gray and not everyone fits into the box.
RG: Daisy was as innocent and as sheltered as they come so for her to fall for someone like Nikolai was unexpected but we got to see a different side of him because of her. What was it about Daisy that made Nikolai so vulnerable to her.
Jen: Daisy was the first person to really trust Nick and to love him. He’d never had that and when she opened herself to him, he wanted to do everything in his power to please her. Still does. His overriding goal in life is to see her happy.
RG: What is the most challenging aspect of co-writing?
Jen: I’m always amazed at what Jess comes up with. She went me the opening scene for Last Breath and I was actually gasping when I read them.
Jessica: Waiting for your co-author to send you pages. Seriously, it’s like waiting for Christmas.
RG: Do you feel like you take more risks as a writer when you are creating independently or working with a writing partner?
Jessica: I think definitely when working with a partner, because you are writing to excite/impress your partner, and to move the story in ways that will get the other person excited to write the next scene. I know Jen has had to rein me back a few times. I’m kinda bloodthirsty! Lol!
Jen: Ha, yes, but having that partner allows you to be more free with your writing because someone else is there to give you a gut check, either to tell you that you are holding back or you’ve went to far at every scene and that’s incredible feedback.
RG: Do you have more co-writing novels/series in the works?
Jessica: Vasily and his heroine are being written next!
RG: Can you tell us a little about your writing styles? Do you typically create an outline or just start writing and let the story take the lead?
Jessica: I’m a firm outliner. I like to know where we’re going and who’s POV a scene will be in before I start. There are always surprises along the way, of course. As for my writing style, I differ from Jen in that I’m a draft-it-and-done sort of girl. Jen picks at the book for EVER in edits and rewrites a heck of a lot more than I do. Her rewrites are always amazing, though, so I can’t complain!
Jen: I once told Jess that if I had a year to write a book that it would be a completely different one that the story I’d started. Actually I was a pantser but these types of stories really require some planning to get the details right. Jess has challenged me to start writing all my stories linearly and I’m doing that right now.
RG: In your books, which characters have been your favorite to date?
Jen: It’s whatever book I’m working on at the moment. You really have to love your characters to write about them.
Jessica: Every book is my favorite after we turn it in to the editor! Lol. Because then I don’t have to look at it again. But I am getting excited for Vasily and Naomi’s book, because that one is going to be a blast to write.
RG: What’s on your TBR(s) right now?
Jessica: Let’s see. I’m on a SFF kick right now and just read Robin L. Rotham’s rather naughty Overnight series. Loved Joanna Wylde’s Reaper books, and I’m soooo excited for the upcoming Sinners book by Olivia Cunning!
Jen: I love the Reaper series too. Those are my favorite MC books. I’ve bought Mia Sheridan’s backlist and am making my way through them from the beginning. Her Archer’s Voice was wonderful.
~ RG: OH YES the Reaper's Series and Archer's Voice are some of my favorite reads!!
RG: What are your guilty pleasures where books are not concerned?
Jen: Eating? Does that count? I am always drinking rootbeer when I’m editing. It’s the only way I can make it through that process.
Jessica: Video games! I have to hold myself back from playing when I have a deadline, or else I get totally derailed and don’t want to write. I just want to shoot zombies/grow in-game crops for hours on end. It’s kind of sad.
Thank you for both for joining our Couch Confessions segment! Good luck with all your endeavors.
HIT MAN SERIES
By Jen Frederick and Jessica Clare
For information of LAST GIFT go HERE
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