We’ve reached the end of 2020 already and what a year it’s been! Today it’s time for the final author spotlight of this year, and it’s with the wonderful JP Sayle.
So, take it away JP…
First things first, please introduce yourself!
Hi I’m JP or Jayne, I’m now a full-time writer tucked away on a small island in the Irish sea. I’m married and have one daughter and two grandbabies. I’ve a love of cake that I share weekly with my twin and older sister when we do ‘sisters who eat cake saturday’.
Tell us a little bit about your writing style.
I’m a total pantser on the whole, I sit at my computer and let out whatever is in my head. Although recently I’ve tried doing an outline thing, it doesn’t work as well, but I’m all for stretching myself with a challenge.
Describe your books in only three words.
Angsty, real, different.
Can you tell us a little about your latest release?
I have a new release just out, Reluctant Billionaire. This is series I had no intention of writing lol, but lockdown happened and with that came this need to do something different, then Nanna happened. In book one Property of a Billionaire, you get to meet Charlie and his Nanna. Nanna hands down steals the show as she channels her cat. In that book you meet Guy, Charlie’s best friend and Brett, who is Charlie’s boyfriend’s psychologist.
Anyhow, in Reluctant Billionaire Nanna excels at meddling when they all end up skiing at New Year. Guy is a fem, high heel loving dominant and years younger than Brett. Brett is man who just wants to be loved for who he is after his father behaves in ways that make him doubt himself. What ensues is a rollercoaster of emotions that a blogger described at a great anti pandemic laugh out loud book.
Out of all your books, which one are you most proud of?
That has to be Ferron’s Journey: Trilogy, those three books really took it out of me mentally but the end result left me feeling proud of the depth of emotion that comes across from the main characters
What or who (or both) has influenced you most as a writer?
All books have influenced me as a writer. From the moment I found I could disappear from the awful crap of my childhood in pages, I’ve never looked back. In terms of who helped make my decision to write MM, that would be my twin and Kindle Alexander the first MM author I read.
What inspired you to start writing?
My nurse manager’s job and the life coach asking what I want to do with my life. That simple question started me on a path of discovery and challenge to change my life so could live my dream.
What’s your writing process like? Do you have a typical “writing day”?
Yep I do I suppose, lol. I wake, do social media stuff and connect with friends, I then mediate. I sort myself (in pjs) to be at my desk by nine am with a two litre bottle of Pepsi Max. If hubby is home I give him a kiss and lock myself in my office. If the door is shut he knows not to come in. I’ll then write until I get mentally tired. This could be four hours or eight, I never know. If I get a manuscript back that requires editing I tend to do that in the afternoons. I can do that even if I’m mentally drained.
What comes first for you – the plot or the characters?
I wish I had the plot, but no, it’s always the characters, I can be inspired by anything which makes it hugely difficult to keep going with one project. I’ve a dozen unfinished books (possibly more) because I get distracted easily.
What’s a book that you wish you’d written?
Practical Magic – love anything that’s magically and witchy.
If you could only write one trope for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Age gap, it’s in nearly every book I’ve written. I think it stems from personal preference for older partners.
What would be your three desert island books?
Really that is so hard but, I’m going to say, (boxset is one right) Nice Guy Series by Kindle Alexander, Cruel and Unusual by Patrica Cornwell, my own boxset for Manx Cat Guardians.
If one of your books could be made into a movie/TV series, which would you choose and who would you cast?
Where it all Began, I’ve often seen in my head my Viking stood by the castle I wrote about. Jason Mamoa would be perfect for the role of King Olarfr, my guardian cat Max, the voice I see as John Rhys-Davies, and Magnus I think I’d want Zack Ward.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing? Do you have a secret passion or hobby that we don’t know about?
Family tend to take most of my spare time, as I have my grandbabies weekly. But I’ve been searching recently for the wizards that we have scattered all over the island. I love to walk. My secret passion is sunbathing, I love the sun and I don’t get to sit out like I used to.
Finally, what’s your favourite dinosaur?
Velociraptor for sure.
Hey, I’m JP, a manxy lady of a certain age who embraces life to the full and it’s why I now write full time. I quit my job because life’s too short not to follow your dreams, right? I’ve a love of all things bookish and writing has given me an unexpected bonus, friendships all over the world.
I’m lucky that I’ve a hubby who is supportive of me and the world I’m trying to create. I’ve a twin who is to blame for me dipping my toe in the MM world. My daughter isn’t so broad minded lol, but I’m sure I’ll sway her one day 😉
My one goal when I started on this epic journey was to write and take people with me on a
voyage through the pages of my books. I hope I’ve achieved that.
You can find more information about JP on her website, and sign up for her newsletter.
