Hi Jessica and welcome. I am so glad you could join us here at RomanceJunkies. To start, will you please tell us a little bit about your current projects? Thanks so much for having me over for an interview! I always love hanging with RJ.

My latest release is DEMONKEEPERS, which is the fourth of the Nightkeeper novels, which tell of an underground battle that is being waged even as we speak … As we approach the end date of 12/21/2012, dark forces stand poised to overrun the earth and crush humanity beneath a vicious rule of terror and blood sacrifice.

Our only hope rests with a group of saviors living in secret among us: modern magic-wielding warriors called the Nightkeepers. These dark, sexy magi must find and win their destined mates in order to protect the barrier of psi energy that forms humanity's last line of defense against the demons of the ancient Maya.

In DEMONKEEPERS, Lucius is an Indiana Jones wannabe who never quite measures up, until a twist of magic brings him powers beyond belief … and reunites him with Jade, the one-night stand he never forgot.

Despite the sizzling chemistry between them-and the added power that comes with a love match-Jade is determined to prove that she's more than a researcher … she can be a Nightkeeper warrior in her own right.

But as the two race to rescue the sun god himself from the underworld, they learn that kicking ass isn't enough. They'll need all their brains and skill-and the long-denied love that burns between them-to foil the demons plot to usurp the sun and bring ecological ruin to the earth.

Q: If you could change one thing about the way you approach writing a manuscript, what would it be?

I really wish I could get it right the first time. Unfortunately, I'm one of those 'fly into the mist' writers who has a general idea of the characters and story, but has to discover the details by revising over and over again until I've really gotten to the core of the story.

Q: When finishing a project, are you ready to move on to the next one, or do you take a bit of breather first?

That varies from year to year. Last year I took a bit of a breather, with only two Nightkeeper books due. That allowed me to put in some extra research time, do some family stuff, and work hard on promotions. In contrast, this year I'm writing two Nightkeeper books, one Nightkeeper novella, a Nocturne and an Intrigue (eek!). So … nope. No rest for the wicked in 2010!

Q: It is a dream come true when a writer makes their first sale. What were you doing when you found out about yours? Did you do anything special to celebrate?

It was midmorning on an otherwise unremarkable day. The phone rang, and when I picked it up there was a Harlequin editor on the other end of the line. I had just pitched the book to her less than two weeks earlier at a conference, and had sent the manuscript a few days after the pitch, so I figured the book had really only just now hit her desk and she was calling to say that the package had been damaged (eaten, waterlogged, whatever).

So I said, "Oh, do you need me to send another copy?"

"No. I want to buy the book." After a minute of dead silence on my part, she said, "Do you want to take a few minutes, and then call me back?"

LOL. I don't remember specifically what I did to celebrate, but that moment is vivid in my memory banks.

Q: Who gave you the one piece of writing advice that sticks with you to this day?

I would say I have two.

The first came in one of my very first rejection letters ever. The editor said that I needed to try to avoid coincidence (I had the hero and heroine meet randomly and then later discover that she had been peripherally involved in his sister's death, which didn't make any sense). That really clicked for me, and these days I'm a real stickler for plot logic in books, TV and movies.

The second came from Suzanne Brockmann, who has always been a strong influence on me. Once, when I thanked her for something, she said simply: "Pay it forward."

These days, I do a fair bit of mentoring, helping writers with pitch appointments, and the like. And whenever they thank me, I tell them to pay it forward by helping someone else, whether it's with a pitch appointment, a query, or simply looking for someone sitting alone at a conference, plonking down next to them, and striking up a conversation.

Q: Now that you are able to spend full-time writing, what is the one thing you miss most about the scientific world?

LOL- I think it's pretty telling that my immediate response to this question is that I miss taking my lunch hour over at Filene's Basement in Boston's Downtown Crossing, which was a short hike away from the lab. My wardrobe has taken a significant downturn now that I don't have access to good shopping!

Q: Did you find it easier or harder than you thought to move away from it?

Well, although I no longer commute to a lab, I freelance as a scientific editor, smoothing out the English in journal articles that have been written by non-native English speakers. So I'm still very much a scientist, alongside the fiction writing.

I think the biggest transition to working at home was that the change coincided with us moving from a Boston suburb to rural Connecticut, and I suddenly couldn't walk around the corner for a snack or a Starbucks. Even the closest MobilMart is a solid fifteen-minute drive, so I've learned to plan my mid-chapter cravings ahead of time.

Q: Ever fight with critters that want to feast off your efforts?

Nope, no critter fights. We live on the edge of a state forest, and aside from having to come up with some creative ways to keep the opossums and raccoons from getting into the cat food too often, we all coexist fairly peacefully.

Q: Rumor has it you eat lunch at your computer. Ever spill anything with dastardly consequences?

I'm almost afraid to say "no" … with my luck, that'll signal a Diet Coke tsunami or something!

Q: Do you have an office with a view?

I do-my office has a window and a porch-facing door, both of which look out onto the forest, which is just gorgeous. However, I've had to set up my desk facing away from the view, and moved the bird feeder to another vantage point, because it's waaaay too easy to stare out the window rather than working! Yeah, I might say 'I'm thinking about the next sentence,' but really I'm just daydreaming.

Q: Which is more romantic: waking up bright and early one morning, sitting close together, savoring a cup of steaming tea while watching the birds play outside, or enjoying a delicious meal of your favorites at home by candlelight, soft music in the background, a cozy fire burning in the fireplace?

Actually, our idea of romance is more along the lines of doing stuff together, whether it's finishing a farm project we've been putting off, taking a trail ride together, or cheering for each other at a show. We're big-time 'doers' who aren't very good at slowing down long enough to enjoy the quieter moments. We're working on the quiet stuff … but I won't say we've got it down yet!

Q: How do you describe Jessica Andersen?

I think I would describe myself pretty much the same way I describe my books: some sexy and/or tender moments interspersed with lots of running around and screaming. LOL!

MORE FUN...??
Q: Spring is in the air! What signals spring for you? Do you do the annual spring-cleaning-thing?

I love it when the weather finally changes! Now that the ground is drying up and the days are warmer, I'm reminded of that old adage: Do not apply fresh Chapstick immediately before brushing out the shedding household pets.

Q: What is the one appliance that you could not live without; that if it broke down in the morning a new one would be in its place by late afternoon? Which one should have stayed at the store?

I cannot live without my computer or my TV. Period. Immediate replacement for both those items. I could, however, cheerfully do without the subwoofers the un-husband installed in his basement workroom. Not only do they make the floor of my office shake, he's got this habit of blasting the BeeGees while working down there. (Shudders.)

Q: Gotta ask: did you make any New Year?s Resolutions? Have you broken any yet? Ever keep any that you made in previous years?

Hm… I don't remember if I made any this year. One notable resolution I made was two or three years ago, when I promised to be better about helping keep the house clean. About halfway through the year, I realized I must be getting better because at least I was starting to notice when it was time to do some picking up.

Q: What kind of vehicle carries Jessica Andersen to the grocery store and back? What kind of vehicle would Jessica Andersen like to have to carry her to the grocery store and back?

I drive a decommissioned Crown Vic that used to belong to the US Marshal service-the un-husband wanted a big, no-frills car that could go like heck. People sure get out of the way when I hit the highway!

As for a dream car … hm. Maybe a little Jeep Renegade or something? I'd like four-wheel drive, as our driveway can be a beast in the winter!

Q: And lastly, no interview of a writer would be complete without this question: what is your favorite comfort food?

CHOCOLATE. All chocolate, all the time. My latest celebration/comfort indulgence is this Mayan chocolate that's spiced with chipotle and cinnamon. Yummmm :.

Thanks for chatting with me today, and thanks to the readers who have joined us!

By Brooke Wills