Today I’d like to welcome Jennifer Bokal to Fallen Angel Reviews. Thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions for us today Jennifer.

Hi Tammy! It’s always great to chat with the ladies at Fallen Angel Reviews, so thank you for taking the time to visit with me.

To start, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

My husband of ten years, John, and I live in upstate New York with our three beautiful daughters, a dog, two cats and several fish. Aside from being a writer, I am a maternal goddess. Commonly known as a stay at home mom.

My days start at 6:00 when I get up to exercise. In the warmer months I walk with a neighbor. The walking not only keeps me in shape, but having thirty minutes to talk with a friend keeps me sane. In the winter when it is to cold to traipse through the neighborhood at dawn I take a dance class and ski on the weekends.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I love to be cozy and relaxed. Now where is the best place to do that? My bedroom, of course. Not only do I write in my bedroom but I actually write in bed. And unless it is over 85 degrees outside I will be under the covers. Luckily I live in upstate New York and the temperature rarely gets above 85 degrees.

You placed second in the 2005 Beacon contest for the unpublished division with your historical Celtic Heart. Could you tell us more about that?

In September of 2005, I attended my first romance writing conference. I knew I had an appointment to meet with an editor and I wanted to have something to say to the woman, so I started playing with the concept of Celtic Heart. The editor was very encouraging and I began to write my book. When the announcement for the Beacon Contest came through my RWA loop, I had everything they wanted ready. It was just a matter of getting my courage up and sending it off.

Really I was flabbergasted when I found out I had been chosen as a finalist. To be come in second was just icing on the cake.

The little story that started off as an idea so I didn’t waste an editor’s time grew into a full-length novel and will be released by Champagne Books in August. Not only that, but the saga will continue with two other books in the works.

What do you consider when buying a book for your library?

Like most people I am brand loyal. So I look for authors whose work I have read before and enjoyed. One of my personal favorites right now is Philippa Gregory. The other thing that intrigue’s me is the subject matter. Around Christmas I picked up a book about ancient Rome by an author I hadn’t read before. The First Man in Rome by Colleen McCollough was a great find. The book is historically accurate and will be helpful to me as I continue to follow my Roman characters from Celtic Heart through the British Isles.

How do you keep your ideas fresh and imaginative?

If the TV is on in my house, I am watching a History Channel with one purpose in mind, to find something that catches my attention for a story. I love stories from the past and the best ideas are based loosely on actual events. The other night I was watching something about Napoleon at Waterloo. Now Napoleon is not a historical figure who grabs my attention. But the English General, Wellington did. This hour-long program piqued my interest enough to encourage looking into the man who defeated the Emperor of France and more importantly, whom did he love?

While I may not pen a book specifically about Wellington either, I did find that I like the idea of a story about an English officer’s wife during the early 1800’s. My mind starts to come up with a long line of what-if’s. For example; what if our officer’s wife thinks her husband is dead, but he is not? What would her life be like if she is thought to be a widow? What if she didn’t have a family to rely on, or children to care for? What is she had reason to believe repots of his death were not trustworthy? Would she try to find her husband amidst a war? My research will cause me to think of other possible story lines and once I settle on an idea that really excites me I will begin to develop characters, outline and write.

How did you celebrate selling your first book?

I cried. Honestly. Jewel Adams, the publisher of Midnight Showcase, e-mailed me the good news that All I Want would be included in the Hearth Fires Fall Digest. The first person I called was my husband. But I didn’t take the time to calm down first. In fact, John couldn’t understand what I was trying to say through all my blubbering. When he finally figured out that I had received notification about my manuscript he assumed I had been rejected and began to console me!

Is it hard for you to balance your life as a writer? How do you manage it?

Tammy, it’s interesting that you asked this question now. A very good friend of mine who is an aspiring childrens’ writer and fellow veteran of the full time mommy campaign and I were just talking about the balance earlier this week.

Life with three children closely resembles a circus and I am the master juggler. Once I get all my balls in the air and I develop a rhythm, someone throws me a chainsaw. The trick is be flexible about the changes and continue to juggle.

It really can be daunting to try to write a novel around everyone else’s needs. But, if you want something bad enough you will find a way to get the job done. I get up early, stay up late (but not too often, I am usually brain dead by 9:00 p.m.) or I outline the next part of a manuscript while waiting for dance lessons to be over.

The pattern of the day changes with each new phase in life. But I always find time to write because telling stories is not something I want to do; it’s something I need to do.

Your story All I Want is in the Hearth Fires Fall Digest by Midnight Showcase. Could you tell us more about it?

Like I said, All I Want was my first piece of fiction published. Although I had published several articles and had toyed with the idea of writing for children, when I found out that All I Want had been picked up I was beside myself. It was one of the most incredible feelings and I knew I had found my genre.

This Christmas comedy is someone everyone can relate to. Sarah wants to spice up her love life by fulfilling her husband’s fantasy. What she didn’t count on was trying to find time to be alone in a house full of insane relatives.

Could you tell us what you’re currently working on?

Actually lots of exciting things have been happening in my writer life. Last week I completed my second novel. Crossing Over is a paranormal romance about an over stressed and under appreciated mother who checks into a haunted hotel. Valerie McKenzie never imagine the change of pace she craved on vacation would present itself in the form of two ghosts and an 80 year old murder.

Later this month Midnight Showcase will be releasing my short story entitled The King of Avalon in the Pagan Pleasures digest. This short story is a fun twist on the Arthurian legend with a modern day hero. This is racier than anything I have written up until now. When I started I was a bit intimidated by my ability to write sexy and make the story classy. But, once I dove into the manuscript everything began to flow together beautifully!

For the past few months I have been one of the Sensations contributors to Suite magazine. Every other month I get to come up with a new and interesting ways to keep the love alive in your love life! And I have a blast!

Who has influenced you the most in terms of developing your personal writing?

Even though everyone one gives this person credit, I have to say my mom. I love her; she will read anything I throw at her and give me honest feedback. There have been time she thinks my research is faulty and will do her own research as a way to help.

Not only that, but I am the type of person who needs to verbalize my thoughts to make sense of them. And good old mom will listen for hours and hours! So through my mother’s unwavering support, I am able to develop so I can write the best story I possible.

You have given presentations on visualizing success, is there anything you could share with aspiring authors?

Tammy, I have to admit that I love the way you find out about everything!

Here’s an easy exercise. Try to complete this sentence: When I picture my self as a successful writer, I see…

Take a minute to relax and then focus in your image. Try to conjure as many specific things as possible and let this picture settle in your mind. Smells, sounds, people who may be present. Make sure you have a very tangible vision.

Every so often revisit the scene where you are achieving your goals. Not only will your vision serve as a roadmap but it will also begin to bring in the positive forces you need to excel. To steal a phrase from Walt Disney, “If you can dream it, you can live it.”

Who would you like to pen a book with, living or dead?

Diana Gabaldon.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us today?

Thank you for letting me chat with you today. I always have a great time!

Thank you for spending time with me today Jennifer. Readers be sure to check out Jennifer’s website

Interviewed by: Tammy