Charlene:
You’re writing for Harlequin and Tule Publishing. You must have a busy schedule. Can you tell us what your writing regime is like and where you write?
Joss:
I am also writing single titles for Berkley Intermix so, yes, it is a bit crazy. I wrote my first ten books while holding down a full time job and I used to grab whatever free time I had but now that I write full time, my time is a lot more structured. I’m awake early and I take my daughter to school at seven (schools start at 7.30AM here in South Africa) and I head home. Though, admittedly, some mornings I do have a quick cup of before-work coffee with my friends at a local coffee shop but I’m generally in my office by eight. I do a quick run around social media and then I work, most afternoons until about three. Then I do school run again and ferry my daughter to her other after school activities.
Depending on my word count and deadlines, I might do a few more hours at night.
I have my own study that I spend my hours in, sometimes I share my desk with #writerkitty and #orangecat. I always write to music and most people respect my writing time and know not to call me until after lunch. My darling husband is the only person I have yet to train in the art of “not disturbing the writer.”
Charlene: What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
Joss: Reading, of course. I spend a lot of time travelling on weekends, my son is at boarding school and hour and a half away and I collect him most weekends after watching him play sport. I love spending time with my two teenagers (my daughter is thirteen and my son is fifteen and a half) —chatting, cooking, watching movies or just chilling.
Charlene: I’m fascinated that you live in South Africa. I imagine you living amongst elephants, zebras and giraffes. Have you had an experience with a wild animal? And do you have a fear of any of them?
Joss: Oh, I am such a bush baby! As a child I lived on the edge of a game reserve and grew up with tall game fence just separating our yard from elephants and lions and buffalo and other wildlife. My uncle owned a game farm in Zimbabwe and I spent an enormous amount of time there and my husband and I have visited all the major game reserves in Southern Africa and a lot of the minor ones. I have many stories about wild animals…including one about a PO’ed honey badger and a bottle of red wine!
And yes, I am scared of elephants. When I was very little, I visited a sanctuary for orphan elephants and I was slapped across the face by the trunk of a baby elephant. I developed a full blown phobia of elephants. I remember being with my family in game reserves and climbing under the seats when there was a mention of an elephant. I’m better now…but not great. They still scare the pants off me, probably because they are so big. But so quiet. They make absolutely no noise walking through the bush, did you know that?
I still live in a semi-rural part of South Africa, surrounded by game farms. Up until a few years back, before we had a rash of rhino poaching, it wasn’t unusual for me to see rhino’s and giraffes on my way to visits friends or my parents in neighboring town. And I live close to a huge mountain range— South Africa is a stunning country!
Charlene: You have several new releases. Can you tell us a little bit about one of them and your inspiration to write it?
Joss: I’ve had four books released over three months so it’s been a bit wild.
In June, the first book, Trapped by the Maverick Millionaire, from Maverick to Married series for Harlequin Desire was released and the second book in the trilogy, Pregnant by the Maverick Millionaire was released in August. Mac, Kade and Quinn, are ice hockey playing, panty- melting, commitment phobic heroes who work together, play together and are fiercely loyal to each other. They also, as guys do, believe it is their moral duty to tease each other mercilessly! Quinn’s books, Married to the Maverick Millioniare will be released in December.
In August I also saw the release of my first single title for Berkley Intermix, called Inescapable. I loved writing this book, it was such fun. In this series I introduce the readers to Mercy, a smallish town just outside of Washington DC where gossip is a national sport. Sawyer, Kai and Axl are three best friends who own a security company called Caswallawn. They are all hard, tough and sexy ex-Special Ops soldiers and love and commitment are way down on their list of priorities. Undaunted, Axl’s story will also be released in December.
Also in August, my follow up book to Claimed by A Warrior (Tule Publishing) was released. It’s called His Toughest Call. In Claimed I left the hero’s sister sitting in jail, in her wedding gown, on her wedding night. At the time, I had no idea why Leah was in jail on her wedding night and why Seth, Jed’s best friend and boss, was with her. He was just there…
You’re writing for Harlequin and Tule Publishing. You must have a busy schedule. Can you tell us what your writing regime is like and where you write?
Joss:
I am also writing single titles for Berkley Intermix so, yes, it is a bit crazy. I wrote my first ten books while holding down a full time job and I used to grab whatever free time I had but now that I write full time, my time is a lot more structured. I’m awake early and I take my daughter to school at seven (schools start at 7.30AM here in South Africa) and I head home. Though, admittedly, some mornings I do have a quick cup of before-work coffee with my friends at a local coffee shop but I’m generally in my office by eight. I do a quick run around social media and then I work, most afternoons until about three. Then I do school run again and ferry my daughter to her other after school activities.
Depending on my word count and deadlines, I might do a few more hours at night.
I have my own study that I spend my hours in, sometimes I share my desk with #writerkitty and #orangecat. I always write to music and most people respect my writing time and know not to call me until after lunch. My darling husband is the only person I have yet to train in the art of “not disturbing the writer.”
Charlene: What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
Joss: Reading, of course. I spend a lot of time travelling on weekends, my son is at boarding school and hour and a half away and I collect him most weekends after watching him play sport. I love spending time with my two teenagers (my daughter is thirteen and my son is fifteen and a half) —chatting, cooking, watching movies or just chilling.
Charlene: I’m fascinated that you live in South Africa. I imagine you living amongst elephants, zebras and giraffes. Have you had an experience with a wild animal? And do you have a fear of any of them?
Joss: Oh, I am such a bush baby! As a child I lived on the edge of a game reserve and grew up with tall game fence just separating our yard from elephants and lions and buffalo and other wildlife. My uncle owned a game farm in Zimbabwe and I spent an enormous amount of time there and my husband and I have visited all the major game reserves in Southern Africa and a lot of the minor ones. I have many stories about wild animals…including one about a PO’ed honey badger and a bottle of red wine!
And yes, I am scared of elephants. When I was very little, I visited a sanctuary for orphan elephants and I was slapped across the face by the trunk of a baby elephant. I developed a full blown phobia of elephants. I remember being with my family in game reserves and climbing under the seats when there was a mention of an elephant. I’m better now…but not great. They still scare the pants off me, probably because they are so big. But so quiet. They make absolutely no noise walking through the bush, did you know that?
I still live in a semi-rural part of South Africa, surrounded by game farms. Up until a few years back, before we had a rash of rhino poaching, it wasn’t unusual for me to see rhino’s and giraffes on my way to visits friends or my parents in neighboring town. And I live close to a huge mountain range— South Africa is a stunning country!
Charlene: You have several new releases. Can you tell us a little bit about one of them and your inspiration to write it?
Joss: I’ve had four books released over three months so it’s been a bit wild.
In June, the first book, Trapped by the Maverick Millionaire, from Maverick to Married series for Harlequin Desire was released and the second book in the trilogy, Pregnant by the Maverick Millionaire was released in August. Mac, Kade and Quinn, are ice hockey playing, panty- melting, commitment phobic heroes who work together, play together and are fiercely loyal to each other. They also, as guys do, believe it is their moral duty to tease each other mercilessly! Quinn’s books, Married to the Maverick Millioniare will be released in December.
In August I also saw the release of my first single title for Berkley Intermix, called Inescapable. I loved writing this book, it was such fun. In this series I introduce the readers to Mercy, a smallish town just outside of Washington DC where gossip is a national sport. Sawyer, Kai and Axl are three best friends who own a security company called Caswallawn. They are all hard, tough and sexy ex-Special Ops soldiers and love and commitment are way down on their list of priorities. Undaunted, Axl’s story will also be released in December.
Also in August, my follow up book to Claimed by A Warrior (Tule Publishing) was released. It’s called His Toughest Call. In Claimed I left the hero’s sister sitting in jail, in her wedding gown, on her wedding night. At the time, I had no idea why Leah was in jail on her wedding night and why Seth, Jed’s best friend and boss, was with her. He was just there…
The inspiration for that scene came from a photograph I saw of a beautiful, tear stained bride in jail and I wondered what could have led to that? And that scene led to His Toughest Call and Leah and Jed’s romance.
As to what inspires me, everything or anything! It could be a line of dialogues, a situation, a song. A photograph, as mentioned. Really, I’m not picky where they come from; I’m just so grateful the ideas keep coming in! If they don’t I might have to go and raise llamas or something equally odd.
I love meeting new people, even if it’s only by cyberspace, so chat with me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram
Thanks, Charlene, for having me here.
Happy reading!
Joss
As to what inspires me, everything or anything! It could be a line of dialogues, a situation, a song. A photograph, as mentioned. Really, I’m not picky where they come from; I’m just so grateful the ideas keep coming in! If they don’t I might have to go and raise llamas or something equally odd.
I love meeting new people, even if it’s only by cyberspace, so chat with me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram
Thanks, Charlene, for having me here.
Happy reading!
Joss
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