SEELIE KAY: Postcards from The Ledge: This week in The Loft: Author Bernadette Jones!

Joining me today in The Loft is author Bernadette Jones. At an early age, Bernadette was a bit of a nomad, at one time calling Texas, Oregon, South Dakota, Nebraska, Illinois, or Massachusetts her home. As she moved from state to state, music and books filled her life, so it's not surprising that after a career as a corporate writer, she eventually began to spin tales of mystery and romance. Bernadette currently lives in New York City with her canine companion.

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Author Bernadette Jones

S: Why did you become a writer?

B:  Growing up, we moved often. Books became my constant companion. It was natural for me to create stories in my head when I didn’t have a book to read. At a very early age, I knew I someday wanted to be a writer.

S: What attracts you to the romance genre?

B:  The Happy Ever After. The thrill of finding a romantic partner. The passion. The hope for the future with the love of your life.

S: What is your definition of romance?

B:  The discovery of love and all the components of love that make a Happy Ever After. Curiosity, joy in another’s company, understanding, acceptance, giving, receiving, kindness, physical attraction, sensuality, hope, and happiness.

S:  What is the best advice you have ever given?

B:  Follow your dream, now! And if not now, tomorrow or the day after. But never, never give up on your dream.

S: (Nods.) Always good advice, especially for writers.

What’s the best advice you have ever been given?

B:  It is never too late. I gave up my dream (to write books) because of life’s necessities. It took me almost 20 years to get back to it, but it never left my heart or my soul.

S: (Smiles.) Also great advice. Dreams drive you. They keep you moving toward your goal.

What/who inspires you?

B:  My first answer is music. A lyric or a simple phrase from a song will inspire a whole plot or a main character. My  second answer is social issues. I believe that the romance genre, a genre predominately for and about women, can help women realize their worth and rights.

S: I'll take that a step further. I believe romance authors have a responsibility to accurately address social issues in their stories, in a way that empowers women to live their best lives.

Tell me about your latest book, "Sleepin' Alone."

B: "Sleepin’ Alone" is book six in the Aspen Gold Series, written by six different authors. Each book is a standalone, but they all intertwine through the town and characters who live in Spencer, Colorado. In "Sleepin’ Alone," I introduce the reader to the main characters for my next two books in the series. I’m currently working on "Stay A Little Longer," Doc Gage Ewing story, which will be out in late April, 2020. Owen’s story will be out in the fall.

Here's the blurb--

Every man is guilty of the good he did not do…

Undercover cop, Hunter Lawe, rides the narrow line between enforcing the law and breaking it. He knows all there is to know about betrayal and the lie called love. Seductive Ruby Leigh Dupree may hold the key to his redemption. Never his heart. No woman will ever use him again. That's his game now. He'll use anyone to get the enemy this time, no matter the cost. After all, life is just the road to death.

Ruby Lee Dupress can't remember Chicago or what happened that caused her to end up on the run with night terrors and scars. She sets out on a mission to discover the answers. As difficult as it is to trust someone--especially a stranger--she has no options. Hunter Lawe says he has the answers. Will they lead to her past or death?