Take Five: Jan O’Hara and Desperate Times, Desperate Pleasures
By Writer Unboxed | February 3, 2019 |
Once Writer Unboxed’s Voice of the Unpublished Writer, Jan O’Hara is here to celebrate the February 5th release of her third novel, contained within the Illicit boxed set of contemporary romances. Please share in our excitement as Jan tells us more about Desperate Times, Desperate Pleasures.
A former family physician and academic, Jan O’Hara left the world of medicine behind to follow her dream of becoming a writer. These days she confines her healing tendencies to paper—after making her characters undergo a period of delicious torture, naturally. She writes love stories (and biographies) that move from wackadoodle to heartfelt in six seconds flat.
Jan lives in Alberta, Canada and is a columnist for the popular blog Writer Unboxed. She loves to hear from readers.
“Five stars. Interesting characters along with family and workplace drama combined with a complicated plot make this an interesting and action packed story.” ~ Pam Brougher, reader
Q1: What’s the premise of your new book?
To protect her sister against a powerful and dangerous local figure, Mia Gibson needs allies. But can she trust Jackson, the man she meets under shady—and inconveniently intimate—circumstances?
Q2: What would you like people to know about the story itself?
I intended to write a light, airy romantic comedy, but it didn’t quite work out that way. The instant a specific scene popped into mind, where hero and heroine meet, I knew it was a keeper but would require stronger motivation than originally planned. Before I knew it, I was writing a romantic suspense that borders on being a romantic thriller.
To be consistent in characterization, it also contains saltier language and a higher level of sensuality than my previous books.
Q3: What do your characters have to overcome in this story? What challenge do you set before them?
Besides coping with life-and-death stakes, both Mia and Jackson have legitimate issues around trust that they must work through on the fly.
In addition, Mia struggles with the potential consequences of her actions. Sure, she wants to protect her sister, but will the price be too steep for the larger community?
Q4: What unique challenges did this book pose for you, if any?
I found it necessary to remind myself I don’t have to stick to writing one kind of story. While marketers say that it’s wiser to have a focused brand, and I’m sure that’s sound advice, this is one advantage of being an indie writer; you don’t have to pick a lane with your first or second book and stick to it forever more.
Q5: What has been the most rewarding aspect of having written this book?
I learned a lot about how pacing, stakes, and plotlines can be improved by developing a strong external antagonist. I also gained a better grasp of my fiction-writing process, which thrills me beyond belief. It’s taken me years to figure out how to work with my brain, but I feel like I’m getting there. If you’re reading this interview and are similarly frustrated, I hope you’ll persist! It’s worth it.
Thank you, Jan!
Readers, learn more about Jan O’Hara and her latest novel here, or buy your copy today via any major retailer.
Writer Unboxed began as a collaboration between Kathleen Bolton and Therese Walsh in 2006. Since then, the site has grown to include ~50 regular contributors and a variety of guests on rotation throughout a given year.
In 2016, the Writer Unboxed team published a book with Writer’s Digest / Random House. AUTHOR IN PROGRESS: A No-Holds-Barred Guide to What It Really Takes to Get Published is a comprehensive guide focused on helping writers over/around/through hurdles faced at every stage of the novel-writing process. It’s received some ***** reviews; we hope you’ll check it out.
If you’d like to be among the first to know about the next Writer Unboxed UnConference, which will likely tie-in with WU’s 20th Anniversary celebration, please sign up for our mailing list!
Write on!
Congratulations, Jan! Love this: “Before I knew it, I was writing a romantic suspense that borders on being a romantic thriller.
To be consistent in characterization, it also contains saltier language and a higher level of sensuality than my previous books.”
In other words, you just couldn’t keep yourself from taking it to eleven, lol. How perfect. :)
Wishing you the best with it. You’re an inspiration, Boss!
What Vaughn said. Squared.
Congratulations cranked up to 11.
I’m mangling my numerical metaphors.
Mangle all you want, David. It’s much appreciated!
Hope you’re going to be at the UnCon this fall. I want to meet you finally.
Thank you so much, V. I won’t lie in that the swarming stomach butterflies are a real phenomenon, but I can’t let them stop me.
So appreciate you cheering me on.
Congratulations, Jan! “The instant a specific scene popped into mind, where hero and heroine meet, I knew it was a keeper but would require stronger motivation than originally planned.” – Oh, my!
“I also gained a better grasp of my fiction-writing process, which thrills me beyond belief.” Wonderful, encouraging words for yourself, and us. Wishing you every success!
Thank you, Brin. You’ve been of enormous help to me. So appreciate having you at my back!
This sounds like an exciting read! I love that you “changed lanes”! Sounds like you’re on fire. It’s inspiring!!
Thank you, Susan. I hope people enjoy it. One never knows despite one ardently hoping that will be the case. ;)
Congratulations, Jan! I’ll add to the body of outtakes above and say that this —
— is inspiring to hear. Here’s to hoping we’ll learn more about your revelations/adjustments down the road. Cheers, my friend!
Cheers, dear T. And thank you for all the help, with this baby and my others. You’ve been an amazing source of support.
Jan, congrats! May you continue to draw deeply from the well of delicious torture, with rich sprinklings of wackadoodle and heartfelt. As for staying in your lane, nah. That’s what turn signals are for.
Tom, you have a wonderful way of phrasing things; you make me laugh every time. Thank you so much! (Hope you’re coming to the UnCon, too!)
Congratulations Jan!!! I loved reading how you stayed true to your characters and your gut!!! Brava!!!
Thank you, Vijaya! I’m not one of those people who feels like she’s in command of her writing, so it wasn’t a real choice. But I appreciate the kind words and the cheers. xo
You have no idea how comforting it is to hear a woman who got her medical degree say that it’s taken years to figure out how to work WITH your brain and are now getting a better grasp of your own fiction writing process. Yes, I’m definitely similarly frustrated, so thanks for the encouragement to persist. Congratulations on your third novel!
Aw, I’m sorry, Maria. It *is* hard to be generally a competent person and then discover you don’t know how to do this thing that you love, and that others seem to come to so naturally.
If I had one piece of advice, it would be to avoid listening to anyone who says your process MUST proceed a certain way. I mean, listen to their method and give it a whirl, but don’t be surprised to discover that your path is an amalgam of 10 or more strategies.
My fingers are crossed for you that you’ll find your way.
And thank you for the kind wishes!
Cheers on your book release, Jan!
Thank you so much, Kristan! I appreciate it. xo
Jan, I am so thrilled for you and the success of your publishing journey!
For me, having had the pleasure of meeting you, reconciling the quiet, capable, kind exterior with the sizzling, sexy, wickedly funny books you write is testament to never judging a book by its cover! And a shining example to anyone who thinks that a conventional path is the only path to a rewarding writing career. You’re an inspiration. Can’t wait to read the new book.
Deborah, yes, I think I shock a few people with the disparity, which becomes less apparent the more people meet me in real life. I hope we’ll have opportunity for that in the future.
And thank you so much for the kind words. They mean a great deal coming from you. I hope you enjoy the book and aren’t too startled by the tonal shift.