Spotlight & Giveaway: One Day To Find a Husband by Shirley Jump

Today it is my Pleasure to Welcome Harlequin Romance and USA Best Selling Author Shirley Jump to Harlequin Junkie

Shirley is here to talk to us about the her new Harlequin Romance Trilogy: McKenna Brothers 

Over to Shirley....

Three Brothers—Three Challenges

The McKenna Brothers series marks my first back-to-back trilogy, something I actually volunteered for when I went to my editor with the idea for the series. I love connected books and have written several that featured family members, but never have I done a trilogy that came out in a three-month span.           

That meant writing the books in a short time period, and making sure the stories linked not just by relationship, but by time frame, too. I had to have three plots that would work within a three-month window, and make sure I wrapped everyone’s storyline up in the last book. But what really made the McKenna Brothers series was the men themselves.

            

I wanted strong, compelling characters, heroes in their own right, with their own personalities and quirks. Originally, I was going to write Finn’s story first, then Brody’s, then Riley’s, but Riley became such a big part of Finn’s book that he needed his story second. That meant for some shuffling, as I moved the youngest brother into the middle book, and saved the middle brother for last.

            

Riley ended up becoming the glue that held all three books together, which surprised me. I hadn’t expected the charming playboy brother to be the one that linked all three, but as I got to know Riley and his infectious personality, it was clear he would be a great bridge for Finn and Brody’s books. Riley also shows up for a little while in my online read featuring McKenna cousin, Alec.

            

Those three heroes needed three equally compelling and strong heroines, too, and I know I found them in Ellie, Stace and Kate. They were fun heroines to write, with their three vastly different worlds and goals. I loved the way the series wrapped up, too, with the whole family and eldest brother Finn getting the last word—something that is totally a Finn thing to do.

           

I hope you enjoy the McKenna brothers! I set the story in Boston, which is near where I grew up, and is definitely one of my favorite cities. I visit Boston at least once a year, and never tire of seeing the skyline and harbor. Writing these three books gave me a taste of home, which made the trilogy all that much more sweet!

Let's Talk about your RomCom books...The Bride wore Chocolate was such a fun read!

Sara: Where did you come up for the idea of combining recipes with a romantic comedy?

Shirley: When I was coming up with the idea for this series, I sat down and made a list of the things that are most important to me. Family, love and food made that list—and some days food is at the top, depending on whether there’s any chocolate in the house! I have always loved to cook and loved books that incorporated food into the storyline, then wondered what it would be like to have my characters reflect that love. Hence, the idea for having the characters write the recipes was born…and an entire series based on my three favorite things was concocted. And from that, came THE BRIDE WORE CHOCOLATE, THE DEVIL SERVED DESIRE and THE ANGEL TASTED TEMPTATION.

Sara: What is the most rewarding aspect of your career?

Shirley: Hands-down, reader response. I have had such wonderful letters and conversations with readers, and they always seem to come on days when the writing isn’t going as easily or I’m struggling with a new idea. There’s the woman who told me my books helped her get through a dark time in her own life; the young lady who wrote to me and said my books were the distraction she needed from the stress of being a new mom. The others who have said that a line from one of my books provided a laugh when they most needed one, or helped them see their own relationships in a new light—all of those have brightened my days and given me a reward far greater than any I could imagine.

Sara:Among the characters that you have created, do you have a personal favorite?

         

Shirley: I have to say I love them all! I love Grandma Woodrow in The Bride Wore Chocolate because she’s not afraid to live her life; I love Vinny in The Devil Served Desire (despite his faults) because he lets his feelings show. I love the Chubby Chums, I love Maria (and especially Dante!). I have to say I am always partial to my heroes, but each one of my characters has a tiny part of them that I admire and thus, they all become close to my heart.

Sara: What would you consider to be the perfect romantic evening?

Shirley: I could say the cliché of a dinner out without the kids and a spin on the dance floor, but truly, for my husband and me, we’re so easy to please that a romantic evening is anytime the kids go to bed early (with minimal returns for water) and the dogs take more interest in a rawhide bone than our toes. Before we had kids, I had high expectations for romantic evenings. Now we’ll settle for a delivered pizza and having the TV to ourselves for a few hours. ;-)


Sara: How did you come up with the plot for The Devil Served Desire?

Shirley: It sprang out of necessity! After I wrote The Bride Wore Chocolate, I had, ah, gained a few pounds from testing all those recipes. Each book I write in this series leaves me a few pounds heavier (how I suffer for my craft; those rum balls were just torture to consume), which means I need to watch my diet after I turn the book in. I decided to write a book about a woman on a continual diet (having been there myself) who then meets a man who undoes her best intentions. Any mom with kids who crave Twinkies will know all about the temptations the people you love can bring into the house.

Sara: Do you visit the places where your stories are set?

Shirley: I’m originally from the Boston area and much of my family still lives there, so yes, I do visit Boston often. I create a number of fictional locations for some of the scenes, because I like to be able to control the characters’ worlds. At least to whatever degree an author thinks she’s got control! J

Sara: Is there one specific quality that your heroes/heroines must possess?

Shirley: Family, whether the one you’re born with or the one you create out of those around you. I think family helps keep you grounded. I also believe it gives people a depth and richness of character that they wouldn’t have if they existed solely on their own. I grew up in a small town in a close family and believe those ties stay with you forever; they’re passed down into the next generation and continue that sense of community wherever you live.

Sara: What hobbies do you enjoy when you’re not writing?

Shirley: Besides shopping and eating J, I’d have to say I love to travel. My kids have inherited that bug and told us they want to visit all 50 states before they’re 18. So, every year, my husband and I take them to at least a couple new ones. Not only do I get to see the sites in other locations, but there’s the bonus of eating out every night and finding shoe bargains all over the United States!

Shirley will be giving away: “5 pack of assorted Shirley Jump Harlequin Books” to 2 lucky Winners

TO WIN: Please enter your email in the Rafflecopter below and Post a comment answering the question  below

Tell me, what’s your favorite city? Do you like books that are linked by family like the McKenna Brothers series? And if you could write a trilogy set anywhere in the world, where would you choose? - Shirley

Giveaway is open to readers world wide

a Rafflecopter giveaway