Author Spotlight - Judy Jarvie

I'm very pleased to welcome my lovely friend, Judy Jarvie, to the Minx blog today.

Hi Judy, can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself? 
Hi – I’m a stay at home mum who lives in a village in Fife, Scotland and has a major fixation with reading and writing romance. I have books published with E-Scape Press, The Wild Rose Press and My Weekly Pocket Novels. Other hobbies are knitting, making soup and eating nice things which makes me sounds dull, hermit-like and possibly mad, sad and dangerous to know but I like a good laugh and lots of frivolity so don’t believe my own boring hype.

What number book is this? First? 100th? 200th?(Nora only!) 
Book five is Instruction In Seduction released December 2012 from E-Scape Press. To be closely followed in Jan 2013 by Taking On The Texan also published by E-Scape Press (Taking On The Texan was first released as Secret Billionaire by Bridges and Knight Easy Reads from DC Thomson)

Everyone who writes knows it's not easy - what methods do you use to keep at it on days when it would be so much easier to go shoe shopping? 
Sometimes I just don’t do it. I think it’s important to switch off and just not write so that your minds gets some rest time. And there’s no better way to get your mind back on writing than to consciously walk away from it. My biggest light bulbs have come in the shower, out for a walk or at a zumba class, sometimes in a traffic queue. It’s good not to write too – refilling the well is vital.

What is your top promo tip for other authors?
I’m not great a promo. I have a blog and website and I use facebook like someone who tinkers only and doesn’t quite understand or slash is scared by it all. But I think it’s good to be open to trying new things. And it’s always good to expand promo horizons.

How does writing fit into your day? Or does your day fit in around your writing?
I like to write early in the day (especially when the kids are at school). Though if I’m struggling to write I will write at any time just to keep the momentum.

Do you write every day? 
I try to but it doesn’t always happen when life intervenes. And I like to take a break between books to replenish.

Which blog(s) do you read regularly? 
I used to read blogs a lot. These days I am being cyber frugal! Just because I am choosing to read a lot of books instead which is all to the good!

In what way is being a published writer different to how you thought it would be? 
No different at all. But I am far more nit picky about getting a polished draft than I was at the start (hangs head in shame!) Maybe I’m just getting better and mistook spotting.

What was the most fun part of writing this book? 
Instruction In Seduction is set in Edinburgh at New Year. It’s got a fun quirk and it’s sexy in tone. It’s got lots of places I love in it and a hero I want for my very own. What’s more to love?

At what point in your career did you actually start to feel like you were a writer? 
I thought I was a writer at primary school when I won money in a competition because my poem about the beach came first and got published. I bought a fancy pen with the spoils. It became addictive from there.

Thanks for having me!

Thank you for popping by today, Judy.

It's a very exciting time for Judy as she has two new books out now/soon. The first is Instruction in Seduction, the second is Taking on the Texan. Here's a little about both.


Instruction In Seduction: It’s Edinburgh, it’s New Year and Ailsa is on the verge of a new improved sex life! She’s unveiling a sassy resolution - a sex life makeover to turn her into a ‘va va voom vamp’. Nick is the Aussie Adonis she lusted over when he was her boss. Thanks to Nick, Ailsa’s about to achieve her ‘vamp’ aspirations. But Nick has to spoil the fun by developing deep feelings for Ailsa...

Instruction In Seduction is available from Amazon.co.uk and from Amazon.com


Taking On The Texan: Scottish soap-maker Jess Gilmour is too busy for a man in her life – but when a strong and smooth Texan cowboy sweeps her off her feet there’s a spark in her spurs to take a chance on romance. Texan rancher Gabe Garrett can’t help engaging with sweet but sassy Jess. He’s in the highlands for a wedding that marks his brother’s relocation from Texas, but soon he’s confiding his misgivings to Jess and keen to know more. Jess’s surprise visit to Broken Bridle Ranch could prove to be a visa to lassoing the dream but given that she has no idea about Gabe’s biggest secret, the gorgeous cowboy might be too much for the quiet, steady Scots business woman to take … coming soon mid January 2013

You can find out more about Judy on her blog here.