Today I have the extremely cool and super well-read J.A. Garland.
I love her tagline: Where Fantasy Becomes Reality!
Maybe it’s because I totally relate to it?
So read on…
ME:What was the first romance or book you read that grabbed you? Who is the author?
J.A.G: Ride the Wind by Lucia St. Clair Robson. This book is a gripping read, one I have hung on to through many moves. Adventure and history abound as we follow several couples through their life journeys. If you haven’t read it, you are definitely missing out!
**OMG – I LOVED this Book J.A. – I sobbed and sobbed over it when Wandered let himself die… sorry**
ME: Is there an author that you get fan-girl crazy over? Have you ever met him/her? Do you want to?
J.A.G: I think I have read every one of Sherrilyn Kenyon’s books. Which is quite an accomplishment since she is quite the prolific writer! No, I have never stalked, er, met her. Of course I would love to talk to her, but not at a stuffy, automated book signing. I’m thinking it would be fun to chat about life and writing over coffee and beignets in a New Orleans cafe. What do you think, Sherrilyn? Are you up for it?
What’s your:
- Favorite color? Glacial blue, the kind that takes your breath away.
- Favorite season? Fall, when the leaves change color and the afternoons are crisp and chilly.
- Favorite Hero – movie or book? Ash, or as he’s formally known, Archeron. The first Dark-Hunter ever created in the Dark-Hunter series, he is the perfect balance of torment and hope.
- Snack weakness (food or drink)? If you know anything about me, you know that I am a self professed cheese puff connoisseur. I spend a lot of time researching and sampling different types of cheesy goodness. Which leads me to my next favorite thing to do…running. Thank goodness, right, or else I would be a tank! I’m also very ‘into’ the P90X workout videos. I tried ‘Insanity’, but wasn’t all that thrilled. It was all indoor cardio, and besides missing my trail runs, I lost a lot of strength from not lifting weights. So, I went back to running and P90X. It is the perfect balance!
- What’s your Astrological sign? Capricorn. I am a full-time firefighter, which lends well to the type A personality, stubborn and driven.
- Do you write sweet and cuddly or toe-curling steamy lovin’ stories? Ha ha, no! My stories are urban fantasy, so there is lots of action, and not the between the sheets kind.
- Do you read sweet and cuddly or toe-curling steamy lovin’ stories? No. I write in the same genre’s that I like to read. I enjoy spy thrillers and urban fantasy–anything action packed that gets your pulse racing, and the pages turning.
ME: What’s on your desk when you write?
J.A.G: A big mug of coffee! I am a dedicated morning person. I get up before the sun, around 5am. I then drink a carafe of coffee–I’m not joking–I have the blood pressure to show for it, lol. Then I go for a run. I run at least 6 days a week. My favorite place to run is at a nearby park. 500 acres of trails, I love it! When I run I think about the next chapter of my current W.I.P. So by the time I get home, I am all ready to have at the computer. I peter out around noon, but get a second wind in the evening. Then I usually edit paragraphs I’ve already written, I don’t add anything new.
ME: Do you write to music or quiet? If you do write with music, can you share one song that’s significantly impacted this story?
J.A.G: My writing area must be as quiet as possible. I used to listen to music when I wrote, then I realized that the emotion of the songs carried into my writing. Which can be a good and bad thing. Maybe you didn’t want flowery and passionate when you were constructing that fight scene?
ME: What’s your favorite line from your most recent release? Why?
J.A.G: Well, it hasn’t come out yet, but here is the first line from my WIP. I really like it because I think it has a strong hook. What do you think?
It takes one part opportunity, two parts discipline, and three parts disposition to effect a solid assassination operation. Having two out of the three this chilly Seattle evening, Slade considered himself in an unusual abundance of good fortune.
ME: What’s next? You don’t have to get specifics – but feel free to leave a tantalizing snippet or cryptic hook.
J.A.G: I am currently working on book two of the Halfling Chronicles. Without giving anything away, this novel pursues the origins of the Halflings and the Shadow creatures who wish to control them. It also follows Slade, who tried really hard in book one to take center stage. In this book he gets full rein, and boy does he take it!
Thanks so much for chatting with me today, Sasha!
Tags: Author Interview, giveaway, Instinct, J.A. Garland, Swag Bag, Urban Fantasy


Hi J.A., that is a really fantastic first line for your upcoming release. You will hook your readers right off the bat!!! I love Sherrilyn’s work as well. Great interview! Best, January
Hi J.A.,
Great interview, I’m an Ash fan too. I love the first line to your work in progress and can’t wait for the book to come out
Mindy
Birdsooong@aol.com
Anxious to read your book! Love books set in Seattle or other places I’ve lived. I find I write better with the music off too, for the same reason! Best of luck to you!
Sasha,
I can’t believe you read Ride The Wind, too! How awesome, I absolutely loved it. So sad, and yet heart warming.
Thanks for having me on your blog today, I appreciate it!
Thanks, January and Mina! That opening sentence hit me, and I felt it really nailed my character, Slade. I can’t wait to hear what you two think of the rest.
Inquiring Minds wish to know: I was informed there would be zombie soaps. I assume of course that it was harvested from 100% pure zombie.
I stopped doing P90X a few months ago as I usually do during the summer, but gotta love the program. Helped prep me for my fire practicum, even though I don’t need the strength as a medic.
Either way, looking forward to your first release this time next month!
Audra,
Thanks for stopping by and reading the interview! I’ve never lived in Seattle, but absolutely love the place. I just returned from a zombie run there, it was great. Make sure you leave me your email address to get entered in the contest. Or you can write me offline at: ja (dot) garland (at) yahoo (dot) com
Thanks!
L.T. -
Are you a fire medic or a bus medic? Tony would be ticked you stopped P90. I laughed my way through one of his DVDs tonight that I’d never tried. One handed pushups? Seriously? Who does those?
Lol, the soaps help combat zombie smelling stink. I’ll send you one if you leave me your email addy, then I can write offline and get your address.
Thanks for stopping by, way cool!
Thanks to all for stopping by and commenting! I appreciate your support. The winner of the Big Bag O’Swag, according to random.com, goes to….Mindy! For everyone else, give me your email, and I’ll send you some zombie soaps. They are to die for.
Yipee! Thanks J.A. 8D
Mindy