Monday, 29 April 2013

Welcome to My Guest Author: Jacqui Jacoby


Today I welcome Author  Jacqui Jacoby to my blog!   

Jacqui is giving away a copy of With A Vengeance to one lucky commenter!  So over to Jacqui...


The Road I Took

I always thought Tom Petty said it best in his song The Waiting:

The waiting is the hardest part
Every day you see one more card
You take it on faith, you take it to the heart
The waiting is the hardest part

Most of what made up my writer’s journey was waiting. 

I started writing my first book when my son was eleven months old.  He turns twenty five this coming May.  With A Vengeance is my debut novel.

I don’t regret any of the time I put in as a writer though it seemed to some that maybe I was taking the long route.  It was the life I choose to live while I was raising my three kids and spending time as a housewife.  Writing was flexible and fulfilling and gave me a creative outlet in a daily life that otherwise might have turned stagnant with loads of laundry and caravans to drive. 

Stories gave me something to look forward to every day.  When the kids were in school I was at the keyboard typing out my imagery worlds and loving every minute of it.

When making up stories wasn’t enough, I added writing short non-fiction to the groove.  These eventually turned into magazine articles and it was great to see my name in print, even if it wasn’t on the cover of a book.

I kept on typing, switching from romantic suspense to paranormal. I enjoyed writing the books, the non-fiction was helping, but something else was missing.  I had all these years experience and I was sure I could help someone else.

I started to teach online workshops.  I was able to reach people who wanted to hear what it was I had to say.  I enjoyed being there to help them along, to share what it was I had to share. It was another aspect of a career that added depth and interest to what I was doing.

When I added live workshops, appearing at the RWA National Conference to discuss the TV series Firefly, it was a level of exposure I never expected.  It was terrifying and exciting and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

And still I kept writing novels, visiting places in my mind I hadn’t expected.  Paranormals opened up new worlds with new rules and I was enjoying the discovery.

I added a mentor program to my schedule, taking on one student per year. This was a lesson I had been taught by one of my first mentors: Pay it Forward and reach out to someone you can help.

When the request for With a Vengeance came, I was ready.  I had years to prepare and was able to meet the demands of the extended editing process. I put aside the paranormals and came back to my roots, the romantic suspense.

I think Tom Petty is right.  The Waiting is the hardest part … but if you can fill up that time and space with something that captivates you then the waiting is bearable.  I know for me, I wouldn’t have faced this writer’s journey any other way.

Bio: 
Award winning author, Jacqui Jacoby lives and writes in the beauty of the Valley of the Sun. Currently adjusting to her new digs, Jacqui is a self proclaimed, self-defense hobbyist. Having studied martial arts for numerous years she retired in 2006 from the sport. She is a working Mom, whose career includes writing books, teaching online and live workshops and penning short non-fiction. She can be reached via her Website.

Jacqui Jacoby on the web:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Author Page



Blurb - With A Vengeance:

The more she wanted out, the more they dragged her back in!


Daughter to murdered CIA officers, niece to a deputy director, Jaime Walsh has never known life 
outside the world of espionage. Until a high-action case in Buenos Aires leaves her gutted. Physically, emotionally…and professionally.

She’d planned for her long-overdue vacation to be a time to rest and reassess. With her longtime partner Stephen not far behind, it’s a tropical paradise away from work. A paradise where boundaries will be tested.
From their training days, Stephen Reid has watched Jaime kick ass while performing what has become his second job—watching her back. But now his feelings have grown.

As best friends look at each other in a new light, they like what they see. And Jaime dreams of a new life outside “the company”.

Except someone from their past won’t be satisfied until Jaime and the man she loves are hunted to the brink of death. Now Jaime must find the strength to trust her heart and let go of her fear. Before she loses everything…


Read an excerpt
Read Reviews

Buy Links:

Samhain
Amazon
B & N
Powell's Books
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24 comments:

  1. Serena Tatti Story Editor29 April 2013 at 15:37

    Hi Jacqui,
    It seems you've had a long and diverse journey, and you didn't just sit down and wait for publication. You are proactive and that has definitely helped you along the way. Thanks for sharing that journey with us and congratulations on the release of With A Vengeance. I cant wait to read it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Catch Them If I Can ...29 April 2013 at 17:32

      Thank you for having me on today, Serena. And for the nice comments. They are much appreciated. Hope you enjoy the book!!

      Delete
  2. Nancy Crocker30 April 2013 at 01:57

    This looks like a fantastic read !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Catch Them If I Can ...30 April 2013 at 12:57

      Thanks Nancy. If you decide to read it (hope, hope) I hope that you really enjoy it!!

      Delete
  3. Jan VanEngen30 April 2013 at 02:16

    wow Jacqui that was amazing and helping others and bringing up family and writing. Just proved to me after many years your dream can come true. I love things like CIA and sounds like a ass-kicking book in a good way. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Catch Them If I Can ...30 April 2013 at 12:59

      Dreams can come true, Nancy. Sometimes they just take the long way round. =D

      Delete
    2. Serena Tatti Story Editor30 April 2013 at 20:47

      Hi Nancy,
      Jacqui's book definitely sounds like a fantastic read.


      Hi Jan,
      Jacqui's worked hard for herself and managed to help many people. An inspiration to all of us.

      Thanks both of you for coming in.

      Delete
  4. Margaret Tanner30 April 2013 at 03:24

    Hi Jacqui,
    Wonderful blog. You certainly sound like a busy lady, but it is lovely to find someone who is prepared to give back to her community.
    With A Vengeance sounds like an exciting read, best of luck with it.

    Regards

    Margaret

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Catch Them If I Can ...30 April 2013 at 13:00

      Thank you, Margaret for stopping by. I hope the book brings as much excitement as anticipated!! ;)

      Delete
    2. Serena Tatti Story Editor30 April 2013 at 20:48

      Hi Margaret,
      I agree with everything you've said. And With A Vengeance sounds like an exciting read!

      Thanks for stopping by

      Delete
  5. Desere30 April 2013 at 12:07

    Hi Jacqui! Again this read of yours was fantastic ! Really awesome I highly recommend this one all!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Catch Them If I Can ...30 April 2013 at 13:01

      Thanks for stopping by Desere. Again I so appreciate the review you did on With a Vengeance.

      Delete
  6. Dora Bramden30 April 2013 at 17:32

    Hi Jacqui, I really enjoyed your writer's journey. I love your ethic of giving back. Your book sounds great.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Catch Them If I Can ...30 April 2013 at 19:09

      Thank you Dora. I am glad you enjoyed the post.

      Delete
    2. Serena Tatti Story Editor30 April 2013 at 20:51

      Hi Desere,
      Thanks for confirming for us what a wonderful book Jacqui has written.

      Hi Dora,
      I agree. Jacqui has given a lot and achieved lots on her journey.

      Thanks for coming in Desere and Dora

      Delete
  7. Lia K30 April 2013 at 17:56

    Jacqui, thanks for sharing your journey, with its happy ending, though I'm sure you've just begun the published journey. It's encouraging to me, as my own journey is taking longer than hoped:) I love your story excerpt, and your writing style - it's definitely the type of story I would love to read!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Catch Them If I Can ...30 April 2013 at 19:28

      It can take forever, Lia, or so it seems. Don't give up and just keep moving forward. The reward is out there.

      Delete
    2. Serena Tatti Story Editor30 April 2013 at 20:52

      Hi Lia,
      You are so very very close! Keep writing! And Jacqui's With A Vengeance definitely sounds like your type of book :)

      Thanks for dropping in

      Delete
  8. Nas30 April 2013 at 19:20

    Hi Jacqui, Hello Serena!

    Thanks for hosting Jacqui, Serena.

    I loved reading this aspect of your journey Jacqui. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Serena Tatti Story Editor30 April 2013 at 20:53

      Hi Nas,
      Thanks for arranging Jacqui's visit here. And thanks for coming in.

      Delete
    2. Catch Them If I Can ...30 April 2013 at 22:43

      Thanks Nas, for stopping by. I am glad that you liked the post. And yes, thank you Serena for having me!! =D

      Delete
  9. Serena Tatti Story Editor2 May 2013 at 21:36

    Thanks for being my special guest, Jacqui. I hope you sell squillions of books. You've just sold one :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Margaret M3 May 2013 at 00:21

    Hi Jacqui,

    Thank you for sharing your journey and I can't wait to read your book and hope they fly off the shelves/epub.

    Cheers,
    Margaret

    ReplyDelete
  11. Denise Covey 21 July 2013 at 21:22

    Hi Serena! Hi Jacqui! I loved reading about your writing journey, Jacqui. Gave me hope to know someone else has taken a long time. I love your cover, BTW. Goreous.

    ReplyDelete

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