Jules Bennett in The Dungeon

Please join me in welcoming fellow Harlequin (formerly Silhouette) Desire author JULES BENNETT to The Dungeon!

After owning her own hair salon for many years, Jules has hung up her shears to concentrate full-time on the characters in her head and raising her two small children. She’s married to her high school sweetheart and they are living happily-ever-after in the midwest. She loves to hear from readers and you can contact her through her website, www.julesbennett.com, where you can also check out her backlist, upcoming releases and much more!

So let’s put Jules on The Rack & get started… :mistress

What is your favorite color? Green

Favorite song? “You Lift Me Up” by Josh Grobin

Favorite movie? The Godfather (can I choose a trilogy? *g*)

And of course, favorite book? Irish Thoroughbred by Nora Roberts (made me want to write)

What was the first book in your chosen genre that you remember reading, or that made you want to write the same? Irish Thoroughbred by Nora Roberts (Can I use that answer for everything? *g*)

What do you think of Heidi? She’s great, right? You’re kidding?! You use your blog to get compliments? Why didn’t I think of that? You’re a genius!  (Note from Heidi:  Damn tootin’!  :tongue   But the fact that you never actually answered the question has not escaped our notice… :humpf )

How did you get started writing? I was the nerd who liked essays in high school and college. I’ve always been a writer.

Tell us a little bit about your first (or most memorable, if you prefer) sale. I remember my first sale because I was changing my baby’s diaper when my cell rang. I had a special ringtone for my agent “I’m Gonna Make Him an Offer He Can’t Refuse” from The Godfather. I literally left my baby laying in her crib totally naked, dashed past my toddler to dig the phone from my diaper bag. My agent told me the offer and I asked how soon the contract would be ready. She said, “Are you accepting?” Uh, yeah!

Fill in the blank—If you like [blank], you’ll love JULES BENNETT! Steven King, Nora Roberts, John Grisham…seriously, all the big names are ranked with mine. *vbg*

Which of your books would you like to pimp today? Tell us about it and why we’ll love every word.

HER INNOCENCE, HIS CONQUEST

This is the second in my Miami series from Harlequin Desire. This is about playboy billionaire and architect Zach Marcum. He’s so hot, so bad boy and so out of his league when he sets his sights on (gasp!) a virgin who works with playboys everyday of her life and isn’t the least bit impressed with Zach and his charms.

If your plane crashed in the Andes, would you convince the other survivors to eat Heidi first or last? Is this another ploy for compliments? Okay, I’ll play along…  I would eat you first myself and not tell the others anything because I’m selfish.  (Further intrusive note from Heidi:  Oh, no.  This is not good.  I am never traveling with you—especially on a plane or near the Andes. :scared )

If you could write anything—whether in the same genre/sub-genre as you’re writing now or another—what would it be? Honestly, I’d write non-fiction books on the realities of motherhood and the unexpected surprises. But there’s no way I’d leave romance. I love the happy endings.

What are you currently working on? I’m working on a fun series for Desire, and that’s all I’m going to give away. *g*

LIGHTNING-FAST LASHES:

Leather or lace? leather

Devil or angel? Angel (it’s my sister’s name)

Angel food or devil’s food? Devil’s food

Hemlock or arsenic? arsenic

Blood, sweat, or tears? Sweat (if we’re talking about me)

Cowgirl or missionary? (Hey, get your mind out of the gutter. I was simply asking what you wanted to be when you were growing up. :-p) Cowgirl!

Photobucket

Thanks for such a fun interview, Jules!

Jules has also generously offered to give away not one, but two autographed books to commemorate her time in The Dungeon!

Book #1 for Winner #1 — Jules’s October Silhouette Desire, From Boardroom to Wedding Bed?

Book #2 for Winner #2 — Her brand new April release, HER INNOCENCE, HIS CONQUEST

To be entered in the drawing, simply ask a question or leave a comment for Jules during her visit today. (U.S. residents only, please.) A winner will be chosen & announced on April 10th during our regular “Happy Sunday” post. So be sure to stop back to see if you’ve won! (Otherwise, I’m keeping the prize for myself, I swear. :howyoudoin )

Good luck & happy chatting!

Comments

31 Comments  •  Comments Feed

  1. Virginia C says:

    Hey, Jules & Heidi : ) Happy Spring!

    Jules, your “Miami Series” is terrific! I loved the dynamic, intense personal and professional relationship between Cole and Tamera in “From Boardroom to Wedding Bed”! Cole’s brother, Zach, played an integral part in that story line, and now he has his own book. I look forward to reading “Her Innocence, His Conquest”!

    Best wishes for much happiness and continued success : )

    :bees

  2. Donna says:

    I love this feature Heidi as I haven’t read much of this type of book in like forever but you have introduced me to several authors (including yourself (who I found out about on authorisland)) worth looking into. Now I have to go check out Ms Bennetts stuff because she seems to have a great sense of humor. Besides Igreen is my favorite color too. Seriously though my question for you & Jules is – do you pitch your stories or does the publisher say I want you to write thus and such.

    Have a wonderful day

    • Heidi says:

      I’m so happy you enjoy the guest blog feature here at WIPs, Donna! :vday I love having friends/guests drop by to chat…it mixes things up a bit, gives me a short break from the “it’s all about me!” tone of the blog :ROFL …& also lets me pay it forward a bit.

      Jules answered your question below, but I’ll give my response here, & that would be:

      A little of both. Depending on the publisher/editor & the situation, there are times when I have an idea & will pitch it to them…sometimes they love it right off the bat; sometimes they don’t; & sometimes they like it, but ask for adjustments.

      Other times, I brainstorm with my editor(s) to come up with a new idea we both love. (That’s how TANGLED & the “Chicks with Sticks” trilogy came about, actually.)

      And still other times (like with continuities for Desire), they hand me the idea they want me to write. I’m able to make them my own, tweak certain things, but the basic plot is something they specifically ask for.

  3. Hollie says:

    Good Morning!! and still Happy Spring!! :goodmorning
    Hi Jules!
    I have had the pleasure of meeting Jules before….at the Romancing the Holidays in OH. (Im the one with the knitted/crocheted gifties) She is as lovely in person as her picture!

  4. Jules Bennett says:

    VirginiaC, thanks so much for the kind words! I’m so thrilled readers are loving these books. They were such a joy to write! So glad you stopped by today to see me and Heidi :dancing

  5. Jules Bennett says:

    Donna, so glad others get my warped sense of humor! I have numerous ideas in my head. Only once did an editor ask if I’d considered a secondary character for a main character in another book…and I did. Other than that, it’s all me (so long as my editor agrees).

    I hope you enjoy my books! I love meeting and chatting with new readers!

  6. Jules Bennett says:

    :Bigthumbs Of course I remember you, Hollie! You’re too sweet! Thanks for the nice words.

    Will you be at the Lori Foster event in June? Hope to see your smiling face there!

  7. Jules Bennett says:

    Hey, Heidi! I LOVE these little dancing, shooting, clapping dudes you’ve got! I’m going to have to play in the dungeon more often! :cool

    • Heidi says:

      Thank you so much for spending the day with us, Jules! We’re thrilled to have you, & I’m happy you’re having a good time.

      Yes, yes, please drop by more often to chat—everyone is welcome every single day, even if we haven’t created a special occasion for them to visit. :picnic

  8. Anne says:

    Congratulations on your new release, Jules. I have a book related question and a non book related question:

    What was the weirdest/funniest thing someone said to you when you were cutting hair? I don’t chat much, but I always hear about how people confide in their hairdressers.

    Why did you decided the heroine would be a virgin? Granted, we don’t know her age, but considering her postion, I’m thinking at least mid-20’s.

    • Heidi says:

      Without licking the red off Jules’s candy—I hope :scared —I’m going to chime in on your 2nd question, too…

      Some of the Harlequin lines (Desire & Presents in particular) really like “virgin” storylines, so even tho Jules had a really good reason to make her heroine one, some of us :wink often work really hard to get a virgin heroine into our stories.

  9. Jules Bennett says:

    Anne, my hair stories could be a book in itself! I cut hair for 12 years and heard WAY too much about people’s intimate lives! Some of them I cannot repeat in public, but I can tell you about the lady who was waiting for me to color her 12 yo daughter’s hair. I asked the little girl if she wanted to be a hairdresser when she grew up (because she’d tried cutting her own) and the mother chimed in and said, “Oh, no. She’s too smart for that.” Really, lady? REALLY!? Was she implying that I, the one holding sharp scissors, was not intelligent?

    As for the virgin. If you read the book, you’ll know why. Ana had been surrounded with cocky men and a cheating father her whole life and didn’t want to be mixed up in a man who would eventually leave her and not care. Zach, the hero, LOVES women. So he has to be really patient with Ana because at first she’s just a challenge. But then he falls in love :bees

    Thanks so much for the questions!

  10. Jules Bennett says:

    I’d never done a virgin before :angel but it was fun knocking my playboy hero down a peg when he thought he could just move in on her :ROFL .

    • Heidi says:

      I think I’ve only done one at Desire…Gwen in WHEN THE LIGHTS GO DOWN. And she was 31, I believe. (Hey, it worked for the story, trust me! :humpf )

      I should try to do another soon, tho…it was fun! :jump

  11. CrystalGB says:

    Hi Jules. Congratulations on your new release. Love the cover.

    • Jules Bennett says:

      CrystalGB, thanks! I love the cover, too. It’s a bit different and this scene is from the wedding from the couple of book 1 (From Boardroom to Wedding Bed?)

  12. carole says:

    Hi Jules! I’ve never have read one of your books so if I win it would be a first but I’m trying to find new authors…I love romance and sexy good-looking men! Your married to your high school sweetheart,How did you know he was the one? I liked reading your blog- and Heidi is one of my favorite authors, I’ll add you to my list…thanks.

    • Jules Bennett says:

      Carole,

      How could you NOT love Heidi? She’s too funny and an amazing author! I hope you can pick up one of my books (or win one) and add me to your list of faves. My fave list is seriously growing everyday!
      I met my hubby when I was 14 and he was 17. I fell in love with his family and knew we came from the same background and had the same morals and values. We were fast friends and I can’t imagine spending my life with anyone else!
      Thanks for stopping by!

      • Heidi says:

        How could you NOT love Heidi? She’s too funny and an amazing author!

        Note to everyone: Please cut & paste this everywhere. Spread the word. My reputation could seriously use the boost. :angelme

  13. Jules Bennett says:

    :humpf Great, now look what I’ve done! Heidi’s head is even bigger! :argh

  14. Calisa Lewis says:

    Jules said-{I’d never done a virgin before :angel} Really?? Never?

    Hi Jules and Heidi. Fan and fellow writer here to say I had a blast reading this interview. Don’t worry about entering me to win. I just like to stalk like souls. :eyelashes

    But I will be getting your books that I don’t yet have!

    Can’t wait to see you at ‘my place’ next week. Um, you might want to bring some of Heidi’s uber cool emoticons along cos I don’t have any. And I like green too, but not when it’s me and for something this obnoxiously fun! :knock

    Heidi… :eggcrack

    And now it’s back to the revision cave. Really. :argh

    • Jules Bennett says:

      I wondered when someone would giggle at my virgin comment :angelme

      I’d love to steal some little guys to bring to your place next week! Think Heidi would notice :Bigthumbs

    • Heidi says:

      Ah, so sorry. The emoties are for Dungeon use only & firmly chained to the walls at all times. But you’re both welcome to drop in & play with them as often as you like. :us

  15. Jane says:

    Hello Jules,
    Welcome to the Dungeon. We’re you a little apprehensive to accept this invitation from Heidi to visit? :devilmad :devilme

  16. Jules Bennett says:

    Oh, Jane, Heidi doesn’t scare me! I’m afraid we have the same scary sense of humor :mwah

    I was thrilled she asked me to guest blog, though I think she invites her friends to answer those questions in an attempt to get compliments :humpf .

    Thanks for stopping by!

    • Heidi says:

      A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. :wink

      Altho, in truth, they’re designed to keep folks on their toes. :devang

  17. Jules Bennett says:

    Heidi, you’re too funny!I’ve had fun here today :Bigthumbs

    • Heidi says:

      It’s been great having you! :brava And, please, feel free to stick around & chat as long as you like…all of you! That’s what we’re here for.

      (Winners of Jules’s giveaways to be announced on Sunday, as noted above. :howyoudoin )

  18. Laura J. says:

    Hi Jules….

    First Heidi is easily distracted (watch this…..

    Hey Heidi! LOOK THERE GOES DWAYNE AND JASON AND THEY ARE WEARING THEIR BIRTHDAY SUIT!!! :chick

    Now is your chance Jules…run with the smilies…..RUN!!!

    Okay,

    now for a question….Is Kayla going to get her own story?

    To everyone else…I’ve read both books and they are great. Don’t get hung up on the heorine being a virgin. She does have a good reason. And Zach is adorable!! (I kind of have a thing for playboy heroes names Zach/Zack)

    • Heidi says:

      Ha ha, nice try. Like I’d fall for *that* again. Esp. when I know Dwayne & Jason are both firmly chained to my bed at this very moment. Ah, yes, I won’t make *that* mistake again, either. :smack

      The emoties are also firmly chained, & I’ve got Dungeon hotties on guard duty at all times. So there! :spikey

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