Awesomesauce Authors: An Interview with Jamie Rae

Today I'm thrilled to welcome to the blog New Adult author Jamie Rae whose book baby CALL SIGN KARMA is now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble (links below.) Here's a little bit about Jamie and her sizzling new read!

About the Book

Love in the no-fly zone…

Distraught over the loss of her brother in a fighter jet accident, Tinklee Pinkerton decides to follow in his footsteps and prove the tragedy wasn’t his fault. But when she’s chosen as the first woman to fly the Air Force’s F-35, her plan for a life that revolves around work is thrown off course by a handsome, mysterious stranger…

Thanks to Locke’s seductive British accent, sweet nature, and one too many beers, Tink is soon inspired to throw caution to the wind and herself into his arms. She thinks maybe love can heal after all—until she discovers Locke is her superior officer. Tink has no problem risking her life in the air, but with everything on the line, is she brave enough to risk her heart on the ground?

Buy Links:

  

Tell us a little about your writer's journey so far:

I searched for an agent during a time when paranormal romance was a tough sell, and she took a chance on me. The submission process was/is grueling and one that made me second-guess if I had what it took. I started thinking about what I could do while I was waiting for the trend to come back around. I was already following a lot of New Adult authors and reading their novels. I loved the risks they took, trying something new and writing about an age group underrepresented in publishing. My own “new adult” years were exciting and challenging, and I was eager to explore writing in the genre.

An idea came to me, about a female fighter pilot who was in flight school, sort of a modern day Top Gun with a unique twist. I went on submission and received a lot of feedback from editors and their acquisition teams that the setting of the story was unique but there was a concern about marketing the story to the New Adult audience. The stories they were having success with were traditional college and bad boys and this was something very different. Thankfully, not everyone felt that way and my story did find a home.

It has been a roller coaster ride of emotions during this journey, but one that has made me stronger and more determined as an author. I really hope readers will love this story and believe in it as much as I do.

Okay, let's hear your Twitter Pitch! (140 characters or less.)

If you like Maverick, then you’ll love Tink, a feisty female fighter pilot. She is taking danger and love to a whole new level. NA Romance. 

What inspired you to write this book? How is it a book only you could write?

They say to write what you know and as an Air Force veteran and military spouse, I know the military. I also love and respect strong woman, especially women in the military and in jobs that are primarily male dominated.  As for why I was best equipped to write this story…Tink has a lot of my own voice––my inside voice, her outside voice.  Also, I’m married to a fighter pilot so it was awesome to able to consult with him to make sure the flying parts of the story were authentic. A lot of the flying scenarios in the book are loosely based off of real experiences.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

It’s an escape for me. I love playing around with new stories and new characters and seeing where they will take me.

What's your least favorite thing?

When the voices stop talking

Now it's time to brag a little--What do you love most about your book?

I love the strength and vulnerability of my main character. I think she is very real. She’s a total badass chick who is willing to take chances and stand up for what she believes in. She’s also just a girl, who has unexpectedly fallen in love while dealing with the heartache of losing her brother.

  

Who was your favorite character to write? Why?

I spent so much time with Tink, that of course, I love her. So I’m going to disqualify her from the running and say Ash. I really had fun writing his character. He has a boyish charm, quick-wit and he’s an all-around stand-up guy. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s super hot and Special Forces.

What has surprised you most about publishing post-agent?

For me the toughest part was not having a say in matters that were important to me, like cover design, blurbs, etc. As authors, our stories are very personal and it’s tough when our vision is taken in a different direction. At the end of the day, I had to trust that my book was in the hands of the professionals and they want my book to succeed.

One of the greatest parts was the editing process and the experience that I had with my editor Jenn. She was amazing and challenged me to raise the bar. I’m so very thankful for the opportunity to work with her. If there is one piece of advice that I can give, whether self or traditional publishing, is the importance of working with a professional editor.

Okay, now a little about you. (And yes, I stole these questions from In the Actor's Studio with James Lipton.)

What is your favorite word? Determination.

What is your least favorite word? No.

What turns you on? People who are honorable and courageous and willing to stand up for what they believe in.

What turns you off? Negativity and dishonesty.

What sound or noise do you love?  My children’s giggles.

What sound or noise do you hate? Ambulance sirens.

What profession, other than your own, would you most like to attempt? I am in a really good place career wise at the moment. I love what I am doing. The only thing I’d possibly like to add in to the mix would be to own a quaint little coffee shop. Maybe…someday.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear G-d say when you arrive at the pearly gates?

You’ve made mistakes along the way, but you’ve learned from them and I’m proud of you.

Finally, what's the one question you've always wanted to answer in an interview?

If money weren’t an issue where would you like to go to work on your next novel? I would love to take a sabbatical to France where I could live in a tiny cottage, in the middle of a lavender field, and write to my heart's content.

About the Author

   

JAMIE RAE is a New Adult and Young Adult author. She writes with one goal in mind--to create stories with a positive message that will stay with the reader long after they've finished reading.

Jamie is an avid reader and loves discovering stories with a great hook, though she will not eat, sleep, or speak until she reaches the end. The Harry Potter years weren't pretty!! Convinced that her Hogwarts letter was lost in the mail, she keeps a watchful eye for owls hoping her children will have better luck!

In her other life, Jamie Rae enjoys creating smiles that will last a lifetime as an orthodontist and keeps her heart overflowing with love as a mother of three. She has perfected the art of nomadic living as a military spouse and Air Force veteran. Jamie has a passion for critters of all shapes and sizes and you can often find her sneaking them into her own home or volunteering for rescues.