The Baby Bargain (Once A Marine #1) By: Jennifer Apodaca *Author Interview & Giveaway*

About the Book:

Title: The Baby Bargain

Author: Jennifer Apodaca

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 184 pages

Release Date: March 2013

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-62266-073-5

Imprint: Indulgence

Book Description:

Seeing Adam Waters is the last thing veterinarian Megan Young expects. Ex-Marine. Ex-boyfriend. And still extremely dangerous territory. But Adam doesn’t know the secret Megan has been keeping from him. The secret that was created three years ago, after their last night together…

Adam returns to Raven’s Cove to sell his home in a final break with the town and memories that haunt him. The problem is that his attraction to Megan is as blazing hot as it ever was. But when a vicious smear campaign against Megan turns ugly, Adam learns the truth he never knew—he has a son.

Now the only way Megan can protect her child is to strike a bargain with Adam. And it’s a bargain that looks a lot like blackmail…

Buy Links:

Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/The-Baby-Bargain-ebook/dp/B00BQMKC5O/

B&N – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-baby-bargain-jennifer-apodaca/1114794877

Kobo – http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/The-Baby-Bargain/book-vfUJ7eO_VE2K9094I8lILQ/page1.html

iBookstore - https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-baby-bargain/id616370377?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

My Interview With The Author :)

Tell us a little about you : )

Sure! I grew up in Southern California very close to Disneyland and attended Walt Disney Elementary School.  Years later, I met my husband at the dog pound—a story that cracks up our kids.  I was working there, and he came in to do an audit looking suave and sexy in a business suit. Obviously it was puppy love at first sight, LOL. We soon married and produced a house full of  boys (three sons).  I loved being a full time mom, but I needed something more, and that’s when I started writing.  I published my first book in 2002, DATING CAN BE MURDER, which was the first book in The Samantha Shaw Mystery Series. Since then, I’ve published over 15 books and novellas. 

What inspired you to write…?

I think it all started when I was in third grade and there was a terrible tragedy on our street. I was terrified at night and couldn’t sleep in my own bed. Soon I began making up stories in my head to distract myself from my fear. If I had to pinpoint anything that truly inspired my storytelling, it would be that.

How did you come up with the idea/concept for this story?

I was watching TV clips of military men and women returning home from battle to their loved ones, and thought about the ones who didn’t have anyone waiting for them. Who were they? Why were they alone? Very soon, I found myself creating a tightly knit group of former Marines who work together in a security agency.  In THE BABY BARGAIN, former Marine Adam Waters finds the happy ending he never expected with the small town veterinarian Megan Young.

How long did it take to write?

The first draft took about three months. Then my awesome editor and I worked together to revise it over a few more months. For me, the first draft always the hardest.

  

Do you mostly write during the day or night? Or whenever?

I mostly write during the day. But the characters often wake me up at night. They are incredibly rude that way.

In general, how do you come up with your story ideas?

It’s hard to say. The idea for THE BABY BARGAIN came to me watching the news. Although the secret baby plot was a personal challenge—how do I make a heroine who conceals a child from his father a true heroine?

Which character(s) were the most fun writing?

Often, it’s the secondary characters and the animals because they have less at stake. In THE BABY BARGAIN, I loved Sienna Lorey, Adam’s Administrative Assistant. She’s fantastic at her job, sarcastic and really cares about all the guys. Adam might own the company, but Sienna is running the show (and their lives).

Did you have to research, and if yes, how was that process?

Yes. I researched some veterinary medicine and a great deal about the military and Marines. I usually begin my research with Google, but as my questions get more specific, I try to find stronger resources. I know a veterinary assistant, so that helped. And I contacted some military/Marine people who were very helpful. 

Are there any messages that you want your readers to see? What is that?

There are pieces of my soul in every book, but I want readers to find their own individual experience or validation from the story. I try very hard to let the characters tell their stories, and hope the readers will get something out of it. But I’m not trying to force any particular message on the reader.

When did you first decide to become a writer?

I always loved to read and write. But it wasn’t until I was married, had three sons and my husband went back to school to get his master’s degree that I decided I should try to achieve my dream or writing. It took eight long years, and a lot of rejection, to get there but it was worth it! 

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been published over a decade now, so almost two decades of writing in total.

Is there a place you especially like to write? Ultimate place to write?

My desk. It’s a huge oak desk, and I have a matching filing cabinet and bookshelves. We bought it with my first advance check, and it’s my favorite space.

What are you currently working on?

Pretty soon, I’m going to start the second book in the Once A Marine series. That will be Logan Knight’s story. Logan goes home to his cabin on his family’s cattle ranch…only to find it occupied by a woman on the run.

For aspiring writers, do you have any advice for them?

Keep writing! Find writer friends, maybe join an organization like Romance Writers of America where you can meet writers with similar goals and learn a great deal about the business of writing. But the most important piece of advice I can give is to finish the book, then write another book.

What are your favorite genres to read?

Romance is my favorite, usually contemporary and paranormal. I’ve also been reading a lot of young adult lately. Outside of romance, I enjoy mystery, suspense and thrillers.

What are you currently reading? What are you reading now?

I just finished Rebecca Zanetti’s AGAINST THE WALL and am starting Laura Wright’s e-novella ETERNAL BEAUTY

All time favorite film that you can see endlessly, and you have practically memorized all the lines?

Chevy Chase’s Christmas Vacation. We watch it with our kids every year around the holidays. I don’t know how or why we started doing it, but it became a tradition.

  

What TV show do you have to see on a daily basis?

Other than trying to catch the news, probably HDTV. I like watching the House Hunters and other shows like it. I think it helps me shut my brain down after writing so I can sleep.

Location of place you have never visited, but really want to go to someday?

New Zealand and Australia.

- Fall or Winter?

Fall

- Hot Chocolate, Tea or Coffee?

Coffee.

- Mac or PC?

PC

- England or Scotland? : )

Scotland, I have a bit of Scot in me.

- The Voice or The X-Factor?

Neither.

- Print or E-Book?

E-Book! Love my Kindle!

- Middle Earth or Hogwarts?

Hogwarts

- Revenge or Once Upon A Time?

Clearly I need to watch more TV! I’m going to say Revenge just because my son was telling me I’d like it.

- Frozen Yogurt or Ice Cream?

Frozen Yogurt! With chocolate chips topping!

- Sunny or Rainy Weather?

Depends on my mood.

- Christmas or New Years?

Christmas!

More About Jennifer:

 

Award winning author Jennifer Apodaca grew up in Southern California and met her very own hero at the dog pound. She worked there, he came in on a business, and it was puppy love. They married and had three wonderful sons.

While her husband worked on his master’s degree, Jen did the mom thing by day and went to college at night with the intention of perusing a marketing degree. But her true passion was writing. With time at a premium, she had to make a choice.

Choosing writing, and with the full support of her husband, she poured herself into her dream. A mere eight years later, she published her first book DATING CAN BE MURDER. In her career, Jen has written a fun and sexy mystery series and a variety of contemporary romances. Taking the pen name of Jennifer Lyon, she also created a dark, sizzling paranormal series, and most recently, The Plus One Chronicles, an emotional and sexy adult contemporary series.

Jen has achieved many of her dreams except for attaining a self-cleaning house, a latte delivery service, and finding the holy grail of nonfattening wine and chocolate. She can live with those disappointments as long as she can keep writing the stories she loves to share with readers.

Where to find:

Website - http://jenniferlyonbooks.com/jennifer-apodaca/

Blog - http://jenniferlyonbooks.com/blog/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/Jenniferlyon

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/146987.Jennifer_Apodaca

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2759175.Jennifer_Lyon

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/JenniferApodacaAuthor

a Rafflecopter giveaway