AccessRomance interviews author Joanne Rock.

AR: Your newest Blaze, HIDDEN OBSESSION, is out this month. Please tell us a little bit about this book, what it's about and where the idea for it came from.

Joanne: My editor approached me about doing a time travel story as part of the Perfect Timing miniseries in Blaze since I write historicals and enjoy visiting the Middle Ages in my books. This seemed like a great opportunity to mingle two genres I love. Once I was given this directive-- time travel visit to Middle Ages-- all the rest of the story came from me. In fact, I remember having the bare bones of the story in my head within an hour after that call from my editor because it was a premise that really excited the imagination! I liked the notion of a hero bringing modern sexual thought to the Middle Ages where sex was much more protected and-- in a way-- policed by society.

AR: You write mainly for Harlequin Blaze and Historicals. Those are two very different categories, and of course they're very different types of stories, but do your contemporaries and historicals have anything in common?

Joanne: I bring a core strength to my heroines and a common view of the world to both kinds of stories. I work hard to introduce different styles of characters and story lines in both subgenres, but no matter how much I challenge myself to write different types of people and situations, I still find small commonalities. Even my most fanciful characters still have a certain practicality underneath the dreaminess. That's something that's apparently part of me, and I can't seem to erase it from my characters.

AR: Are any of your books connected or part of a mini-series? As an author, how do you feel about writing connected books?

Joanne: Many of my books belong to series or are loosely connected. I did an extended series that crossed lines between Blaze and Temptation called "Single in South Beach" and a Blaze series called "West Side Confidential" that will include two more connected works in 2007. Earlier on in my Blaze career, I connected my first two releases, SILK, LACE & VIDEOTAPE, and IN HOT PURSUIT, then I connected the next two, WILD & WILLING and WILD & WICKED. Connected stories are a lot of fun because you can follow secondary characters for longer periods of time and watch as their stories develop on the sidelines. Miniseries give you access to a bigger world.

AR: Finally, what's up next?

Joanne: In August, I have a new Harlequin Historical on shelves. THE KNIGHT'S COURTSHIP takes place in Eleanor of Acquitaine's Court of Love and provided a provocative setting for a medieval. In February and March of 2007, readers can find out what's happening in the NYPD 10th Precinct in two follow-up stories to last year's "West Side Confidential." Tentatively titled SURVIVAL OF THE SEXIEST and DROP DEAD SEXY, the stories are linked by a connected mystery. Also, an unexpected carryover character from HIS WICKED WAYS makes an appearance. After that I'll be working on my contribution to a Harlequin continuity series set on a cruise ship. It will be a fun venture for me since I really enjoyed writing THE PLEASURE TRIP.

And now for some questions posed by our readers of the AR All-A-Blog.

AR Reader: Which is easier to write, contemporary or historical novels? Which genre do you prefer writing?

Joanne: Contemporary stories are usually a little easier to manage than the historicals because they require less research and less massaging of language. But since I really enjoy historical research, I never mind the extra time the historicals take. In fact, I can't say that I prefer either genre because each of them gives me a nice break from the other to keep me fresh and excited about each new project. I love being able to write all over the map, and I appreciate it when fun new opportunities arise like the time travel so that I can see where that kind of idea leads.

AR Reader: If you could switch the place with one of your heroines, who would that be and why?

Joanne: I give my heroines so much trouble in their love lives that I'd almost hate to be in their shoes! But if I could slide in on the happily-ever-after portion, I'd say I wouldn't mind trading places with Lainie from DATE WITH A DIVA who has a lovely life with her former hockey player husband, Nico. I ended up a little bit in love with him as I wrote their book, and I gave them a kick-butt house off the FL coast at the end of their story. Plus, I would appreciate being a part of the inner circle of my South Beach divas. They share a really special friendship.

AR Reader: Are there days when you wish you had chosen any other profession? If so, what would your “dream job” be?

Joanne: There aren't many days I'd trade places with anyone since writing is a real dream job for me. I worked hard to earn the right to sit at home and pen stories in my pajamas every day, and that's every bit as fun as you'd imagine. On the days when I'm tired and falling asleep at the computer, however, I'd probably be thrilled to be a college professor for a little while. I love teaching and miss the infectious energy of the classroom when I'm away from it. I've only taught on a part-time basis in the past, however, and I think a deeper joy could be unearthed from this profession by going at it full time so I'd have an office on campus full of books and students who'd drop by to talk about writing. So you can see, even my "other" dream job would have to touch on writing a little bit...

AR Reader: What is something about you that your readers would be completely surprised to find out?

Joanne: I'm a farmer's daughter, and I spent a lot of time helping pick tomatoes as a girl. I spent summer weekends at a farmer's market in NYC on the spot that is now the South Street Seaport Museum. My big sister has always been-- still is-- my idol. She had the glamourous job of making homemade jams for the farmer's market while I-- lower on the family totem pole-- got stuck shucking corn for picky buyers. Maybe it was growing up on a farm that gave me such practical roots tempered by a yearning for a little dose of romance in life!

AR Reader: If one of your books could be made into a movie, which book would you want it to be and who would you want to play the hero and heroine?

Joanne: My upcoming historical-- THE KNIGHT'S COURTSHIP-- would be a visually beautiful movie because of the setting. Can we make it a Merchant Ivory production? I'd like to cast a blond version of Rachel McAdams for Lady Ivy and for the hero... mabye Jonathan Rhys Meyers.

AR Reader: How do you balance your working/family life with your writing life?

Joanne: It's a constant readjustment according to the season and my kids' schedules. I keep weekly page goals, but the time of day that I write shifts during the year. Also, I try to limit my work related activities that aren't writing, since getting the books written are the most important facet of my work and anything else that I can accomplish professionally is a bonus. As much as I'd like to do more, I know that my boys won't be at home forever so that makes it easier to shut off the computer once my page goals are met.

AR: Thank you for answering our questions!

Joanne: It's been a pleasure! Thank you for having me and I invite readers who'd like to find out more to visit me at http://joannerock.com.

Interviews Index > Joanne Rock (June 06)