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Bestselling Author Jayne Ann Krentz Rob Holden: Jayne Ann Krentz, welcome to ReadersRoom.com. It is a pleasure to have you with us today! Jayne Ann Krentz: Thanks for inviting me. I'm looking forward to this conversation. Rob Holden: I would like to start this off by asking you about your latest novel, Falling Awake -- which was released Nov. 18. Could you tell our readers a bit about it? Jayne Ann Krentz: Falling Awake is romantic suspense set against the backdrop of contemporary dream research. It involves a hero and heroine who hunt killers in their dreams. Rob Holden: Could you tell us a bit more about the plot? Jayne Ann Krentz: Isabel Wright has just lost her job at the sleep research clinic. She's maxed out on her credit cards and she has inherited a cat with an attitude. Things are so bad that she is even thinking of going back to her old job at the Psychic Dreamer Hotline. Problem is, that job won't pay the bills. In desperation, she decides to sign up to train as a motivational speaker. But just as she's getting the hang of the motivational gig, along comes Ellis Cutler, an agent who works for a highly classified government agency engaged in dream research. The good news is that Isabel already knows a little something about Ellis -- he's the anonymous agent whose dreams she has been analyzing for the past few months. She has come to think of him as "Dream Man." The bad news? The agency has sent Ellis out to bring Isabel into the secret lab. That's the last thing Isabel wants to do. And it turns out that the head of the agency isn't the only one who wants to control Isabel and her very unique skills -- someone else wants her, too -- and is willing to kill to get her.

Rob Holden: That sounds fascinating, but I have to ask: Is there really any such thing as a cat WITHOUT an attitude?

Jayne Ann Krentz: Good point.

Natalie R. Collins: Jayne, I have to ask this question. You have at least SEVEN pen names that I know of. How do you keep track of them all, and how are you able to be so prolific?

Jayne Ann Krentz: I only keep track of the three that I am currently using: Jayne Ann Krentz (for contemporary romantic suspense), Amanda Quick (for historical romantic suspense) and Jayne Castle (for futuristic romantic-suspense). I'm not sure what happened to the other names. They sort of disappeared along the way.

Natalie R. Collins: Call the police!

Jayne Ann Krentz: A lot of authors who make careers in popular fiction end up with a handful of pen names. There are a couple of reasons for this. The first is contractual. Not too long ago it was common for publishers (especially in the romance genre) to insist that new writers take pen names. The contract usually stated that the name could not be used at any other publishing house. If you changed publishers, you changed your name. And since an author's name is really all he or she has to sell, it was an effective way up chaining an author to a house. But after a certain point I developed the clout to "just say no" and I started saying "no" to pen names. The reason I went back to using different names was because I had begun to write in a couple of different sub-genres: historical and futuristic. The idea now is to use my three names to make it clear to readers what to expect when they pick up a book under one of those names. A lot of people do not read across a variety of sub genres. In the mystery genre, for example, readers who love hard-boiled private eye novels often won't read the "puzzle" mysteries, or "cozies." Readers who love police procedurals often don't like the "amateur sleuth" type mystery, etc., etc. That trend is common in the romance genre, too. Readers who might love my Amanda Quick historicals often don't care for my Jayne Castle futuristics or my Krentz contemporaries. So, I give them a clue.

Natalie R. Collins: It makes a lot of sense when you explain it. Tell me, do you have to get yourself in a certain mindset to write the different genres, and if so, how do you do it?

Jayne Ann Krentz: No mindset changes. Not enough mind available, I suppose. Truth is, when I come off of one sub-genre, say an Amanda Quick book, I can't wait to dive into an entirely different world. It refreshes me as a writer.

Natalie R. Collins: Do you have a preference as to the kind of fiction you like to write, or do you enjoy them all?

Jayne Ann Krentz: I love all three of the worlds in which I write but that does not hold true for many of my readers. They tend to have strong preferences. When one of my Jayne Castle books comes out, for example, folks line up around the block NOT to buy that book.. A lot of people don't care for the exotic, futuristic settings. My own mother is standing in that line, by the way!

Rob Holden: Considering the three names you write under now -- and the others before -- do you finish one book under one name before starting another, or do you sometimes write them simultaneously?

Jayne Ann Krentz: I can't walk and chew gum at the same time so I can't even imagine trying to write two books at the same time! The thing is, writing a book is a full time, totally obsessive, all-consuming task for me. I live it, breathe it, dream it twenty-four hours a day until it is finished. It is only after a book is done that I can even begin to think about another one.

Natalie R. Collins: Jayne, since we announced this chat, we have received some questions from your fans and faithful readers. Will you answer some of them for us now?

Jayne Ann Krentz: You bet.

Rob Holden: Lindsey T, Tacoma -- with all the characters you have created, is there any one that holds a most special place in your heart and, if so, why?

Jayne Ann Krentz: Thanks for the question, Lindsey: The answer is that the most important book to me at any given time is the one I'm working on at that particular moment. Once a book is done, I get closure or something. Whatever, I never look back. I never go back. I never re-read my old books.

Rob Holden: Connie L., Philadelphia -- I have always been a big fan of your paranormal/futuristic Jayne Castle novels. Will you be writing any more of those in the near future?

Jayne Ann Krentz: Hi, Connie: As I mentioned above, the audience for my Castle books is the smallest of my three audiences (and, obviously, the most adventurous!). As a result, however, I am forced to squeeze books for those readers into my very busy Krentz and Quick schedules. But, I do love writing the futuristics and I fully intend to do more of them.

Rob Holden: Lisette J, The Netherlands -- You have one of the most user-friendly websites I have ever run across for an author. Do you spend much time working on it, and do you read the discussion boards at all?

Jayne Ann Krentz: Thanks, Lisette, but I'm afraid I can't take credit for the wonderfulness of my web site. It is created and maintained by writerspace.com. As far as the discussion boards are concerned, I certainly do read them and get involved in the ongoing conversations. We have some very interesting folks on that board. By the way, I invite anyone who is interested to drop in and post.

Rob Holden: Cindi K, Nashville -- In 2000, you gave a keynote address called "Mainstreaming Romance" at Bowling Green University, in which you said that you believed romance and romantic suspense had made their way into the "mainstream" of the publishing world. Do you still believe this, and how do you think things have changed in the last four years?

Jayne Ann Krentz: The "are we there, yet" question for the romance genre is a resounding "yes!" If in doubt, just take a look at any weekly edition of the New York Times list of bestsellers. The romance genre is well represented on both the hardcover and paperback lists. Another interesting fact about that list is that many of the most successful suspense novels on it are written by women writers who came out of the romance genre: Tamie Hoag, Iris Johanson, Sandra Brown, Janet Evanovich. There has always been a strong connection between the romance and suspense genres. That link starts early. Think: Nancy Drew.

Natalie R. Collins: And our last reader's question....

Rob Holden: Jane R, Cleveland -- Will you be touring much for your new book, Falling Awake, and if so, what parts of the country will you be visiting?

Jayne Ann Krentz: Thanks for the question, Jane. I will be doing only local Seattle area signings for Falling Awake. There's a schedule posted at my web site, if you happen to be in the Seattle area.

Rob Holden: Thanks for answering those. Jayne, we have chatted with both Sandra Brown and Janet Evanovich here at ReadersRoom.com, and one of the questions we asked them was how difficult they found the transition from "straight" romance to "suspense." I am wondering if you found the transition difficult -- either in personal terms, or in terms of your readers?

Jayne Ann Krentz: My books, even back at the very start of my career, always contained an element of suspense. It is the way I instinctively plot, I guess. I grew up on Nancy Drew and I have always loved the mix of romance and suspense. The difference between my earlier titles and the books that I write now is more a matter of degree. The suspense is stronger, edgier and more intense in my stories today. But both the romance and the mystery are crucial to my plots.

Natalie R. Collins: Jayne, for our readers who are also writers, what one piece of advice would you offer an unpublished author about to step into the NY publishing arena? And Rob claims that is a terrible question, but they want to know!

Jayne Ann Krentz: Actually, I've got two pieces of advice. Number One: Write. This is a self-taught craft. No one else can teach you to write. You must teach yourself. Number Two: Join Romance Writers of America. You can find it online. It is a marvelously useful organization for writers.

. Rob Holden: Another question our readers who are writers like us to ask is about an author's schedule. Do you have a set word count? Set number of hours per day you write?

Jayne Ann Krentz: Yes, I am very obsessed by my writing schedule. If I don't get my daily page count done I get twitchy. I start at seven in the morning and I work until noon. That is my most creative time. In the afternoons I edit, research and go shopping at Nordstrom's.

Rob Holden: So, what is next for Jayne Ann Krentz?

Jayne Ann Krentz: So glad you asked! My next book out will be an Amanda Quick. The title is Wait Until Midnight. It is my first historical romantic-suspense set in the Late Victorian era (think: gaslights and séances). It will be in stores at the end of January.

Rob Holden: And readers, I am sure, can find out more about it at your website, www.krentz-quick.com ?

Jayne Ann Krentz: You sure can.

Rob Holden: Finally Jayne, is there anything you would like to say to your fans who might read this chat at ReadersRoom.com?

Jayne Ann Krentz: I would love to take this opportunity to thank those of you who enjoy my books. I have often felt that if you do like my stories, it means that we probably share a similar set of values and a similar sense of humor. If we ever meet in person, I'm sure we would be friends.

Rob Holden: Jayne Ann Krentz, thank you for joining us here today, and best of luck with Falling Awake, and all your future projects!




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