I’m excited to feature Jill Kemerer today and hear more about Small-Town Bachelor, her debut novel slated for release in April 2015 with Harlequin Love Inspired. If you aren’t familiar with the Love Inspired novels, Harlequin says this particular line focuses on “faith, forgiveness and hope, showing that they have the power to lift spirits and change lives–always”. 

Book Blurb for Small-Town Bachelor:

When a tornado destroys her sister’s wedding, Claire Sheffield owes Reed Hamilton for saving her life. Injured Reed accepts Claire’s care and helps rebuild the town, but wounds from his dysfunctional family fester. Will Claire choose a coveted zoo job with her beloved otters or the loner she’s grown to love?

Five Questions with Jill Kemerer:

What was the inspiration for your novel?

Last year I decided to enter a pitch contest for the Harlequin™ Love Inspired lines. Shana Asaro seemed like the perfect editor for me, so when I saw that she liked stories with animals, I immediately thought of otters. Yes, otters!

Years ago, a member of our church worked for the zoo and brought home an otter who wasn’t adapting to his surroundings. I thought it was the coolest thing ever! The rest of the book came easily to me once I knew my heroine would be taking care of baby otter twins.

If you could have dinner with three people (living or dead), who would you choose and why?

I’ve always been fascinated by the book of Esther. Even as a kid, I thought she was a genius. At dinner, I would want to get all her tips on dealing with difficult people. To round out the party, I’d definitely invite my deceased grandmother, because I loved chatting with her and miss her hugs, and my spunky mom.

In terms of writing a novel, are you a plotter or a pantser? Or a hybrid combo?

I’m 100% plotter. I don’t even think about writing until I know my characters inside and out, have the major plot points nailed, and have a synopsis written. With two of my books, I tried plotting each scene beforehand, but the story changed when I actually wrote the books. I’ve found that as long as I have the main plot points figured out, the in-between scenes come naturally.

What can your readers expect from you in the future? Prequel, sequel, novella, etc.

I’m not sure! Small-Town Bachelor is set on a fictional lake in Michigan. The heroine, Claire, has three brothers, and I’m writing their stories now, but it really depends on what my editor would like to see from me.

 Please share one piece of advice for aspiring writers you wish you’d known before you started this writing journey.

Just one? I feel like I learned everything the hard way! I guess the one thing it took years for me to understand was that writing a book isn’t the same as writing a good book. It took years of studying, practicing, and writing book after book to get to a place where I understand solid storytelling and can get it on the page. Some writers get there more quickly than I did, but I’ll always be improving!

Jill’s Bio:

Jill Kemerer writes contemporary romance novels with love, humor, and faith. Her debut novel, Small-Town Bachelor, will be released in April 2015 through Harlequin™ Love Inspired. Besides spoiling her mini-dachshund and keeping up with her busy kids, Jill enjoys magazines, M&MS, fluffy animals, and nature walks. She resides in Ohio with her husband and two children.  Jill loves connecting with readers, so please visit her website, www.jillkemerer.com, and sign up for her newsletter!

Thank you so much for participating in the 31 Days of Debut Authors series, Jill. I can’t wait to see that cover for Small-Town Bachelor and of course, get my hands on it in the spring. Congratulations on the upcoming release of your Harlequin inspirational romance, such an awesome accomplishment!