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4/09/2012

Welcome NYT bestselling author Jennifer Probst! CONTEST!

Today I have a very special guest. Jennifer and I share not one, not two, but THREE publishers, and we've both been part of the amazing wave of success Entangled Publishing has been riding, though her wave has risen quite a bit higher than mine! LOL Not only has her book, THE MARRIAGE BARGAIN, reached the top of the charts at both Amazon and Barnes & Noble, she's also recently achieved the status of being a USA Today bestselling author AND a New York Times bestseller! WOOHOO, Jen!

Jennifer is a sweetheart and an incredible author and I'm so thrilled to have her here today. I loved her hugely successful Indulgence, THE MARRIAGE BARGAIN, and I can't wait to find out what else she has in store!

After you finish reading our interview, please leave a comment or question for Jennifer to be entered into the drawing for one of her backlist books. The contest will be open until next Sunday, winner chosen shortly after that!

Six Questions for Jennifer Probst

Thank you so much for letting me hang out with you today, Cari, at your fantastic blog! I am a true fan and think your work is simply fantastic!

1) You write both sexy contemporaries and erotic romance. Which is your favorite and why? Or do you not see them as being much different?

Must be honest – I love both. I love going back and forth between sexy and erotic because it satisfies my ADD muse. You have no idea how much I remind myself of Doug from the movie UP (can you tell I have little kids?). I’m constantly diving into an idea, then pick up my head and yell “Squirrel!” So it helps to know once I finish a longer contemporary length, I can switch off to a novella length and push the literal envelope with my sex scenes. Because I do love writing my sex scenes – lol!


2) Which genre would you like to tackle next, assuming the time fairy blessed you?

I have worked with two other authors on the possibility of a parenting book, something fresh and new in the market. That would be a dream come true. Also, I have a wonderful idea for a second children’s book I collaborated with my niece on again, so I’d love to seek representation and branch out in that genre a bit.


3) Is there one of your books (published or unpublished) that you love just a teensy bit more than the others? Why?

Yes. The Marriage Bargain. And not because the sales took off and blessed me. It’s because I believed in this book and felt it was special, but the constant rejections kept me puzzled. This book did not see the light for many years, so it was truly a dream come true when Entangled believed in it like I did, and then the readers also loved and supported the story. I kept thinking to myself, “Thank God, I’m not crazy! It was a good book!”


4) When you’re looking to relax, what do you like to do? And which of your heroes do you wish could “relax” with you?

I’m addicted to reading. Long fun dinners with my family or friends over a bottle of wine. I love day trips with the kids, and yummy bookstores to browse in with a cup of coffee. A good baseball game.  And don’t forget my love for trashy reality tv!! Very simple stuff.
Well, as for my heroes, this is quite hard to pick one! So, I’m going out on a limb here and say I will pick my husband. He’s my true hero because he’s in it every day with me – the mess, the un-romance, the kids and the house and the money. And he makes me laugh every day and makes me happy.


5) What can we look forward to next for Jennifer Probst? (More yumminess like THE MARRIAGE BARGAIN, I hope!)

Squeee! Can you tell my excitement? The Marriage Trap will be coming out which details Michael and Maggie’s story. I am so in love with these characters and feel like a kid on Christmas – I can’t wait to have readers open their new story like a present! I’m working hard on the edits now which came back from my amazing editor, and hopefully very soon you will see it on the virtual bookshelves!


6) And just for fun: you’re offered a chance to run away from your life for a weekend. Where do you go and what do you do? And who do you take with you?

I’ll go to Italy. Walk the streets of Rome, breathe deep in Sorrento, sail down the canal in Venice. Eat tons and tons of food and drink wine. I think I’ll bring my husband. And leave my fantastic, gorgeous, wonderful children....at home.

Where you can find Jennifer:

Website and Blog: http://www.jenniferprobst.com

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2965489.Jennifer_Probst?origin=

Author Facebook Page:  http://www.facebook.com/#!/jenniferprobst.authorpage

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/jenniferprobst


Now it's your turn. Leave a question or comment for Jennifer to be entered into a drawing for your choice of her backlist ebooks!

17 comments:

Jennifer Probst said...

Thank you SO much for welcoming me on your blog today, Cari - I had a blast!

Chloe Jacobs said...

I think it's wonderful that The Marriage Bargain is doing so well, especially since it was a special book for you. I LOVE it! And I feel that way about one of my books too!

Jennifer Probst said...

Hi Chloe! Thanks so much! I think every writer has that one special book they hope will see the light of day and be appreciated. Thanks for stopping by!

christine warner said...

Hi Jennifer! Loved the interview today...fun questions and great answers.

I had to laugh that you like trashy reality tv, I do too and I always get tons of eye rolls when I say it. LOL It's just too fun though.

Congrats on your book and your awesome success!

Robin Covington said...

Hi Jennifer! I just got back from a week in Mexico with just the hubby (kids stayed with Gram!) and it was wonderful.But, it was weird to come back home and have to do mundane, non-romantic things like go to the grocery store!

So, I guess my next book will be set in a resort and then I can stay there a little while longer!

What is your favorite setting for a book?

Robin

Robin Bielman said...

Hi Cari and Jennifer! I'm in awe of you, Jennifer - how do you it all? Congrats on your tremendous success! I can't wait to read The Marriage Trap!

Jennifer Probst said...

HI Christine! So glad I am in good company - the Bachelor is my fave, and are you kidding me? How can i possibly love such trash?? But I don't care - lol!!! Thanks for stopping in!

Jennifer Probst said...

Hi Robin! Oh, Mexico, how wonderful! When my hubbie and I went on the cruise, I was shocked I had to cook when I got back! I hated every moment of it - lol!! And as to my fave setting, I am quite open. The Marriage Trap takes place in Bergamo Italy and that was divine, I can still see it in my head. But I do adore New York settings since it's my stomping ground!! Thanks fr checking in!

Jennifer Probst said...

HI Robin! Thanks for stopping in...trust me, I don't do it all well! I do the best like we all do in this juggling act of motherhood and writing, and still finding my way daily - just like you! Now I'm scrambling to prepare for RT and leave my kids behind. I hope my hubbie rememebers to feed them and get them from school on time - lol!

bas1chs said...

Congratulations on the success of this work! I have heard such good buzz about it.

I agree about Italy. I want to visit Tuscany and the Italian Alps. And Venice would be lovely as well. Maybe you can go as research for your next book ;-)

Shoshanna Evers said...

Wait a minute, how did I not know it hit the NYT list too? You are on fire, Jennifer!! *g*

I'm so happy for you. Your success is well-deserved. Can't wait to see what you come up with next! :)

Phuong said...

Hi Jennifer! Just wanted to pop in and say "hi". You know how much I love your books since I've read them all :) I can't wait to read The Marriage Trap. Like you, I love my trashy reality show, The Bachelor. Will you be trying your hand at other romance sub-genres?

bn100 said...

Congratulations on your success! All your books sound very good. Do you have a setting you can't wait to incorporate into a book?

bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

Sharon said...

I was at Amazon just now, staring at The Marriage Bargain and wanting it so bad, then I decided to check out Cari, followed her to her blog and what do you know...it's Jennifer Probst!

I am so honoured to read this interview and can't wait to get my hands on The Marriage Bargain (and The Marriage Trap when it comes out.)

Thank you, Cari

Taryn Elliott said...

JEN! Congrats on EVERY success! I'm so excited for Maggie's story! I can't wait to see what you do with that delicious Michael. RAWR. *EDITFASTERDAMMIT*
lol

And ROTF on the DUG comment from UP! I say that about myself ALL the time! All this success couldn't have happened to a nicer person. Here's to a TON more.

Mercy Bordeaux said...

Stumbled upon this interview and glad I did. I've been debating on reading the Marriage Bargain and this tipped the scale.

Also, encouraged to read your struggles with getting published because I'm a new author whose dream is to be published some day soon. Reading your struggles lets me know that I'm not alone in the frustrations.

Congrats on your success! I look forward to seeing more from you :-)

Jennifer Probst said...

So honored at your lovely comments! Just got back from the RT chicago conference and wanted to check back in with everyone!

Phuong,I will always be trying new things! Working on another children's book, and perhaps a humorous parenting essay book in the future. BUT plenty of hot romance at all times!

Shoshanna! Thanks for stopping by - I saw your amazing interview last week and big congrats for all of your success too!

Hi BN100! Thanks for sotpping in. Hmmm, I am always unsure what setting will haunt my muse so maybe I need to go on another vacation - lol! Really enjoyed the Italian setting in The Marriage Trap.

Taryn, you completely rock and you know I adore you!

Mercy, I am thrilled Cari tipped the scales in my favor -lol! Please let me know how you liked the book!