An Interview with Jennifer Johnson and a Give Away!

Please welcome Jennifer Johnson to my blog today!

Alisha: Can you tell us a little bit about your childhood? Favorite memories?

Jennifer: I grew up in Alabama south of the gnat line. One favorite memory I have is catching lightning bugs in my front yard. Another is playing in the snow the first week in April one year. Who knew it could snow in April in the deep south? It was my first and only “snow day” until college.

Alisha: I love snow days! Tell us about the hero and heroine in your latest release.

Jennifer: Rick is a plumber who meets Ellen just out of the tub. He rescues her mother’s ring, and I guess you could say Ellen rescues him.

Alisha: If you were granted three wishes by a genie, what would they be?

Jennifer: Three wishes. Gee. I kind of feel like I’m in a beauty pageant. 1. To end suffering in the world. 2. That my children will always be able to say they are glad I’m their mom. 3. That I will always have a passion for what I do.

Alisha: You didn't know this is the beauty pageant blog? If you could go anywhere to tomorrow, where would you go?

Jennifer:I want to go to Sequoia National Forest. I want to see trees big enough to drive a car through.

Alisha: I'd love to go there too. I hear it's beautiful! If you could see anyone tomorrow (dead or alive), who would it be?

Jennifer: Fred Rogers. I aspire to be Mr. Rogers and to be a neighbor like he was to me.

Alisha: Did you really know Fred Rogers? If you could choose six people to spend one week on a desert island, who would it be and why?

Jennifer: One week on a desert island? Probably all the crew, but Mr. Howell. He whined too much, and I’m not a big fan of cigars. Can I have my own hut though? I don’t know if I want to share with Mary Ann and Ginger.

Alisha: What word or phrase tingles in all the right places for you?

Jennifer: Probably something like, “Can I clean up the kitchen tonight, honey? And then may I massage your feet?”

Alisha: I have to agree..that would be a BIG turn on! If you had one day to spoil yourself, what would you do?

Jennifer: On a crisp winter day find a heated cabin in the woods, take my laptop, put on my footed pajamas, and write. The cabin would have a nice big comfy chair and plenty of hot chocolate. Oh, and indoor plumbing. I believe in being specific about these things. I don’t want to give the fantasy fairy any loopholes to mess up my special “spoil me” day.

Alisha: And a stocked fridge. You don't want to worry about hunting for your food either. If you could change one incident in your life, what would it be and how would you change it?

Jennifer: I’d rather play “what if” when I’m writing my stories. As far as regrets, I think I will just claim my mistakes, correct them as best as I can, and make the most of the present and the future. No sense in worrying about the past since we can’t change it.

Alisha: What’s the sexiest thing a man has ever done for you or said to you or both?

Jennifer: The sexiest thing a man has ever done for me was fixing me cheese toast when I was pregnant and having the worst case of morning sickness known to womankind. The sexiest thing he ever said to me was when he talked about our IRA because I knew he means to grow old with me, and he’s making plans so we can live comfortably when we’re old. I’ve had the “traditional” romantic things like flowers and such, and they’re nice, but a man you can count on, that really turns me on. Can you tell I’m a practical girl?

Alisha: Having a man you can count on is VERY romantic! You're a lucky girl! Thanks for being my guest of honor today, Jennifer!

GIVE AWAY: If you'd like a Jinx postcard, email Jennifer at jennfrancesca@gmail.com Put "postcard" in the subject line.


Excerpt
Rick stalked back toward his desk and sat down on the chair, took a few deep breaths, and waited. He had been doing a lot of that lately. Another minute or so wasn’t going to kill him. The door opened just wide enough for Denise to slip inside. She pushed it shut behind her and sprinted to him.

“She wants to see you.”

“By all means, show her in. And then go home.”

“It’s not five o’clock yet.”

“It is somewhere. Go home.” Rick emphasized the last two words.

“Maybe I should…” Denise shifted from one foot to the other.

Rick gave her a look which shut her up. She was a good secretary, a caring person, his right hand here. But he wanted her gone. Rick wasn’t sure what was going to happen when Ellen walked through that door, but he anticipated it could get ugly. He’d rather not have a witness here to see his downfall. He had been humiliated enough already in front of too many people. He was sure he was the laughing stock at the hospital. Everybody was getting to know him on a first name basis. Heck. He should get some kind of discount for all the business he had been giving them. He hoped his health insurance didn’t drop him.

Without another word, Denise opened the door and exited. In Richard’s head, the theme from “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” began to play. On cue, Ellen appeared.

She turned and faced him. She had the stance of a gunfighter down pat—legs braced, back straight, and stiff posture. And those eyes—those gorgeous blue eyes—were boring into him. He felt like an ant being incinerated by a sun ray through a magnifying glass. The music got louder. She was a heck of a lot prettier than Clint Eastwood.

Dressed in a white sleeveless dress, Ellen was showing a good portion of leg. Her hair was pulled up showing the smooth line of her neck. Rick remembered kissing the soft skin there. He broke out in a sweat. Oh, man. Get the coffin ready. Rick didn’t think he was going to be the one standing when the smoke cleared.