Featured Authors: Janice Sims

Sometime in the late 1980’s, maybe early 1990’s, I’d sworn off reading romance and African-American fiction. Both had begun to feel formulaic to me, particularly when the two were combined, and my interests turned in other directions, namely suspense and Christian fiction. My interest in romance was resurrected a few years later, first through Christian romance, something that previously had not been readily available. Then, I returned to African-American romance. One of the first books I read was Janice Sim’s Out of the Blue. I loved it, and my return to romance was complete. So it’s my pleasure to introduce one of my favorite romance authors, Janice Sims.

Janice Sims is author of more than twenty titles and feels as if she's just getting started. She has been hooked on writing since she was seven years old, more years than she'd care to admit to, and the desire to create is still burning brightly. Her characters, plots, and settings feel real because they're inspired by real people, situations, and locations. So don't be surprised if you see yourself in one of her books.

Janice, thanks for stopping by my blog today. I want to talk about your latest release, One Fine Day.

Patricia, thanks for asking me to do this interview with you.

First, tell us a bit about One Fine Day.

Giving up his high-flying career as an attorney to work in his family's California vineyard was one of the best things Jason Bryant ever did. The other was falling in love with beautiful bookstore owner Sara Minton. Jason knows that Sara loves him, which makes her refusal to marry him even more frustrating. Why does Sara keep saying she'll be able to marry him 'one day'? Whatever her secret is, Jason is sure he can cope. But not knowing the truth is tearing him apart.

Six years ago Sara was at her lowest ebb, until Aminatu's Daughters—a secret organization that helps women and children in jeopardy—gave her life purpose again. Now Sara faces an impossible choice between the man she adores and her dangerous but rewarding work. And as Sara's very safety comes under threat, she and Jason must risk everything to claim a future together—

One of the things I like about your books is the research you do to make them authentic. The Bryant trilogy centers on an African-American wine-making family. What did you do to learn all about this industry?

Yes, it's true I enjoy doing research for my books. What I did for the Bryant Winery trilogy was, first of all, visit the local winery. There is one a few miles from where I live. That was a very nice experience. I'm not a drinker, so a little wine goes a long way with me. But what I gleaned from the visit was how a winery works, and that was the most valuable information. Also, as soon as Gwen Osborne and Christa Jackson, two friends of mine learned I was doing a winery trilogy, they sent me mounds of books and magazines on the subject. And there was the public library. I do a lot of my research there.

The Bryants are African-American winemakers. Are there any real-life African-American wine makers today?

There are indeed African American winemakers. The Association of African American Vintners is a good place to start for those people who're interested in learning more about the industry. Also there is an organization out of Boston called Divas Uncorked that is comprised of African American women who like to sip (their slogan). They're also a great source of information on the subject of wine.

You sent me a couple of links too and I’ll share them here, along with another article I found, for those who might be interested.

Uncorking a Growing Business

African-American Vinters

In Search of the Black Drinker

Let’s talk about your characters. You often write smart, empowered heroines. One Fine Day includes a secret women's organization of powerful, influential ladies. What sparked that idea?

I got the idea for Aminatu's Daughters, named after an African queen, many years ago. I think I mentioned it in Desert Heat in 2003 and I mentioned that book's heroine Dr. Katharine Matthews in One Fine Day as a member of the organization.

I loved that book and I thought I remembered Dr. Matthews, although I couldn’t place her specifically. Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt…

The reason I included the organization in One Fine Day was because I felt it empowered Sara after her fall into depression following her late husband Billy's death. Also, I truly do believe the world would benefit from a secret organization of women who not only aided their sisters in life-threatening situations, but in other less dangerous situations like mentoring and making sure that the women of the world are educated and have a source of income. Do you realize that men start the wars in this world but it's always the women and children who suffer most? I also got a kick out of the fact that I made the Secretary of State of the United States, who is Condoleezza Rice in real life but in my book she is Eunice Strathmore, the leader of Aminatu's Daughters.

I picked up on that one too. It made me wonder what the real Condi, the one behind the scenes, is like. Your secretary, Eunice, was very warm and caring.

I noticed the cover art on One Fine Day is very different from the other two covers in the series. Which style do you prefer and why?

Ask any writer and she'll tell you that she has very little say over the cover art on her books' covers. I've always loved my covers whether they were artwork or photographs. I like all three covers of the Bryant Winery trilogy books. The first cover, Waiting for You, was done by BET when the Arabesque line was owned by them. Then the cover of Constant Craving was done by Harlequin after they acquired BET Books and they used the same artist to do the artwork. My editor, Evette Porter wanted all three covers to be consistent. However Harlequin has gone in a new direction. I still love the cover of One Fine Day.

I do too. In fact, I think it’s my favorite of the three.

Janice, you begin each book with a poem or quote from The Book of Counted Joys. But that's not an actual book (I googled it!) Tell us a bit about it. Do you write these snippets for the book or take them from previously written poems? Any plans to publish this inspirational work?

I write the poems and attribute them to the fictitious book, The Book of Counted Joys. As a writer it's just a sneaky way to get my poetry published. :o) I got the idea from Dean Koontz who for many years has been writing poems to introduce his stories and attributing the poems to The Book of Counted Sorrows. Since I write about love, I decided to call my nonexistent book The Book of Counted Joys. I've told him I borrowed the idea from him and he seems all right with it.

If it works for Dean Koontz, why not? And your poems are beautiful, which is why I went hunting for the book!

Readers have been after me to publish a book of poetry for years but I can never find time to concentrate on it due to my writing schedule. Maybe, one day!

How has the romance industry changed since you began writing romance? Your first book, Affair of the Heart, was published in 1996. What advice would you offer today's aspiring authors?

There are many more opportunities for African American romance writers. However the market is also very competitive because of that fact. So I would tell aspiring writers to put together their best game plan, write the best possible book they can and send it out there. You never know if someone will like your work unless you put it before them. All editors and publishers don't think alike. If you've been rejected by one editor, it doesn't mean the next one is going to reject you.

I love hearing words of advice from my favorite authors. But I know you're on deadline. What's up next for readers of Janice Sims' books?

After One Fine Day my readers can look for Three Wishes in January 2008. I'm proofreading it now and I think the readers are going to love it. I also have two more books coming in 2008 and 2009. I don't have the publication dates for them but I'm presently writing A Little Moonlight and after that I'll get to work on Love Overboard.

Any more paranormal stories, like Out of the Blue, one of my favorites?

I'm also working on a paranormal romance series based on the supernatural beings I introduced in "Avenging Angel", my story in the June 2007 anthology, Creepin'. Hopefully that series will begin sometime in 2008.

I hope to be so proliferate one day. Thanks for stopping by, Janice.

Patricia, thanks again for the interview AND the review.

You can read a review of One Fine Day here. For readers who’d like to know about Janice Sims and her books, check out her website at http://www.janicesims.com. Janice also has a Yahoogroup for her readers: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JaniceSimsgroup/

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia