Jessica Lynn and I connected through social media.
Author Bio
I have a strong belief that when something of value is broken- a person, a keepsake, or a relationship- you don’t throw it away, you fix it! Whether the thing in need of repair is a character trait, an attitude, an heirloom, or a marriage- you do whatever is necessary to repair it if possible.
My focus is relationships. My passion is love. Much of my writing embraces themes such as renewed relationships, trust and forgiveness, repentance and correction, and character refining. I was given the advice once, “Don’t be afraid to be bold,” and that is how I try to approach my writing.
Tell us about yourself.
I’m in my late 30’s and married to my husband of 16 years. We live in New England with our four children ages 2-11, 2 cats, and a hamster.
Aside from my writing I also blog, and homeschool 2 of my children.
When did you know you wanted to be an author?
I’ve been writing since I was a kid. I’m not sure I ever thought I’d be an author but I always had a secret desire to be published.
What genres do you like to read? Are these the same genres you write in?
I enjoy drama, historical fiction, romance and some thrillers. I prefer not to read books in the genre I write in because I find it affects my own voice. I do read some authors but I’m specific about the ones I choose.
Is your book for adults, young adults or children?
Adults as it contains some sexual content
What is your current release or project?
I’ve recently released my debut novel, ‘Correcting Candi,’ which is book one in my ‘Starting Over’ series.
Book 2, ‘Naming His Price,’ is due to be released- date pending.
Books 3 and 4 are works in progress.
Tell us about the key characters
In ‘Correcting Candi’, the main characters are Candice Papageorgiou and Ralph Hamilton.
Candi is a girl in her twenties who still lives at home in upstate New York. She comes from a wealthy family and hasn’t learned to ‘adult’ or take responsibility for herself and her own actions, yet.
After losing another job, her father sends her to a see a job recruiter in order to teach her a lesson. The recruiter she sees is Ralph Hamilton.
Ralph is the complete opposite of Candi. He’s learned from a young age to work hard and be self- reliant. When he meets Candi at his office, he is repelled by her at first but due to some of his own ghosts in the past, decides he would like to help her learn to be responsible. The methods he employs are unconventional but he believes strongly in their ability.
What is your blurb or synopsis of the book?
Candi is a twenty-five-year-old young woman living off her daddy’s money in New York. Having everything handed to her certainly hasn’t helped her in the maturity department and when her father threatens to cut her off, she has no choice but to find a job. When she meets with a job recruiter, Ralph Hamilton, seeking employment, he is baffled by the constant setbacks she’s had with each previous employer. After getting to know her, Ralph is on to her. She may think life is being unkind, but he has other ideas…
Ralph Hamilton is the owner of R. Hamilton & Co. Life has thrown him some curve balls, but when he meets Candice, she proves to be just the woman he needs to get his life back. Little does Candi know that his influence in her life will go far beyond the office…
Share an excerpt
“I understand that, Mista Hamilton but you still haven’t told me what you are proposing…”
He sat back and nodded his agreement. “What I am proposing, Candice is for you to allow me to reform you.” His eyes met hers, silently, with an authoritative presence that was all their own. She wanted to burst out laughing again but when she looked into his eyes, she could see he wasn’t bluffing. “And how do you intend to do that?” she questioned, eyes wide with disbelief. “First, I would like to make it very clear that our relationship would be strictly platonic. I am not out to hit on you or try to take advantage of you. I will view you as an employer views their employee. You likewise will refer to me as Sir. You would reside in my home and have rules which you would be expected to follow and routines which you would be expected to keep. Adherence to your rules and responsibilities would earn you rewards and privileges and rule breaking would earn you punishments.”
“Um,” she croaked, her mouth dry from falling open. “What do you mean by punishments?”
“I mean that you will be punished for failure to adhere to my authority in any way that I see fit. The methods I use could be as simple as a reprimand or they could be as complex and humbling as a thorough bare bottom spanking, given over my knee. Do you catch my drift?”
Blushing – she could actually feel herself blushing! She couldn’t remember the last time she had done so. No one had that effect on her, ever. And while she sat there trying to contain her embarrassment, and arousal, he sat across from her cool as a cucumber, not so much as breaking a sweat.
Do you have a favorite scene?
Probably this one, because the characters have come to a place in their journey together, where they are finally on the same page…
“I don’t want you to let me…” Candi interjected, her eyes pleading in his direction. Fear was etched across her face, a look he’d never seen her wear before. He’d seen her nervous before, yes. She was nervous when he gave her a spanking, but this was not that. Every feature of her face was drawn out and taut as if her life itself depended on his staying. “Please don’t go, Ralph.” She reached out for him afraid this would be the last time, afraid he’d make her leave and not return. “I’ll take the spanking, please. I want to do better than this. Teach me, Ralph, teach me to do right.”
What advice would you give to a new writer?
Well, I am still a beginner myself, but to anyone who has a dream to write or be published my advice is to hone the skill. Do everything you can to protect your dream and carve out time to work on it. Set aside time for yourself each day to work towards your goal- and let others know that time is yours, and only to interrupt if absolutely necessary.
One piece of advice that helps me is – you won’t start off a great writer. Your writing will get better as you do it!
Social media links:
https://www.instagram.com/jessicalynneauthor/
Blog link
https://becominghisbeautifullyhis.blogspot.com/?zx=7935aa3709aa9a85
Purchasing links
He is right, I didn’t. I have never told him how I felt, or that I didn’t think I was going to make it without him. But I would have done anything to have him there that first couple of months. I can’t even count how many times I pulled up his number to call him, but it did get easier, and I made a couple of friends and made it through the four years.
Taking a step back, I turn my back to him. The artwork before me brings back so many memories. Looking at each image, I realize many of them I had watched him draw. I used to sit next to him on the bed and just watch for hours as those images came together. It used to fascinate me how anyone could make something look so real, with just the use of a pencil, but Micah’s talent was mesmerizing and relaxing.
On the counter is the snowflakes he drew for my tattoo. I run my finger over the paper, expecting to feel the coldness under my touch because of how realistic they look. It’s beautiful, but I expected nothing less from him.
“You know, the one thing I missed the most would be the nights I would lay there and watch you draw. It would take away the ugliness that I lived in every day.”
Turning with the picture of the snowflakes in hand, I run my fingers across it a couple more times. “This is beautiful, by the way.”
He doesn’t say anything, he just stands there, his arms now crossed over his chest, but he does nod his head. One thing about Micah I always envied, he never doubted himself. I always wished I had that kind of confidence. Maybe then, I would have been able to tell my father and brother where they could go. Instead of hiding behind Micah for two years and allowing him to risk so much just to take care of me.
“Why haven’t you been with anyone in the last four years, Aspen?”
I instantly feel my cheeks warm up from embarrassment. I never meant to admit that to him, but something about having this man wrapped around me makes the world a different place. Makes me a different person, and words just fly out. I’m still not sure how I never let it slip that I was in love with him. Actually, that’s a lie. I know why I didn’t, because I wasn’t sure if I’d make it back from that heartbreak I would have had, if he told me he didn’t share those feelings.
“I’m not going to take a shrug of your shoulders as an answer. I made the mistake four years ago of not making you talk to me, and it seems from tonight’s conversation, that was a very big mistake on my part. So now, I’m going to learn from those mistakes. Why Aspen?”
“Would you believe me if I said I buried myself in my school work, and just didn’t want to get misguided by throwing a relationship in there?”
Those brown eyes that I have had some very pleasurable dreams about bore into me. He isn’t buying it, but I really didn’t expect him to, either. My eyes focus on the snowflakes. I need to just tell him how I feel. It hasn’t changed in four years; tonight definitely didn’t change those feelings, and I’m no longer a stupid teenager. I’m a woman, with a degree and an amazing career ahead of me, I need to start acting like one.
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