Between the Covers with:
Jean Drew

       Originally from England, Jean Drew now lives in New Zealand. Her first book, The Sabine Connection was released in October 2000 from Starlight Writer Publications. Several ideas including four sequels, several categories, two trilogies, a single title, an historical and a time travel are all screaming Write Me First - Now! Unfortunately, her 'real job' keeps getting in her way. Jean is the founder of Romance Writers of New Zealand and is a member of RW Australia and Romance Writers of America^®, Outreach chapter as well as MMRWA. She just sold her second book to Starlight. Yesterday's Dreams was last year's "Silver Lining" winner. She writes as Jean Adams.

   When did you start writing seriously toward publication and what was the motivating bug that bit you?

       About twelve years ago and Agatha Christie was my motivating force. I adored her books and wondered whether I could write such clever stories. I tried ... and couldn't. But even though the work of a budding mystery writer would never see the light of day, the writing bug had bitten hard. A publisher of my acquaintance advised me to "Write a Mills & Boon and get in that way. They're pretty easy." (They weren't Harlequin then.) I'd never heard of them, but zeroed in on some in a bookshop and presto! Easy? Hah! We all know the answer to that, don't we? But I was hooked on romance, so he did me a favor.

   Being a Kiwi, do you find any difficulties 'translating' to a New York editor?

       No, I don't seem to have any problems because I read mostly American authors. I also have a British/ American dictionary, and in Texas last year I bought a book of American slang.

   Any particular phrasing differences you've found during the editing process?

       I have to keep spellings in mind. Depending on who I'm aiming at, I'll change the spelling on the computer to UK or US. If I have any American questions, there are plenty of people only too willing to help.

   What prompted you to form New Zealand RWA?

        I'd joined the English Romantic Novelists' Association, I didn't know about RWA then, and thought how helpful it would be to talk to other people with the same dreams and support each other. I advertised for members in Auckland, got about ten, and we called ourselves the Romantic Novelists' Assn, NZ. After our first conference in 1994, we changed the name to Romance Writers of NZ.

   How does it compare to our U.S. RWA^®?

       It's much smaller of course but apart from that, it isn't too different. We have chapters in all the main centers now, a regularly monthly newsletter, an e-mail loop, and national contests. We're international, too. We have a big membership in Australia and three in the US. We hold an annual conference in August and have international speakers (in 1999 we had Laurie Kuna!)

   What's the book market like Down Under?

       Not wonderful but getting better. Until about two years ago, romances were hidden behind everything else but now they're coming out into the open. RWNZ club members are lucky though, because we have a wonderful bookseller who specializes in romance and sci fl. and she looks after us very well. When a book comes out in the US, she has preordered so we can get them in the same month.

   So many ideas ... so little time. How do you pick your next project?

       It picks me. If I have several playing in my head, one will usually scream louder than the others.

   What are you doing to actively promote your e-book?

       At first I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do. All the information I got, I gleaned from reading other author's posts. It's more difficult for me here because the e-book phenomenon hasn't caught on yet so I have to aim at the US market. Posting ARCs for review can be costly (imagine the airmail postage from NZ!) But I've since discovered Kinkos online, who will print, and in some cases deliver, ARCs. It's easier in the US, too, where two or three e-authors can get together for book signings. A website is a definite advantage because you can join groups like Authors Den, which is free and has an increasing circulation, and of course, EPIC.

   How do you balance work and writing?

       With difficulty. Work gets in the way but it pays the bills for now so it's a necessary evil. I guard my writing time jealously and rarely watch TV.

   What's the best/worst advice you've gotten as a writer?

       The best was about life in general. I'm right into people like Tony Robbins, Jim Rohn and Brian Tracy who although mostly business oriented, give wonderful advice such as: never give up on a dream; keep on keeping on; the only failures are those who give up. I subscribe to their online newsletters and they keep me on track. The worst was from a critique partner who said I couldn't write category and that I should look at trying something else. That was before I'd finished Yesterday's Dreams and she'd read only the rough first draft.

   Do you work with a critique group?

       I used to meet regularly with a group for about three years. But we got too used to each other and the critiquing started to suffer so we disbanded by mutual consent.

   What benefits have you gotten from your US connections?

       Hundreds of wonderful friends, even though they're at the end of a keyboard. I belong to several e-mail loops which all keep me up to date. There are so many generous people out there ready to offer help and advice which is not available in NZ.

   You've just sold your second book? Was it already written when you'd sold the first?

       Yes. It was entered in the GH but disqualified for font infraction, which is how it came to be entered in the Silver Lining

   What's next for Jean Adams?

       A third book, Cornish Rhapsody is under consideration. At RT in Houston, I had the good fortune to meet an agent who asked to see something from me, so I'm writing a Blaze to submit to her. Then, it's either back to the sequel of YDs, or the big romantic thriller. It depends or which one screams loudest.