I Smell Sheep: Joan Swan

*update: Intimate Enemies if free for the kindle right now-use link at bottom of post
Today we have the goddess of multi-tasking and man-titty covers! (seriously...have you seen her covers?) Joan talks with us about Blaze, book 2 in her Phoenix Rising series, ropes, fear and firemen. Did I mention the sexy man titty covers?

Sharon: For our readers who haven’t read your Phoenix Rising series would you tell us about it?
Joan: Love to! Adore this series! Bunch of hot guys, couple of sexy, kick ass girls, one nasty, powerful enemy…

Oh, you meant seriously. Yeah, I can do that too.

A mysterious explosion at a military warehouse injuries a team of seven hazmat firefighters, killing one. The contents of the building, chemicals used by the Department of Defense, have inflicted the team with various paranormal abilities. Abilities the government wants to study covertly. Abilities the team wants to understand and expose.

Each book in the series focuses on different members of the team and their struggle with the aftermath of the explosion. And as the group delves deeper into the incident and uncovers pieces of the puzzle, their personal issues are complicated by a powerful enemy trying to keep its secrets.
Sharon: *looks at Katie* she had me at bunch of hot guys…
Katie: Agreed.
Joan: Yeah, I tried stopping there with my editor…didn’t fly. They’re soooooo picky.

Katie: I’m a cover lover and lady your covers are hot! Do you think covers matter to readers?

have you guys seen these covers?!

Joan: Yep. Sure do. The majority of readers say they prefer the cover to reflect the story within the book. Many will tell you they get ticked off when it doesn’t. And they get really ticked off when it’s misleading.

Many readers will tell you they love sexy covers. Many will tell you they loathe them. Many readers will also tell you one thing and buy another. People are so interesting!

Also, it seems to surprise readers that in traditional publishing, authors have almost no input on covers. Cover design is generally farmed out to freelance artists who know very little about the book they’re designing for. And while authors often fill out an “art sheet” regarding their book’s cover, the input I’ve received from dozens of authors, including NYT bestsellers, is that the house does what the house wants.

I guess I lucked out. <G>
Katie: Plus people just have different tastes. But I like my man to taste hot like your covers!
Joan: I knew I liked you!

Sharon: Fever, your debut came out earlier this year. How long was your journey from “hey, I’m gonna write a book!” to “Hey, I wrote a book!”?
Joan: Ten (10) looooooooooooooong years. Oh, wait…that was from “Hey, I’m gonna write a book!” to “Hey, I published a book!” I think the first book took me about a year. They all took me about a year until I sold. Then—whap! Deadlines. It’s amazing how fast you can write when you have deadlines!

Sharon: how many do you have written already?
Joan: *choke* As in publishable? None. They’d all have to be rewritten. But there were nine before FEVER.
Oh, but I did rewrite INTIMATE ENEMIES, which was a 2x Golden Heart finalist, and self-published it. Very pleased with the result. It’s gotten fantastic reviews. <G>

Katie: I look through your bedroom closet right now, what deep dark secret would I find? Bodies?
Joan: Me…trembling in a corner… Oh, no wait, that would be the secret to the next question.
Um…fear. Lots and lots and lots of fear…all stuffed waaaaaaay back in the corner so I can actually DO things with my life.
Sharon: NOBODY PUTS FEAR IN A CORNER! Sorry, don’t know why that popped into my head <G>
Joan: LOL, sounds like your fear needed a voice. Just keep your fear out of my closet. If my fear pipes up, I’ll know where it came from.

photo: acyee_x

Sharon: You have a family, a daytime job, you write books and you have a very active blog…what’s your secret…clones? Cyborg? Eating Wheaties of the gods?
Joan: OCD. Severe. Bordering on insanity.
Katie: You have found a home Joan, insanity and the flock walk hand in hand! Weeeee!!!
Joan: Hallelujah! I won’t be the only one talking to gremlins now!
Sharon: talking? we breed the suckers!

http://gremlins.wikia.com/wiki/User:Hill_Nothing_fan

Time for a little fun... Take a deep breath (so you can smell the sheep) and go with your gut!

Sharon: zip lines or rope course?
Joan: ZIP LINES!! Ropes?? are you KIDDING???
Sharon: ropes are very popular in romance ;)
Joan: Wait…were we talking romance? Can’t I change my answer?

Katie: Coke or Pepsi?
Joan: Oh, man, that’s a dangerous question. I’m only answering because I’m behind the protection of a screen…Pepsi. (Diet)
Sharon: *dropping to knees and pumping fists in the air* YEESSSSSSS!
Katie: Joan, I thought we had something special going?! *Sobbing*
Joan: *covering face with hands* Good Lord. I knew I should have taken the fifth.

Sharon: skipping or shuffling?
Joan: Skipping, shuffling makes me feel like an old lady.

Katie: Fist bump or High five?
Joan: High five…guess I am showing my age there <G>
Katie: Pfft. Let’s high five!
Joan: *smack*

Sharon: manicure or pedicure?
Joan: Pedicure. I use my hands at work (the day job) and there’s no point in a manicure.

Katie: Under the covers or on top?
Joan: HAHAHAHAHA!! That question implies a bed.

Sharon: O_o you don’t have a bed?
Joan: Didn’t say I didn’t have one…just don’t…you know…always use it…;D

Check out Fever and Blaze. Book #3, Rush, comes out Oct 2013 and Book #4 comes out April 2014

About the author:
I was never a star English student or a Literature buff, but I’ve always had a creative soul and an active imagination. Writing was a natural culmination of those two talents.

Sexy romantic suspense is my genre of choice, and, occasionally, I like to dabble in the lighter side of paranormal as well. I write the Phoenix Rising Series, FEVER, BLAZE, and two more books coming in 2013, for Kensington and the Covert Affairs Series, INTIMATE ENEMIES, independently.

A triple RWA Golden Heart finalist, I am a lover of craft and closet-hoarder of writing craft how-to books. I’m a recovering OCD perfectionist…bet you can just imagine how well that’s going.

In my day job, I work as a sonographer at UCSF Medical Center, rated one of the top ten best medical centers in the nation – a location with an intensity that makes me slightly—okay majorly—insane. This seems to work well with my inner writer. Access to abundant character material—and I’m not only talking about my patients—is a fringe benefit.

I’m married to my own personal hero, a veteran firefighter, we have two beautiful daughters and are blessed to live in the heart of wine country on the gorgeous Central Coast of California.

To keep up with my latest news & releases please visit me online:

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Twitter Giveaways / Goodreads

Phoenix Rising Series

FEVER

Book 1

Dr. Alyssa Foster will admit to a bad boy fetish…

But when she finds herself face to face with a convicted murderer with a ripped body, a determination for freedom and an eye on her as his get out of jail free card, Alyssa knows she’s in deep trouble…. Not just because Teague Creek is a prisoner desperate for freedom, but because his every touch makes her desperate for more.

A man with a life sentence has nothing to lose…

Teague Creek has one shot at freedom, but his plan to escape with a hostage develops a fatal flaw: Alyssa. On the run from both the law and deadly undercover operatives who know of his strange abilities, he needs to avoid trouble, but every heated kiss tells him the fire between them could be just as devastating as the flames that changed him forever.

Purchase Links:

Kensington / Amazon / Amazon Canada / Barnes & Noble / B-A-M

Book Depository / Chapters / IndieBound / Powell’s

Add to your Goodreads Shelf

BLAZE

Book 2

The hotter they come, the harder they fall…

With a man like him, every mission becomes personal…
Ever since FBI agent Keira O’Shay started tracking a young boy named Mateo, she’s felt a connection even her empathic abilities can’t explain. Sheneeds to save Mateo from the cult leader holding him hostage. Nothing can interfere with that—not even the reappearance of Luke Ransom, the hot-as-hell fire captain she’s regretted walking out on for three long years.

Losing Keira left Luke vulnerable—in every way. When they were together, the powers each possesses were mysteriously enhanced. But it’s the sexy, surprising woman beneath the tough exterior that Luke’s really missed. Even if she betrayed him utterly. And even if agreeing to help her uncover a government conspiracy means watching his life and his heart go up in flames again…

Purchase Links:

Amazon / Amazon Canada / Barnes & Noble / B-A-M /

Book Depository

Chapters / IndieBound / Powell’s

Joan Swan's BLAZE Blog Tour Schedule
chance to win a book at every stop!