Sometimes you just connect with a character. That’s me with Stephanie Plum – of course, I finally married my Jersey boy, but Stephanie and I definitely have the car problems in common. Don’t even get me started on the time I was stranded on a lonely stretch of I-80 in Nebraska with a smoking engine. Not good.
So imagine how excited I was to get to interview Janet Evanovich. Yeah, I squealed and I’m only slightly ashamed to admit. The woman is a writing hero of mine. Reading her books featuring Stephanie Plum, Alex Barnaby and Elizabeth Tucker make me happy. Usually, I tear through them in one sitting carried along by the action, humor and story twists.
“It turns out I’m a really boring workaholic with no hobbies or special interests. My favorite exercise is shopping and my drug of choice is Cheeze Doodles,” Janet writes on her website. “I read comic books and I only watch happy movies. I motivate myself to write by spending my money before I make it. And when I grow up I want to be just like Grandma Mazur.”
Can the world really take a real-life Grandma Mazur? Oh hell yeah. I for one can’t wait for it. But until that happens, grab a cup of coffee – or if you’re like Lulu a plate of ribs – and spend a few minutes with Janet.
Set the scene for us, where are you and what are your three favorite objects within arms reach.
Coffee cup, computer keyboard and my pet bird Ida’s cage. I’m in my office in Naples, FL.
Are you a plotter or a pantser? Why?
I’m both. I start with a brief outline that gives me room to roam.
How often do you write and do you keep a set schedule? Do you ever start to get the shakes if you don’t write? 🙂
Seven days a week — usually eight hours at a clip. I don’t get the shakes, but I do feel the hot breath of the next deadline on my neck.
What is your celebratory treat for finishing a book?
Shopping!
For the sake of this question, your best friend is single, which one of your heroes would you set her up with?
I suppose Ranger. Then she can fill me in on all the details.
Stephanie Plum is such a popular character, do you find it challenging to break out and write non-Plum books? What kind of push back do you receive from your readers?
Yes, it is challenging, but I love the other characters and the worlds they inhabit. With regard to my new Diesel series, the vast majority of feedback is positive.
What was the last non-romance book you read that you’d recommend?
Anthony Bourdain’s Medium Raw.
What are your favorite pair of shoes and how do they reflect your personality?
My canvas tennies. I like to be comfortable.
What kind of support do you have as an author to help you with your website, e-mails, promotion and all the other non-writing parts of being a successful author?
I get great support from my daughter Alex who handles everything electronic and my son Peter who runs the business side of things.
With the increase in e-books, digital publishing, self publishing and all the changes in New York, where do you see the industry going and what are you doing to prepare?
I think we’re going to see more e-book publishing as time goes on. But whether they’re digital or ink on paper, readers will continue to read. I just have to keep writing the best books I can.
***
Janet, thanks so much for stopping in at the Waterworld Mermaid lagoon! I can’t wait to read Explosive Eighteen. And for those of you who are as big of fans as I am, visit the Avery Flynn website to watch the trailer for One for the Money, which will be out Jan. 27. I think that calls for a Mermaid night out.
Avery Mermaid you rock! Awesome interview! For Janet, someone who has such a dedicated writing routine, I would love to ask if there is a process for getting into that mode before she starts the days’ writing? Is she able to shut the outside world out for a good amount of time? How much time does she need to get into the zone or can she get there in a snap? And then how does she stay in that mode? Is it easy to get pulled away from it? Lots of questions I know but it’s so awesome to have her here today!!!!!
Oh man, I never even thought to ask that but now I’m dying to know too! I know Janet is at a promo even today but I’m hoping she’ll have a few moments to stop by and let us in on that secret.
promo event … jeeze I need coffee.
Great interview, Janet! I love your books!
Thanks for bringing her by the blog, Avery!
How could I not want to have her hang out with us in the lagoon?
Great interview! I love Janet’s books and am so excited that you go to interview her. Great start to my day altho the 7 day/8 hours was an eye-opener (although I’m not surprised).
I know, that schedule exhausted me just reading it. However, I bet Janet kicks ass at NaNo. 🙂
Great interview! Thanks so much for stopping by, Janet! 7 days a week of writing!!! And here I was bragging about my 4100 words yesterday. 😉
Avery-Mermaid, my mom thinks you are super famous for interviewing Janet. Guess what? So do I!
Well, I have to give out big thanks to Ken on her team who really made it happen. He’s pretty awesome. 🙂
Avery, you got to interview Janet Evanovich??? I can’t blame you for being excited. I would have fainted and stayed on the floor, missing the interview, LOL.
She’s one of my favorite authors. Right now, I’m listening to “Fingerlickin’ Fifteen” in the car, read by the fabulous Lorelei King (have you heard her Gramma Mazur? It’s hysterical.) Yesterday, I nearly ran off the road I was laughing so hard when Peter Pecker came to dinner as a prospect for Stephanie.
Wonderful interview. Thanks for giving us a sneak peak at this icon. Janet, I love you!
I think our love of Janet and all things Stephanie Plum puts us in great company. I think my favorite 12th tier (?) characters is Rex the hamster. He has the best snack food diet of any pet ever.
OMG, AVERY! Janet Evanovich?! SWEET! Lulu is my love. I want one of her in my life! 🙂
Really? I don’t know, I think I’d want a Ranger in my life … but if you want Lulu I won’t stand in your way.
Wonderful interview, Avery! I love Janet Evanovich. She’s one author I will buy the hard cover for the day it releases. The books are so enjoyable and so easy to read, and I know Janet works like mad to made them that way. Now, if I can just make myself write 7 days a week.
I think she picked the right motivation to get BISHOK seven days a week. 🙂
I’ve found that reading Stephanie Plum on the Metro is dangerous – several times I’ve made myself look crazy by bursting into hysterical laughter. Thanks Janet for all the good times, and thanks Mermaids for bringing her here. 🙂
Avery, great post and thank you for bringing such an amazing author to the Waterworld Mermaids blog. Excellent.
Wonderful post! I love reading all the interview AND all the comments!
Wow! Janet is fantastic!
Great post, Avery! Love the fact she’s into ‘being comfortable’ and her work ethics are inspiring!
Hugs!