The Duke and the Diva with Jackson D'Lynne!

Today we have Jackson D'Lynne visiting and answering questions about writing, reading, and her new release! Be sure to give her a hearty welcome to my site! 


Hi Jackson! Can you tell us a little about your current release?

Haven Edwards is a sensual, intelligent, 21st century diva with an “exotic” career. Wanting nothing more than to move past her ugly divorce, she attends an adults only Carnal-val where a strangely glowing pocket watch calls to her, compelling her to steal it. Overcome with its power, she winds it. A portal opens beneath her feet, and hurtles her back through time to 1817 where she crashes into the life of the very proper, very sexy, Logan Dunham. A duke with a deep distrust of beautiful women, Logan can’t understand his staggering desire for the woman with the quick wit, and jade green eyes—the woman who haunted his dreams long before they met.

Haven is determined to find a way home, but she can’t shake her hunger for the dark, brooding duke. Logan’s a duke, he’s out of her league, right? So why does her heart beat a little faster whenever he is near? Why does her mind conjure images of happily ever after?

One touch, and they are consumed by their desire. But before they can untangle their feelings for one another, a sociopath with a god complex and a knife fetish sets his evil intents on Haven. In order to save her life, Logan must destroy the demons of his past, and learn to trust a power he doesn’t understand. Can he get to her in time? Will the time-swept diva be lost forever, or will the diva get her duke?

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What are you working on now? Do you have any releases scheduled for this year?

I am currently writing book 2 of my Three Goddesses Series, The Rancher and the Renegade. This book focuses on Haven’s (from the first book) friend, Rhiannon, who is actually an undercover DEA agent named Marisol. Lots of juicy twists and turns. Release for this book is tentatively scheduled for Spring 2015.

Time travel is an interesting and very popular topic right now, especially with Outlander premiering on TV. How do you come up with ideas?

Oh, they come out of nowhere. I just write stories I’d want to read.

What do you enjoy most about writing?

Writing is my passion. I feel alive when I am at the keyboard shaping the lives of people I’ve created. It’s like The Sims for romance novels.

Where do you start when writing? Research, plotting, character, or...?

I jump all over the place, which is why I use Scrivener software. It allows me to write, research, or plot whenever the need arises.

What is the best thing about being an author?

Knowing that something I’ve written is out there and people are reading it.

What is your favorite scene from this story and why?

After Haven dances for Logan around the fire at the Rom camp, Logan chases her through the woods, and they end up having hot, frantic sex against a tree. It was fun to write, and fun to reread, lol. 

How do you balance writing and everyday life?

I have four kids to balance is very difficult. I write when I find the time, which is usually in the evenings once the kids are in bed. Sometimes, my mother-in-law will watch them for me during the day so I can write when I’m capable of sustaining deep thought for longer than a millisecond.

What is your favorite food to cook or eat?

My husband does most of the cooking. My favorite meal is marinated grilled steak, roasted potatoes, and Texas toast. So GOOD! I’m drooling now.

What do you like to read? 

I read the types of stories I’d like to write; paranormal, time travel, books with sassy heroines who know when to let the alpha take the lead. Anything by Kresley Cole basically.

Wanna share a few of your favorite things?

1. Avatar: The Last Airbender
2. Anime
3. Mocha Lattes

How about an excerpt?

She was his every fantasy brought to life. Watching her dance, peering through the glow of the flames, was an experience much like the first time she’d dance for him through a veil of mist. A dream, a reality, everything he could ever want in a woman. She had beauty, allure, and she hungered for him, just as he hungered for her.

If she didn’t stop soon, he didn’t know what he’d do, but he knew the good people of the Roma camp would be shocked, if not a little entertained.

The strains of the music began to fade, her movements slowed, and he could see her coming down from wherever she’d been transported. Sheens of sweat glimmered along her neck and the tops of her breasts, her hair framed her in sexy disarray, and her face flushed a decadent deep pink. How far did the blush spread? He groaned. He wanted to find out.

And he would, too. But not here.

Before he could investigate her body, he had to bid the Roma goodbye. Later he would have her, if he could control his desire long enough to get back to the Manor.

She approached, out of breath, the brightest, most sensual look upon her face. She was enraptured, just as he.

“That was amazing.” She beamed.

Clearing his throat, he struggled to keep the hitch from his voice. “You looked as though you enjoyed yourself.”

She smiled up at him. “I did. I love dancing. I feel alive when I dance—so alive I could take to the sky, and fly if I tried.” She laughed and twirled in place, her skirt flaring out, and then twisting around her legs when she stopped.

He loved the sound of her laugh, and he loved it even more when her smile broke through the usual mask of haughtiness she wore. It transformed her. Morphed her from an anxious ghost to a carefree woman of spirited delight. He wanted more of this Haven.

“It’s time to go. We need to get back.”

Expelling a sigh of disappointment, she went in search of her belongings. Tightening his grip on the horses’ reins, he peered after her as she moved through the crowd of excited Roma, and prayed to God he wouldn’t die before he had a chance to taste her again.

Chapter 24

The sounds of the Roma camp faded as they slid through the darkness of the forest. Though the horses whinnied for action, Logan chose to walk. He wanted to spend a little more time with her, under the spell of twilight, before ducal duty and estate obligation burdened him again. Pulling the reins of his horse, he murmured, “Come along, Gehenna, I don’t want to lose you out here.”

“You named your horse after Hell?” Haven’s incredulous tone made him smile.

“She is as black as the pits of hell, and she was certainly one hell of a horse to tame.”

She laughed. “Do tell.” Her sarcastic tone, was light and filled with amusement.

“When I first purchased her, she would buck and scream when anyone got near. It took me nearly a year of persistence and stubbornness to get her accustomed enough to let me touch her face. It took another six months before she’d let me put a saddle on her back. Within two weeks, I was riding her, and we’ve been together since.” He ran his hand along Gehenna’s flanks. “You gave me hell, but I stuck it out, didn’t I, girl? You may wear my saddle, but you’re still as wild and spirited as you were when I first set eyes on you.”

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It took Haven a second to realize he was speaking in deep whispers to the horse. She shivered. What would it have been like for him to speak those words to her? Wait, wasn’t he?

Glancing up from where his hand caressed the skin along the horse’s nose, she caught a look of blatant mischievousness in his expression. That tricksy devil.

Well two can play at this game.

“Sounds like you’re skilled at taming spirited creatures.” Her tone was playful, inquisitive, but she thrummed with excitement.

“I believe I’ve proven such on several occasions.” His deep voice thickened, and a wicked gleam darkened his face.

“Oh? Do you have any other skills I should know about?” Placing her hand on her hip in a very twenty-first century manner, she cocked an eyebrow, daring him to move their innuendo-laden conversation into deeper, more dangerous waters.

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Want to read more, or connect with Jackson? Check out places to pick up The Duke and the Diva, and then stop by to say hi to Jackson! Tell her DC sent you! 

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