NAW Interview With Janet Evanovich

Janet EvanovichJanet Evanovich is a bestselling author and ranks among the top authors. She was placed No. 79 on Forbes’ list of The World’s Most Powerful Celebrities, with earnings running into millions.  

NAW-When did your literary journey begin? At what age did you discover that you wanted to write?

Since childhood I had made up stories, but I never figured I’d be a writer.  I was an art major in college and envisioned a career in the graphic arts.  Unfortunately, I discovered that I was allergic to the pigments in most paints – there went my dream of being the first female Picasso. When my kids were little, I started to write.  I found that the perfect time was when they were at school

NAW- Tell us about your forthcoming book, ‘Top Secret Twenty-One.’ How did you get the idea for it? How long did it take to finish the book? What is it about?

Top Secret Twenty-One is real roller coaster ride.  Stephanie and Lula are on the hunt for a crooked used car dealer who has disappeared (leaving lots of dead associates in his wake), someone’s out to assassinate Ranger and Grandma decides to make a bucket list of things to do before she dies.  Like most of the Plums, it took me about six months to write it.

NAW- Tell us about your other works.

I’ve been at the Plums for about 20 years.  Before that, I wrote 11 romance novels.  While writing the Plum series, I co-wrote two romance series.  I also wrote the Barnaby/Hooker series – four books (Metro Girl, Motor Mouth, Troublemaker 1 and Troublemaker 2), the Wicked series (Wicked Appetite and Wicked Business), and the new Fox/O’Hare series with Lee Goldberg (The Heist, The Chase and The Job, which will be published in November).

NAW- Do you carry out any research for developing your characters and your stories? How do you go about it?

Before I began the Plums, I researched the world of bounty hunting and rode along with the police in Trenton, New Jersey, the setting of the series.  I don’t need to do too much research these days.

NAW- Which authors have influenced you?

I loved the clarity and humor of the Junie B. Jones series by the late Barbara Park. I considered the late Robert B. Parker a mentor (and a good friend).

NAW- Tell us about yourself. What do you do when you are not writing?

I know this is going to sound boring, but with three books either out or coming out in 2014, I pretty much write all the time.  I work seven days a week.

NAW – Tell us about your literary journey. How easy (or difficult) was it to get your first book in print?

I like to say that I was an overnight sensation – after 10 years.  I wrote three whole novels before I ever sold anything.

NAW- What is the one thing that your readers don’t know about you?

I consider doughnuts a vegetable.  In truth, I don’t really eat all the stuff that Stephanie eats.  I could never get away with it.

NAW- What are your upcoming projects?

I only write one book at a time and I’m in the middle of The Job right now.  After that manuscript gets turned into the publisher, my publisher and I will sit down to assess what’s next.

 

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