Author Feature 3: Joanne Jaytanie

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Meet Author Joanne Jaytanie, who is the newest Platinum featured author!

Joanne is a lovely woman with an incredibly wicked sense of humor & a devotion for animals, especially her beloved dobermans! I've spoken with Joanne often and she always keeps me smiling & looking forward to the next book! She is the author of "Chasing Victory" which is the first book in The Winters Sisters series and it's an addictive romantic suspense novel that you'll absolutely swoon over! Her next book will be released within the next month & I'm adamantly looking forward to reading it!

Joanne took some time to sit down and answer our questions for the featured author session & I'll add them here for you to check out! I'll also add links for her Facebook author page and her website at the bottom of this page, as well!

I hope you'll read over the interview and learn more about this wonderful gal and amazing author!

                                       AUTHOR Q&A WITH JOANNE JAYTANIE
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1) Why did you decide to start writing?

 I fell in love with writing in my freshman year in high school. I took Creative Writing and had the most outstanding teacher. Mr. Rappaport introduced me to a world I wanted to live in. To create a world, it's characters, the events in their lives at a certain point in time - no holds barred, count me in!!
I knew at the age of 13 that I wanted to write, four years ago I got really active, and two years ago I realized that I needed to put myself out there and Just Do It!!

2) Do you think authors can succeed in multiple genres or should they stick with a single genre?

 I believe authors can succeed in multiple genres. However, to achieve this success an author must be aware when you change genres, you need to re-brand yourself. For the most part you are starting over, new genre, new readers, new brand - express your change.

3) What do you feel is the biggest reward to you with writing?

 Far and away, my biggest reward is happy readers and making new friends! Having a person take the time out of their busy day to send me a note or post on Facebook how much they loved my book, makes me push forward to produce something even better.

4) Who are some of your favorite authors & why?

I love Sherrilyn Kenyon. Her imagination is awe inspiring. Her determination to be published after turn down, after turn down, propels me to keep moving forward.
Clive Cussler is another of my favorites. The suspenseful adventures he writes keeps me on my toes looking for new twists to excite my readers.
Thirdly, I would say Christine Feehan. She was the first paranormal author who made me realize that I wanted to write with at least elements of paranormal. Her world building is amazing and all of her series are my favorites!

5) What are the biggest hurdles to overcome as an author?

To get noticed. In this crazy, ever-changing world of cyberspace, its extremely challenging to carve out your niche. To convince the world that you have something worthwhile to share.

6) Is there any advice that you can offer for new writers?

Don't give up! To put yourself out there for others to critique and at times criticize, is difficult not to take personally. If you want to be a writer - then write and don't give up. To quote a successful author guru of mine, "Write the Damn Book!" Thank you Cherry Adair, you are an inspiration.

7) Tell us a few random personal things about yourself, personal & professional!

Dobermans are my passion. At the age of 21 I went out to find myself a Yorkie puppy. Being unfamiliar with the city and before the age of GPS, I got lost. I ended up at a home that just happened to have puppies. In my minds eye I see this tiny red puppy come bounding out of the kitchen and it was instant love. I had never in my life seen a Doberman puppy, really didn't know much about them, except I wasn't leaving that house without her. Taisha was my constant shadow for the next 13 years, and I have had Dobermans ever since.
I showed dogs for over 20 years, in obedience, agility, rally and breed. I showed a Bull-mastiff to #8 in the country. I had decided to work toward becoming a breed judge. At that point I knew the time had come to decide between pursuing my love of writing or judging.
I have always leaned towards creative activities, stained glass, designing, jewelry making, scrape booking and immersing myself into wonderful stories. I wanted to go to NYC to college at Parsons, but my dad said no daughter of his was going to go to school in NYC. I started college in Retail Management, decided to broaden my major and changed to Business Management.
I am the President of our local Romance Writers Chapter, Peninsula Romance Writers, which is Debbie Macomber's home chapter.
I was recently asked by the President of DPCA, Doberman Pinscher Club of America, to chair the Historical Committee and to write the next book about the Doberman. I feel my world has come full circle. I am overwhelmed, excited, and truly honored to take on this project.



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                  ~~~CLICK HERE FOR JOANNE'S FACEBOOK FAN PAGE~~~

                       ~~~CLICK HERE TO HEAD TO JOANNE'S WEBSITE~~~

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                                                              Joanne's Bio:
Joanne was born and raised in Sherburne, New York, a quaint village surrounded by dairy farms and rolling hills. From the moment she could read she wanted to explore the world. During her college years she slowly crept across the country, stopping along the way in Oklahoma, California, and finally Washington State, which she now proudly calls home. She lives with her husband and three Dobermans; Anya, Maya, Tristan, in their home located on the Kitsap Peninsula with a panoramic view of the Olympic Mountains.
Joanne is a member of Romance Writers of America, and an active member of Debbie Macomber’s home chapter, Peninsula Romance Writers, where she has served as the president and current vice president.
Joanne is an avid reader, romance being the top of her list. Her perfect afternoon is to sit in front of the fire with a cup of tea, engrossed in a great novel with her dobermans lying on her lap and on her feet. She doesn’t leave home without an audio book playing in her jeep

The Bifrost Bridge by James Bradley Clarke

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When I first looked into this book, I was sure that the world of fairy tales had been overdone so many times that I wouldn't see much difference between this one & the other classic favorites that I have enjoyed over the year,s with my children... However, I was proven wrong.. This is such a beautiful and entrancing fairy tale! Mr. Clarke takes the often repetitive world of fairy tales and adds an elegant, dramatic twist to it, producing an epic and moving adventure that children will forever cherish! My daughter and I read it together and had many nights where we just didn't want to put it down! His characters, including the feisty Silya and Hedda, are memorable and seem so very real! The princesses are creative & never give up their battle to save themselves & their homes! It's a hard thing to create a children's fairy tale that even parents don't want to put down and again, I commend Mr. Clarke for releasing a wonderful new fairy tale to pass on to generations to come! I don't want to say too much about the book, as I believe fairy tales should be discovered and looked at by each person & child individually, to allow for their own interpretations, but rest assured, I absolutely loved this book! 
I highly recommend this tale for parents, grandparents, aunts uncles & others who love to see their beloved children get lost in the fantasy world and to also help encourage an active imagination..This book is a must-have and will make a fantastic Christmas gift! 

Platinum Gives "The Bifrost Bridge": 5 Platinum Rings! 

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Blurb:

The Bifrost Bridge is a Viking princess fairy tale intertwined with Norse mythology. Silya, the feisty ten year old Princess of Norway, eagerly awaits the arrival of her cousin and best friend, Princess Hedda of Denmark. The princesses are both looking forward to the summer solstice celebration, but trouble lurks in their future as magical villains see the girls as being vital for their deadly conspiracy. Hedda and Silya find themselves cast into a dangerous adventure filled with fire giants, female warrior angels and the God of Thunder. Can the princesses save themselves and their kingdoms, or will the forces of chaos overwhelm and destroy them?

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Excerpt:

Queen Lena made certain the princesses sat with Guardsman Brandt’s twin sons, eleven-year-old Bragi and Wiglaf. As the lead guardsman in King Harald’s court, Brandt was both counselor and good friend to the king.
After a long time of awkward silence, Wiglaf built up the courage to talk to Hedda.
“Princess Hedda, may I—”
“Wiglaf, you can just call me Hedda,” interrupted Hedda. Silya giggled and nodded in encouragement to him. “Thank you,” replied Wiglaf as his face turned red.
“It won’t be long before King Harald and Queen Lena will begin the first dance with your parents.”
“I never knew dancing interested you, Wiglaf,” teased Silya.
“He has not mentioned dancing since he tripped on a bench at the last banquet,” added Bragi.
“Wiglaf was trying to speak,” said Hedda with a compassionate tone. “Do you like to dance, Wiglaf?”
“Yes, Princess. I mean, Hedda,” replied Wiglaf.
“Well I happen to need a gentleman to dance with me,” explained Hedda. “Do you think you can help me with that?”
“Only if you don’t mind a lout stepping on your
toes all night,” answered Bragi. Wiglaf looked ready to knock Bragi to the floor when the musicians suddenly began playing the first dance song. Hedda patted Wiglaf gently on the hand and his temper returned to normal. After the kings and queens finished the first dance, the twins led the princesses to the floor where they twirled around for hours.
When the banquet ended, the two princesses climbed up to the ring castle gate balcony to look at the calm sea in the midnight sun. The night temperature became cool, so they cuddled together under a blanket as they looked at the horizon.
“I wish this solstice would last forever,” said Silya after sitting awhile in silence.
“Me too, Silya. Me too,” replied Hedda flashing a ready smile. “And you were right about what you said last night. We will always be friends no matter what happens in the future. Let’s go back inside and get warm by the hearth before our parents make us go to sleep.” Silya nodded in reply. She and Hedda linked their arms and walked back to the royal longhouse.........
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      ~~~CLICK HERE TO FIND JAMES BRADLEY CLARKE ON FACEBOOK~~~