Interview Jaxine Daniels

by

Cheryl Pereira

1) Hi, Jaxine, Congratulation on the release of A Soft Place to Fall--the logline is definitely intriguing. Tell us little about it and what inspired you to write it?

I was looking for a series hook, a world that I could build and turn into a five or six book series. One night, lying in bed, I realized that my hook was right in front of my face in the Search and Rescue community. I’d worked with the Air Force pararescue guys (PJ’s) on SAR missions and they were an elite unit that was little known. Thus the birth of a series.

2) What are your current projects?

Currently, I’m working on the third in the PJ series. This is Angel’s story and involves murder.

3) Do you write as it comes or do you need to sit down and plot out the story first?

I started out writing “by the seat of my pants” but have purposely worked to learn to do some of the plotting and outlining up front. In theory, it saves me from the crisis about one hundred pages in. In theory… J

4) Do you do any research for your stories? What is the most interesting thing you have learned?

Even though I’ve worked in Search and Rescue and in emergency medicine, I still have to do research. I’m pretty particular about details being as accurate as I can make them, so I have to find lots of experts. I have a good friend (who I found quite by chance) who is a retired AF rescue helicopter pilot. He and I have spent hours drinking coffee at the coffee shop and playing “what if.”

I think the most interesting has been the amount of training these PJ’s go through. They are as well trained (or maybe better) than the SEALS. As a matter of fact, they’re called SEALS with STETHESCOPES. J

4) How did you feel when you found out you had finalled the 2004 Lories, From the Heart RWA Chapter?

Of course, it would have been wonderful to come in first. But in addition to entering that contest, I judged it (not the category I was entered in.) There was a very high quality of entries, so having Soft Place come so close was a real validation. What was even better was a recent review that had no “buts.” That was a thrill.

5) What is the easiest part of the writing process for you? How about the hardest?

The easiest part is the emotion, the characters. The hardest is the plotting. I still struggle with that aspect.

6) What do you do to motivate yourself on those days when you just don’t feel like writing? Do you have a set routine you follow?

I do have a set routine. I’ve found that if I wait until I feel like it, I won’t get much done. It’s all wrapped up, for me, in being a professional. I get up with the sun and get hubby off to work. Then spend from 8:00 to 10:00 with mail and learning French and on promotion. Then I write till noon, or a little after, and take a reading break. Feed hubby, then back to writing. Sometimes the afternoon is used in writing other than the book I’m working on. I do some freelancing and write for newsletters. At 4:00, I stop and spend the evenings and weekends with hubby. Don’t usually write evenings or weekends. But I always have the novel notebook within reach because ideas come at the weirdest times.

7) Who would you say is the greatest inspiration and support in your life?

I am so fortunate to have a husband that works very hard so that I can write. He also plays “what if” with me, and is the best proof reader I’ve ever seen. I’m inspired by folks who, in the face of such obstacles, keep inching forward. Not necessarily famous people, but those who never get the spotlight.

8) How do you describe Jaxine Daniels? How do Jaxine Daniels’ family and friends describe her?

Yikes, that’s a loaded question. Jax is a goof. She’s idealistic and can be a trouble maker. She stands up for what she believes and has paid a price for that. But mostly, she’s a goof J

9) What is the all important quality that attracts you to write about military men?

I don’t think its military men specifically. I think it’s those guys who step up to the mission of saving people. Usually, those aren’t high paying positions--military or not--and they’re doing it because it’s in their blood. It doesn’t hurt that they look good in uniform.

10) What is one thing that you yearn to learn or want to do, but still haven’t gotten around to it?

This is such a hard question, because the list is SO long. I am often frustrated that there’s so much to learn and so little time. I love music and would love to learn to play the fiddle. I would love to be able to speak several languages (I’m currently learning French.) I’d like to parachute and learn to scuba dive. There is a long list of places I’d like to see (including ALL the settings of my books.)

11) Describe your idea of a perfect romantic getaway?

Someplace WARM. Sunshine. Warm water. Sand. Tropical breezes. I think I’d say that even if it weren’t snowing outside.

12) And last but not the least, what advice can you give to aspiring writers across the board--something that has helped you reach this point in your career?

Study the craft. Read good books. Read more good books. Don’t give up. Write. Write some more. The best gift you can give yourself is to train yourself to write, even if the muse is out of town. Don’t give in to proverbial writer’s block. Give yourself no way out. (I do this by committing to deadlines and to my calendar.)