JANE GODMAN is a 2019 Romantic Novelists’ Award winner and 2018 Daphne du Maurier Award finalist. She writes thrillers for Harlequin Romantic Suspense/Mills and Boon Heroes and paranormal romance for Harlequin Nocturne/Mills and Boon Supernatural and St. Martin’s Press Romance. She also self publishes her historical and gothic stories.
Jane was born in Scotland and has lived in Germany, Wales, Malta, South Africa, and England. She still gets the urge to travel, although these days she tends to head for a Spanish beach, or a European city that is steeped in history.
When she isn’t reading or writing romance, Jane enjoys cooking, spending time with her family, and enjoying the antics of her dogs, Gravy and Vera.
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Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly?
My first response to this question was that it would come across to the reader if an author was completely lacking in empathy. Or would it?
We create worlds and characters that are unlike our own lives and the tool we use for that is imagination. In the same way that we describe our settings, heroes and, heroines, we should also be able to engage our readers in the emotion of a story. Whether or not we feel that strongly ourselves shouldn’t matter.
Having said that, I think it helps if an author can bring a range of experiences to their writing. For me, that includes a range and depth of emotion. Of course, the skill is always in the writing. We can feel rage, joy, grief, and love but, unless we can describe those to our readers then we may as well lack empathy.
What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?
I have a number of author friends, mostly on-line, all of whom have helped me in so many ways. There is a tendency to see writing as a solitary occupation but it’s so important to develop and the best way to do that is by learning from others.
The main thing I take away from the awesome group of authors I’m proud to call my friends is the determination with which they fight for our genre and the joy and pride they take in it. The romance community is such a source of incredible talent. I love being part of it.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
My Harlequin Romantic Suspense stories are all part of a series, although they can be read as stand-alone stories.
Colton’s Secret Bodyguard is Book Four in the Harlequin / Mills and Boon Coltons of Roaring Springs series.
The Coltons stories have been a hugely successful continuity for many years. Running over a twelve-month period, they are serialized with a different author picking up the story each month. Think of a soap opera, with all the associated family drama, then add in murder, intrigue, and a steamy romance (of course)!
Tell us a bit about your book...
Colton’s Secret Bodyguard is Book Four in the Coltons of Roaring Springs continuity.
His mission: keep her safe, no matter what…
Just as Bree Colton is about to take the local art world by storm, someone is determined to sabotage her success…unless Rylan Bennet can keep her safe. Bree doesn’t want anyone to protect her—not even gorgeous Rylan, whose secrets threaten them both. But can the former soldier win the battle for Bree’s heart and the war against a sinister foe?
Colton’s Secret Bodyguard (The Coltons of Roaring Spring)
His mission: keep her safe, no matter what…
A Coltons of Roaring Springs thriller.
Just as Bree Colton is about to take the local art world by storm, someone is determined to sabotage her success…unless Rylan Bennet can keep her safe. Bree doesn’t want anyone to protect her—not even gorgeous Rylan, whose secrets threaten them both. But can the former soldier win the battle for Bree’s heart and the war against a sinister foe?
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