Interview with author June Kramin

Today we have the pleasure of a visit with author June Kramin.  Welcome to RomFan Reviews June.  I know that you are busy as any author I have met is so, let's get right to the dirt shall we?

Tell us a little about your newest release.

Charlene had more of an attitude that I was ready to deal with in I’ll Try to Behave Myself. I guess that is to be expected when you find your husband in bed with another woman! Andy, her boss, tries to comfort her after locating her in Puerto Rico, where she fled. Their relationship changes in ways neither of them expected. Even more so after the discovery of the “souvenir” they brought back with them. A lot of the story revolves around their job at an advertising agency. I love a secondary character, J.P., who knows just what to do with both of them.

What can we see coming from you in the future?

I have another romance release in May. Money Didn’t Buy Her Love. Jeremy quite literally runs into Danielle as she’s fleeing her own wedding. She goes back to his apartment with him, only he can’t get her to leave. Even when she confesses she’s falling in love with him, he continually pushes her away, blaming more than their age difference. The story takes them to my home – Maui. Who can’t fall in love in a setting like that? I have a few more stories I’m polishing up as well. Some suspense, but there is always a romantic element.

What is your favorite thing about being a romance writer?

I love making what seems to be the impossible couple end up together. My women tend to push their men away, but the men still love them with all that they have, despite their attitudes. Breaking down the walls must be my specialty. I love when a guy reads one of my books and enjoys it. Makes me think I’ve broken some kind of “romance barrier” or killed a stereotype.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Pantser – hands down. I rarely have a clue what is going on. My characters always run the show. I know it sounds silly to a plotter, but I love the twists that get thrown my way. Often when I’m editing, I’m wondering how the heck I got the plot to go there. Easy-peasy. It wasn’t me. ;)

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

I try not to make anyone learn something when they read my books. LOL. It’s supposed to be an escape. In this case, if your hubby cheated, you can decide for yourself if he’s a dirtball. (or blast it all over facebook for opinions.)

How long have you been a writer?

Although I have been told I’d be a writer since the third grade, it has really only been the past six years or so that I have been hard-core about it. I didn’t get into articles or short stories – I dove straight into novels.

How much time did it take from writing your first book to having it published?

I’m still beating my 1^st novel up. I may submit it this year. As far as my 1^st published novel – it was written in a month & took about 8 months to get accepted. After that – it was the longest year of my life to see it released as an e-book, four more months till I held a print copy. It seems like it’s always a waiting game for one thing or another – each step better than the last!

How would your friends describe you?

There’s nothing they would probably say to my face. Tee hee… They know “What you see is what you get.” Most of my friends are writers, too, so we all get along pretty darn well. We freaks tend to gravitate to one another.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? 
I love everything about the writing aspect. I have never had what you’d call “writer’s block” or gotten frustrated with a story. Writing is the only truly “fun” part of it. Just recently my daughter completed a cover for my middle grade series. I had to incorporate what she did because I loved it & I didn’t want her to change it. It fit perfectly & wrapped things up better than I could have imagined. The only real challenge is for my poor editors.  I rarely question them, figuring someone knows better than I do on the little grammatical things. I may have gotten A’s in English, but that was 100 years ago.  

When not writing, how do you relax?

What is this not writing of which you speak? If I’m not editing, I’m trying to help beta for a friend or read their latest release. We don’t have cable, but I do escape to a Netflix movie when I can. The few days MN weather permits, I let my horses boss me around. They are great dogs, but horses… not so much.

Who is your favorite author and why? What books have most influenced your life? 

I always answer this with John Sandford. I never thought crime thrillers would be my thing, but I love his main characters & love to follow a series. I have a ton of author friends that I read as soon as they have releases, too. I can’t name any books that I think have influenced my writing. What I do seems to be so different from what I read. I get a lot of comments about me “breaking the rules of romance”. I hope that’s a good thing. My grandfather said all romance is “Guy wins girl, guy loses girl, guy wins girl back.” Sometimes that’s true, but there is always other things going on. I even killed off a loveable MC once – I had people thank me for making them cry. Gotta love this business.

Thanks so much for having me!

Happy Reading!

Find out more about June and her books

Website: http://www.junekramin.com/

Women’s fiction fan page: http://www.facebook.com/JuneKramin

About me: http://about.me/june.kramin

Middle grade site: http://www.beforehappilyeverafter.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/junekramin

Contest:

June has offered to giveaway to one lucky person a print one of her two favorite books. "Double Mocha, Heavy on Your Phone Number" or "Hunter's Find."  You can only get these print books through June. Contest is open to US residents only!!  You must include your email in your comment to be entered to win.  Contest ends January 25^th at 11:59 pm