short bio…

When I was a little girl and couldn’t fall asleep, my mother would tell me to make up a story. Pretty soon, my head was filled with these stories and the characters that populated them. Each character had a specific personality, a list of likes and dislikes, and sometimes, even a specific accent or dialect. Even as an adult, I think about the characters and stories at night before I fall asleep, or in the car on my way to or from one of my daughters’ numerous activities (hey, anything that will drown out their music is a good thing).

One day, I started writing them down (it was either that or checking into the local mental hospital—the computer was way less scary) and five years later, I’ve gotten two book contracts from Whiskey Creek Press. A Heart of Little Faith is coming out in June; Skin Deep is coming out in November.

In the real world, I’m the mother of two amazing daughters and wife of one of the smartest men I know. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, reading, traveling and watching TV. In between chauffeuring my daughters to after-school activities that require an Excel spreadsheet to be kept straight, I run youth group activities, train the dog we recently adopted from a local shelter, and cook dinners that fit the needs of four very different appetites. I also write freelance articles for magazines, newspapers, and edit newsletters.

When all of that gets overwhelming, I retreat to my computer, where I write contemporary romances that let me escape from reality. In my made-up world, the heroines are always smart, sassy and independent. The heroes are handsome and strong with just a touch of vulnerability. If I don’t like a character, I can delete him or her; if something doesn’t work, I can rewrite it. It’s very satisfying to be in control of at least one part of my life. My inspiration comes from watching the people around me and fantasizing about how I’d do things differently.

How long have you been a member of EPIC?

I joined in March 2011

How long have you been writing? How long have you been published?

I’ve been writing forever, really. I was a newspaper and magazine writer and editor before I decided to try fiction writing. My first romance was published in June and my second will be published in November.

What's your writing process? (i.e. pantser/organic writer or plotter or mix? write on the computer? longhand? mix? how many passes? etc.)

I am a total pantser! And in case I had any doubts about it, I tried writing my current WIP from an outline and it’s a complete disaster. Right now I’m just trying to finish the first draft so I can go back and fix it because it’s that awful. I have a much easier time with my voice and with story flow when I just sit down and write, rather than plot everything out ahead of time. I need my characters talking to me in my head in order to tell their story and an outline shuts them up (oh wait, maybe that’s a good thing!).

Introvert or extrovert?

Total introvert. This talking about my books is just about killing me!

Have you ever included a real experience of your own in a book? Did anyone who knows you notice it?

Well, despite the fact that I’m always telling people I write FICTION, yes, I’ve incorporated real experiences in my books. In my first book, A Heart of Little Faith, Lily, the heroine, talks about how, as a little girl, she gave her dad massages by pretending his back was a pizza that she was making. That’s something I used to do when I was little. In my next book, Skin Deep, the heroine takes the hero with her family to the racetrack on Thanksgiving. That’s a longstanding family tradition in my house as well.

Where do you get your character names?

Usually I look in baby name books or baby naming sites on the Internet so that I can find names that mean something important to the story or their character. In A Heart of Little Faith, the hero’s name is Gideon, because I wanted to emphasize his strength. The heroine’s name is Lily, because even though she’s a strong heroine, I wanted to emphasize delicacy. In Skin Deep, I picked the name John for the hero because I wanted a name that was fairly ordinary—not that I’m knocking anyone named John, but I didn’t want a name that required too much thought since the character came from a tough childhood situation and his parents would never have put much thought into his name. I think I’m digging myself a hole here, now, so I’ll stop! J

What does your family think about your writing? How, if they do, do they support you in your writing endeavors?

I’ve always kept my writing to myself, so to begin with, my family was very surprised that not only was I writing, but I’d submitted to editors and was going to be published. They were very proud of me and excited for me and have turned into a huge cheering section. They’re also great about coming up with marketing ideas, etc.

Do you belong to a crit group or other writing group? How helpful do you find it?

I belong to RWA (both the national and the NJ chapter) and they are great for workshops, support, seminars and conferences. Their magazine has wonderful tips and I wouldn’t have gotten where I am without them.

I also have an amazing critique partner. She and I have been working together for three years and she catches everything! We have a good partnership because we’re blatantly honest with each other and we each have strengths where the other has weaknesses. I couldn’t write without her!

What book, if you have written several books, is your favorite and why?

My favorite book is A Heart of Little Faith. I love the characters and it was so much fun to write.

If you could have one magical power, what would it be and why?

I would want to fly. I imagine the freedom would be amazing and it just seems so graceful.

If you were the overlord of the world, what would your first decree be?

Everyone has to do things my way! Oh, and eat chocolate.

Tell us about releases you expect within the next year... Remember to say which publishers they are with!

Skin Deep is being released by Whiskey Creek Press in November. It’s a contemporary romance. Here’s a short blurb: The last thing Valerie needs, after escaping an abusive marriage to an alcoholic and rebuilding her life, is a broody, secretive, standoffish man. But that’s exactly what she gets when she becomes a makeup artist on the set of a hit sitcom and draws the attention of the series’ star. John Samuels hides a terrible past—a life of abuse and neglect. A successful acting career and the affection and support of cast, crew and friends, does nothing to convince him that he is anything other than an unlovable monster. Will he learn that the life he’s been living has been built on a lie or will he be doomed to repeat the sins of his father?

Tell us about your current release... blurb... link to purchase is a plus!

My current release is A Heart of Little Faith. It’s available through Whiskey Creek Press and Amazon (and hopefully soon through Barnes & Noble). Here’s a blurb: Lily Livingston is a widow raising her six-year-old daughter, Claire, in New York City. Devastated by her husband’s death three years ago, she’s in no hurry to fall in love again. Besides, trying to balance her career with motherhood leaves her little time for romance. With a wheelchair instead of a white horse, and a vow against falling in love again as his armor, Gideon Stone is the last person Lily expects to sweep her off her feet. But when a business agreement forces the two of them together, that is exactly what happens. As they navigate the minefield that fast represents their relationship, can either of them overcome the obstacles to find true happiness in each other’s arms? The answer is yes, but the bumps along the way demonstrate that neither of them can go it alone.

Purchasing links:

Whiskey Creek Press: http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=907&zenid=d2fb8d0c0f19bb3899996e91ce96e6cf

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Little-Faith-Jennifer-Wilck/dp/161160091X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311107168&sr=8-1

Give us your URLs (web site, MySpace, Facebook, blog, etc.)

Website: www.jenniferwilck.com

Fried Oreos Blog: www.jenniferwilck.wordpress.com

Heroines With Hearts Blog (contributor): www.heroineswithhearts.blogspot.com

Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennifer-Wilck/201342863240160

Whiskey Creek Press Author Page: http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=907&zenid=d2fb8d0c0f19bb3899996e91ce96e6cf

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Little-Faith-Jennifer-Wilck/dp/161160091X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311107168&sr=8-1