Jasmine Aherne Interview

Please welcome Jasmine Aherne to my humble blog abode. Much sauciness ahead with Orlando Bloom...in Jasmine's room. God, I should have been a poet...

Nat: So, how does writing make you feel, darling?

Jasmine: Great! Like slipping into someone else's skin for an hour, or two, or three. No matter what's going on in your own life it's nice to take a load off your mind and tackle someone else's problems instead, or...give them more problems! Mwahaha.

Nat: Oh, you wicked woman, you! Which of your books is your fave--and why? Gotta know the why because I'm nosey.

Jasmine: Stranded, I think. How could it not be? It was my first ever published novel, and my first novel with one of my publishers, Pink Petal Books. Why? Because I adored writing it. The hero, Will, is based on one of my favourite actors, Edward Norton, and it gave me an excuse to watch a lot of his films. Research, yes. *cough cough*

Nat: Ah, he's the geezer who played Will Graham in Red Dragon, isn't he? I do believe you can keep him. He's not my mug of tea, dear. There will be no squabbles over men at this present time...

Do you need silence to write, or can you pen a tale with a household tempest swirling around you?

Jasmine: I like music. Right now I'm sat on my sweetie's bed with my computer on my lap. I'm warm and comfy and my sweetie is at his PC killing zombies. It's nice to be able to share space with him but do different things at the same time. Mind you, he has to wear headphones too or I get distracted by the zombies going splat... Eeew.

Nat: Eww indeed! What books do you have planned for the future, or don't you know until you open a clean document?

Jasmine: I don't know! I'd like to say I have a list as long as my arm of planned books...but I don't know. I usually get an idea when I go to the movies. Films are so inspirational to me.

Nat: That guy there. Look at him. He seriously has your list on his damn arm. Imagine having an arm like that, though! You could tap someone on the shoulder way ahead of you in a queue then snake your arm back quickly and pretend you didn't do it. The fun you could have!

How much writing time do you have each day/week, and do you wish you had more?

Jasmine: About an hour or two, more on weekends. I wish I had more! I'm lucky that I don't work terribly long hours in my day job, but sometimes I get home too tired to do more than pour dinner down my neck and collapse into bed!

Nat: I like that idea. Pouring dinner down your neck. It would save so much time not having to chew!

Okay, imagine this, if you will.. You've been asked to attend a writing convention, and a genie appears (come on, indulge me...), offering to magic one star who will accompany you. Who would you pick and why? Details, I must have details, and if it's a star I'd pick, I'll fight you for the sexy bleeder! *holds fists up and stands in a menacing position, just so you know I mean business*

Jasmine: All right! *rubs hands with glee* Well, I do have a thing for Edward Norton, but in this case, it'd HAVE to be Orlando Bloom. In his Pirates of the Carribean get up. Oh yeah, baby. The long hair, the pirate coat, the boots, the open shirt, the voice.... all of it. And why? Just look at him! And it gets better when he has a sword. Men + weapons do it for me!

Nat: Okay, so now we have a squabble on the horizon. Unless you agree to share... He is rather dishy, isn't he? A veritable plate of dishiness that begs to be eaten up. Eyes, look at the eyes. Ooooh. Ooooooooooooh!

Oh crap! The genie has appeared again--gosh, he's an accommodating fella but arrives at the most inopportune friggin' fantasy moment GRR--and grants you another wish. Personally, I think he fancies you, hence his reappearance, but he's so shy he's just making out he has to visit you with three wishes. Yeah, right, Genie Boy, whatever you say. Hmm. Why doesn't he just say he thinks you're lush? Men! Anyway, where was I? Oh yes. The genie says you can take your star on an all-expenses paid holiday. Where would you go and why?

Jasmine: Ireland, without a doubt. It might be cold, but it's beautiful. Sheer cliffs that stagger down to roaring pale blue seas, a summer sky bluer than a robin's egg, and live music every night in most pubs. And the men's accents! Whoa. That accent should be illegal, it's so hot. Seriously! Although I suppose with Orlando on my arm I'd be greedy if I checked out the men....

Nat: Ah, I see what you're doing. Staking a claim on Orlando with that last comment *grin*. Making it clear he's yours, ya big meany. So tell me, what would you do with him? You know, do-do *wink*.

Jasmine: Three words. Bed. Silk scarves. You can imagine the rest. And oh boy, am I imagining right now...

Nat: LOL! Now, you're fully sated by Orlando, and the genie is back, jealous as all get out and raging at you to run away with him. But Orlando has claimed your heart and you've claimed his. The genie offers you unlimited wishes if you go with him, but you can't use one to keep the star as yours. Would you run away with the genie or stay with the star?

Jasmine: Ooh! I don't know. That's a tough one... I guess I could wish for the genie to turn into Orlando...is that allowed, or is trying to trick him naughty?

Nat: I love it! I wouldn't have thought of doing that. Yes, that's allowed, whoop!

So, do you believe in love at first sight, soul mates, and destiny?

Jasmine: I believe in love at first sight, and I believe in destiny. As for soul mates, I just don't know. I used to believe in that "one person for everyone" theory, but then I thought, what if your "one" gets taken from you? Are you just doomed to wander around, loveless, without them, never to feel a love that wonderful again? That makes me sad.

Nat: I know what you mean. That wandering thing makes me want to cry.

Where do you see yourself in your writing career in five year's time?

Jasmine: I'd like to be able to write part time and work part time--hopefully I'll be making enough money to do that. And maybe in ten year's time, I could write full time! Aahhhh, wishing... Where's that genie when you need him?

Nat: He's buggered off, jealous about Orlando.

And one for luck... Do you think I'm rather mental? I've asked myself this a dozen times, but my other me won't answer.

Jasmine: Nah. You're fun! And hey, you gave me a nice Orlando Bloom fantasy for free... *turns laptop so her sweetie can't see, just incase he's finished killing zombies*

Nat: Oh good. Glad to have been of service, heh heh! Well, it was great having you here. I had much fun. Good luck with all your books, darling, and have a good fantasy tonight! LOL!

Now, my beauties, here is an excerpt from Jasmine. Whee!

~*~

Excerpt from Stranded by Jasmine Aherne

Will wanted to look at Rachel but he didn’t. Her shiny, chocolate brown hair swung past her chin and brushed her shoulders in gentle waves. He wondered what it would feel like between his fingers.

He longed to say something, anything, anything at all, a comment on her appearance, an enquiry about the time of flight she would attempt to board tomorrow, but his thought processes were interrupted when the elevator slid to a halt and the doors opened. Her floor.

“My room is right around this corner.” She led him down the large tan hallway. It looked like a nice place, not too expensive, not too cheap. “Here we are, this should be-” she got her key ready.

He stayed her hand. “Would you like me to come in with you?”

Rachel deliberated. She drew her bottom lip between her teeth, her eyes filled with anxiety.

Their eyes met. Rachel hesitated, but then she nodded firmly. “Yes. Please.”

The key slid home. The door opened, and Will had time for a cursory glance around the empty room.

His fingers itched to touch, to stroke her cheek, hold her hand.
But he didn’t, of course, he didn’t. He had proved himself a gentleman, and he didn’t want to outstay his welcome. Yet his feet stayed rooted to the ground. He wanted to stay with her, near her. Even though I shouldn’t. It would be so inappropriate.

“All right.” He finally kicked himself into doing the right thing, unfortunately it was the opposite of what he wanted.

What I want is just to stand here and drink her in: her delicate profile, still so wounded in the harsh light of the hotel room. To feel the softness of her hair and taste the salt of her tears.

“All right?” she asked.

“I should go. You should get some sleep. It’s been a long day for you.”

"Yes. It has.” She rubbed at her hair, a nervous gesture. “Thanks, Will. For… seeing me safely up here.” She lifted a hand and dropped it, then leaned up and kissed his cheek, very gently, her lips silk-soft against his skin.

He hoped she had left a lipstick-colored imprint. Something to remember her by.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He turned to go, but then, just couldn’t help adding, “So what are you doing tomorrow? You have a whole day to just mess around the city, right?”

Realization dawned. “Oh, I… I hadn’t thought about it, but yes I do.”

Silence circled around them. Finally, Will gathered up the wherewithal to ask, “Do you want me to show you about?”