Author Spotlight: J.T. Geissinger
I am excited for readers to check out my Q&A with romance author J.T. Geissinger. J.T. writes over-the-top heroes and smart heroines and is known for pushing the boundaries of Romance.
Meet JT Geissinger-
J.T. Geissinger is USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Amazon Charts bestselling author of thirty-two novels. Ranging from funny, feisty romcoms to intense erotic thrillers, her books have sold over fifteen million copies worldwide and been translated into more than twenty languages.
She is a three-time finalist in both contemporary and paranormal romance for the RITA® Award, the highest distinction in romance fiction from the Romance Writers of America®. She is also a recipient of the Prism Award for Best First Book, the Golden Quill Award for Best Paranormal/Urban Fantasy, and the HOLT Medallion for Best Erotic Romance.
Becky: You have been publishing for quite a few years now… is it hard to keep your ideas fresh?
J.T.: No. There are so many stories to tell and so little time to tell them, I’ll never run out of ideas. My career goal is 100 published novels. I’m at 32 now, so I’ve got a ways to go. The key for me is following what interests me instead of chasing whatever’s popular in the market in any given year.
Becky: Can you share any writing rituals or habits that help you stay focused and productive during the writing process?
J.T.: I like to write early in the morning. I’ll have a cup of coffee, then put in my noise-cancelling earbuds and reread what I wrote the prior day, editing as I go. That gets me back into the story. From there, I like to write 1,500 words a day if possible. Sometimes I surpass that by a lot. Other days, I’m lucky if I get in 500 words. I keep track of my progress using software. I’m much more productive under deadline, so in the final few weeks of writing a novel, I usually crank out about half the book.
Becky: How do you handle romantic tropes and clichés to keep your stories fresh and engaging for readers?
J.T.: I don’t think about tropes when I’m writing. I start with two characters and a conflict and let them tell me the story from there. Tropes are for marketing, and I don’t worry about that until after I’m done with the novel. I always try to bring something new to the table every time I write a book, however, so I’m conscious of what I’ve done before and don’t repeat it.
Becky: Romance readers often have strong preferences when it comes to tropes (such as enemies-to-lovers, friends-to-lovers, etc.). Do you have a trope you love to write, and if so, what about it appeals to you?
J.T.: I love a good enemies-to-lovers story. There’s always high stakes and a lot of drama and emotion. It makes for a juicy reading experience.
Becky: What is one thing you want your readers to take away from your books when they are finished?
J.T.: I always strive to write a book that will stand out from the crowd and stick in a reader’s memory. That involves taking risks, but that’s the exciting part for me about writing. Some books, I want the reader to walk away with a smile, other books, I want to leave them traumatized. It depends on my mood when I start the novel.
About the re-release:
Becky: What inspired the Queen and Monsters Series?
J.T.: I had written a mafia duet, the Beautifully Cruel duet, prior to the Queens and Monsters series, and I really enjoyed that writing experience. I didn’t intend for the Q&M series to be a series when I started it, I was just liking the mafia genre in general. But the side characters insisted they have stories of their own, so I went ahead and made it a series.
Ruthless Creatures
Becky: What elements do you add to a story to help make their chemistry and connection feel so authentic and compelling?
J.T.: Banter. There must be good verbal banter between the characters. I don’t write a lot of internal musings from the characters, so much of the story is told in dialogue. Also, for romance, the sexual tension has to be palpable.
Becky: When you write a story, you like to add secrets and play with boundaries and trust. Do you think it makes your character’s connection deeper or gives them a stronger story arc- or is it kind of fun to play god with your characters?
J.T.: My characters write the story, not the other way around, so I never feel as if I’m in control of playing God. I’m just following along and taking dictation. As far as secrets go, every person has many secrets, so my characters do too. Having them keep secrets from each other builds the tension and drama, which makes for a more engaging story and a cathartic resolution once all those secrets are exposed.
Becky: The series introduces readers to a dark and dangerous world of crime and intrigue. What is the best part of writing dark and moral grey?
J.T.: Morally gray characters often operate outside the constraints of societal norms and the law, so that’s a lot of fun to explore. It’s living vicariously, I suppose. Nobody really wants to read about the village of the happy people, so I gravitate toward morally complex characters and stories.
Carnal Urges
Becky: Sloane is such a strong FMC. What is the one thing you hope your readers take from Sloane as a character? She is pretty fearless.
J.T.: Sloane has a tragic backstory, but she refuses to be a victim. She made a decision that she wouldn’t let the terrible things that happened to her define her. I’ve had a lot of readers tell me they find her courage inspirational.
Becky: Carnal Urges is known for balancing humor with darker themes. Is it hard when writing to keep that balance between those things?
J.T.: The only thing for me that’s hard about writing is dealing with my deeply ingrained procrastination. Once the characters introduce themselves to me, I simply allow them to be their authentic selves, which takes some restraint on my part not to force them to do things solely for the sake of plot. I find it’s always good to have some levity to balance out the darker moments, or else the story can get depressing.
Becky: What is next?
J.T.: 2025 has a lot of surprises in store for my readers. The third and fourth books in the Queens and Monsters series will rerelease in April with gorgeous new covers, sprayed edges, and brand-new content. Summer brings the third book in the Morally Gray series, Beg For Me, which is an age-gap billionaire romance (she’s older.) In the fall, I have a surprise standalone story coming that I haven’t announced yet that’s perfect for spooky season. Then, in November, Blackthorn will be published. I’m calling it a phantasmagoric gothic romance. It’s a weird, wild ride standalone with lots of spice and twists to keep readers guessing.
Connect with J.T.
Website: https://www.jtgeissinger.com/
Reder Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1546609172103644/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/jtgeissingerauthor/?hl=en
TIktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jtgeissingerauthor
