Author Spotlight - Jillian Chantel talks about her passion for writing

I write both contemporary and historical fiction. I love history and always have. Many have called me a history buff and I'm almost unbeatable at Trivial Pursuit in that category. I have tons of knowledge in the old noggin about all kinds of different eras.

When I first started writing, I focused on contemporary because I'd heard horror stories of the "historical police" coming after writers that used the wrong phrases, improper slang and even the incorrect kind of underwear for the heroine. It made me quake in my lace-up Victorian boots and I vowed never to take on that challenge and be hauled off to whatever hoosegow was waiting for research-poor writers or even writers that knew the era, but were a little less careful than they should be.

So, I moved along in my happy little contemporary world, spicing up my stories with things I learned as a lawyer and hanging around with cops and US Marshals, which is a fun job if you can get it. I was blissful and content in this little cocoon I built around myself.

Enter Liam Cormac, an Irish devil with a sneer, a nice strong thigh (one of my weaknesses) and a wicked grin (when he chooses to use it). He wouldn't take no for an answer and there I was, in the middle of writing a historical. I glanced around my room, looking for those other police, the ones that aren't as fun to hang with as my buds in my legal job. Uh-oh. Was that one over in the corner? Whew, no. It's just the pesky cat wanting to be fed.

Anyway, if you need me, I'm hiding in the closet. Let me know when it's safe to come out.