Many thanks to Joan Donaldson, author of the Cumberland Mountain series, for inviting me along on this creative adventure. Here goes...

If my character were a glass of wine... The Boy Next Door is a pretty intense romance, so in this case I don't think it matters what kind of wine it is - it's sitting on the coffee table while Maddy and Gabe ignore it in favor of some quality couch time together.

What sort of meal is my book? I'm going to have to go with Chinese takeout - so delicious you'll scarf through it and want more. :-)

Snack? Strawberries just picked from a Kansas farm field - this YA romance is juicy.

Your character's choice of candy? For Maddy, it'd be milk chocolate - the color of Gabe's eyes. For Gabe, cherry candy like the scent of Maddy's shampoo.

What sort of fragrance would be associated with your book? Something fresh and sporty, maybe DKNY's Be Delicious with its blond wood and white amber base topped with light notes of green apple, cucumber, and grapefruit.

What is your most memorable meal? I have a lot of wonderful memories of extended family dinners at my grandmother's house, a monthly tradition when I was growing up that I recreated in The Boy Next Door with the "families night" tradition of Maddy and Gabe's parents.

How would you describe your writing? I strive to capture a passion for life in my writing, drawing from my joy for figure skating, my hunger for personal improvement, and my love of the simplicity of life in the Midwest.

What's your favorite beverage to accompany a good book? I like a cup of tea, either English Breakfast with milk or Harney & Sons Paris blend.

Preferred salty snack? Chipotle cheddar on crackers.

Next week, you'll hear from Jennifer Comeaux, whose yummy NA figure skating novel Crossing the Ice just hit the shelves last month.

I got to read an ARC of Jennifer Comeaux's latest new adult skating romance and originally intended to post my review here but decided that instead of asking everyone to take my word on it, I'd share what some other readers are saying about Crossing the Ice...

From Amazon:
"Josh was the ultimate book boyfriend." --madeline
" I must say that Jennifer Comeaux has really turned me into an avid skating fan just by reading her books."  --JessieBear
"From a Non-Romance reader this rocked. I really couldn't put it down and ended up reading it in one day." --Niiki J "NJ"

From Goodreads:
"Crossing the Ice was a charming novel, with a lot of satisfying romance, likable characters, and even an edge-of-your-seat suspenseful scene that broke my heart and made me tear up." --Marni
"So freaking cute, I love Courtney & Josh." --Aydrea

And since I can't resist throwing in my own two cents, I'll add that Comeaux is a master of tension and does a fab job of writing skating scenes realistically. The print book isn't officially out for a couple of days, but the Kindle is live now (and on a special promo sale for 99 cents!) so go ahead and get your skating/romance/just-plain-awesome fix!

I love figure skating. I love novels. Figure skating novels? Swoon! Jennifer Comeaux's newest figure skating novel, Crossing the Ice, is coming out in six weeks, and I got a sneak peek of the first two chapters this weekend. Sign up for her newsletter to get your own sneak peek, or visit her web site to find out how you can receive a free ARC of the book.

Here's a short description of the book:

Falling hard never felt so good.

Pair skaters Courtney and Mark have one shot left at their Olympic dream. They vow not to let anything get in their way, especially not Josh and Stephanie, the wealthy and talented brother and sister team.

The heart doesn’t always listen to reason, though…
The more time Courtney spends with sweet, shy Josh, the harder she falls for him. But they are on opposite sides of the competition, and their futures are headed in opposite directions. Will their friendship blossom into more or are their paths too different to cross?

Today's post features an interview with Jennifer Comeaux, author of the Edge figure skating series. The Edge series includes Life on the Edge, The Edge of the Past, and Fighting for the Edge, as well as additional bonus material. Jennifer also maintains a blog about skating and writing. A huge skating fan, she just returned from a trip to the 2014 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

KJV: I enjoyed getting to experience a bit of this year's Nationals in Boston through your blog posts. There were a lot of high moments, but which of your memories from this competition make the podium?

Jennifer: It was such an incredible event – one of the best I’ve ever attended! Some of the moments that stood out the most were Marissa Castelli & Simon Shnapir’s short program (they had the home crowd rocking!), Felicia Zhang & Nathan Bartholomay’s free skate and their kiss and cry reaction to their scores (my friends and I were screaming like crazy people when they went into second place), Meryl Davis & Charlie White’s free dance (stunning perfection!), and Jason Brown’s free skate.

KJV: You started writing stories when you were seven years old, but Louisiana isn't known for wintry weather. How and when did you fall in love with figure skating?

Jennifer: I fell in love with the sport watching it on TV as a kid. The first Olympics where I remember being totally engrossed was the 1988 Winter Games. I was all over the Battle of the Brians and the Battle of the Carmens! From then on I watched every single skating event that was on TV. I liked watching other sports, and I loved the way skating was the perfect combination of sport and art.

KJV: In addition to being a figure skating fanatic, you're a CPA. What suggestions can you offer fellow writers regarding fitting in time to write?

Jennifer: I think the most important thing is scheduling time to write and sticking to it, which I need to do a better job of doing! With limited time to write at night and on the weekends, it’s very important to make the most of the blocks of time you have, so outlining your scenes and chapters ahead of time is a big help. When I sit down with blank paper and have no idea what comes next, I get totally freaked out and feel so overwhelmed. But an outline, no matter how simple it is, helps me feel like I have some guidance on where to begin.

KJV: Reflecting on your experiences in becoming published, do you have any advice to help smooth the ice for aspiring authors?

Jennifer: With so many options for authors these days, I think you just need to look at all the different opportunities and decide which one fits your needs and helps fulfill your dreams. One of my dreams was to have my manuscript accepted by a publisher, so I found a publisher that was a good fit for me and learned everything I could about them and their authors. If you just want to get your work in front of readers without going through a publishing company, then you can definitely go that route. There have been so many success stories in self-publishing.

KJV: Now that the Edge series is complete, you're working on a companion novel featuring Courtney. Can we get a rink side preview of her story?

Jennifer: I’m very excited about this new story! It’s a lot of fun to write because I can still keep some familiar characters around, but I also get to introduce some new ones. Here’s a little peek at the story: Courtney and her partner Mark haven’t enjoyed the same success Emily and Chris had. They have only one shot left to make the Olympic team, and they vow not to let anything get in their way. Enter Stephanie and Josh, talented siblings with the same dream. Courtney knows she should keep her distance from the rival team, but as she gets to know handsome, quiet Josh, she becomes more and more intrigued. Will their blossoming friendship become more or will the competition tear them apart?

For more on Jennifer's books, the 2014 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships, and other reading, writing, and skating fun, visit Jennifer at http://jennifercomeaux.blogspot.com/.