I’m thrilled to be the final stop on the Sisters on Tour! Both are favorite authors, so to have both here today is an extra treat 🙂 They have a special announcement following their interview.
My reviews for both five-star stories are here: LINK
We are deeply grateful to you, Denise, for offering to let us wrap up this tour on your wonderful blog site!
When we decided to launch our new books together on the same day, Linda and I wanted to make it something special. It feels like we are making publishing history, and perhaps we are.
For this blog tour, we’ve chosen questions and answers designed to give the readers a deeper look into who we are, our background, and how we ended up where we are today, launching books together.
Question: What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters of the opposite sex?
Jan: I think the hardest part about writing characters of the opposite sex is getting the dialogue right. Men talk and express emotions much differently than women. I think women writers who have raised sons have a deeper insight into this. Also, men tend to get angry much quicker than women. I love writing male characters who are both rugged, yet sensitive. However, I think they only exist in fiction. (Sorry guys. No offense)
Linda: Men react differently from women when under stress or fear and it’s not always easy to figure out what they should be doing. My male writer friend is very helpful whenever I’m in doubt. Also, men show emotion very differently as well. I can’t claim that I always get that right. And, as Jan said, the dialogue. Men tend to speak in short, choppy sentences and they don’t use “ly” words.
Question: How do you select names for your characters?
Jan: I almost giggled when I read this question. I honestly can’t say I spend a lot of time selecting names for characters, at least the main characters. They tell me. I know that sounds crazy, but it’s true. However, when I wrote Ghostly Interference, I struggled with a name for the main character. Everything I came up with didn’t fit. So, Linda suggested I interview the character and ask him. But it was his mother whom I wound up interviewing. I know that sounds crazy as this entire conversation took place in my head, but it happened. She told me her backstory. Once, when she was still in high school, she met Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones and vowed if she ever had a son, she’d name him Jag. Boom! Not only did I get the character’s name but also another story (hers) that I wrote as a short story for an anthology. But if I do have to search for names for secondary characters, I have some favorite internet sites I use. It helps to put a year in the search bar for popular names in that time period. One thing I try to avoid is having character names that sound too much alike or names that all start with the same letter. I once read a story with characters named J.J. and Jay. That was super confusing.
Linda: I keep a list of names that I’m always adding to, and if none of those fit my character, I turn to the internet. Also, I’ve found names in cemeteries. Once I ran across the name Texanna on an old tombstone, and I used that in a novella. They’re a great place to look. And as Jan said, often a name will just pop into your head. Writing historicals, I need to know their nationality, and the name has to fit where they originated from. You can’t have an Alistair from Sweden. One of my favorite parts is naming characters. My hardest thing is not repeating. I love the name Luke, and I used it in four different books!! As the hero, no less. Crazy.
Question: What one thing would you give up to become a better writer?
Jan: This one made me stop and think. What would I give up? I’ve already given up time, money, ego, and fear of rejection. What’s really left? I’m not a big TV watcher, so that’s nothing I’d miss. I mostly read for entertainment, and I’m definitely not ever giving that up. Besides, as Linda mentioned at a previous stop, reading enhances writing. So, really, I don’t have an answer to this question.
Linda: I really love coffee but I would give it up if I could be a better writer. That’s how much I yearn to turn unique phrases and write vivid descriptions. I read books by bestselling authors and feel so inadequate next to them. I really admire good writing. A long time ago, a writer told me never to compare myself to other authors. Everyone has different viewpoints and skills. She said, “Someone is always going to write better, and you will always better than some. So, I try not to compare.
Question: Does your family support your career as a writer?
Jan: For me, the answer is yes and no. They seem proud when I win book awards, and they celebrated with champagne when I got my first publishing contract. But I don’t think any of them have actually read my books. My oldest daughter has read some, but not the younger one. It’s almost as if she has a mental block against it – like Mom couldn’t possibly be good enough to write a compelling story. Still, I always give them both an autographed copy of every new book. I envy writers who have family involvement in their writing.
Linda: Not much and I’ve been a published writer for 25 years. My oldest daughter is good about reading each new book, but she’s the only one. I’ve spoken to my writing friends about this subject, and they tell me their families don’t read their books either. My family, including my oldest, never asks what I’m writing or even seems curious, and I don’t know why that is.
PURCHASE LINKS:
CADE’S QUEST: https://www.amazon.com/Cades-Quest-Western-Romance-McIntyres-ebook/dp/B0FD7X4H5D/
A BOLD BARGAIN: https://www.amazon.com/Bold-Bargain-Bargainer-Book-ebook/dp/B0FD7VSY68/
LINDA BRODAY SOCIAL MEDIA:
WEBSITE: https://www.lindabroday.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/lindabrodayauthor
BLUESKY: https://bsky.app/profile/lindabroday.bsky.social
AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Linda-Broday/author/B001JRXWB2?ccs_id=4a2c44df-2076-43cd-8bf8-f15b530ea92f
JAN SIKES SOCIAL MEDIA:
WEBSITE: https://www.jansikes.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/authorjansikesbooks
TWITTER: HTTPS://WWW.TWITTER.COM/JANSIKES3
BLUESKY: https://bsky.app/profile/jksikes-author.bsky.social
AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jan-Sikes/author/B00CS9K8DK?ccs_id=8185cb63-9ad0-4d7b-85ad-c2d64ce37812
It was a fun and interesting interview. Great questions and both Jan and Linda gave very interesting answers. It was a delight to read.
Thanks so much, Thomas! We hope you’ve enjoyed this tour and learning more about us as sisters and as authors.
It really was so much fun to have them here today, Thomas:) They created some great books.
Thomas, we’re so glad you stopped by and that you found our answers to the questions interesting. Few writers like to talk about themselves and I’m one of those. I had to do a little contemplation and loosen up a bit.
Hi Denise, this is a lovely post to round off the tour. Both Jan and Linda’s comments about the involvement of family in their books made me smile. Neither of my sons have read my books written in my own capacity, and TC has only read one. My mom is the one who supports all my writing and reads everything I write.
How wonderful that you have your mother’s support. When our mom was still alive, she read Linda’s books, but she passed away before I started writing. It’s interesting, isn’t it, that our families support us, but it’s almost like they don’t want to get too involved. 🙂 Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment, Robbie!
It kind of does feel like that with much of the family, Jan 🙂
I love being able to close the tour, Robbie 🙂 Same in my house, my daughters only read a couple, and my son, none of them. My hubby is the only one whose read all of them and a couple of my sister in laws.
Denise, it’s strange that my husband read a couple of mine and it really surprised me because he wasn’t a reader. That meant so much to me. Thank you so much for hosting our final stop! Jan and I are thrilled.
My husband isn’t much of a reader either. He always catches the little eggs left for him. So happy be a part of your special tour and get word out on these fantastic books!
💜
Roberta, mothers seem to be interested in whatever we do. As Jan said, our mother read the three I had published before she passed and she told all the doctors and nurses in the hospital about my books. Even the janitor. I took some books up there and gave them to the nurses. Mom’s pride shone in her eyes.
That is wonderful to know 🙏💕
Another terrific interview on this book tour! Thank you, Denise, Jan, and Linda!
Re family members not reading one’s book, I now realize I’m not alone. 🙂 This was even the case for my latest book — despite that part-fictional/part-factual book including three family members as characters. 😲
It’s interesting, Dave. I think part of it may be that our families see us a certain way and that affects whether or not they read our books. Or maybe they’re afraid of what they’ll learn about us through our stories. 🙂 I envy writers who share their writing with family.
It was a fantastic topic to talk about, Dave 🙂 Shows how much we all have in common, even with family. That’s whybI love having family here today.
Excellent observations, Jan and Denise! I even sent my three family members (wife and two daughters, all of whom I get along with quite well) the pre-publication Word file with the offer to veto anything they didn’t like. 🙂 Not read. C’est la vie… 🙂
At least there are no vetos involved, Dave! Many family members enjoy collecting the books without doing the reading part.
Dave, it’s wonderful to have you follow us here. Thank you so much. I, too, put family members in books and my brother loved it. He reads everything that Jan and I write then my sis-in-law reads them. But forget my kids except for my oldest daughter. It really hurt me at first but I’ve gotten over that. I’m not writing for them. I write to entertain myself and fill lonely hours. Then if my stories can provide a little enjoyment to others or lift them up, that’s what’s important. 🙂
Great interview! I’m grateful my mom and sister read every one of my stories. My son, on the other hand, hasn’t read a single one. Lol! Thanks for hosting, Denise!
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
How wonderful, Yvette. That’s a special thing to share with your mom and sister. It will be interesting to see if your son eventually reads your books when he’s an adult. Thank you for sharing! Hugs!
I’m beginning to see a pattern of sons not reading, Yvette 🙂 although one of my son in laws has. Thrilled to be a part of this one and their great books. Xo
My son read a lot as a child, but as he got older, he stopped. I’m hoping he gets back into reading once he’s done with college.
Yvette, my son would absolutely die if he had to read one of mine. Yet, he loves to read Tom Clancy and other suspense writers. And he’s fascinated with the Titantic and has read everything about that. Not mine though. Jan’s and my brother is our biggest fan as was our mom. Thank you for coming.
I had to laugh at Linda’s coffee answer. Ohhh, that would be HARD for me to give up! I recently read both books and loved them both!
I do love my coffee, too, Priscilla. Mine and Linda’s Sunday morning phone marathon ritual definitely involves coffee. 🙂 Thank you for your endorsement of both books. We appreciate your support SO much!
I had to give up coffee, it was so tough, Priscilla! At least I get to enjoy the smell and remember. I agree both great books! A talented family.
Priscilla, it’s so good to see you. Yep, I absolutely would give up coffee to be a better writer. It makes feel so inadequate when I read a book with the most exquisite prose. I study the lines that grab me and wonder how I can even come close to that. I love how authors can put the most unusual words together that few would even think of.
Thank you so much for reading Jan’s and my books! I’m so glad you enjoyed them. 🙂 🙂
I relate to this so much. I kept an old Louisiana phone book to help with names. It’s a pretty good melting pot for variety, and the commercial places actually help with locations, too. My family doesn’t read my books either.
That’s a great idea with the old phone, Craig. I get stuck using the same names and have to explore. May have to see if I still have an old one around 🙂 I thought using family names in one would entice a few to read, no luck…lol
What a great idea about the phone book, and especially Louisiana, Craig! Cemeteries are good for historical names and I do love to meander through old cemeteries. The family dynamic is interesting. I am seeing a pattern. Thanks for leaving a comment, Craig!
Craig, I can only imagine the names you find in that old Louisiana phone book. Very different from most. Great that it also helps with commercial places. That’s excellent. I think it’s harder finding good names that were used in the 1800s which is where I set most of my stories. Readers would send me scathing emails if I used a modern name in one. Thank you so much for following us on this tour. We truly appreciate it.
Super nice interview, Denise!
Thanks for dropping by, Noelle!
Noelle, we’re so happy you came and glad you found the Q&A interesting.
Always fun to learn more about each other, Noelle:)
Wonderful contribution to the tour, Denise. The interview is very nice.
Thanks so much, Tim. I’m happy you stopped by!
😊
Tim, here we are again. Thanks for coming and for following us on this tour. It’s been so much fun.
Thank you, Timothy 🙂 Honored to be a part of it!
Congratulations to the sisters on a clever and original approach to a blog tour. I enjoyed it!
Thanks so much for riding along on this tour, Jacqui. It’s been so much fun!
Jacqui, I think everything came together in a very fun way. We did it as sort of an experiment and I think it worked good. It was different. Thanks again for reading and reviewing our books. Waving madly from Lubbock.
It was a wonderful tour and great way to get to them a bit better along the way, Jacqui 🙂
Thank you for opening your blog space to me and Linda, Denise. You are a wonderful generous hostess!
Denise, you made the end of our tour very, very special. We can’t thank you enough for making us feel at home.
You both make it so easy and honored to have you both here 🙂
Anytime, Jan 🙂 Always happy to help get word out for wonderful people with great books!
I enjoyed the whole interview, but the response that made me stop and think was the one about family members not reading Jan’s and Linda’s books. Perhaps those folks don’t read many books.
Hi Pete, that’s the thing. Our family are all pretty much readers but they only read certain genres. My son loves Stephen King, Tom Clancy, and those kinds of books. He also reads a lot of nonfiction books dealing with history which he majored in but he wouldn’t touch one of mine with a ten-foot pole. Oh no. Jan’s and my main reader is our brother. He reads everything we write and always has.
Thanks for coming to the finale! I’ve enjoyed chatting with you.
That all makes sense. We all have our preferred genres.
Actually, Pete, it’s quite the opposite, especially with my younger daughter. She reads all the time, but only mainstream books. My older daughter, who has read some of my books, is dealing with failing eyesight and by the end of the day on her computer all day, the last thing she wants to do is open a book. My oldest grandson is reading “A Bold Bargain,” and that makes me smile. My oldest granddaughter also is an avid reader, often devouring a book a day. She is fourteen and many of my books aren’t appropriate for her age, but she is really interested in reading “A Bold Bargain.”
One of the more interesting elements of readers is that many of us develop patterns in consuming books. I have a friend who reads nothing but bestsellers, while others read almost exclusively indie books.
That seemed to be the most popular of the question, Pete 🙂 There could some truth in they aren’t readers, but I have some non readers in family that still read mine. Whoever reads I an always grateful for it.
Great interview questions! The perfect ending to your blog tour.
Thank you, Liz. So glad you stopped by!
You’re welcome, Jan!
Always so wonderful to learn more about each other and a treat, sisters, Liz 🙂
Thank you for hosting, Denise. All the best to Jan and Linda.
Thank you for taking the time to come over, John!
Always happy to spread good news and books, John 🙂
Great interview! It was a delight seeing Jan and Linda together again. I just finished Jan’s novel – Loved it! I hope to post a review within a day or two. I look forward to reading Linda’s next. Congratulations to you both!
Oh, my goodness, Gwen! Thank you SO much for letting me know you enjoyed Jack’s story! I appreciate your support!
Wasn’t it a great read, Gwen? You have another good read ahead of you! xo
A great interview with Linda and Jan, which sounded like a good time was had by all. Best of luck to them in their continuing writing journey. 🙂
Thanks, Laura:) I always love learning more about our fellow authors.
Thanks for hosting this lovely last tour stop, Denise! I truly enjoyed both books. Review writing has been slow, but they will come this month. Congrats to Jan and Linda! I enjoyed the interviews too. 💕
Excited to host the last stop, Lauren 🙂 I agree both great read! Never enough time for everything. Xo
I’m with you on the names, Jan. My main characters show up with names, but supporting characters don’t always offer them, and I search popular names for the year they were born. I’m with both of you on the family support. I think my youngest son and husband have read one book each, and my oldest son none. Thanks for hosting, Denise!
I do that same name search, Teri for year appropriate. Thrilled to host the sisters!
I love the idea of sisters touring together. What fun.
Happy weekend. xo
Sandra
I love it too, Sandra:) It was a fun one and happy to be a part of it. Xo
Congrats, Jan and Linda. How fun that you two are doing this together. Denise, thanks for hosting. Hugs all around.
Isn’t it a great idea for a sister tour, Teagan? Thrilled to be a part of it and so happy you dropped by. Hugs right back xo
I love interviews like this! xxxxx
Me too, Jean! Xo
Nice to see the sisters featured here too today Denise xx
It was a joy to have them both visit here, Debby xo
So cool to see the 2 sisters doing the tour together.
Ahh, the last stop. They saved the best for last!
Thanks Denise!
I’ve loved their tour and thrilled to be the closer, Resa.
Very cool, Denise!