Jana Richards – To Heal a Heart

The month of August at my blog is all about where writers write. During these next thirty-one days, I’ll be featuring those wonderful places where your favourite authors create their works of fiction (besides the usual blog posts). Today, I have Jana Richards in the interview chair. We’re discussing her special writing spot.

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1. Why did you choose this particular writing spot to draft your novel?

Jana: This is my office, my writing cave, my sanctuary. It’s a mess but it’s all mine and the best place for me to write.

2. Share a story (funny or serious) that occurred at your favourite writing spot.

Jana: Since the pandemic began in March 2020, my office has also been my yoga studio. When things closed down, my yoga instructor went online and I’ve been doing two classes a week on Zoom ever since. This little room is just big enough!

3. Can you only write at this certain spot? Or is there another place that you like to write?

Jana: I’ve written in numerous places, like my kitchen or dining room table, or out on the deck. I’m especially productive on writing retreats. I can hardly wait to go on one again!

4. How about the atmosphere. Do you need certain lighting, perhaps music, or silence? Do you lock the door to keep out the kids? Share what goes on while you’re writing.

Jana: I can’t handle music while I’m writing, because I get too distracted. I like it fairly quiet, though I rarely close the door. I find I have to get up and walk around fairly often, especially when I’m writing a first draft, so it’s handy the room is close to the kitchen!

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Author: Jana Richards
Title: To Heal a Heart
Series: The Masonville Series, #2
Genre: Contemporary Small-Town Romance
Book Length: 340 pages
Release Date: June 15, 2020
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Two souls in pain, two hearts in need of rescue.

Blurb: Garrett Saunders’ world changed two years ago on a road in Afghanistan. Back home, he feels like a stranger. As he struggles to find his place in the world, he meets a horse destined for the slaughterhouse and a woman bent on rescuing the strays of the world, including him.

Blair Greyson moves to Masonville to look after her ailing grandfather and give her rescue horses a home. Right away she butts heads with a surly former Marine. Despite a rocky start, they come to an agreement: Blair will board Garrett’s rescue horse and he’ll help with repairs around her farm.

Garrett finds purpose working with Blair—and falls in love with her. But she’s hiding a secret. Can she forgive herself and accept Garrett’s love, or will she let guilt and regret continue to rule her life?

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Okay, what would you like to do? In your heart of hearts, what would you really like to do with your life?”

He was slow in responding. For a long time, he pushed gravel around with his rake, until Blair thought he wasn’t going to answer her question. With a sigh, she started working again, almost missing his soft-spoken words.

“I always thought after my military career was over, I’d come back to civilian life and begin a career in policing or firefighting.”

“Those both sound like good options. So why haven’t you applied to some police forces or fire departments?”

The anger in his eyes took her breath away. “Are you deliberately trying to be cruel?”

Blair stepped back, shocked by his words. “No, of course not! What are you talking about?”

“I’m not exactly a prime candidate for either the police force or the fire department.”

“Why would you say that?” Was he worried about his drinking as well? Did he think he’d be unable to handle the rigors of policing or firefighting because of it?

He tilted his head. “You don’t know, do you?”

“Know what?”

He bent at the waist and rolled up his right pant leg till it was above his knee, revealing a device made of metal and plastic where flesh and bone should have been. He rose to his full height and looked her straight in the eye, as if daring her to pity him.

“As you can see, I’d have a tough time acing the physical.”

Blair wanted to cry. She wanted to run into Garrett’s arms and hold him forever, to make all the hurt go away. She wanted to scream and yell and rail against war and all the stupidity and intolerance in the world.

But Garrett wouldn’t appreciate her tears, and crying wouldn’t solve anything.

So, she sucked them back and raised her gaze to his, willing her chin not to tremble.

“I hope you’re not going to use your leg, or lack thereof, as an excuse to get out of work. There’s still plenty to be done here.”

He rolled his pant leg over his prosthesis once more, straightened and grinned at her.

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Somehow Blair managed to smile back at him. “Good answer.”

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Jana Richards has tried her hand at many writing projects over the years, from magazine articles and short stories to full-length paranormal suspense and romantic comedy. She loves to create characters with a sense of humor, but also a serious side. She believes there’s nothing more interesting then peeling back the layers of a character to see what makes them tick. When not writing up a storm, working at her part-time day job as bookkeeper, or dealing with dust bunnies, Jana can be found pursuing hobbies such as golf (which she plays very badly) or reading (which she does much better). Jana lives in Western Canada with her husband Warren. You can reach her through her website at http://www.janarichards.com.