MJ Frederick is on fire!

MJ Fredrick is a born writer, one of those people who probably played with a pen instead of a rattle. She's tried her writing hand at little bit of everything but has a special attraction to firefighters.
 

MJ, what is it about firefighters that appeals to you enough to create stories about them?

What’s not to love? Heroic, fit, boldly going where I would never dare to go. The firefighters in my books have a bit of arrogance that was fun to write, too, especially when they get taken down by their love for the heroines!
 
Tell us a little about your latest print book Hot Shot. It sounds like an intensely emotional story.

Peyton Michaels is a reporter whose SWAT husband was killed in the line of duty. Since his death, she’s been struggling with trying to understand why he would choose such a dangerous career. She’s doing a series of articles on heroic careers. Her latest article brings her to the mountains of Montana, ablaze with wildfires. She works her way onto a Hot Shot crew, where she meets the Hot Shot of all Hot Shots, Gabe Cooper, a man with trust issues. But as they work side by side, as they rescue a camp of Girl Scouts, as they run for their lives on the mountain, they learn to trust each other, and Peyton learns she has what it takes to be a hero, too.
 
Are there any more firefighter stories on your writing horizon?

Not at the time. I recently sold another book to Samhain Publishing about two divorced archaeologists,
and the book I just finished is a Texas historical. This summer I’m planning a bodyguard story and a best friend story.

You've recently been asked to take part in a paranormal anthology. That must be exciting. Can you tell us about it?

It’s scary and exciting. The concept is an antique shop that sells cursed objects. One story will have a dark spirit attached and mine will have an object that makes lies come true. That’s all we know right now. I’ve done a connected novella before, for The Wild Rose Press’s Wayback Texas series, but it’s a balancing act, keeping the story your own and fitting in the parameters of the other writers. 
 
How has your family supported your writing career?

I’m very fortunate. My husband and son are very proud of me. They’ve accompanied me to RWA conferences and booksignings, and they take me out to dinner when I get good news, though I suspect they like that as much as I do! They understand when I can’t go places because I’m writing, and mostly my husband understands when I get up early or stay up late to write.
 
 

You're an elementary school teacher, too. Is it tough to find writing time with a job that requires so much of your time?

It is tough. I get up early and try to get at least a page in. If I’m on deadline, I’ll do edits at lunch (and I only get a half hour!). I manage to get most of my schoolwork done at school, thank goodness, so I don’t bring as much home. Right now in particular is hard because it’s testing season, and very stressful. But writing helps relieve the stress, so I make a point of writing every day. And I have summer to look forward to!
 

What advice would you give to other writers?

Write every day. Nothing will improve your craft better, and it will keep you in your story. And it will get the story done!
 
Any message for your readers?

Writing romance is a great way to relieve stress, and so is reading romance! And you know a firefighter hero will give you a happy ending!

MJ Frederick: http://www.mjfredrick.com 
Northwest Houston RWA: http://www.nwhrwa.com
West Houston RWA:  http://www.whrwa.com
Houston Bay Area RWA: http://www.hbarwa.com
Romance Writers of America: http://www.rwanational.org

Read about more wonderful romance novelists at
http://www.examiner.com/x-5288-Salt-Lake-City-Romance-Novels-Examiner
http://www.examiner.com/x-2533-Romance-Novel-Examiner
http://www.examiner.com/x-4981-Romance-Novel-Examiner